The “reboot up to 15 times” advice referred to some Windows computers affected by a faulty CrowdStrike Falcon update in July 2024—not a Microsoft update, and not a guaranteed fix. Microsoft said it had reports of successful recovery after multiple restarts, while also documenting Safe Mode repairs and releasing a recovery tool.
What caused the worldwide blue-screen incident?
On July 18, 2024, CrowdStrike released a Falcon software update that affected some Windows systems. Microsoft identified the impacted computers as Windows endpoints running the CrowdStrike Falcon agent; affected devices could show blue-screen errors, including 0x50 or 0x7E, and repeatedly restart. Microsoft stated that the event was not a Microsoft incident, though it affected Microsoft’s ecosystem. Microsoft’s July 20, 2024 update provides its account of the event.
Microsoft estimated at the time that 8.5 million Windows devices—less than one percent of all Windows machines—were affected. That is Microsoft’s estimate published on July 20, 2024, not a new or independently established count. Microsoft noted that the incident’s broad economic and social effects reflected CrowdStrike’s use by organizations operating critical services. Read Microsoft’s estimate and explanation.
What did “reboot up to 15 times” mean?
Microsoft’s support guidance did not tell every user to restart exactly 15 times. It said the company had received reports of successful recovery from some customers who attempted multiple restarts. Contemporary reporting summarized early guidance as rebooting “as many as 15” times. That number described a possible experience for some affected devices, not a universal requirement or promise of recovery. Microsoft’s endpoint support article gives its qualified wording; contemporary coverage reported the “up to 15” framing.
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CrowdStrike’s technical alert said restarting could give a host an opportunity to download a reverted channel file and recommended a wired network connection to get online faster. If the device crashed again, the alert described using Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment and deleting only files matching C-00000291*.sys in the CrowdStrike driver directory. CrowdStrike explicitly cautioned users not to delete or change other files or folders. See CrowdStrike’s technical alert.
Which recovery route applied?
The right route depended on what the affected system could boot into, whether recovery media was available, the device type, and its encryption setup. These procedures were specific to the July 2024 CrowdStrike incident; they are not general fixes for unrelated blue-screen errors.
| Route | When it may fit | Important considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Restart attempts | Some affected endpoints recovered after multiple restarts, according to Microsoft’s reported customer outcomes. | There was no guaranteed restart count. CrowdStrike advised a wired connection where possible. |
| Safe Mode repair | An affected Windows 10 or Windows 11 endpoint can enter the recovery flow and Safe Mode. | Microsoft’s incident-specific steps locate and remove matching C-00000291*.sys files. A BitLocker recovery key may be requested. |
| Microsoft recovery tool | Recovery across Windows clients, servers, or Hyper-V virtual machines, including cases using Windows PE or Safe Mode. | The tool also documents PXE recovery when USB is unavailable. Microsoft recommends testing a method on multiple devices before broad deployment. |
Microsoft’s endpoint instructions cover the Safe Mode path for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Follow them only for the identified incident and avoid deleting files other than the specific matching files named in the instructions.
What to know about Microsoft’s recovery tool and BitLocker
Microsoft later released a signed recovery tool with Windows PE and Safe Mode options. Its documentation covers Windows clients, servers, and Hyper-V virtual machines, and includes PXE recovery for environments where USB recovery is unavailable. Microsoft advises testing the selected recovery option on multiple devices before using it across an environment. Microsoft’s recovery-tool documentation describes the available paths.
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To create USB media with the tool, Microsoft requires a 64-bit Windows computer with at least 8 GB of free space, administrator privileges, and a USB drive between 1 GB and 32 GB. The process deletes the drive’s existing data and formats it as FAT32. A USB drive is therefore only a medium for preparing recovery media; it is not a fix by itself. Check Microsoft’s USB creation requirements before starting.
Encryption can change the steps. Windows PE recovery may require the BitLocker recovery key. Microsoft says the Safe Mode option may allow recovery on some BitLocker-enabled devices without entering the key, depending on the protectors and access to a local administrator account. Devices using TPM plus PIN may still require the PIN or recovery key. Have the organization’s recovery credentials and administrator support available before choosing a route. Microsoft explains the encryption considerations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should a reader do if a PC shows a blue screen now?
The July 2024 instructions apply to systems affected by that CrowdStrike Falcon incident, not to every blue screen. If a computer is failing now, first establish whether it is an affected organization-managed endpoint and contact its IT administrator. Do not delete CrowdStrike driver files or repeatedly restart a device based only on this historical report; unrelated crashes require troubleshooting for their own cause.
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