Disable Auto Restart on BSOD Using Regedit

When Windows encounters a fatal system error, commonly known as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), the operating system is configured by default to automatically reboot. While this helps restore uptime, it often prevents users and administrators from reading critical error codes needed for troubleshooting. This guide provides a direct, step-by-step walkthrough on how to modify the Windows Registry using the Registry Editor (Regedit) to disable this automatic reboot behavior so that the crash screen remains visible until manually restarted.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

1. Press the Windows Key + R shortcut on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. In the text field, type regedit and press Enter or click OK.
3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.

Step 2: Navigate to CrashControl

In the Registry Editor address bar at the top, paste the following path and press Enter, or manually navigate through the left sidebar:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl

Step 3: Modify the AutoReboot Value

1. Select the CrashControl key in the left pane.
2. In the right pane, locate the DWORD (32-bit) Value named AutoReboot.
   • Note: If AutoReboot does not exist, right-click any empty space in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it AutoReboot.
3. Double-click the AutoReboot entry to open its edit window.
4. Under the Value data field, change the value from 1 to 0.
   • 0 = Automatic restart disabled.
   • 1 = Automatic restart enabled (default).
5. Ensure the Base is set to Hexadecimal, then click OK.

Step 4: Close and Apply Changes

1. Close the Registry Editor.
2. Restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

From this point forward, if a fatal system error occurs, Windows will stay on the crash screen indefinitely, allowing you to record the stop code and faulty driver information before manually rebooting the machine using the physical power button.