How to Fix Blue Screen Registry Error 51

Getting a Blue Screen of Death, with a message Registry Error 51, happens due to corrupted registry files on your system. The system crashes as the registry isn’t functioning properly, and continuing to use it will result in even more BSODs.

A lot of users have experienced this issue out of the blue, without any warning or other problem prior to getting this message. Unfortunately, this is a critical error within Windows, and the only way to fix it is to use the Startup Repair option that comes with the Windows installation media. But first, you need to change the boot order in your BIOS.

1. Restart your computer. During the POST screen, right before Windows boots, you will see which button you should press to get into the BIOS/UEFI. It’s usually either Esc, F2, F8, F12, or Backspace. Press it quickly to get into the BIOS/UEFI utility.
2. Most, if not all BIOS/UEFI utilities have instructions on how to navigate on the left side or at the bottom of the window, so use them until you get to the Boot menu of the utility.
3. Change the Boot order, and make sure that the first boot device is either a USB port or the CD/DVD drive, depending on what kind of installation media you will be using.
4. Exit with saving changes and your system should reboot.

Method: Using Startup Repair

1. You will get a message that says to press any key to boot from the installation media. Press any key when you see it.
2. Once the installation media boots up, click on Repair your computer.
3. Choose your operating system – if you have multiple, it’s important to choose the one you’re trying to repair. You can easily see that by the drive/partition it’s installed in.
4. Select the Startup Repair Follow the instructions and let the wizard do its thing.
5. When it’s done, you shouldn’t be facing the problem anymore and you won’t be getting the dreaded BSOD.

This is one of those errors where any easy fixes won’t work – but you have to let Windows repair itself using the built-in tools. Fortunately, the steps to do this are described in detail in the method above, so follow them to get your system up and running again.