Windows Blue Screen of Death to Get Revamp

Microsoft is to make the dreaded "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD) a little less likely to leave people feeling helpless. Users may be able to hold a smartphone up to the screen and get a link to an explanation of the problem.

The screen appears when Windows encounters a serious problem that causes it to completely crash. When this happens, a blue screen with a cryptic error message is displayed, and sometimes the system will reboot automatically. For the most part, a blue screen involves an incompatibility or fault between Windows and software or a hardware device.

At the moment, the screen simply contains a wall of text that usually includes some codes that refer to the specific cause of the crash. The problem is that these are usually difficult to understand. It is possible to copy down these details and then type them into a search engine, but this relies on the user getting the precise code and numbers without any mistranscribed codes.

New Screen Adds Clearer Detail

Now its reported a new screen to be added to Windows in a summer update will try to do a better job of serving both the casual user and those with more technical knowledge, or those offering support.

The screen will include a website link to a Microsoft page that gives generic advice about what might cause a crash. It will also include a general error code about the type of problem, with a clear note that this error code contains information for somebody providing technical support. (Source: zdnet.com)

The screen will also feature a QR code. That's an image that works somewhat like a two-dimensional barcode and is designed to be "scanned" by pointing a phone camera at it. Most smartphones have or can download apps that can read the QR code in this way.

Smartphone Could Link To Solution

In the example screenshots shared so far, the code simply links to the generic help page, which would then appear on the user's smartphone browser. However, it appears that when the new screen launches, the code may be different each time and link to a specific Microsoft page that gives clear information on the particular problem that caused the crash. (Source: cnet.com)

It's also possible the code could automatically generate a report with technical information. The idea would be that the user could send this report to support staff, for example via email, rather than have to read out error messages and codes over the phone.

What's Your Opinion?

When was the last time you saw the Blue Screen of Death? Were you able to understand and use the information that appeared in the message? Are QR codes a good way to provide more useful information to both users and support staff?