Windows 8 says goodbye to the Blue Screen of Death, replaces it with a sad face

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Published on 09-14-2011 11:38 PM

16 Comments

I know everyone loves the old Windows BSOD right? We’ve been live at Microsoft BUILD this week and while we have seen a few neat things we didn’t get the chance to eye any Windows 8 Blue Screen of Deaths. Just like basically all previous versions of Windows we all were still expecting the BSOD to remain a part of windows, I mean it is almost an icon it’s so terrible.

New details are confirming Microsoft has finally ditched the blue screens and are replacing it with something a bit easier on the mind — a sad face. No longer will users be greeted with a blue screen full of 1′s and 0′s that don’t help them resolve their problem. Instead they will be greeted with a equally uninformative sad face and a quick note basically stating “Houston, we have a problem”.

Shown in the image above we don’t get a lot of details if this error should occur. Nice and neatly we get a small note saying, “Your PC ran into a problem it couldn’t handle, and now it needs to restart”, followed by a tiny line mentioning you can search online to help solve the problem but it’s a pretty generic output.
I’m actually having mixed feelings on this one because I’m just so used to seeing the BSOD and all the white lines of gibberish. What do you guys think? Is this a good move by Microsoft or do they still need to work and refine the error process?

Categories:
Software

16 Comments

brilman - 09-15-2011, 01:51 AM
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I like the old BSOD, it talked to me in a way I'll never find again

darkmawl - 09-15-2011, 03:33 AM
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Still looks like a blue screen to me!

iLOVENZB - 09-15-2011, 07:16 AM
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Does it at least have an error code so you can decipher something? Can't seem to read the small print.

duke0102 - 09-15-2011, 07:58 AM
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@iLOVENZB. Dude, I was thinking the same thing, seems almost pointless having a error screen with no clues.

aktiv8 - 09-15-2011, 01:08 PM
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From Techworld website amongst others: "Not every developer is impressed by BSoD’s clean new look. “Gone are the confusing and uninformative error codes, and in its place you get an equally uninformative sad emoticon,” said Engadget contributing editor and blogger, Terrence O’Brien."

bobbintb - 09-15-2011, 04:21 PM
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its still blue. but no error codes is stupid. and whoever said they are "uninformative" is an idiot. that blue screen told you a lot.

ratboy - 09-15-2011, 04:28 PM
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i could never understand all the crap code it threw at me lol bsod= fresh install

megabyteme - 09-15-2011, 04:48 PM
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BSOD= a game of hide and go seek with your computer problems. It's fun!

brilman - 09-16-2011, 01:54 AM
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Originally Posted by megabyteme

BSOD= a game of hide and go seek with your computer problems. It's fun!

That and the sound of the MB, HDD ... I'm good

tesco - 09-16-2011, 10:55 PM
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What do you do if your PC won't boot, you get a sad face and no error code to google the issue since you can't boot up to see the error logs.

Jimathome - 09-17-2011, 02:09 AM
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I honestly haven't seen the BSOD since Windows XP not even with Vista not that I'm praising Vista, I actually hated it till the last service pack. I wont say I haven't experienced any problems with 7 either just not the BSOD !

mjmacky - 09-17-2011, 06:33 PM
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The only blue screens I've had have always been related to atheros wireless chipsets + high bandwidth + numerous connections. Those bluescreens did nothing helpful compared to WinDbg, so I'd actually welcome something a little less irritating. I don't know if this is it, I fucking hate smilies, my every use of them is a dig at smilies.

Glaucon - 09-19-2011, 01:54 AM
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Seems somewhat useless. No point in changing it if you're merely replacing it with something that's equally as terrible.

VSpace - 09-21-2011, 10:20 PM
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I like how Microsoft doesn't take direct blame for the issue.. something like "Your OS took a crap" or something which would be more appropriate.Its not like the hardware is ever (mostly) at fault

peat moss - 09-24-2011, 03:36 PM
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Might as well have Bill Gates dropping his drawers and flashing . I'v never had a problem with diagnosing drivers issues , I just do a fresh install . Why can't someone develop a program to help ? I saw one but haven tried it , called "WhoCrashed.Professional.v3.01" . If after a fresh install and the BSOD keeps popping up its usually faulty memory or incorrect BIOS settings .

Issun - 09-24-2011, 04:46 PM
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All I know is that BSOD r the cause of 3rd party programs,,,like my ATI stupid drivers! they always cause the BSOD issues,,, i rly hope they r gone, but replacing them with a sad face won't solve the problem lol!