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Windows 8 BSOD Tries to Make Light of Tragedy

Sep. 14, 2011 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

They say that comedy is tragedy plus time, but Microsoft is apparently going for some immediate gratification with the new Windows 8 Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), which pops up when the system crashes. But unlike with previous versions of Windows, which feature a text-based blue screen, the Windows 8 BSOD is a lot cuter. I'm not sure if everyone will appreciate that, given the circumstances.

Tom Warren at WinRumors has a photo of the new BSOD, but here's a clean screenshot:

win8bsod_0

Discuss this Article 13

jeremyray02
on Sep 14, 2011
I saw that when I first tried to install on a virtual host. I didn't even realize it was the BSOD. I prefer the old cryptic looking one.
fairlane32
on Sep 14, 2011
OMG that is hilarious.. I love it...!!!
Waethorn
on Sep 14, 2011
@jeremy: Yes, that is the crash message that I got when I tried to install within Windows Virtual PC (for Win7). Speaking of which, Microsoft said there won't be a legacy application compatibility layer for ARM. Ok, fine. I can understand that, considering the platform-specific Win32 API's. The client also has Hyper-V. So is Hyper-V the new application compatibility environment for running legacy desktop apps on x86? Ie. is this the replacement for Virtual PC? Will there be a simple-to-install "XP Mode" VHD available for Hyper-V? What do we do to pull those legacy apps forward into the host OS? Some form of App-V? Or does Hyper-V v3.0 have some kind of application virtualization system that's as easy as XP Mode?
cybrtitan
on Sep 14, 2011
I think it is so cute-- much more user friendly and dare i say ... mac like.. ugh
libertypo
on Sep 15, 2011
Well, it's an improvement anyway. At least some degree of explanation about the error is present
NY2NY
on Sep 15, 2011
Haven't seen that yet. FYI: I was able to install Win8 on my old Dell Laptop, from a usb flash drive. At first I had a problem copying the iso file to the flash drive, kept saying it was to large a file. Found a freeware program that allows you to install Win7 iso as a bootable file on a flash drive, I used that for Win8, worked like a charm.
Dipsh t Admin
on Sep 15, 2011
I hope they lose the emoticon. It looks stupid and amateurish.
Mustang17
on Sep 15, 2011
HAL? as in 'Open the Pod bay doors Hal.'?
Mustang17
on Sep 15, 2011
HAL? as in 'Open the Pod bay doors Hal.'?
Waethorn
on Sep 15, 2011
Hmm... funny how they write it as "Your PC", not "Windows".... I do like it though. End users shouldn't see cryptic codes - admins should read these out of the Event Logs. Having the one simple error name and suggesting searching for answers online is a nice touch.
Mainer82
on Sep 15, 2011
I can search for the error online? How about presenting the error in full to me like the previous one would; very helpful for when I'm on the phone with a client. MS really has forgotten about their business customers, haven't they?
Mainer82
on Sep 15, 2011
I can search for the error online? How about presenting the error in full to me like the previous one would; very helpful for when I'm on the phone with a client. MS really has forgotten about their business customers, haven't they?
Ascario
on Sep 16, 2011
@Mainer82: If you think businesses collect information regarding software errors by reading a screen, you are sadly mistaken. They keep logs and logs contain A LOT more information than even the classic BSOD did. Either way, you had to disable automatic reboot on BSOD's to be able to read them completely anyway. The new BSOD is much more user friendly and it still provides them enough information to contact their technical support. When they say "HAL Initialization Failed" such as in this example, their sysadmins will be able to identify what the root cause of the error was easily. Now if they could just update some other archaic windows parts such as the administration tools, that would be great!

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