After more than 30 years, the historic blue screen of death becomes black. Microsoft with the new update promises more transparency, readability and a quick recovery system for crash.
Windows changes skin: the blue color disappears, the sad face and the QR code also disappear. Microsoft has announced that this summer, with a Windows 11 update, the historic screen that reports system errors will become black. Thus was born the new “Black Screen of Death“. The restyling is not only aesthetic. In addition to the most sober interface, black in color, the error code and the driver it has will be shown in the clear caused the system block.
David Weston, vice -president for the security of Windows, in an interview with The Verge explained: “We want to simplify access to useful data to understand What went wrong. Not only for us, but also for our users and for those who manage networks and computers in the company “. To date, in fact, to understand the origin of an error, the download of technical files and the use of advanced tools has been necessary. With the new screen, however, the problem It will appear directly on the screen.
The origin of the blue screen
For over thirty years, Windows has reported crash or serious malfunctions of the system through the famous blue screen. The first version of this message dates back to the 90s and was conceived by the former CEO Steve Ballmeras Raymond Chen, a historical Microsoft programmer, told. Subsequently, an engineer named John vet He designed a version for Windows NT, while Chen himself helped to develop the definitive one for Windows 95 in 1995. Curiously, the blue color was chosen by pure chance, as Chen tells in his blog.
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However, blue has its advantages, it results Less fatiguing for the eyes Compared to other colors, especially in the cathodic tube monitors of the time, and is universally associated with positive sensations: calm, tranquility and reliability. Associated with the error therefore does not transmit a sense of urgency or alarm. Black on the contrary, it is less reassuring.
Another fundamental aspect is that the blue error screen is immediately recognizable: just a look even from afar to understand that something is wrong. On the contrary, a black Crash screen easily risks being exchanged for a refresher screen, or an off monitor.
The new face of Windows errors
The change also comes in the wake of the accident of last year caused by a crowdstrike update that sent millions of Windows PCs into tilt, blocked right on the blue screen. An event that prompted Microsoft to work on the operating system and the transparency of errors. Together with the black screen, a new function called will also arrive Quick Machine Recovery.
“It is a functionality that allows the restoration of Windows devices in case of critical errors that prevent its start,” Windows explained in a Nora “This functionality can automatically look for solutions in the cloud e restore devices In case of widespread starter errors, significantly reducing the work load of IT administrators when more devices are interested. “
Microsoft explained that The new interface “Simplified” user for unexpected renovations will be available by the end of summer On all Windows 11 devices (version 24h2). “The black screen will improve readability and aligns with our design principles,” underlined the company in a blog post. With the new update “it will be easier than ever to manage unexpected events and recover faster”.
