BSOD
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Computer
| Stands for | Blue Screen of Death |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
BSOD stands for Blue Screen of Death, a computer abbreviation.
Full-screen stop error that Windows shows when the system crashes and must restart, listing an error code such as CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED or MEMORY_MANAGEMENT. Faulty drivers, failing RAM, overheating and disk errors are frequent causes.
Example: My laptop hit a BSOD twice today, both times with a DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error.
Usage notes
The nickname dates to early-1990s Windows. Windows 8 added a sad-face emoticon and Windows 10 a QR code linking to troubleshooting help. In 2025 Microsoft replaced the blue background in Windows 11 with a simplified black screen, so "black screen of death" is now heard as well. Crash details are saved in memory dump files that tools such as WinDbg can analyze.
Related abbreviations
More computer abbreviations
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