BSOD vs No Post

[MTROB]

What is the difference between the two? Is it a hardware vs software difference?

[the_devil52]

BSOD usually happens while the computer is being used, usually by a problem with driver, overclocking too high or faulty hardware. A no post situation happens when you try to start your PC and it doesn't show anything on the monitor, usually caused by leaving a part/cable out or faulty/shorting out parts.

[Dave :)]

BSOD is a crash of your computer where it was in a fully functioning ( powered on etc ) state. Can be caused by hardware or software. A 'no post' (power on self test ) issue is where your PC will not turn on. This is most likely due to a hardware failure, wires not plugged in, something interfering with connections at the like. A good way to tell if your PC posts, is to install a speaker on to your motherboard ( this is a very common feature with most motherboards nowadays, so chances are you already have one installed!) and if that sounds a short beep then your PC has correctly posted. :)

[Kilmer02]

I'd also like to add it may be a result of undervolting or making on the fly changes to your registry or hard drives. Could also mean there was a virus that killed your windows! But I am not going to say that's what happened! If you can manage to get back in I would download http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html

in order to help you out in the future! If you are not able to get back in, reset your CMOS by shorting the clr CMOS pins on your motherboard or by removing the battery on the board while the computer is turned off and unplugged. Do this for 20 seconds, put it back in and turn your computer back on.

[Reuben01]

BSOD's are generally cause by driver issues, whereas no POST can be as simple as badly seated RAM. Are you asking because you have a problem or you just want to learn?

[Helepolis]

Blues screens often occur from file corruption, bad drivers, failing hardware ( can be from ocing or even just bad hardware) or ever viruses. The blue screen occurs when windows cannot recover from one or more of these.

No post is usually at a hardware level, often from your ram which is easily fixed by reseating it. It's your motherboard not being able to load it's resources and connected hardware properly. So insufficient power, ram, and incompatible(often due to out of date bios) processors andPCIE cards can also cause this.