Microsoft adds QR codes to the Windows 10 Blue Screen of Death

[Arty]

http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/12/11412906/microsoft-windows-10-blue-screen-of-death-qr-code

Quote

Microsoft is adding QR codes to its Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). It's the biggest change to the BSOD since the software maker removed a lot of crash details in Windows 8 and replaced them with a frowning face. The new QR codes are featured in the latest preview of Windows 10, which will debut this summer as the Anniversary Update.

Microsoft is using the QR codes to help support technicians identify error codes in the blue screens, and for Windows 10 users to quickly scan them from a phone to find support articles and assistance. BSOD's have often been complicated to understand, and at times difficult to use to identify the root cause of an issue, but this simplified approach could help Windows 10 users troubleshoot any system issues. Steve Ballmer would be proud.

 

 

I Think it's great

they probably need to increase the time it's on tthe screen tho.

Maybe this will let people more independent. and actually try and find and fix the problem selves. 

Instead of "my computer crashed" " i got blue screen Help".  since people can't read very well apparently, and a qr code is "familiar" with people nowadays.  since it takes straight to MS help page for that specific code. 

 

 

[Charcoal_]

Handy...

[mcraftax]

   

Click it if you can not scan it.

[Arty]

2 minutes ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

or. or. or. you know, they could just post the error code there? no ok then thanks a load.

they do give the error code, but as you can see a lot of people just ignore it. (it is still there). 

[Bananasplit_00]

Just now, Arty said:

they do give the error code, but as you can see a lot of people just ignore it. (it is still there). 

huh i thougt it was gone, cuz i didnt notice when my computer BSODd last time, thanks then

[DXMember]

cool I guess

but just make sure, wasn't the BSOD replaced with Blue Screen of Smiley Face like in Windows 8?

[SImoHayha]

31 minutes ago, mcraftax said:

   

Click it if you can not scan it.

How do you scan it ? I actually got a n S6. But IDk how to scan QR codes

[colonel_mortis]

Computers automatically restart after a BSOD though, so I don't know how many people are going to be able to get out their phone, unlock it, open their QR code reader app, and scan the QR code before the computer restarts. Still, it's an interesting idea.

[SImoHayha]

2 minutes ago, colonel_mortis said:

Computers automatically restart after a BSOD though, so I don't know how many people are going to be able to get out their phone, unlock it, open their QR code reader app, and scan the QR code before the computer restarts. Still, it's an interesting idea.

They could configure it not to automatically restart silly goose.

[colonel_mortis]

Just now, Ramamataz said:

They could configure it not to automatically restart silly goose.

But then they might as well just use event viewer to view the same crash data that would have been encoded in the QR code, except that they would have had to change the setting before it crashed.

[branden_lucero]

1 minute ago, Ramamataz said:

They could configure it not to automatically restart silly goose.

old people arent always tech savvy, bae. 

[AHaskin14]

I laughed when I read it was the biggest update since they took out important info and added a frown face

[Fetzie]

26 minutes ago, Ramamataz said:

They could configure it not to automatically restart silly goose.

Except that option is buried in the settings menu and is set to "restart automatically" by default.

[Shahnewaz]

48 minutes ago, colonel_mortis said:

Computers automatically restart after a BSOD though, so I don't know how many people are going to be able to get out their phone, unlock it, open their QR code reader app, and scan the QR code before the computer restarts. Still, it's an interesting idea.

Yeah, I wish they added a feature to manually restart after a memory dump is complete, like "Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to restart".

[GoodBytes]

Something to note... this was NOT announced by Microsoft, that means that there is no guarantee that it will be there. The feature is under test and consideration stage right now.

 

54 minutes ago, colonel_mortis said:

But then they might as well just use event viewer to view the same crash data that would have been encoded in the QR code, except that they would have had to change the setting before it crashed.

You don't have the nice BSOD error code. You need to pull out a program like BSOD reader.

 

 

[colonel_mortis]

Just now, GoodBytes said:

You don't have the nice BSOD error code. You need to pull out a program like BSOD reader.

Really? Well surely then that would be a better place to improve, or some other easy way to get access to the error code (ideally with fairly simple explanations of what the error can mean, and links to troubleshooting tools) so that you don't have to use a QR code that will display for 10 seconds then never appear again. Maybe this change is just one of many improvements that they are making to the BSOD, but I somehow doubt it.

[mcraftax]

1 hour ago, Ramamataz said:

How do you scan it ? I actually got a n S6. But IDk how to scan QR codes

there is apps

[zMeul]

that QR code better include the STOP Code and the parameters (when applicable)

otherwise it very useless

[deviant88]

more useless features bring em on microsoft

[Doobeedoo]

Odd using qr code for such. There are better ways to handle BSOD OS crash report etc. Detailed informative report after restart, links and such.

[Energycore]

So Microsoft is sliding anyone who doesn't have a smartphone?

[byalexandr]

25 minutes ago, Energycore said:

So Microsoft is sliding anyone who doesn't have a smartphone?

There is still an error code as usual. This just adds another way to quickly find out what it is.

[GoodBytes]

35 minutes ago, Energycore said:

So Microsoft is sliding anyone who doesn't have a smartphone?

You still have the BSOD error message.

The QR code gets you to the Microsoft website page directly for the BSOD or some help page, whichever Microsoft decides,

[Energycore]

1 hour ago, GoodBytes said:

 

Gotcha. I still would like the entire dump we got on Windows 7 because it looks more dramatic than the sad emote in '10

[x3x53530]

While it is nice that Microsoft is trying to make figuring out blue screen errors easier for the average user, I believe using QR codes is a dumb idea from a security point of view. I have learned in pen testing class at school how to make fake QR codes to allow me to take over phones. If a hacker gets into your windows box or even takes over the web browser they can just display a fake blue screen to trick the user into compromising their phone.

 

I hope they would let me at the enterprise level use the old blue screen to avoid this.