4 ms·

So they removed the very specific search engine friendly, but human unreadable code (such as 0x00000f4) and are now requiring me to carry a cell phone with a wo

by qjighap 10y ago

So they removed the very specific search engine friendly, but human unreadable code (such as 0x00000f4) and are now requiring me to carry a cell phone with a working QR Code scanner and forcing me to use microsoft (not bing) search support that is specific to their website as a jump point. I am sure that a search for HARD_DRIVE_CRASH will always come up with troubleshooting tips, but I'll have to wade through 5 pages before I get to the advanced topics that I need. I know there is an argument for making this more readable, but if you are at the level of fixing blue screens chances are you can use a search engine.

Someone1234 10y ago
Windows 8 started this. They decided to copy Apple's useless OS X kernel panic screen, and so only give you one word of useful information, no error code, no exception information, etc. Unfortunately the QR code might be an improvement over Windows 8 and 8.1 if the QR code contains more detailed information. There are scenarios where you cannot get to the event viewer (or WinDbg) and need to diagnose a pre-boot BSOD. Windows 8 made this almost impossible without attaching a kernel debugger. Windows 2000 had the best BSODs because they not only told you the details of the crash but also told you which module caused it. This often allowed you to immediately know what the issue was (e.g. if it was in Creative or Nvidia's drives you'd know just from the filename). You can still get the module via WinDbg but it would be useful to have it on the BSOD itself or even in the event log listing. PS - I strongly suspect the reason Microsoft removed the module name in the Windows XP BSOD was because they were hurting third party hardware vendor's reputation.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- geographomics 10y ago
  > Unfortunately the QR code might be an improvement over Windows 8 and 8.1 if the QR code contains more detailed information. The QR code shown in the example screenshot is just a link to http://windows.com/stopcode http://windows.com/stopcode - hopefully they'll improve it to at least include the bug check code. (QR code decoder output: https://zxing.org/w/decode?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.arstechnica.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2016%2F04%2Fwindows-10-qr-code-bsod.jpg https://zxing.org/w/decode?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.arstechnica.ne...)
sveiss 10y ago
The text code they list in the "if you have to call a support person" map one-to-one to the old hex codes, and a search on Microsoft's site will get you the hex codes quickly if you need them. The MANUALLY_INITIATED_CRASH from the screenshot is an 0xE2, for example.
- jongalloway2 10y ago
  It's fascinating to see all the other theories here. It's the exact same information, here's the hex code list with system error codes: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh994433.aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh994433.aspx My favorite is 0xDEADDEAD A BSOD isn't interactive, the only thing you can do is search for the error code. Even if users copy down and type the hex code correctly (not at all a given), the search results might be a random ten year old blog post or information about a different version of Windows. The QR Code takes you to an official help page that gives updated, version specific instructions a normal computer user could follow: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/troubleshoot-blue-screen-errors http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/troubleshoot-b... I've troubleshot BSOD errors over the phone with relatives. Plain-text error message are a welcome improvement over hex codes.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
granos 10y ago
By forcing you to use a QR code that links to their site they can track how frequently BSODs happen and what the most common error codes are simply by reporting on web server logs. Its a way of forcing people to report crashes when they otherwise wouldn't.
- vezycash 10y ago
  >>Its a way of forcing people to report crashes when they otherwise wouldn't. They already automatically collect crash logs in win 7,8, 10. Don't think it can be turned off in 10 though In my opinion, it's simply change for change sake.
j_s 10y ago
Thank goodness for http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html - at least if the computer returns to life after reboot!

by qjighap 10y ago

Someone1234 10y ago

Windows 8 started this. They decided to copy Apple's useless OS X kernel panic screen, and so only give you one word of useful information, no error code, no exception information, etc. Unfortunately the QR code might be an improvement over Windows 8 and 8.1 if the QR code contains more detailed information. There are scenarios where you cannot get to the event viewer (or WinDbg) and need to diagnose a pre-boot BSOD. Windows 8 made this almost impossible without attaching a kernel debugger. Windows 2000 had the best BSODs because they not only told you the details of the crash but also told you which module caused it. This often allowed you to immediately know what the issue was (e.g. if it was in Creative or Nvidia's drives you'd know just from the filename). You can still get the module via WinDbg but it would be useful to have it on the BSOD itself or even in the event log listing. PS - I strongly suspect the reason Microsoft removed the module name in the Windows XP BSOD was because they were hurting third party hardware vendor's reputation.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
geographomics 10y ago
> Unfortunately the QR code might be an improvement over Windows 8 and 8.1 if the QR code contains more detailed information. The QR code shown in the example screenshot is just a link to http://windows.com/stopcode http://windows.com/stopcode - hopefully they'll improve it to at least include the bug check code. (QR code decoder output: https://zxing.org/w/decode?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.arstechnica.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2016%2F04%2Fwindows-10-qr-code-bsod.jpg https://zxing.org/w/decode?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.arstechnica.ne...)

sveiss 10y ago

The text code they list in the "if you have to call a support person" map one-to-one to the old hex codes, and a search on Microsoft's site will get you the hex codes quickly if you need them. The MANUALLY_INITIATED_CRASH from the screenshot is an 0xE2, for example.

jongalloway2 10y ago
It's fascinating to see all the other theories here. It's the exact same information, here's the hex code list with system error codes: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh994433.aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh994433.aspx My favorite is 0xDEADDEAD A BSOD isn't interactive, the only thing you can do is search for the error code. Even if users copy down and type the hex code correctly (not at all a given), the search results might be a random ten year old blog post or information about a different version of Windows. The QR Code takes you to an official help page that gives updated, version specific instructions a normal computer user could follow: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/troubleshoot-blue-screen-errors http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/troubleshoot-b... I've troubleshot BSOD errors over the phone with relatives. Plain-text error message are a welcome improvement over hex codes.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

granos 10y ago

By forcing you to use a QR code that links to their site they can track how frequently BSODs happen and what the most common error codes are simply by reporting on web server logs. Its a way of forcing people to report crashes when they otherwise wouldn't.

vezycash 10y ago
>>Its a way of forcing people to report crashes when they otherwise wouldn't. They already automatically collect crash logs in win 7,8, 10. Don't think it can be turned off in 10 though In my opinion, it's simply change for change sake.

j_s 10y ago

Thank goodness for http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html - at least if the computer returns to life after reboot!