One of the biggest complaints about the infamous Windows Blue Screen of Death is the lack of information it provides. Prior to Windows 8, the BSOD screen would show a nigh indecipherable error code that proved nearly useless. With Windows 8 and 10, things didn’t get much better, with the error code being replaced with new error description of the fault. In an effort to better enable troubleshooting, Microsoft is reportedly trying out QR codes with Windows 10 BSODs.
Starting with the latest Windows 10 Preview builds, Microsoft is adding a QR code that will provide more troubleshooting information specific to the BSOD. Right now QR code only points to windows.com/stopcode but in the future, it will be specific to the problem. The hope is that this will allow users to easily use a secondary device to find solutions since their main device is presumably BSODing.
There are two main problems to this, the first being that BSOD screens are ridiculously fast and disappearing shortly, meaning there might not be time to catch the QR code. Secondly, the whole idea presumes that Microsoft can present relevant troubleshooting information. I suppose with the constant updates for Windows 10, the QR code could be updated to reflect changes. It will be interesting how this pans out for the wider Windows 10 user base if it hits RTM.
Frankly is a good way for people having issues to get to the information they need from their smart phones especially if they cant get online.
If you go into the windows settings where you disable “AUTO RESTART ON ERROR” the blue screen does not go away and MS kindly prompt you when it has dumped the info it needs and tells you when its safe to restart.
Come on, would have expected the writers on a technical site to know this fact and rather than saying something scathing, inform users exactly how they could negate the auto restart function and actually have access to this QR code.