Windows Blue Screen (BSOD) Evolution

The dreaded ‘Blue Screen of Death’ (formally known as a Bugcheck) is one of the most iconic parts of Microsoft Windows, which indicates total system failure. Let’s see how the BSOD has evolved from the earliest versions of Windows up to the present with Windows 11.

And yes, black screens are also included!

Windows 1.0 - 2.03 (Incorrect DOS Version)

Windows 3.1 - Pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del when an app stops responding

Windows 95 + 98 - Fatal Error

Windows 95 & 98 when the Close Program doesn’t load

Windows 3.1, 95, 98 - Busy or Unstable system

Windows ME

Windows NT 3.5 and 4.0

Windows 2000 Build 1796 (Beta)

Windows 2000 Build 1902 (Beta)

Windows 2000

Windows Whistler Build 2446 (Beta)

Windows XP Build 2474 (Beta)

Windows XP, Vista and 7

Windows 8 Build 7880 (Beta)

Windows 8 Build 7927 (Beta)

Windows 8 Build 8056 (Beta)

Windows 8 Build 8102 (Developer Preview)

Windows 8 Build 8250 (Consumer Preview)

Windows 8, 8.1, 10 (original release)

Windows 10 v1607

Windows 10 v2004

Windows 10 and 11 Insider Preview

Windows 11 (original release)

Windows 11 (Build 22000.346 onwards)