Who is behind the BSOD screen? A former Windows developer reveals the truth.
It appears that multiple individuals were involved. For many years, the individuals responsible for the notorious Blue Screen of Death in Windows remained unknown, creating a sense of intrigue. Who crafted that alarming message that instills dread in Windows users? One knowledgeable ex-Windows developer aims to clarify the situation.
The origins of this fixation trace back to a blog post in 2014 by developer Raymond Chen, which suggested that former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was the author of the text displayed on the Ctrl+Alt+Del screen in Windows 3.1. However, this was misinterpreted by many, leading them to mistakenly believe that Ballmer was responsible for the BSOD text.
Now, Chen is stepping in to set the record straight. In a new blog entry, he clarifies that there are actually three distinct blue error screens, each attributed to different authors.
Let’s first address the Ctrl+Alt+Del screen from Windows 3.1, which Chen humorously refers to as the "blue screen of unhappiness." He confirms that Steve Ballmer authored the text for this message, but emphasizes that Ballmer was not involved in the coding that produced it, only the wording.
Interestingly, this blue screen was not related to the BSOD and did not trigger during system crashes. Instead, it activated when a user executed Ctrl+Alt+Del, functioning as a basic task manager. When a crash occurred in Windows 3.1, the initial display was merely a blank black screen. Some in the Insider community may remember that Microsoft contemplated reverting to a black crash screen with the release of Windows 11, before thankfully deciding against it.
The subsequent error screen appeared during kernel errors in Windows 95, which was also inaccurately labeled as a BSOD. In actuality, this screen did not signify a "death," as users could bypass or disregard the error and continue working, albeit at their own risk.
"I was responsible for finalizing this version of the Windows 95 kernel error blue screen message," Chen recalls.
Lastly, we reach the authentic BSOD—the Windows NT kernel error screen. The creator of this screen was none other than John Vert. Chen refers to it as the "true blue screen of death" because, at that moment, the system is undeniably "unrecoverably dead."
Chen's article offers an interesting look at one of the most iconic (and terrifying) features of the Windows operating system. It's so ingrained in the PC and popular culture that when Microsoft goes black, unsuspecting users may wonder what's going on. Any changes that would delay CrowdStrike's final release would be very different.