White Screen of Death (WSoD) is a common term used to describe a blank or near blank computer display. It is most often used in reference to the Microsoft Windows operating system, but is also used to describe a similar occurrence with other operating systems and applications.
The WSoD occurs when the Windows system detects an error that cannot be fixed. It manifests as a white blank screen, with no text, graphics, or icons. At this point, the user is unable to interact with the system and will need to restart the computer in order to resolve the issue.
The exact causes of the White Screen of Death can vary. Commonly, it is caused by an issue in the installed software, such as a faulty driver, a virus, or a bad registry key. Hardware problems, such as overheating, can also cause the WSoD. In some cases, the issue may have more subtle causes, such as a change in the computer’s settings, or a misconfigured system component.
The White Screen of Death can be incredibly frustrating. Most users are unable to tell what the underlying cause of the symptom is, and therefore aren’t able to fix it. The only real solution is to attempt to repair the underlying issue by performing various troubleshooting steps, such as running a virus scan, reinstalling corrupt software, or attempting a system restore.
It is important to note that “White Screen of Death” is a generic term and does not necessarily refer to a specific computer issue. Rather, it is a way of referring to a range of potential problems that can cause a blank or near blank display.
