About the Blue Screen Prank
The crash screen is the most recognizable error in computing: a blue field, a large sad face and a calm message explaining that everything has gone wrong. This is a harmless copy of that look, with a joke stop code instead of a real one.
The percentage crawls upward and never finishes, and the stop code names a file that does not exist. Anyone who reads it carefully will realize it is a joke, which is a good way to end the prank.
Keep it obviously a joke
- The stop code on screen is deliberately silly, so leave it as it is.
- End the prank quickly. A fake crash stops being funny after about ten seconds.
- Do not use it on someone in the middle of unsaved work.
Blue Screen Prank FAQ
- Did my computer actually crash?
- No. It is a web page showing a picture of a crash screen. Press Escape and everything is fine.
- Is the stop code real?
- No, it is invented for the joke. Real stop codes name actual system files, and this one does not.
