Windows Vista Users Hit With 'Purple Screen Of Death'

[OhioChick]

Source: Information Week

The lockup occurs when there's a conflict between certain system drivers and Windows Vista's Desktop Window Manager.

By Paul McDougall
InformationWeek
December 5, 2007 11:32 AM


While most users of Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) Windows-based PCs have seen their systems lockup and display the dreaded 'blue screen of death,' a new, lavender-hued variant of the problem has emerged.
The so-called "purple screen of death" occurs when there's a conflict between certain system drivers and Windows Vista's Desktop Window Manager, according to researchers at NeoSmart -- a nonprofit technology tracking firm that first spotted the issue.

When the glitch occurs, windows on the Vista desktop turn purple and become unresponsive, according to NeoSmart. "It's caused by a low-level problem in the kernel, and it does make you want to restart your PC," NeoSmart researchers said in a blog post on the subject.

NeoSmart concedes that the problem is rare, and that most Vista users probably haven't encountered it. "It's something to do with the way the Windows Vista kernel handles a certain exception in the graphics driver subsystem."



Read more: http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=204701109

[baldguy]

1. After 20 yrs they changed the screen color? Thats the great improvement?

[Javaman]

6. Well, it is easier on the eye.

:rofl:

[Tom Joad]

51. now that i use a mac, i sometimes see the wheel of death. it ain't any better

and no cntrl-alt-delete key to save you.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

2. shudder...

When my girlfriend wanted a SPECIFIC model of HP notebook we must have hit every electronics store from Simi Valley to San Diego trying to find one that came with XP and not Vista.

[rAVES]

3. Just blank it and reinstall! use a copy of XP from a previous machine.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

9. the copy protection doesn't allow it

that only works if you have an unbranded copy of Windows that has not been used recently, we have a really old generic copy of XP but it won't install on large hard drives. And most of the CD keys on retail computers can't be activated because the retail computers don't need to be activated.

[rAVES]

10. Not at all, the PC I'm using has my copy of XP from a dell I used to own.

You have to Ring MS to activate it.

MS guy: "is this the only PC you have this installed on?"

Me: "Cherrys and Icecream"

MS guy: "OK all set, have a nice day"

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

11. that isn't how our conversation went,

we got a hysterical Indian woman accusing us of the greatest theft since the disappearance of the Ark of the Covenant for trying to activate an IBM cd key on a machine with a hard drive too large for the version of XP that came with it.

[FatDave]

15. Ever tried Ubuntu Linux?

It's getting really good. The only thing I need Windows for anymore is video editing, and once Cinelerra is a bit more mature, I won't even need it for that. You can download a live CD and try it out with no commitment.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

30. I second that...Ubuntu

Ubuntu Studio 7.10
http://ubuntustudio.org
Ubuntu Studio. A multimedia creation flavor of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu Studio is aimed at the GNU/Linux audio, video and graphic enthusiast as well as professional.


I installed it thinking "another ubuntu disto" but I was wrong! This system is sweet. So far everything ...works.
and it looks really nice and clean.

[Greyhound]

77. Sooner or later the American sheeple will realize what the rest of the world

already knows. M$ is over-priced, over-hyped, over-rated, and only interested in forcing everybody to eventually write them a check every month. They are far more concerned that an unlicensed copy or their shitty software is being used than whether or not their customers are getting what they paid for.

Several national governments have already barred M$ software from their systems for performance, cost, and lack of security, and they lost their anti-trust case in Europe, which in addition to costing them 2/3 of a billion dollars, opens the door to independent developers being able to compile their software to run in that environment without being sabotaged by M$.

Ubuntu is ready for 90% of end users. Once people try it and find out how awesome their machines really are, they won't go back to the crapware from Redmond.

We still need a little help in video and wireless devices for the average end users with less popular and older hardware, but it's so close...

[Lance_Boyle]

4. it makes you WANT to restart your PC?

Vista is mind control!!! Run away!

[Javaman]

5. Where is Nomad?

He likes to chime in on all mac issues then go on to trash the brand. I would love to hear him now on this vista issue. :)

[Richard Steele]

26. Here's something you might want to take a look at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=130289

[Elwood P Dowd]

42. What did he do this time?

Did he get on Skinner's case for buying a MacBook?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

44. In his absence, allow me to channel him.

Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Linux blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Linux blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah Cult of Mac blah blah blah

[Richard Steele]

50. Wow- it's like he's still in the room!

:rofl:

[vi5]

7. Vista made me switch to a mac...

I was ready to buy a new computer. I've always been a PC guy. All the vista horror stories plus trying it ou and then trial running a mac, convinced me to make the switch to becoming a mac user.

All the vista features just seemed like bad copies of mac approaches, but with more bells and whistles and less fluid and effective.

[Greyhound]

53. If you're really old you might remember "Windows 95 = Apple 86",

Now, it's "Vista (07) = Linux (96)"

Same shitty marketing ploys to cover up shitty software.

[MountainLaurel]

82. We're at that point as well

Mr. Laurel will start law school next fall and will need a laptop, while my old Gateway is about to crap out completely. (I'm trying to hold on until we move before buying a new computer.) My workplace uses Macs (albeit ancient, memory-challenged ones from the late 90s that have nowhere need the memory needed for current applications), and I'm starting to warm to them.

Our one concern is compatibility, because it's likely that Mr. L will have to turn in assignments to professors who may be using PCs.

[formercia]

8. Sounds queer to me.

:rofl:

but then I use *NIX.

[FatDave]

12. I call bullshit on this story.

I mean c'mon! Nobody uses Vista!

:rofl:

[MilesColtrane]

13. It's not a glitch, it's a feature.

Vista senses when you are tense and goes to a tranquil lavender color to chill you out.

The beta version also dispensed an essential oil as aromatherapy, but Redmond deemed that it was not cost effective

[mikeytherat]

34. This is true. The beta version released a delightful mist of lavender oil.

The lavender-colored screen was cheaper and easier to implement (lavender oil+circuit boards+tight case=bad).

mikey_the_rat

[Cronus Protagonist]

14. Vista works just fine for me

I'm on my second week with it, and other than the lack of drivers and some of Microsoft's development tools being undeveloped, I'm very happy with it. The only outstanding issue I have is my audio card vendor has not released the Vista driver yet. And I do have a beef with Intuit for requiring a full purchase to use Quickbooks on Vista, which is not only gouging, it's mean spirited as well.

But Vista itself? Mighty fine. Mighty fine. :P

[MuseRider]

19. Same here and I have had it

for almost a year. Now I admit I know just about nothing about computers and anything beyond regular kinds of everyday usage but I have only had a problem with it once and it was easily fixable. I like it just fine. Everyone else in my family uses mac and seems to feel the need to remind me of my "crappy machine" every chance they get. Still, I have used both systems and find myself back on my PC liking VISTA just fine.

[Lex]

20. me too

no problems with Vista whatsoever

[MuseRider]

21. Good to know.

I have no problem with other people using what they like so I never understand the need for all of this nastiness over computers. What gives? It smacks of elitism, at least the crap I hear from my very own family. It is like I am a second class citizen or something (or stupid and that makes me angry). Geezus, I like my machine and Vista just fine.

[Lex]

22. my brother the "computer expert" is the same way

and ironically his computers always seem to be giving him far more trouble than mine ever give me

he fiddles with his machines and software incessantly and bitches about this or that constantly

[MuseRider]

28. Funny how that works

isn't it?

We all have what we like so why do we always seem to need to tell someone else that their idea of what they need is wrong.

Ah well, that is life I suppose.

[LanternWaste]

25. I liken the OS Rumble

I liken the OS Rumble to someone arguing which is better-- the Chevy Chevette or the Ford Escort. They both get us where we're going, get decent mileage, have four tires, and an internal combustion engine. But there's always some yahoo screeching that the Escort is a "superior machine..." or that the Chevette is God's gift to the small car world.

Jeez. They're gadgets, people! Not lifestyles.

I think I can understand a little better the atheist complaint that the religious are always ramming stuff down their throats-- because the religious fervor of the PC aficionado's and the Apple fanz really has begun to grate on me and reminds me why the five-day waiting period for guns is a good idea...

:)

[MuseRider]

27. Good one!

:)

[Occulus]

40. Not really

see my other post

[MuseRider]

41. I was actually referring

to the gun comment. I don't know, I hardly consider the computer I use to reflect on me or what I am like. Oh well, I guess I have better things to fight about.

[Occulus]

39. Suppose your Escort or Ford had its hood welded shut.

Congratulations! Now your analogy reflects reality.

[LanternWaste]

63. I'll give that all the consideration its due... nt

I'll give that all the consideration its due...

[abegweit]

52. i've never ever heard a chevette vs ford escort battle

and certainly not since the days when most people ever heard of microsoft
the chevette was discontinued in 1987
the OS rumble is actually an echo, the marketers are hearing the calling on their spin and BS
vista is a pig
in marketing terms, i mean

it's not been shown to do anything new or beneficial to recommend it over XP, it's predocessor

[LanternWaste]

65. Well.. if I have problems with it

Well.. if I have problems with it, I'll get an Escort, 'mkay? :)

Until then, I just tae it on faith that I hate my OS without really knowing it....

[LanternWaste]

23. Me too.

Been putting Vista through it's paces ever since I purchased a new (albeit modest) PC in early October. Zero problems, zero issues, zero complaints.

But I'm sure someone will tell me sooner or later that I actually do hate it, I just don't know it yet...

[CRF450]

48. Got Vista Ultimate 64bit on my new gaming pc

So far its been awsome! I find that the biggest bottleneck for a computer's speed nowadays is the hard drive. For almost 10 years now they'v had the standard speed of 7,200rpm, and 5,400rpm for most laptops. The hard drive that I have for my new system is a Western Digital Raptor 10,000rpm 150gig. My old computer had XP on the 40gig 7,200rpm HD, hooked that up to the new system and games on it loads much slower on that hardrive (even with XP on it) than Vista with the 10,000rpm HD!

[Greyhound]

54. correlation is not equal to causation.

See you online, if you have the stones.

[CRF450]

57. Do I sense a bit of ignorance in your post?

If I'm having a good experience with Vista then its a good OS from my point of view. I had ME on my first computer, and that OS was complete trash. XP was a huge upgrade, but even then, I get these error messages sometimes that forces me to close IE6 and 7 or any game I was playing.

The only trouble Vista gave me was lack of drivers for the onboard sound and that was easily fixed by dowloading the updated 64bit drivers.

Is their a problem that its giving me no trouble? :shrug:

[Greyhound]

59. You misunderstand. The fact that you apparently have no problem with Vista

doesn't mean that there is no problem with Vista. There are more than a few people that had no problem with ME, but we both know what a POS that was. You appear to be impressed with the performance you get with Vista ultimate, but you only compare that performance with other M$ OSes. The fact is that with the hardware and memory your rig has is far better than you realize because you run the most bloated, inefficient OS ever created.

As for ignorance, judging by your post, I have been writing software longer than you have been alive, and since I wasn't raised on unstable, inefficient, unreliable, M$ software, I am much more aware of what should be. M$ has duped the public into paying them to beta test their software and to accept inferior, bloated code as normal.

Take your rig to a LAN party and go up against the geeks running the LINUX boxes and you will learn just what performance is. The very idea of an OS that hogs almost half a gig of RAM just to run itself is obscene.

[CRF450]

64. Sorry, I thought you were being one those anti-vista asses that I'v seen alot.

Its not nearly as bloated as people make it out to be. Since most users buy their computers from Dell, HP etc etc... These computer companies pre-install alot of useless crap that are for advertisements and such. Nortan anti-virus is crap too. And the reason Vista uses alot of ram is that its pre-caching the memory for say, most used programs and such.

Most sub $1000 comuters now are spec'd out pretty good, though most of them are not suitable for high end gaming (no high end vid card), but do very well for other stuff.

I know Linux OS's do run better and more effecient, but because they dont support the games that I play, I dont see the need to switch to it since Vista's working great for me, much less do a dual boot. They dont use the DirectX architechure like windows do, games used to be able to use OpenGL but not anymore. DirectX is so much easier to work with and it allows for the great graphics you see these days like the game called Crysis.

[MyNameGoesHere]

68. Actually i think your first impression was spot on.

I mean about being an ass. He writes code, everyone knows code writers don't know their ass from a hard drive. But then they believe they walk on water and levitate too.

[Greyhound]

69. Actually, I do a lot more than write code, most of it you probably wouldn't even understand

except in the most superficial way. Lets just say that you're able to sit an your ass and pass judgment, secure in your imagined anonymity, because of the work that I and a few hundred other people did.

In truth, I don't write code at all anymore, but that's where it all started. The saddest thing is that jerks like you think that writing solid code is easy and that any moran can do it after reading C++ for dummies. That's why there are far too few entry level jobs left here and that means there will be even fewer senior programmers going forward.

I hope you can speak Chinese because, unlike you, they get it.

[MyNameGoesHere]

70. Well typical of a code warrior all show and no go.

Please if you want to insult me let's just whip em out and see whose are bigger. Ok? And as for your coding experience i cannot believe you do not appreciate the amount of effort and design that goes into creating what is a pretty new operating system. Sure there is some bloat, and issues. But tell me what code have you produced that is 100% guaranteed to work 100% of the time? Really? I didn't think so.

[Greyhound]

72. All of it.

"Some bloat"? You have no idea what you're talking about.

[MyNameGoesHere]

74. yes i do

see there is my counter argument loaded with the same amount of facts you present.

[Greyhound]

75. You have yet to present one single fact or argument in this whole,

pointless, exchange. If cared at all what some sea-going bellhop had to say, I would have alerted on your first thread and had it deleted.

Any ass can simply throw out meaningless invective (look it up) and pretend it's an argument.

Meanwhile, the original Apache server is still up, 15 years later, and still out performing every M$ server on the planet.

[MyNameGoesHere]

78. Now a really ignorant "fact"

15 years huh? Define "Uptime" please. You just threw out a meaningless invective (Didn't have to look it) and present that as a fact.
What you do not realize is that most companies see no clear difference in IIS/Apache performance or reliability anymore. But for those who can't move past the amazement of a 15 year old machine running a web server i guess that is about right.

And by the way i support Apache, Linux (SuSe Enterprise), IIS, Windows XP , Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008, Solaris, And about 3 more i research on my own. I can support ALL of them and like none of them. All are deficient due to... wait for it... BAD PROGRAMMING. I would suspect from people like you and your coding comrades.

[mwb970]

73. Do all genius expert coders have an attitude problem, or just you?

Sheesh. Your arrogance is showing.

[Greyhound]

76. I simply stated the facts. Vista is horribly overblown and, "kewl" graphic interface aside,

is unstable and unfinished. M$ is, once again, forcing the public to pay them to beta test their software. SP1, or whatever they decide to call it, is currently estimated to release in late February. XP SP4 will be released shortly thereafter.

[CRF450]

79. So how come is Vista getting good reviews from newegg.com?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16832116204

[Greyhound]

80. Could it be that Newegg is in the business of selling new computer equipment

and software? Don't get me wrong, I like Newegg and occasionally they have the best price on the hardware I need, but to pretend that they are a neutral party is disingenuous at best.

[MyNameGoesHere]

66. Shhh. The nix and fruit guys will crucify you for saying anything positive about MS> n/t

[Selatius]

16. Does anyone but me still use Windows 2000? It's Win2k service pack 4.

I'm gonna keep using it until product support dries up.

[arikara]

24. I'm using Win2K and love it

but when they won't let it work anymore I'll either go to Mac or Linux. The Mr came home with a laptop with vista on it and it drives us both crazy. Its like a similar yet totally different language that makes no sense. Bugs, glitches, name changes and having to search for everything that used to be right there. I'm glad to see others aren't as dumbfounded by it as we are but its the end of line for microsoft as far as we go.

[TalkingDog]

38. ME checkin' in!!!!

Pfft...

Better the devil I know than the devil I don't.

Except for Presidents. I'd take Satan over the current idiot. At least Ol' Clootie could pronounce New-Clear.


My Favorite Master Artist: Karen Parker GhostWoman Studios

[Greyhound]

55. yep, keep it for the games that there is no linux port for. n/t

[Tesha]

61. We're still using it. (NT)

[WritersBlock]

62. I do, at work. Our machines come with 256 MB of RAM, too.

I boot it up on Monday morning & leave it running all week because it takes it a full half hour to boot & load the apps I need to do my job. (Which involves supporting XP users....)

[killbotfactory]

17. I haven't used an operating system this glitchy since Windows ME

Of course, it's not Windows fault, it's the drivers. :eyes:

[Greyhound]

56. I lived through the ME debacle, Vista is much worse.

I (reluctantly) work for a major hardware manufacturer that has made their deal with the devil. Now I spend all day, every day, telling people that "we're very sorry that you are having this problem, but this is caused by your OS. You'll have to talk to M$ (for $65 a call)".

Please shoot me.

[CRF450]

58. If certain computer components and periphials wont work with Vista

Then yes it is a driver problem, which means whoever makes that incompatible part needs to make updated drivers so IT CAN work. Not Microsoft's problem.

[killbotfactory]

60. I bought a pre-installed vista laptop.

I don't understand how a driver problem would make programs impossible to close unless you reboot, or randomly crash the computer while it is in suspend.

[Greyhound]

81. No, no, no. Repeat after me; "Vista is wonderful, Vista is good. All the problems

you are experiencing are a figment of your imagination". M$, being the kindly and obviously superior creator of this marvel of modern technology, would never ever do anything bad. It is all your fault, or it is some other software, or it is the stupid hardware manufacturer, it is never the fault of M$. Computers are supposed to just stop working sometimes, that's why they have a reset button.

Just shut up and drink your kool-aid and everything will be fine.
:sarcasm:

[seemunkee]

18. Downgrade to XP

I noticed in the ad for Microcenter that all the business PCs came with Vista installed but included a downgrade license to XP.

[NNN0LHI]

29. Still using Windows 95 - First Edition here and it works great

OK you got me I am kidding.

Don

[nonconformist]

31. I'm sticking with XP for the forseeable future

I have two computers running XP with no problems whatsoever. I'd like to keep it that way.

[Deja Q]

32. I've had glitches with Vista but never a Purple Screen of Death (PSOD)...

Mind you: http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=167600301

How much Vista code was written in China?

[Sultana]

33. Is Windows harder to learn than Mac? nt

[Elwood P Dowd]

35. The Mac was much easier for me to learn

but it was back in 1990s when I switched. Haven't used Windows since then.

[Sultana]

36. During my primary school days (mid to late 90s) we used macs

and I thought it was harder but now I love it and I am never going back.

[roamer65]

45. The nicer thing you get with a Mac is a real command prompt.

A UNIX-based command prompt.:thumbsup:

[NewJeffCT]

71. It depends on what you are used to using

If you've used either for any length of time, it's not always an easy switch because certain things become habit.

[GreenTea]

37. I went back to XP Pro SP2

[roamer65]

43. Ah...the wonders of Microslop Winders.

I still use XP (Xtra Problems) for a reason. The devil you know...

[Rex]

46. Saw it three days ago, first time I'd recall seeing the BSOD since WinME.

XP, NOT ONCE, gave me the BSOD! And I hear SP4 will make it faster than Vista and it's first service pack.

Ouch.

Like going from 98 to ME to 2000.

Too greedy. Support a good product or fuck off.

[napi21]

47. Vista has worked just fine for me....at least so far. I've had it for about 6 months

and the only problem I've had was that my digital camera that was 5 years old wasn't Vista compatible, but I could still just remove the card and load the pics from it directly.

[Snarkturian Clone]

49. I just ordered a new computer and specifically indicated

XP instead of Shitsta.

[Alter Ego]

67. Thank God I got a new PC right before Vista.

All I have to do is upgrade the video card and it'll be a gaming juggernaut.