system resilience Archives

Winsage

July 10, 2025

Windows 11’s new Black Screen of Death is now rolling out

Microsoft is introducing a black version of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) for Windows operating systems, marking the first major redesign since Windows 8. This new BSOD is currently being rolled out to Windows 11 Release Preview users, with a wider release expected soon. The updated design focuses on clarity, providing essential information such as the stop code and faulty system driver to help users and IT administrators identify issues quickly. This change follows previous experiments with a black BSOD in 2021 and coincides with the introduction of the Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) feature in Windows 11, aimed at improving system resilience.

Winsage

July 1, 2025

Microsoft’s ‘Blue Screen of Death’ Dies After 40 Years of Memes, Jokes, T-Shirts

Microsoft is replacing the blue screen of death, a critical error screen for Windows users since 1985, with a new black screen of death for Windows 11, version 24H2 devices later this summer. This change is part of Microsoft's Windows Resiliency Initiative, aimed at improving system resilience and security. The new black screen will provide essential information such as stop codes and faulty system drivers for easier diagnosis by IT administrators. The blue screen of death has become a pop-culture icon, inspiring memes, merchandise, and even a dedicated subreddit.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

Back in black: Microsoft Blue Screen of Death going dark

Microsoft will retire the Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in favor of a black screen as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative (WRI), with the change rolling out later this summer for Windows 11 version 24H2 devices. This update follows a security incident in July 2024 that affected approximately 8.5 million Windows machines. The WRI aims to enhance system resilience by reengineering Windows code and allowing security software to operate outside the Windows kernel, minimizing risks from vendor security code. A private preview of the new Windows endpoint security platform will be available to Microsoft Virus Initiative partners next month.

Tech Optimizer

June 13, 2025

Postgres and the Lakehouse Are Becoming One System — Here’s What Comes Next

Developers are increasingly using Postgres for application needs alongside lakehouse technologies for analytics and data science. Postgres has evolved into a versatile operational database suitable for various applications, while lakehouse technologies enable organizations to manage and analyze large-scale data efficiently. There is a growing synergy between these systems, although they often operate in silos managed by different teams. An emerging architectural paradigm views Postgres and lakehouses as complementary layers within a modular framework to address both operational and analytical requirements. Historically, OLTP systems were used for transactions and OLAP systems for analysis, but this model is shifting. Scenarios such as financial applications requiring real-time risk reports and SaaS applications calculating usage metrics are becoming standard. Effective communication between product-engineering teams managing operational systems and data teams overseeing lakehouse services is essential for enhancing system resilience. A trend called operational medallion architecture incorporates bronze, silver, and gold layers for real-time and user-facing systems. The bronze layer consists of raw data, the silver layer contains cleaned data in Postgres for real-time analytics, and the gold layer features pre-aggregated data for low-latency experiences. Each layer is queryable, allowing for bidirectional data movement between S3 and Postgres. Key developments facilitating the integration of operational databases and lakehouses include the maturation of Iceberg as a flexible table format, the evolution of Postgres with support for various data types and querying capabilities, and a growing demand for composability among developers. The market is moving towards modular, open, and developer-friendly architectures that integrate operational and analytical layers. Future data infrastructure will focus on interconnected components and coherent modern data architecture that serves both operational and non-operational use cases seamlessly.

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Microsoft reveals new tool to help with Windows 11 boot recovery crashes

Microsoft is piloting a Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) tool for Windows 11, available to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel for version 24H2. QMR aims to reduce downtime from boot crashes by activating when a device encounters startup issues, transitioning to Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) to reconnect to the network for crash data analysis. Microsoft can then deliver solutions via Windows Update. The feature will be enabled by default on Windows 11 Home devices, while Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise administrators can manage its functionality. The initial rollout allows IT administrators to enable/disable the tool, configure scanning intervals, and conduct readiness tests. Feedback from users is encouraged to improve the tool, though a timeline for general availability has not been announced.

Winsage

April 1, 2025

Windows’ new Quick Machine Recovery auto-fixes system failures for you

Microsoft is enhancing its recovery tools for Windows 11 with the introduction of Quick Machine Recovery (QMR), currently being tested in the Windows Insider Program’s Beta Channel. QMR allows IT administrators to remotely address boot issues, even if the computer fails to start normally, and utilizes the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to connect to the internet and send diagnostic data to Microsoft for targeted updates via Windows Update. Initially aimed at business users, QMR will also be available to private individuals by default, with administrators in managed IT environments retaining control over its availability. Users can access QMR in the Windows recovery menu under “Advanced Options,” and it is designed to enhance system resilience by automatically identifying errors and implementing solutions.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

A New Microsoft Tool Automatically Detects, Diagnoses, and Resolves Boot Issues in Windows

Microsoft has introduced a tool called "Quick Machine Recovery" to address boot failures in Windows devices. This feature automatically detects, diagnoses, and resolves critical system issues that prevent devices from starting correctly. It is currently available in the Windows Insider Preview Beta Channel for Windows 11, version 24H2. Quick Machine Recovery aims to reduce downtime by automating the diagnostic and remediation processes, allowing IT administrators to deploy targeted fixes directly to affected devices through the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). Key capabilities include automated remediation based on real-time crash data, admin customization options, and a test mode for simulating recovery processes. The recovery process begins when a device enters Windows RE due to a boot failure, utilizing a network connection to communicate with Microsoft’s recovery services. Future updates are expected to enhance networking configuration support. The feature is enabled by default for Windows 11 Home users, while IT administrators for Pro and Enterprise devices can customize its deployment.

Winsage

November 19, 2024

New Windows 11 recovery tool to let admins remotely fix unbootable devices

Microsoft is introducing a feature called "Quick Machine Recovery" to help IT administrators remotely fix unbootable systems via Windows Update, following a significant outage in July 2024 caused by a problematic update to the CrowdStrike Falcon software. This outage affected various critical sectors globally, leading to issues like boot loops and the Blue Screen of Death for users. The Quick Machine Recovery feature will allow targeted fixes without physical access to the machines and is expected to roll out in early 2025 for Windows 11 Insider Program participants. Additionally, Microsoft is working with security vendors on the Microsoft Virus Initiative (MVI) to develop tools that allow security software to operate outside the Windows kernel, reducing risks associated with kernel-level access. This initiative includes adopting Safe Deployment Practices for gradual and monitored updates. A private preview of these developments will be available in July 2025. Microsoft has also launched a new Windows 11 administrator protection feature and is focusing significant resources on security challenges through its Secure Future Initiative (SFI).