Microsoft blanks out BSODs on public displays with new ‘Digital Signage mode’

Microsoft has added a new Windows mode that blanks out the Blue Screen of Death on public displays after 15 seconds.

Redmond designed this new “Digital Signage mode” for non-interactive displays used in public. When admins enable this mode, Windows will display the BSOD for just 15 seconds. An administrator will then need to use an affected device’s keyboard and/or mouse to make the display light up again.

It’s not just the Blue Screen of Death, which is now black, that will cause the screen to turn off. Microsoft’s announcement says that Digital Signage mode “helps ensure no Windows screens or error dialogs will show.” PCs that produce pop-up dialog boxes reporting errors on public displays will therefore also go dark after 15 seconds.

None of this works in Kiosk mode, by the way. It’s only for digital signage.

And it also likely means the ...