What is the term for a Microsoft error screen indicating a system crash that cannot be recovered?

The term for a Microsoft error screen indicating a system crash that cannot be recovered is known as the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). This screen typically appears when the Windows operating system encounters a critical error from which it cannot recover, often due to hardware failures, driver issues, or other serious problems.

The BSOD presents technical information that can help diagnose the underlying issue causing the crash, including error codes and memory dump information. It serves as a crucial tool for troubleshooting and is well recognized among users as a clear signal of a severe system problem.

Other options, while related to system errors or crashes, do not specifically refer to the unique Windows error screen with the blue background that signifies critical system failures. A kernel panic, for instance, is a term used predominantly in Unix-like operating systems, indicating a similar type of failure but not specific to Microsoft Windows. The term "fatal error screen" is more generic and does not pinpoint the specific feature of Windows. Likewise, a "disk error screen" refers more to issues specifically with storage devices rather than the broader system critical failures denoted by the BSOD.