crash to desktop

plural crashes to desktop · alternative crash-to-desktop

1. computingAn event where a software program running on a computer with an operating system that features a graphical desktop unexpectedly terminates without showing any error or halting of the system, and instead returns the user to the desktop.

   The only force more powerful than the nuclear bunker-buster is the crash to desktop.

   2008, PC Gamer, volume 15, GP Publications, page 6

   2 more examples

   Five months in the making, this latest effort goes a long way in fixing various avionics, campaign, AI, multiplayer and crash-to-desktop issues (see the patch on this month's demo disk).

   c. 1999, Computer Gaming World - Volumes 181-185, Golden Empire Publications

   You're right in the middle of a thrilling fight with the bad guy and then what happens? A crash to desktop (CTD).

   2012, Michael Meyers, Mike Meyers' CompTIA A+ Guide to 802 Managing and ..., McGraw Hill Professional, →ISBN

   Synonyms: CTD

present singular third person crashes to desktop · participle present crashing to desktop · participle past crashed to desktop · past crashed to desktop · alternative crash-to-desktop

1. computingTo experience such an error.

   Finally, as if that wasn't punishment enough, the game crashed to desktop several times during my tests.

   2007, PC Gamer, volume 14, numbers 4-6, GP Publications, page 69

   2 more examples

   Some programs, especially online games, tend to have coding problems that leave them with memory holes - in other words, they don't delete information from your PC's memory once they're finished with it, they just keep adding and adding until everything overflows. Eventually, this can cause the game to crash to desktop, but adding more memory can help prevent this.

   2008, Adam Oxford, Windows Vista - Autumn 2008, Future US, →ISSN, page 67

   Despite extensive planning and countless rounds of testing, we found out (much too late) to our chagrin that the game would “crash to desktop” on certain computers.

   2009, Gibson, David, Baek, Young Kyun, Digital Simulations for Improving Education: Learning Through Artificial Teaching Environments: Learning Through Artificial Teaching Environments, IGI Global, →ISBN, page 418