Some Methods To Crash Your Windows & Linux Machines

There may be occasions were you want to test a new system - its integrity and ability to recover from an unforeseen crash, by deliberately thrashing it. This article explains how you can forcefully crash a Windows and Linux PC.

How To Crash a Windows PC?

You may be surprised to know that Windows has a built-in self-crashing mechanism (no pun intended). Though it is quite easy to crash a Windows box whenever you doesn't want it to crash, it may be quite difficult to reproduce the scenario, when you desperately want your box crashed. So here we give you two methods to crash your Windows box.

1. Method 1: Windows Built-in Self Crasher
   This method produces the 'awesome' BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) that you are no doubt familiar with. The PC gets locked up and the only way to recover is to reboot it. Just follow these steps:
   
   
   • Run Regedit (Start -> Run -> regedit)
   • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\i8042prt\Parameters
   • Create a new DWORD value with name CrashOnCtrlScroll and give it a value 1
   • Reboot the PC
   Now whenever you want to see the cute blue screen (and crash your system), press and hold the Ctrl key on the right side of the keyboard and hit the Scroll Lock key twice. Ahh, the joy of ecstasy!
   
2. Method 2: Using a Windows Fork Bomb
   Just copy the following lines into a new text file and name it as crashme.bat. Double click on that file.
   

   :s<br />start %0<br />%0|%0<br />goto :s<br />

How To Crash a Linux PC?

Though long known for its stability, you might be surprised to know how easy it is to thrash a Linux PC.
Take a terminal and enter :(){ :|:& };:
Hit enter. Don't try this in a production machine. Instant crash guaranteed!. You'll have to reboot to recover.

Know any better ways to thrash a system. Tell us in the comments.