Windows Driver Kit: Driver Development Tools
Blue Screen Data When Microsoft Windows encounters a condition that compromises safe system operation, the system halts. This condition is called a bug check. It is also commonly referred to as a system crash, a kernel error, or a Stop error. If crash dumps are enabled on the system, a crash dump file is created. If a kernel debugger is attached and active, the system causes a break so the debugger can be used to investigate the crash. If no debugger is attached, a blue text screen appears with information about the error. This screen is called a blue screen, a bug check screen, or a Stop screen.
Excerpted from ‘Blue Screen Data‘ in the Microsoft Developer Network.