Editing Crash (computing) (section)

===Crash to desktop===
A "crash to desktop" (CTD) is said to occur when a [[computer program|program]] (commonly a [[video game]]) unexpectedly quits, abruptly taking the user back to the [[desktop metaphor|desktop]]. Usually, the term is applied only to crashes where no error is displayed, hence all the user sees as a result of the crash is the desktop. Many times there is no apparent action that causes a crash to desktop. During normal function, the program may [[Hang (computing)|freeze]] for a shorter period of time, and then close by itself. Also during normal function, the program may become a [[Black Screen of Death|black screen]] and repeatedly play the last few seconds of [[sound]] (depending on the size of the audio [[data buffer|buffer]]) that was being played before it crashes to desktop. Other times it may appear to be [[Event-driven programming|trigger]]ed by a certain action, such as loading an area.

CTD bugs are considered particularly problematic for users. Since they frequently display no error message, it can be very difficult to track down the source of the problem, especially if the times they occur and the actions taking place right before the crash do not appear to have any pattern or common ground. One way to track down the source of the problem for games is to run them in windowed-mode. Certain operating system versions may feature one or more tools to help track down causes of CTD problems.

Some computer programs such as ''[[StepMania]]'' and BBC's ''[[Bamzooki]]'' also crash to desktop if in full-screen, but display the error in a separate window when the user has returned to the desktop.