High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Red Screen of Death (abbreviated RSoD, sometimes called "Red Screen of Doom") is a nickname for the error message which existed in some beta versions of Microsoft`s operating system, Windows Vista and some video game consoles and handhelds. It was dropped in Beta 1 (Build 5112) of Windows Vista for all errors except boot loader errors. It can also be found (but rarely) in versions and early builds of Microsoft`s Windows 98 operating system, even when it was known as codename "Memphis".