Please do not touch the exhibits – or this tabletop Windows Boot Manager
(2021/08/16)
- Reference: 1629112812
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/08/16/bork/
- Source link:
Bork!Bork!Bork! There are some things in life that are not meant to be touched – museum exhibits, the biscuit tin that you're not supposed to know about, Microsoft Windows...
People have shoved the operating system into all sorts of places over the years. Even Microsoft itself has crowbarred the poor thing into jumped-up whiteboards and eye-wateringly expensive tables in recent times.
Then there are the signage manufacturers who have taken matters into their own hands, with occasionally less than successful results.
[1]
One example of Windows being somewhere it doesn't belong lurks within the hallowed walls of the UK's National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.
[2]
[3]
The location, among the flora and fauna of Hampshire's New Forest, is notable for an impressive collection of vehicles of both the four and two-wheel variety and a gloriously wobbly fibre-glass carriaged monorail (nearing the 50th anniversary of its arrival) that will take passengers on a tour of the estate and over the heads of museum visitors.
We were delighted to find the monorail still in action during our last visit, and just as green as our schoolboy selves saw it all those years ago. Sadly, a picture submitted by Rich Skuse hints that all might not be well from an IT perspective.
[4]
Click to enlarge
The dread Windows boot manager is occupying the space normally reserved for some sort of interactive display. The exhibits might have signs warning against touching, but not that table. No need, really. Windows is, after all, having a bad time of things.
[5]Elevating bork to a new level (if the touchscreen worked)
[6]Come fly with me. But first we need to find a boot device
[7]Never Knowingly Underborked: Double trouble at Southampton's John Lewis
[8]Steam-powered computers: Retro cool or old and busted?
As for what has caused the error, it looks like a reboot and a duff hard disc. Sadly, a lack of keyboard and mouse meant any further fun and games weren't on the cards. It is also possible that the machine has been reactivated after a lengthy pandemic-induced rest – computer hardware does not always respond well to a prolonged period without power.
Still, we're delighted to note that the [9]Motor Museum is open to visitors. Even if Windows remains resolutely closed for business. ®
Get our [10]Tech Resources
[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/bootnotes&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YRqLtp-g3mp08uefu7Cs7gAAAJg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/bootnotes&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YRqLtp-g3mp08uefu7Cs7gAAAJg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/bootnotes&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YRqLtp-g3mp08uefu7Cs7gAAAJg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://regmedia.co.uk/2021/08/12/bork_4.jpg
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/12/bork/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/11/bork/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/10/bork/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/27/bork/
[9] https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/
[10] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
People have shoved the operating system into all sorts of places over the years. Even Microsoft itself has crowbarred the poor thing into jumped-up whiteboards and eye-wateringly expensive tables in recent times.
Then there are the signage manufacturers who have taken matters into their own hands, with occasionally less than successful results.
[1]
One example of Windows being somewhere it doesn't belong lurks within the hallowed walls of the UK's National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.
[2]
[3]
The location, among the flora and fauna of Hampshire's New Forest, is notable for an impressive collection of vehicles of both the four and two-wheel variety and a gloriously wobbly fibre-glass carriaged monorail (nearing the 50th anniversary of its arrival) that will take passengers on a tour of the estate and over the heads of museum visitors.
We were delighted to find the monorail still in action during our last visit, and just as green as our schoolboy selves saw it all those years ago. Sadly, a picture submitted by Rich Skuse hints that all might not be well from an IT perspective.
[4]
Click to enlarge
The dread Windows boot manager is occupying the space normally reserved for some sort of interactive display. The exhibits might have signs warning against touching, but not that table. No need, really. Windows is, after all, having a bad time of things.
[5]Elevating bork to a new level (if the touchscreen worked)
[6]Come fly with me. But first we need to find a boot device
[7]Never Knowingly Underborked: Double trouble at Southampton's John Lewis
[8]Steam-powered computers: Retro cool or old and busted?
As for what has caused the error, it looks like a reboot and a duff hard disc. Sadly, a lack of keyboard and mouse meant any further fun and games weren't on the cards. It is also possible that the machine has been reactivated after a lengthy pandemic-induced rest – computer hardware does not always respond well to a prolonged period without power.
Still, we're delighted to note that the [9]Motor Museum is open to visitors. Even if Windows remains resolutely closed for business. ®
Get our [10]Tech Resources
[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/bootnotes&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YRqLtp-g3mp08uefu7Cs7gAAAJg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/bootnotes&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YRqLtp-g3mp08uefu7Cs7gAAAJg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/bootnotes&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YRqLtp-g3mp08uefu7Cs7gAAAJg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://regmedia.co.uk/2021/08/12/bork_4.jpg
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/12/bork/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/11/bork/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/10/bork/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/27/bork/
[9] https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/
[10] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
GlenP
I already knew the brakes on my car would need doing for the MOT (they'd been an advisory previously) but the garage reckoned they'd replaced loads due to lock-down inactivity.
Graham Dawson
This is why you take the handbrake off when you expect to park for more than a couple of days. Chock the wheels, leave it in gear. If nothing else, it stops the pads fusing with the discs.
My-Handle
I did not know that. Thanks for the tip.
HildyJ
"...computer hardware does not always respond well to a prolonged period without power"
Nothing responds well to a prolonged period without power.
It's why we have coffee.
...computer hardware does not always respond well to a prolonged period without power
I've been working in computing for most of my working life, but I only got in to car mechanicing fairly recently. One of the first lessons I learned was that there are very few cars (or machines in general) out there that take kindly to not being used for any great length of time.
My other half's 4x4 ran out it's MOT and sat on the drive for six weeks. By the time I came to take a look at it prior to it's booked text the battery was stone dead. Even once charged, it wouldn't hold the charge for longer than a day. Even over six weeks, the brakes had lightly seized and the discs were lightly rusted. She made a right old clunk when I got her moving again, then I ran her up and down the lane a few times to clean the discs up again.