Assist chap put PC into ‘drying mode’ and customers believed it was actual

Who, Me? How pleasant it’s, pricey reader, to fulfill with you as soon as once more on the confessional sofa we name Who, Me? upon which Reg readers unburden themselves by sharing tales of issues they in all probability ought to not have carried out.

This week, we once more hear from semi-regular contributor and raconteur “Bernard” from rural Center England. You might bear in mind his tussle with a neighborhood fireplace station which we described a couple of weeks in the past.

This time Bernard has a story of a extra mischievous nature.

Again within the Eighties, when PCs had been newish, the native authority for which Bernard plied his commerce was primarily based in a considerably upgraded Victorian-era constructing that was not totally match for goal. For one factor, the roof often leaked.

One damp Tuesday morning, Bernard obtained a name from the Inner Audit division (one of many few departments that had its very personal PC) complaining that the roof had leaked (as was its wont).

The resident PC had due to this fact turn out to be considerably damp. May something be carried out?

Bernard rushed to evaluate the injury, and realised that in actual fact the water had not penetrated the inside of the machine (oh they constructed them powerful again then) and software of a towel sufficed to make sure it was match to renew opreations.

Then an imp whispered naughtiness into Bernard’s ear: would not or not it’s enjoyable to have a jolly jape on the expense of the auditors?

Now, for a little bit of context, the auditors weren’t recognized for his or her receptiveness to japes, jolly or in any other case. As Bernard places it: “These ogres had been feared by all. Fierce, unbending, implacable, stern and humorless. Their phrase was legislation.”

So positive, why not play a joke on them?

Because it occurred, Bernard had with him a floppy disk containing some prank shareware applications (this was earlier than the web, thoughts you). “I am going to simply set up some take a look at software program,” he stated, inserting his 5¼-inch weapon of selection. A number of changes to autoexec.bat later, the deed was carried out.

What he had put in was a utility that might spin the floppy drive motor up and down, making a sound not not like a washer on a spin cycle. It had a delay in order that it would not run till 5 minutes after booting, to permit Bernard to make his escape.

Positive sufficient, shortly after returning to his desk, he obtained a panicked cellphone name from an auditor: “The PC seems like a washer! What is going on on?”

“Oh, it is simply drying itself out – no drawback” replied Bernard, hanging up as quick as he may earlier than dropping composure.

Naturally, the prank software program was finally uninstalled and defined to its victims. A lot to Bernard’s reduction, they stated they weren’t truly mad about it. Simply … curious.

Simply as The Register is inquisitive about how these fearsome auditors retaliated when Bernard’s affairs subsequent got here beneath their withering gaze.

In case you have a story of technical tomfoolery you have been dying to share with the world, share it with us right here within the type of an e-mail to Who, Me? and we’ll make you (anonymously) well-known. ®