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Large User Groups Cause Spontaneous Greying

tiny69 writes "According to Microsoft, a Person's hair turns grey if there are more than 500 users in a User Group. Supposedly, the grey hair does not affect the functionality of the User Group. Microsoft claims to have a solution to fix the problem. How many people do you know that have hair that has turned grey? This web site has a large collection of links to humorous Microsoft Knowledge Base articles."

44 of 385 comments (clear)

  1. What a Suprise by Herkum01 · · Score: 5, Funny

    My hair would turn grey too if I had to support 500 Windows users.

    1. Re:What a Suprise by garcia · · Score: 4, Funny

      Looks like the hair of the guy who runs this site just had their hair turn grey as they were supporting 500,000 Slashdot users.

    2. Re:What a Suprise by momogasuki · · Score: 3, Funny

      This only applies to Windows, though. Under Linux, hair regrowth occurs.

    3. Re:What a Suprise by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      I've got hair on the palm of my right hand. Does that count?

    4. Re:What a Suprise by value_added · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Looks like the hair of the guy who runs this site just had their hair turn grey as they were supporting 500,000 Slashdot users."

      Out of curiosity, anyone have figures for how many slashdotters make a slasdhotting?

      I'd ask the folks at jazzkeyboard, but they're ... well, slashdotted.

  2. Shaking my head... by ErikTheRed · · Score: 4, Funny

    Actually, the humor value makes these far more useful than most Microsoft Knowledge Base articles....

    --

    Help save the critically endangered Blue Iguana
    1. Re:Shaking my head... by cloudmaster · · Score: 3, Informative

      You forgot RFC 1149 - Standard for the transmission of IP datagrams on avian carriers. Then there's 748 and 1097 for amusing TELNET options, 1605 for SONNET to Sonnet translation, 2324 and 2325 for managing coffee pots, etc. RFC 1924 is one that's a bit more subtle in its humor. A google search for "amusing RFCs" will get a more complete list, since it's difficult to remember them all. :)

  3. Cue Roasted Server Jokes by prichardson · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'll start... I wonder if Microsoft has a Knowledge Base article regarding your server catching fire when you get linked from Slashdot?

    --
    Help I'm a rock.
    1. Re:Cue Roasted Server Jokes by cRueLio · · Score: 5, Funny
      well, if the server is running BeOS, you can always check by calling is_computer_on_fire()

      note: this function actually exists in the beos kernel kit, it is defined as
      double is_computer_on_fire(void)
  4. You should see my boss... by TheOtherAgentM · · Score: 5, Funny

    His hair isn't gray. It's gone. Supporting Windows also causes baldness.

  5. Plenty by powerpuffgirls · · Score: 5, Funny

    How many people do you know that have hair that has turned grey?

    My granparents to start with, then a couple of old folks in the neighbourhood, and Harrison Ford too..

  6. and.. by aaron_ds · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news, Linux gives you a bigger penis.

    1. Re:and.. by mcpkaaos · · Score: 4, Funny

      All the more reason for my girlfriend to switch back to XP.

      --
      It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
    2. Re:and.. by jpmkm · · Score: 5, Funny

      So you prefer your girlfriend to have a small penis?

    3. Re:and.. by FuzzyBad-Mofo · · Score: 4, Funny

      I just knew there was a reason my boyfriend encouraged me to switch to Linux..

    4. Re:and.. by pVoid · · Score: 4, Funny
      Me fail english? That's unpossible...

      You'd never think Ralph wiggum would end up being trumped by none other than the president of the United States himself.

  7. Myself, I like... by herrvinny · · Score: 4, Informative

    Myself, I like Calculator Does Not Reliably Subtract Two Numbers in Windows

    Then what's the point of using a calculator in the first place?

    1. Re:Myself, I like... by Biogenesis · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Woulden't that happen sometimes because of floating point errors in the FPU anyway?

    2. Re:Myself, I like... by unixbum · · Score: 5, Informative
      Myself, I like Calculator Does Not Reliably Subtract Two Numbers in Windows
      Probably get marked troll for this but, taken off the supplied link.
      The information in this article applies to:
      Microsoft Windows 3.0
      Microsoft Windows 3.0a
      Microsoft Windows 3.1
      Microsoft Windows 3.11
      Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
      Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
      This bug only affects Windows 3.0-3.11
    3. Re:Myself, I like... by acm · · Score: 4, Informative
      Raymond Chen had a good blog entry about that problem here:

      The innards of Calc - the arithmetic engine - was completely thrown away and rewritten from scratch. The standard IEEE floating point library was replaced with an arbitrary-precision arithmetic library. This was done after people kept writing ha-ha articles about how Calc couldn't do decimal arithmetic correctly, that for example computing 10.21 - 10.2 resulted in 0.0100000000000016.

      (These all came from people who didn't understand how computers handle floating point. I have a future entry planned to go into floating point representations in more detail.)

      Today, Calc's internal computations are done with infinite precision for basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and 32 digits of precision for advanced operations (square root, transcendental operators).

    4. Re:Myself, I like... by ColaMan · · Score: 4, Funny

      It can do infinite precision, you just have to enter all the digits of Pi first.

      --

      You are in a twisty maze of processor lines, all alike.
      There is a lot of hype here.
  8. Built in bug? by Biogenesis · · Score: 3, Funny

    The headings in the article are "Symptoms" and "Resolution". Why have they made out like this is a bug when it's just a feature?

  9. Re:Going Grey by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Funny

    "I get grey hair just thinking about Windows. Is that in the knowledge base?"

    Are the grey hairs I got trying to make sound work in KDE in the Linux knowledgebase?

    (Well I figure we might as well translate this joke to both sides.)

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  10. many are not even remotely amusing by SuperBanana · · Score: 5, Insightful
    This web site has a large collection of links to humorous Microsoft Knowledge Base articles

    Um, no, they're really not.

    Sampling:

    • Article about how an IBM flat panel monitor causes interference with the MS wireless mouse. Hahahahaaha. Not.
    • Article about how the user group ICON changes to one with grey hair. Not some amusing article about user groups(as in LUGs) as was implied. It's also not "spontaneous", it happens at exactly 500 users. Every single time. It's a small feature, really, that probably confused some MCSE's.
    • broken link to a supposed "pandora's box program" article.
    • the ages old, stupid "keyboard not present press F1 to continue"(WHEN YOU HAVE PLUGGED IN A $#@!ING KEYBOARD, when will you people understand it's not even remotely funny)
    • Article about how you can't eject a laptop from its docking station if one of the docking station ports is in use. HAHAHA. Not.

    I like geeky humor as much as the next slashdot reader, but many of the "funny "articles aren't even remotely funny- many of them describe some unusual problem, and that's it.

    There are a few gems(How to Read the Fucking Manual is amusing in that it's even there), but in general, they REALLY stretched the definition of "funny" on many of these submissions.

    1. Re:many are not even remotely amusing by real_smiff · · Score: 4, Interesting
      it got modded by mods who also happened to not find it funny. personally, i normally don't find geek humour funny, but some of these i liked. e.g.

      • Q269916: Office Assistant Makes Sudden Loud Noise
      • Q261186: Computer Randomly Plays Classical Music
      • Q264642: Scenery Shudders Violently When You Fly the Concorde
      • Q284895: Text Is Typed by Office Assistant Sounds When Microphone Is Turned off or Unplugged (actually super annoying when it happens i bet)

      sure it's not deep lasting humour but it's ok for a quick laugh.

      others are just lame (Cookies Lost After Upgrading to Windows XP, whatever could that mean, or Q323927: How to Resurrect a Dead Character, yes i bet it's not a game), or like Q174630: Windows Restarts Continuously with Blue Screen, just not funny. at least for anyone who's had to deal with windows computers.

      that page needs cutting down.

      --

      This is my Sig, this is my Gun. One is for Slashdot and one is for Fun.

  11. Re:I posted this earlier today by powerpuffgirls · · Score: 3, Informative

    It's because some browsers (like my Firefox) use google.com to search for the typo, and sure enough, www.microsoft.com is the first link if you search http in google.com.

    If you enter "imoou" in the Firefox address field (without anything else, just imoou), you'll get redirected to the first link as if you search the same term in google.com.

  12. You can't make some of this stuff up... by UnCivil+Liberty · · Score: 5, Funny

    The power of Christ compels thee! SATAN Causes High Memory Utilization in WUSER32

    Drr... Network Adapter Does Not Work if Unplugged

    404 ;) Barney Fun on Imagination Island Error Message: Barney Not Found

    Thank god Mozilla remembers passwords Error Message: Your Password Must Be at Least 18770 Characters and Cannot Repeat Any of Your Previous 30689 Passwords

    !!! Explorapedia Nature: Earth Rotates in Wrong Direction

    (insert your own quip here) Personalized Start Page Appears Upside Down and Backwards

    After installing MS-DOS on a computer system with both MS-DOS and UNIX, your SCO UNIX login sign disappears. - no complaints here UNIX Login Sign Disappears After Installing MS-DOS

    MS gets straight to the point Homepub Error Message: Something Is Missing...

    Can you hear me now? WD2002: Text Is Typed by Office Assistant Sounds When Microphone Is Turned off or Unplugged

    They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery Left Mouse Button Click Acts Like Right Mouse Button Click

    Hunny I shrunk the kids part 4 MSB Human Body Minimizes When Printing To HP Deskjet

    So what happens if you create a Windows folder in /windows? Erratic Behavior Occurs If You Create a "Desktop" Folder on the Desktop

    You don't say... ACC2000: Opening and Closing a Form Hundreds of Times Noticeably Affects System Resources

    Rim shot please... Julia Child Err Msg: Insufficient Memory to Function

    Has happened to me before Plus! 98: Computer Hangs When You Start Lose Your Marbles

    Douglas Adams couldn't top this "Object Not Found" Error Message Accessing "The Known Universe" in MMS

    And an oil change... MSB Solar: ErrMsg: Magic School Bus Needs More Memory

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    1. Re:You can't make some of this stuff up... by herrvinny · · Score: 4, Funny

      From SMS: SATAN Causes High Memory Utilization in WUSER32:

      The Security Administrator Tool for Analyzing Networks (SATAN) is a UNIX- based testing and reporting tool that collects a variety of information about networked hosts. SATAN will attempt to access many UDP and TCP ports across the network in a very short space of time.

      That proves it! UNIX is evil! Burn UNIX!

  13. This could be a feature! by earthforce_1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Other suggestions:
    Hair stands on end if system under attack
    Hair falls out if virus detected
    Receeding hairline indicates time to patch the system
    Punk green hairstyle means hacker detected

    --
    My rights don't need management.
  14. why would joe sixpack be managing a domain? by SuperBanana · · Score: 4, Informative
    How in the world do you expect the mythical "Joe Sixpack" to manage that?

    Why would the mythical Joe Sixpack be managing a computer or domain with 500 users, and further, be bothered enough by the different icon color? A company with 500 windows users damn well better have an experienced windows tech.

    It's probably there to help some poor geek in a fortune-500 whose PHB declares, "fix that" and makes him waste a week on it so the department looks busy.

  15. Re:Mouse dos by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Apparently some people think that MS-DOS never used the mouse for anything, or something like that. I remember lots of DOS programs that used the mouse, and one of the neat features of both the Windows and OS/2 DOS shells was that you could use the mouse in a shell without having to squeeze a mouse driver into the 640k + himem alloted the DOS session.

    A lot of those links weren't funny at all, the only one that got me to laugh was a fake geocities page on the intricies of how to RTFM.

  16. Re:I posted this earlier today by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 3, Informative

    As many have pointed out, Microsoft has nothing to do with this. (Please remove foil hats before moderating, people -- they may block government mind scanners, but they also seem to prevent intelligent thought.) In Opera, it becomes http://www.http.com/www.ebay.com, which seems to be owned by SearchMachine.com (it's one of those stupid advertising sites masquerading as a portal or search engine.)

    --

    How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
  17. My favorite by Quixote · · Score: 5, Funny

    Computer Randomly Plays Classical Music I don't know about you folks, but it would freak me out if my computer suddenly started playing classical music on it's own.

  18. my favourite is # 824973 by TomDLux · · Score: 5, Funny


    This article discusses how to install Red Hat Linux 6.2 on Microsoft Virtual PC 5 for Macintosh.


    Talk about indecisive people.

  19. Microsoft Products Cause Trichotillomania by mbstone · · Score: 4, Funny

    Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 12AFB02819B23

    Attempted Debugging of Microsoft Products Causes Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling)

    IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure you wear a helmet to avoid the obsessive-compulsive disorder-inducing effects of attempting to modify the registry.

    SYMPTOMS
    If a user attempts to debug a problem with certain Microsoft products, the user will become frustrated and pull all of his or her hair out. This issue affects operating systems, servers, workstations, networking components, application programs, user groups, end user support personnel, and the ability to get a date.

    RESOLUTION
    WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may exacerbate the problem. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you will be able to regrow your hair either with the assistance of a psychiatrist or with Rogaine(TM). Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

    Windows debugging is inherently frustrating and causes users, administrators, managers, and shareholders to pull all their hair out, sometimes with needlenose pliers.

    You can override this behavior in the registry. To do so, modify the FormatHardDiskOnStartup REG_DWORD value in the following registry key:
    HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Run ,Dammi t!

    The default value is 0x0; change this value to 0x1.

    STATUS
    Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the end of this article.

    WORKAROUND
    It feels good when you stop. Also, try Hair Club for Men.

    PRODUCTS AFFECTED
    Windows 3.1
    Windows 95
    Windows 98
    Windows ME
    Windows NT
    Windows 2000
    Windows XP
    Windows Server 2000
    Windows Advanced Server 2000
    Windows Server 2003
    Windows Advanced Server 2003
    Windows Media Player
    Windows Update
    Microsoft Word
    Microsoft Excel
    Microsoft Visio
    Microsoft Flight Simulator
    Microsoft Access
    Microsoft SQL Server
    Microsoft PowerPoint
    Microsoft Visual Studio

  20. I WUV YOU, YOU WUV ME... by brownpau · · Score: 4, Funny
  21. Nothing beats Clarus, the Dogcow by adenied · · Score: 4, Funny

    Some of these are amusing, but nothing beats Clarus the Dogcow of Apple fame. See for instance Apple technote TN1031:

    http://developer.apple.com/technotes/tn/tn1031.h tm l

    Or the original, TN31 which Apple seems to have removed from their website recently.

    Moof.

  22. It's not really a joke... by LostCluster · · Score: 5, Informative

    The icon hair color changes from dark to gray in order to indicate that the statuses aren't going to be queried in advance of the user wanting to see details on the group... it's not really an easter egg, it's a feature. Gray is the color in the computer world to indicate such inactive states, isn't it?

  23. Keep in mind.... by solios · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is slashdot, where User Friendly is the shit. And about as funny, imo.

    Go ahead, flamebate me- point is that a sense of humor is a highly relative thing- one man's OMFGWTFROTFLMAO!!!1 is another man's "man, I just wasted $minutes of my life on this shit."

    Cases in point : Saturday Night Live and User Friendly.

  24. I like this one by SomeGuyFromCA · · Score: 5, Funny

    Only one hemisphere of the planet Mercury has a bitmap surface. The other hemisphere is a smooth gray surface.

    Their explanation: The planet textures used in Space Simulator are compiled from NASA photographs and reference material. The NASA data on Mercury is incomplete, covering only one hemisphere of the planet. One hemisphere was therefore intentionally left blank, reflecting this lack of data.

    Well, how inconsiderate of them. They should have put THIS SIDE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK or something...

    --
    if the answer isn't violence, neither is your silence / freedom of expression doesn't make it alright
  25. Re:Calculator - Missing Sqrt, Arc-trig functions by general_re · · Score: 4, Informative
    Yeah, and the Windows calculator is also way too big and heavy to hang from your belt loop or put in your pocket.

    Seriously, get real for a minute - it's purely a convenience thing, not something intended to be a full-blown replacement for your HP-48 or whatever. People who need full-fledged scientific calculators probably already have one to begin with, and therefore just about nobody is going to care that you can't do arctans in the Windows calc. And the very few who do demand such things on their desktops can readily find more advanced calculators elsewhere.

    --
    ABSURDITY, n.: A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion.
  26. Re:...and the obligatory Windows bashing. by deranged+unix+nut · · Score: 3, Insightful

    1) This is a feature in Active Directory Users and Computers, not normally used by Joe Sixpack, to give administrators a quick and easy way to see which groups have a bunch of users in them.

    2) Joe Sixpack, while he might be able to with Windows Server 2003, isn't likely to spend the time to deploy DDNS, Windows Server 2000 or 2003, configure Active Directory, and then add his closest 500 friends into a single group and then wonder why the icon for the group changed color.

    3) Out of 1000 administrators who would even hit this and be aware enough to notice it, how many do you expect would be disturbed enough by this feature to want to dig in and turn it off? My guess is that it would be in the single digits.

  27. Re:Calculator - Missing Sqrt, Arc-trig functions by TwistedSquare · · Score: 5, Informative
    how do you do arc-trig functions? ... No hyperbolic trig functions, either.

    Look on the top left of the calculator in scientific mode. There is an "inv" tickbox and a "hyp" one. To get arc-trig, tick the inv box, then click sin. Likewise, sinh can be performed by ticking hyp then pressing sin. Not the most obvious solution but not too bad either imho.

  28. I wish I had hair to turn grey. by kgroombr · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why complain about hair turning grey. At least there is hope to change the color. Skin is kinda hard to turn back into hair.