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Windows Upgrade, FAA Error Cause LAX Shutdown

Posted by michael on from the first-woodpecker-to-come-along dept.

fname writes "The recent shutdown of LAX due to an FAA radio outage was apparently caused by a Windows 2000 integration flaw, possibility related to an old Windows 95 bug. An article at the LA Times claims that the outage was caused by human error, as the system will automatically shut down after 49.7 days (related to this Windows 95 flaw?), and a technician didn't reboot the system monthly as he should have. This happened after an upgrade from Unix to Windows. I don't think blame should be assigned to the technician who missed the task; rather, it seems a gross oversight for the FAA to guarantee that such a critical system will crash after only one missed maintenance task. Who's really at fault?"

8 of 862 comments (clear)

  1. "Upgrade"? by thelenm · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Upgrade" from Unix to Windows, eh. You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

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  2. What?! by ottergoose · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought switching to Windows from *nix saved time, money, and hassle! Haven't you guys seen those banner ads here?

  3. Re:Repent, Sinners! by Da+Twink+Daddy · · Score: 5, Funny

    You have to love a system that requires downtime as part of uptime. How many Linux users have this problem? (Please press the Start button to shut down (stop) the computer.)

    Sure,

    init 6
    doesn't sound like it should start (initialize) anything...
  4. 49.7 days by k4_pacific · · Score: 5, Funny

    I remember back when that bug was announced. Seems it was at least a couple of years after Windows 95 had been out. I guess they had to work through a lot of other bugs to get Windows 95 to make it long enough for this bug to occur.

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    Unknown host pong.
  5. Re:Migration by legirons · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Why did they move from Unix to Windows in the first place?"

    Maybe they didn't want to have to reboot on January 19, 2038

  6. Ouch, poor ad placement by Eric+Seppanen · · Score: 5, Funny
    Headline:
    Microsoft server crash nearly causes 800-plane pile-up
    failure to restart system caused data overload

    giant advertisement:

    Make a name for yourself with Windows Server System
    I'm thinking that maybe "the guy that almost crashed a bunch of planes" is not the name they were looking for.

    (I'm not making this up- that's really the ad I'm seeing.)

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    314-15-9265
  7. Re:Anyone want to clue them in to scheduled jobs? by Billy+the+Mountain · · Score: 5, Funny

    Each M T W Th R S Su 12:45 AM shutdown /l /r /y /c

    We have used that exact script for YEARS to nightly reboot a troublesome NT4 BDC at a remote location.

    Does it work on Friday? You might want to check on that...

    BTM

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  8. Pray You Never Hear This by craXORjack · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ladies and Gentlemen, at this time the Captain would like to ask you to remain seated with your seatbelt firmly fastened, however if there are any computer technicians flying with us today, especially if they know what to do when a 'Fatal Exception has occured at 0029:C02FDEC6', would that person please come forward to the cabin immediately?

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    Liberals call everyone Nazis yet they are the closest thing to it.