Introduction
Computers are complex machines, and their hardware can sometimes manifest quirky issues that baffle even the most experienced IT professionals. In this article, we explore three of the most challenging and peculiar hardware anomalies we encountered during our work. These stories highlight the unpredictable nature of computer hardware and some of the creative solutions we devised to resolve them.
The Voltage-Drop Mystery
The Problem: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a team at a company faced a perplexing issue with their network servers. Users complained of network errors, yet the servers appeared to be functioning normally. Restarting the server would restore service, which proved to be a temporary fix. This issue persisted for months, despite the best efforts of the server operations, network, and software teams to resolve it.
The team discovered that the problem could be reproduced by turning on a hot plate. Specifically, the device used to brew coffee in the accounting department would cause the network to fail whenever the hot plate was turned on. The server became unreachable, and it required a restart to resolve the issue. This phenomenon was consistent, happening every time the hot plate was turned on—and two floors up, where the server was located.
The Working Theory: After much investigation, the team hypothesized that the slight voltage drop caused by the hot plate might be making its way through the power supply to the network cable. This electrical anomaly or invalid network packet could then trigger a bug in the network card of the server, making it unreachable. However, power supplies are designed to stabilize voltage, so how could this be happening?
One theory proposed that the power supply in the server was faulty. To test this, they replaced the server with one from a neighboring office. It worked—there was no longer any issue turning on the hot plate. Hence, the issue was identified as a faulty server power supply.
The Solution: The solution was straightforward—replace the faulty server with a working one from a colleague. Ensuring the colleague didn't start brewing coffee on her hot plate was also crucial to avoid any further network disruptions. This case study highlights the impact of environment on hardware performance and the importance of differential troubleshooting.
The Improperly Inserted Disc
The Problem: Another issue we encountered involved a secretary at the company who was experiencing trouble running 5.25" discs on her computer. We were tasked with resolving this issue, and it turned out to be much more unusual than expected. The secretary brought a problematic disc to our attention, and after inspecting it, we discovered that it had been stapled.
The disc was stapled through and stapled in such a way that it couldn't be read. After carefully extracting the stapled disc, the secretary was able to run the software without any issues. The solution was simple—remove the stapler from the disc!
The Lesson: This case underscores the unintended consequences of everyday office items being improperly integrated into technology. It also serves as a reminder to be cautious with office supplies around delicate technology.
The Unusual Case of the Squirrel
The Problem: A particularly unusual issue occurred with the FA artillery computer, FADAC. This massive computer was housed on a trailer and used for artillery calculations. One time, when the repair team opened the back of the machine, they found a family of squirrels had made a nest inside the computer. The squirrels had chewed through some components, causing malfunctions in the system.
The Solution: To resolve the issue, the team had to remove the squirrels and their nest, clean the machine, and replace any damaged components. This case is a reminder that even high-tech systems can be affected by non-human elements, and regular maintenance and inspection are crucial to keep a computer running smoothly.
Conclusions
These cases illustrate the unpredictable nature of hardware issues and the importance of thorough and methodical troubleshooting. Each of these anomalies showcased unique challenges and required innovative solutions to resolve. Understanding the interconnectedness of hardware components and their potential interactions with the environment is key to resolving complex hardware issues.