*Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” created an unusual problem for certain Windows XP-era laptops. Playing the 1989 hit could suddenly crash some machines, Upworthy reports.
An unnamed computer manufacturer reported the unexplained failures to Microsoft. Engineers initially treated the issue as a software problem but soon shifted their investigation in a different direction. Testing revealed the malfunction did not stay limited to the laptop playing the music. Vulnerable computers nearby also crashed in some cases.
“Playing the music video on one laptop caused a laptop sitting nearby to crash, even though that other laptop wasn’t playing the video,” Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen recalled.
That discovery directed investigators toward the computers’ hardware. The affected machines used 5,400 RPM mechanical hard drives. Those drives possessed a natural resonant frequency that matched frequencies present in “Rhythm Nation.”
Scroll to continue reading
When the song played loudly enough, the acoustic vibrations interfered with the spinning hard drive and disrupted its operation. Sound that reached another susceptible machine produced a similar reaction and explained the crashes observed during testing.
Engineers solved the problem without changing the song or replacing the drives. The manufacturer instead added a filter to its audio system that blocked the troublesome frequency before it reached the speakers.
Researchers later cataloged the strange hardware flaw as CVE-2022-38392. Chen revisited the case in April 2025, long after the Windows XP generation of laptops had largely disappeared from use.
Modern computers generally avoid the same risk. Most newer laptops use solid-state drives that contain no spinning disks or other moving components vulnerable to this type of acoustic interference.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Janet Jackson Turns 60 with Emotional Tribute to Michael
We Publish Breaking News 24/7. Don’t Miss Out! Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE.
