Longtime readers of The Verge may remember the intriguing tale surrounding the music video for Janet Jackson's iconic song, “Rhythm Nation”. This fascinating story highlights how playing the music video could potentially cause certain Windows laptops to crash, creating an unexpected intersection between pop culture and technology. In a recent blog post shared by Microsoft employee Raymond Chen, it was revealed that a special audio filter, designed to combat this issue, remained in use until at least Windows 7.
For those who are unfamiliar, the story dates back to 2022 when Chen recounted an incident involving a “major computer manufacturer.” This company had to develop a custom audio filter specifically to address the complications that arose when certain frequencies in the “Rhythm Nation” video resonated with the hard drives of their laptops. If left unfiltered, this resonance could disrupt the hard drive’s operations, leading to system crashes and performance issues. The problem was significant enough to warrant an entry in the NIST National Vulnerability Database, which noted that it affected 5,400rpm hard drives in specific machines dating back to approximately 2005.
In his latest post, Chen expresses curiosity about how long this audio filter remained active. He explains that after Microsoft implemented a new guideline for Windows 7, requiring users to have the ability to disable all audio processing, a hardware vendor sought an exception. The vendor argued that disabling their Audio Processing Object (APO) could potentially cause physical damage to the computer, leading to unexpected crashes.
Chen elaborates on the vendor's concern, stating that if users were able to disable their APO, news would spread about the enhanced bass experience achievable through certain settings. Naturally, many users would want to enjoy richer bass, but this could lead to complications down the line, including mysterious crashes or incorrect system results.
When a reader inquired whether this audio processing rule still exists, Chen could only confirm its presence during the Windows 7 era. He admitted uncertainty about its current status. Nonetheless, the tech landscape has evolved significantly since then, moving away from traditional spinning disk hard drives. Therefore, regardless of whether modern computers retain this rule, it is likely safe to enjoy Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” without fear of crashing your device.
This unusual intersection of music and technology serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in computer hardware and software interactions. As we continue to embrace advancements in technology, it’s fascinating to reflect on how even a beloved music video could influence the development of audio processing rules in Windows. Today, fans can listen to “Rhythm Nation” without worrying about their devices crashing, thanks to the progress made in the tech industry.
