• Prime Mover (unregistered)

    To be frank, this is the time to be earnest.

  • fa (unregistered)

    Did the protocol really allow block level access, to remotely format a drive back then? Given the performance of Ernest's memory, I suppose it could have been a deltree command. Either way, funny story.

  • Bill (unregistered)

    The fact that Earnest could come up with that so quickly and execute it so perfectly proofs that he was an employee worth keeping anyways.

  • naveed (unregistered) in reply to fa

    Quick format is usually faster than deltree. Deltree has to iterate through the whole directory tree. Quick format doesn't.

  • Brian (unregistered)

    Oh, I remember those days of after-hours LAN parties. Even the managers would join in. At least, until The Acquisition happened and the new corporate overlords declared that actually having fun at work was not an effective use of our time.

  • Mike (unregistered)

    Back in the early 90s, Doom was the game, but it played holy havoc with the network. (Huge broadcast packet storms.) The solution was to run a second network for Doom only. After hours, people would disconnect from the work network, and connect to the Doom one to play.

  • trwtf (unregistered)

    quick format just deletes the file table, I don't think that requires block level access, and it's super quick

  • (nodebb)

    Hurrah. Unicorns!

  • fa (unregistered) in reply to naveed

    I was thinking of his ability to remember stuff (for example, uninstalling Quake), not the computer's speed:)

  • DanK (unregistered) in reply to trwtf

    Intriguing. If it does not require block level access, which file holds “the file table”?

  • Anon (unregistered)

    TRWTF is, of course, the fact that the audit was an excuse to fire people and, presumably, dodge having to pay any severance.

  • (nodebb)

    I was working in IT for a major broadcaster back then. Execs from TV started complaining to execs in IT that the data network was having all sorts of problems most evenings, right around the time of the main TV news broadcast, so Do Your Jobs Properly And Fix It Now!

    Unfortunately, I didn't get to found out the TV execs' reaction when they were informed that the network problems were because a bunch of TV staff had decided no one would notice if they installed Doom on their work computers as long as they only played it "after work".

  • jochem (unregistered)

    Fun fact (you might know) Quake was released on the 22th of June, 25 years ago. An anniversary!!!

  • IkeOnBike (unregistered) in reply to Brian

    Ah, the ubiquitous Morale Suppression Initiative

  • Poe (unregistered)

    Ah distinctly I rememeber it was in the bleak Decemeber and each separate dying emeber wrought its ghost upon the floeor.

  • (nodebb)

    This must be a dream as formatting network drives is impossible.

    psexec would have been believable, but only from vista onwards.

  • eric bloedow (unregistered)

    this reminds me of a story where a manager caught players playing "command and conquer", and decided to delete it. BUT she screwed up badly and deleted an essential Windows file, "command.com" from EVERY computer in the company!

  • INVESTGENIX USA (unregistered)
    Comment held for moderation.
  • Indiasells (unregistered)
    Comment held for moderation.
  • Rahul Singh (unregistered)
    Comment held for moderation.
  • (nodebb)

    The real WTF is the management thinking 20 in Dumbalore can replace the 20 on site. More like 200 in Dumbalore and 30 on site to fix and overcome their mess-ups.

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