In this week's installment of The Register's 'Who, Me?' column, a reader named Wayne recounts a harrowing experience while upgrading the crucial System X hardware for phone exchanges in 1980s England. After weeks of overnight shifts, fatigue set in, leading Wayne to mistakenly perform a procedure on the incorrect processor due to a mix-up with their placement. This story underscores the critical nature of precision and attentiveness when handling essential technological components, especially under the pressure of continuous late-night work.
At the time of this job, Wayne had been doing similar upgrades for about three weeks and they all required pulling an all-nighter. Wayne's routine saw him roll into work at 21:00.
Upgrading the machines required them to be powered down so new hardware could be installed. System X's designers deliberately made that hard to do, to prevent accidental shutdowns.
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