Thread

Ask HN: Who's still keeping a DOS machine up because the business depends on it?

297 points · 304 comments · mlaux

reaperducer · 1790375142 · focus · HN ↗
Not DOS, but my company has a Windows XP machine with a dialup connection that I have to keep running for obtuse legal reasons.
If it goes down, the company gets fined. It happened in the gap between my predecessor leaving, and me being hired.
1. andix · 1790375509 · focus · HN ↗
  Is it a physical machine and not a VM? I already had issues with getting XP compatible spare parts years ago. Had to buy used parts that were already pretty old (so high risk of failing again).
  1. reaperducer · 1790375648 · focus · HN ↗
    It's a physical machine.
    Fortunately, I don't have to deal with swapping parts. There's an outside contractor on call 24/7 for that.
    The last time I saw it was about two years ago when I taped yet another piece of paper to the filing cabinet it sits on reading "DO NOT TURN OFF UNDER PENALTY OF LAW!"
    Someone keeps taking the paper down.
    andix · 1790376513 · focus · HN ↗
    Put a proper sticker on, that can't be removed easily.

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