Microsoft to add 'black box' to Windows

CNet.News.com ^ | 4/26/2005 | Ina Fried

[Mike Bates]

SEATTLE--In a move that could rankle privacy advocates, Microsoft said Monday that it is adding the PC equivalent of a flight data recorder to the next version of Windows, in an effort to better understand and prevent computer crashes.

The tool will build on the existing Watson error-reporting tool in Windows but will provide Microsoft with much deeper information, including what programs were running at the time of the error and even the contents of documents that were being created. Businesses will also choose whether they want their own technology managers to receive such data when an employee's machine crashes.

"Think of it as a flight data recorder, so that any time there's a problem, that 'black box' is there helping us work together and diagnose what's going on," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said during a speech at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference here.

[Mike Bates]

A black box to go with the blue screen.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[JoJo Gunn]

ping

[Izzy Dunne]

Gee, only 3 years after the Macintosh Crash Reporter.
Microsoft is getting faster.

[ShadowAce]

[Brian328i]

So are the same freepers who whine about Google "monitoring" you going to stop using future M$ releases now?

[Mike Bates]

Are there FReepers who whine? Tell me it isn't so!

[wolfpat]

That'll go over like flatulence in a place of worship.

[RegulatorCountry]

A black box for post-mortem analysis, LOL?

[sopwith]

two words "RED HAT"

[CheneyChick]

Or, that will go over like a pregnant pole vaulter.

[Mike Bates]

Or a do it yourself lobotomy kit.

[dartuser]

One word ... SUSE !

[VeniVidiVici]

Gee, only 3 years after the Macintosh Crash Reporter. Microsoft is getting faster.

Macs don't crash, remember?

[COEXERJ145]

It will take some 15 year old geek about 1/2 an hour to create a program that will disable the "black box".

[Izzy Dunne]

Macs don't crash, remember?

The system doesn't crash, but some apps do. Microsoft software is no better on OS X than on Windows in that regard.
They generally don't anymore, that's why the Crash Reporter was a good idea.

[killjoy]

If done properly, this is a very good idea. I have done my share of software testing and having a repository of bug reports is an incredibly handy tool. I am very surprised Microsoft didn't do this a long time ago.

As for the privacy concerns, Microsoft can't even build a reliable O/S, why should I think they can build a reliable database of customers? Non-issue as far as I am concerned. For those really concerned, just have it as an opt-in feature where those who enable it get some kind of bonus features.

[Mike Bates]

Maybe less if he doesn't have MTV turned on.

[robertpaulsen]

"Businesses will also choose whether they want their own technology managers to receive such data when an employee's machine crashes."

Uh huh.

Error message:
STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE when user robertpaulsen attempted to connect to hotnakedteencheerleaders.com

[jordan8]

Why in the world would Microsoft need to know the contents of documents and email to prevent crashes? Gates has lost his mind. If business wants this they can install a standalone program and if Microsoft is that concerned about it they can offer that program for free.

[Mike Bates]

Tell the tech manager you just look at that site for the articles.

[Mike Bates]

Why in the world would Microsoft need to know the contents of documents and email. . .

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Gee, only 3 years after the Macintosh Crash Reporter.
Microsoft is getting faster.

Actually, if you knew what you were talking about you'd know that Watson has been used in Windows since 3.1x.

They're just expanding it.

[usapatriot28]

So are the same freepers who whine about Google "monitoring" you going to stop using future M$ releases now?

YES!! Actually I stopped using Microsoft software about 4 years ago. I've been far more productive ever since.

[rdb3]

two words "RED HAT"

No! One word: "SLACKWARE"

[oldcomputerguy]

Just another nail in the coffin of privacy.

If you want to see what MSFT is compiling now about you already, go to "Advanced settings" on Spybot and turn on "usage tracks".

Quite unbelievable.

[Professional Engineer]

[IamConservative]

Is this more than Windows XP does today? When a program crashes in XP it asks you if you want to send a report to MS. If the OS blue screens, it creates a huge dump file.

[Mike Bates]

Don't know that what is currently created includes the actual docs on which you may have been working. Then again, I usually use a hammer to fix my machine when it acts up.

[Salo]

No words: BSD! :-)

No! One word: "SLACKWARE"

[rdb3]

Okay, you little devil!

[MortMan]

STOP: c0000218 {Registry File Failure} The registry cannot load the hive (file): \SystemRoot\System32\Config\SOFTWARE when user robertpaulsen attempted to connect to hotnakedteencheerleaders.com

Is this cut-and-paste, or prophecy? ;-P

[antiRepublicrat]

Wow, an emailed core dump.

[Still Thinking]

Or, that will go over like a pregnant pole vaulter.

I thought that was how you GOT pregnant!

[Still Thinking]

Or a do it yourself lobotomy kit.

Personally, I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

[Still Thinking]

Why in the world would Microsoft need to know the contents of documents and email to prevent crashes?

Well, Gates WAS a big Toon supporter, he whose administration tried (unsucessfully, thank God) to bring the Clipper chip to a PC [very] near you.

[dennisw]

Go ahead build your black effing box. I won't be using whatever OS it's part of.

[HAL9000]

Microsoft should equip their computers with reusable airbags.

[Richard Kimball]

I think the fact that Gates has taken a marginal product and made it the dominant OS, destroying or absorbing many other companies, that he's proven he's very good at anything that will make him money.

[meatloaf]

Actually Gates is very lucky. He hit the equivalent of the lottery twice in his business dealings. In each instance he tried to give the store away and was refused by those with even less intelligence or possibly foresight.

[killjoy]

I think the fact that Gates has taken a marginal product and made it the dominant OS, destroying or absorbing many other companies, that he's proven he's very good at anything that will make him money.

Microsoft is filled with brilliant people. Unfortunately, they are not the ones writing code.

[B4Ranch]

ROTFLMAO

Splat!