Bit of a "duh" moment

Date November 30, 2007

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This was a good chance for Microsoft to add something funny to the end of an error message.

I was trying to start the “Performance Logs and Alerts Service” on a server, and it started and then stopped immediately. I then received this error message.

The Performance Logs and Alert service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some Services stop automatically if they have no work to do, for example, the Performance Logs and Alerts service.”

Microsoft could have saved some words if they just said “for example, this one”. Another option would be to add “Dumb A$$” to the end of the message.

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    4 Responses to “Bit of a "duh" moment”

    1. Phil said:

      That’s really funny Mike.

    2. Mike Scott said:

      Thanks Phil.

    3. John said:

      I don’t really get this because, seeing as how you are a developer (I’m guessing) you should know that they are just inserting the name of the service you are currently trying to start. If you are seriously suggesting that they should check to see if you are trying to start the “Performance Logs and Alerts” in order to change a redundant message into a more context-appropriate one then THAT is way more of a DUH moment.

    4. Mike Scott said:

      Thanks for the comment John!

      Sorry it wasn’t clear, but I was actually being self deprecating in this post, because I felt like a dummy when I saw the error message.

      Of course the Performance Logs and Alerts service will stop if it isn’t running any performance logs, I should have known that was the reason it wasn’t running.

      Now, I’m not actually a developer, but an IT goon, but I don’t think it would be all that crazy for Microsoft to check to see what service I was trying to start, they have tons of context sensitive help all over the place.

      Having said that, I was suggesting that Microsoft could have used the opportunity to make fun of me for trying to start a service that had no business of running.

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