Funny Error Messages Make It Go Away

Since the dawn of home computing, human beings have had a love-hate relationship with computers and all related technologies. We've loved what they can do for us from entertainment and productivity standpoints, but the minute something goes wrong, we're ready to break out the Sledge-O-Matic and go all Gallagher on them.

Still, sometimes a computer error can transcend aggravation and tickle our funny bones. Here at Intertech.com we've seen some pretty funny error messages in our times and in the cases of these 15 Funniest Real Computer Error Messages, it's a tad hard to stay angry.

(NOTE: There are a lot of phonies out there, thanks to error message generators. We've tried to include only legitimate issues with verification when possible. Our suggestion: just sit back and enjoy the fun, and if any of these should ever happen to you, be sure to let us know!)

1. Windows Phone Installation Disc Error

Hat tip to TheNextWeb for bringing our attention to this recent computer error involving a standard error message asking the impossible. "Windows failed to start," the message begins. "To fix the problem: 1) Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer. 2) Choose your language settings, and then click 'Next.' 3) Click 'Repair your computer.'"

Hmmm, installation disc on a phone. Where, pray tell, would that go? This is a legitimate issue that has affected at least two models of phone, including the Lumia 920. Twitter user Johnny Ruokokoski reassured Windows Phone Support not to worry, stating that a "regular customer will never see this message, I think it's hard-coded in the kernel," to which WPS responded, "Understood, if this is happening when you are flashing your phone, we are unable to provide support for it."

So there you have it: actual problem with no known solution, but it's one that the techie layman is unlikely to experience.

TheNextWeb

2. Xbox One Tires Of Your Past Behavior

While knocking around his Xbox One, Twitter user @getB3NT encountered this error message and sent it along to the gaming news site Kotaku. "Choose something else to play," the message commands. "Because of your past behavior, you can't Xbox Live Gold is required to use Skype for Xbox One." This spiel has all the hallmarks of a message that was created in a non-English-as-a-first-language culture, and we find it particularly amusing that the system sounds none-too-pleased with its wisenheimer owner.

Kotaku

3. WinSCP – FTP Or Child Killer?

One imgur user received the following error message from WinSCP and was able to grab a screenshot for posterity. The message starts simply enough with a boring, "Connection failed. / Disconnected from server," before moving on to the big reveal in the last line: "OOPS: child died." It didn't take long for commenters to get in on the "fun": "every time your FTP fails Windows kills a baby," "Ironically, the child died from a crash," "Good Guy FTP, kills child on accident, offers Help," etc. We've got to admit to being at a loss as to what this error message is getting at, or how it's triggered, but we'll certainly be holding our little ones a little tighter next time we're using WinSCP.

Imgur

4. Linux Enables Insults

The Linux operating system has long been a favorite of tech-minded people for its open source customizability. One of the many features that it contains that Apple and Windows users must do without: the ability to enable insults. This way, if you're entering your password on a Linux OS, it can say things like, "Are you on drugs?," "You do that again and see what happens…," and "Speak English you fool – there are no subtitles in this scene." But it doesn't confine its colorful language to just wrongly entered passwords. As one Reddit user pointed out, it may also call you a Bonehead for checking a live file system.

Reddit

5. Spiceworks Lumbergh

Anyone who's borne witness to the comedy classic Office Space should get this reference immediately. Spiceworks, an Austin-based software development company, is likely to flash this error message your way whenever you use an outdated browser (at least, outdated as in IE 7 or 8). Note the attention to detail with the Bill Lumbergh cartoon rendering. And the message itself reads as if it could have come straight out of his mouth.

Imgur

6. Wario Will Watch Your Coins

Nintendo eShop does a fun bit of brand customization when informing users of a foul-up. As Mario fans know, Wario isn't exactly the most trustworthy guy in the Nintendo canon, and he's probably the last character on earth you would want watching your digital fortune. Match that with one of the most comically evil faces we've ever seen, and this is one error message at which it's impossible to be angry.

Imgur

7. Printer Problems

So, printing is not supported on a printer, eh? This error message comes from an Imgur user utilizing the Ubuntu operating system and involves an undisclosed printer type, thus making it hard to tell what triggered it and whether the issue still exists. However, for the sake of laughs, we're glad it happened.

Imgur

8. Socket Error Success Story

This error also occurred on the Ubuntu OS and involved use of the Remmina Remote Desktop Client. For the most part, it's a pretty straightforward error message until you get to the end and have to do a double-take. After all, it's not often you see the words "error" and "success" within two spaces of one another. We're willing to bet though that this one turned out more the former and less the latter.

Imgur

9. Missing Keyboard

An employee of US-based hardware and software company American Megatrends Incorporated shared this error message on the Imgur site. AMI typically specializes in PC hardware and firmware, but here, their systems seem unaware of what it means when a keyboard isn't present. Good luck hitting that F1 key!

Imgur

10. Giving Up Early

This was an error message that originally gained popularity on Reddit. The poster did not specify the operating system he was attempting to use. Apparently, it was the type that gave up at the first signs of trouble. When you drill down past the programming language, you'll find this little gem: "ERROR: Root device mounted successfully, but /sbin/init does not exist. Bailing out, you are on your own. Good luck." Nice.

Imgur

11. Homestar Runner 404'd

Homestar Runner, the classic flash cartoon, from creators Mike Chapman and Craig Zobel, has been an Internet staple since 2001. While the character has declined in popularity over the last few years – new episodes haven't been posted since December 2010 – his antics are forever preserved online. This error message gives you a great example of the zaniness and humor of Homestar Runner. You're likely to see this whenever the website experiences technical difficulties or you type in a non-existent URL. [NOTE: To get the full effect of it, you'll need your speakers.]

HomestarRunner.com

12. Bananashark!

Not entirely sure what this Redditor was doing (or where he was doing it) to get this message, but it looks like he may have been up to no good. As noted in the error message, this page often displays when one is trying to perform a function for which they're not authorized. (Hackers, for instance.) Regardless of whether it was an innocent mistake, we would not want to feel the wrath of Bananashark.

Imgur

13. Rude LiveArt98

In an October 1998 article from CNN, veteran programmer and author Ben Ezzell pointed out one gaffe made by the company Viewpoint DataLabs on their LiveArt98 program. The error was quickly replaced along with a mea culpa from developers, who realized that it had slipped through the cracks too late, adding they fixed the issue "about four seconds after we realized it was still there." (Still four seconds too slow!)

CNN

14. What Do You Mean, Not Enough Disk Space?

Programmer Martin Rubli was not pleased with Windows Vista from the very beginning. On his blog, he takes an in-depth look at the operating system and rips it to shreds for its stability and usability issues. While we're all glad Windows has moved on to bigger and better things, we do still kind of miss some of the head-scratchers Vista would throw our way. This example Rubli provides is a textbook classic.

Rubli.info

15. YouTube Monkeys

We're not sure what this Imgur user did to break YouTube, but we do know there is no need to worry. The monkeys got this! This issue pertains to an internal server error rather than something of user error (i.e. typing in a non-existent URL). If you do something wrong on the site, it'll give you the frowning red television set – cute, but not as funny.

Imgur

Which of these computer error messages did you think were the funniest? Which ones should we have included on the list? Sound off in the comments section below!

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Source: https://www.intertech.com/funny-computer-error-messages/

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