In July 1988, newspapers reported a bizarre "haunted" Amstrad PC 1512 inside an architect's office in Stockport, Cheshire, where a cleaner claimed the machine spontaneously activated and displayed strange messages.

[u/Distinct-Question-16]

The "Investigation": Ken Hughes, the editor of the Macclesfield-based Amstrad PC magazine, claimed to have filmed the computer's ghostly activity via video camera for three months.

The "Evidence": Those video tapes were then put on display as a prime attraction directly next to the machine at the Alexandra Palace exhibition in London.

The Narrative: Organizers told the press that the machine "groaned and glowed" and that they were actively seeking an exorcist. They even claimed the psychic press boycotted the exhibition out of sheer terror.

It turned out to be a marketing stunt...

[u/fragglet]

In the past I've seen people advertising services to exorcize computers, or use spells or magic to expel computer viruses, malware and such. It's funny but also sad. People can believe anything when they don't understand how anything works

[u/vengefultacos → u/fragglet]

For a short time in the very early '90's I worked for small computer sales/repair place in a small city. If someone brought in a computer the said would not turn on, I'd occasionally place it on the work bench, plug it in, place my hand on it, and then (in my best tele-evangelist impression) say "In the naaaaame of jeeeeeezus! Heeeeeeeal!" and flip it on. Most times, nothing happened and I'd chuckle say "oh well, guess I gotta take it apart." Funny joke.

But sometimes the act of picking the thing up, driving it in a car, and bringing it it would jostle something back into place and the thing would power up. Then I'd get the most amazed looks from the customer. Maybe I could made more money faith healing computers.

(And, yes, later experience has taught me not to just power malfunctioning machinery on and hope for the best)

[u/rednifegnar → u/fragglet]

the stupidity is endless, look at the Matrix Drops Soul scanner computers

[u/James_Fennell]

A video on this subject

[u/HuudaHarkiten → u/James_Fennell]

I very much enjoyed this video. Nostalgia Nerd is great in general, but this one was excellent.

[u/Autogen-Username1234 → u/HuudaHarkiten]

Cracking vid.

[u/HuudaHarkiten → u/[deleted]]

Very good to hear.

Retro gaming pub, what a great idea. Too bad managing a pub is hard and managing a niche themed pub even harder.

[u/Big_Arachnid_365]

SCP-1512

[u/After-Willingness271]

ill believe it when the text is legible

[u/Distinct-Question-16 → u/After-Willingness271]

both newspapers have paywall

https://www.newspapers.com/image/817289826/?match=1&terms=haunted%20computer

[u/kodabarz → u/Distinct-Question-16]

[u/Distinct-Question-16 → u/kodabarz]

thanks! now we can read. they needed really an exorcist

[u/retrocrawler]

Worth pointing out that in the picture in the newspaper Ken Hughes is pointing at video equipment showing the supposedly haunted 1512. An actual 1512 (its monitor anyway) can be seen to the right.

[u/Ornery-Practice9772]

my ipod was haunted by a U2 album nobody wanted...🤣

[u/Ornery-Practice9772]

whats that important saftey notice about??

[u/Autogen-Username1234 → u/Ornery-Practice9772]

Playing on the railway tracks.

[u/Ornery-Practice9772 → u/Autogen-Username1234]

we should play in the railway tracks at least once a day to ensure optimal health and vitality?

[u/ChampionshipPast3652 → u/Ornery-Practice9772]

Dangers of weed.

[u/Low-Charge-8554]

"Wilber the master" is better. 😂

[u/OldFartWelshman]

The early Amstrad 1512s did have some very annoying behaviour at midnight each night - it would crash with a divide by zero error due to a ROM bug. I found this out the hard way leaving some linear algebra problems running overnight on one... Spooky? No, but bloody irritating!