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Dog's avatar

How would you re- write computer error messages so that they are clearer and maybe even witty?

Asked by Dog (25152points) February 27th, 2011

Lets have some fun here!

Today my computer said to me “Your start up disk is full. Cannot save.”

What the heck is a start up disk? What is it full of? What do I do?
(I figured out what to do after talking to an awesome geek but still- should I NEED to call someone? Can’t things just be in basic talk?)

So why does it have to be so ambiguous?
I think we need to come up with error messages that are not so vague and just get to the point.

For example I think that this error message could have easily been said like this:

“You have to get rid of a bunch of crap right now or I will drop dead”

What error messages have you gotten and how would you re-write them? Anything from the blue screen of death to what ever?

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12 Answers

filmfann's avatar

On my first computer, I changed all the sounds it made to appropriate sounds from famous movie computers or robots.
On start-up
Closing Windows
Critical Error

I also had messages from C3PO, Data, and the robot from Lost In Space.

Soubresaut's avatar

@filmfann ROFL!!

For me, it would be from “Internet: no access”, to
“The damn wireless is acting up again; give him a 10 sec time out in unplugged, will you?”

And maybe from “unexpected crash”, to
“If you didn’t open up so many windows, lady…”

Dog's avatar

Ha ha ha ha! Awesome both of you!

janbb's avatar

You’re fucked!!

WasCy's avatar

404 not found. Try 405 instead.

Along these lines, I’ve always appreciated Windaz for Australians.

Dutchess_III's avatar

I can’t find the damn thing. Let me look in your underwear.

Nullo's avatar

Someone put together error-message haiku once, which I thought was clever. Don’t remember what used it, though.

koanhead's avatar

@Nullo IIRC those error messages are from the Jargon File.
Btw there is an OS called “Haiku”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku_(operating_system).

augustlan's avatar

“You have fucked up, once again. Call the geek.”

phoebusg's avatar

“Your toast is burned, try again.”

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