Janet Jackson’s ‘Rhythm Nation’ crashed some Windows laptops for years

The Verge - May 3rd, 2025
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A curious incident involving Janet Jackson's song "Rhythm Nation" causing certain Windows laptops to crash has resurfaced. Microsoft employee Raymond Chen revealed that the music video emitted frequencies resonating with the hard drives of some laptops, leading to crashes. This problem was serious enough to warrant a custom audio filter from a major computer manufacturer, which persisted until Windows 7. The issue was significant enough to be listed in the NIST National Vulnerability Database, affecting 5,400rpm hard drives in devices from approximately 2005 onward. Chen discovered that the filter persisted because disabling it could lead to hardware damage due to the desire for richer bass.

This peculiar problem highlights how specific audio frequencies can impact hardware, demonstrating an intersection of software, hardware, and media. While modern computers have moved away from spinning disk hard drives, making the issue largely obsolete, it serves as a fascinating case study in system vulnerabilities and the lengths to which manufacturers must go to ensure stability. The story also underscores the importance of maintaining compatibility and safety in consumer electronics, even when it means addressing unexpected challenges like those posed by a popular music video.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.4
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The story about Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" causing certain Windows laptops to crash is a fascinating blend of technology and pop culture. It is largely accurate, supported by credible sources, and presents a clear narrative that is easy to follow. The story's novelty and historical context contribute to its engagement potential, though its direct public interest and impact are limited.

While the story is well-balanced and draws on reliable sources, it could benefit from additional perspectives and more detailed citations to enhance transparency and source quality. The story's timeliness is justified by recent revelations about the persistence of the audio filter, though its relevance to current events is limited.

Overall, the story is a well-crafted piece that effectively conveys an intriguing historical anecdote, providing educational value and moderate engagement potential without significant controversy or impact.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story about Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" causing certain Windows laptops to crash is largely accurate based on corroborated details from multiple sources. The core claim that the song contained frequencies that resonated with 5,400 RPM laptop hard drives, causing crashes, is supported by technical explanations and historical context. The mention of a custom filter implemented by a major computer manufacturer aligns with known technical responses to the issue.

However, some aspects require further verification. The story mentions a National Vulnerability Database entry, which needs direct confirmation. Additionally, the story does not specify the exact laptop models affected or whether modern Windows versions still implement the filter. The identity of the manufacturer remains undisclosed, consistent with other reports.

Overall, the story's factual foundation is strong, but some claims are less precise or lack full verification. These include the NIST entry and the current status of the audio processing filter in modern Windows versions.

7
Balance

The story provides a balanced narrative by focusing on both the technical aspects of the issue and its historical context. It discusses the problem, the solution implemented, and the implications for modern technology. However, the story could benefit from additional perspectives, such as comments from affected manufacturers or users who experienced the issue firsthand.

While the narrative is not overtly biased, it primarily presents the perspective of Microsoft employees, particularly Raymond Chen. Including viewpoints from other stakeholders, such as hardware manufacturers or independent technical experts, could enhance the story's balance.

Overall, the story is balanced in its technical explanation but could be improved by including a wider range of perspectives to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.

8
Clarity

The story is written in a clear and accessible manner, making a complex technical issue understandable to a general audience. It effectively explains the phenomenon of audio frequencies causing hard drive resonance and the resulting system crashes.

The structure of the story is logical, with a clear progression from the introduction of the issue to the historical context and modern implications. The use of Raymond Chen's blog post as a narrative anchor helps maintain clarity throughout the story.

While the story is generally clear, it could improve by providing more specific technical details, such as the exact frequencies involved and the specific models affected. Overall, the story is well-structured and clear, with minor areas for improvement in detail.

8
Source quality

The story relies on credible sources, including a Microsoft employee's blog post and references to the National Vulnerability Database. These sources are authoritative in the context of the technical issue discussed. The use of Raymond Chen's insights lends credibility, given his position and expertise within Microsoft.

However, the story could enhance its credibility by citing additional sources beyond Chen's blog and PCWorld's spotting of the post. Including direct quotes or statements from the unnamed "major computer manufacturer" or other reputable technology analysts would strengthen the story's source quality.

In summary, the story is based on reliable sources, but expanding the range of sources could provide a more robust foundation for the claims made.

6
Transparency

The story provides a reasonable level of transparency by explaining the technical issue and its historical context. It cites a specific Microsoft employee's blog post as the primary source of information, which adds transparency to the story's origins.

However, the story lacks transparency in certain areas, such as the identity of the affected manufacturer and the specific models impacted. Additionally, while the story mentions a National Vulnerability Database entry, it does not provide a direct link or detailed citation, which could improve transparency.

Overall, the story is transparent in its basic explanation but could benefit from more detailed disclosures and direct citations to enhance its transparency.

Sources

  1. https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20220816-00/?p=106994
  2. https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20220920-00/?p=107201
  3. https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/janet-jacksons-rhythm-nation-would-still-be-crashing-hard-drives-without-this-audio-processing-filter
  4. https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/legend-has-it-that-janet-jacksons-music-could-crash-mid-2000s-laptops/
  5. https://www.musicradar.com/news/janet-jackson-microsoft-laptop-crashes