Windows takes a break at UK motorway services

Bad drivers behind the wheel or underneath the operating system – neither is ideal

A roadside display at Cherwell Valley services has stopped dispensing information and started asking for help.

The eagle-eyed Register reader who spotted the stricken screen told us: "UK motorway signs often tell us that tiredness can kill, urging us to take a break. This poor thing at Cherwell Valley services took the advice to heart."

The display at the Moto services appears to have run into trouble during a restart. Windows offers another attempt or access to repair tools, although the latter options are hidden – perhaps somewhere on the top floor of the neighboring Travelodge. Getting things moving again will probably require access to the computer behind the screen.

REG AD

The Automatic Repair screen is all too familiar to Windows users. Not to be confused with the classic blue screen of death, it might indicate a misbehaving driver during a reboot, an update that did something unexpected, or some sort of hardware failure. Hopefully it isn't the latter – with memory and storage prices the way they are at the moment, a motorway services sandwich or gallon of fuel will seem a positive bargain by comparison.

REG AD

Our reader is right: taking a break is sensible advice. Getting Windows to end one can be another matter. ®