#8 Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" contained a resonant frequency (around 84.2 Hz) that caused some laptops, specifically those with 5400 RPM hard drives, to crash. This occurred because the song's bassline matched the drive's resonant frequency, causing it to vibrate excessively and leading to failures.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Resonant Frequency:
Every object, including hard drives, has a natural frequency at which it vibrates most readily when subjected to a specific stimulus.
Hard Drive Issue:
Some 5400 RPM hard drives used in laptops had a resonant frequency around 84.2 Hz.
"Rhythm Nation" and the Problem:
The song's bassline contained a frequency that, when played, matched the resonant frequency of these hard drives.
Result:
This resonance caused the hard drives to vibrate excessively, leading to device malfunctions, system crashes, and even the potential for physical damage.
Solution:
Microsoft and the affected OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) initially addressed this by adding a custom audio filter to Windows XP to remove the problematic frequencies. This filter was later removed in later versions of Windows.
#111 chinchulin 
