Windows updates

[zilo]

Was sitting in a bar in Canberra last night.

Loud bunch next to us discussing the state of IT in the health system.

Apparently they were conducting surgery in the OR and mid way through the procedure, with the guy on the table, all the PC's in the theatre froze for 30 minutes performing...wait for it...Windows updates, with multiple reboots.

In desperation the aneasthesist managed to get the power off the PC that monitor O2 levels etc...but it still did 3 more reboots....the patient was unconscious on the table.

Must admit I get cheesed off when the PC just does its crap and becomes harder and harder to stop all the updates....but this must have been scarey stuff.

Worst i have had is a reboot in the middle of internet banking...

[b0son]

Sounds like bollocks. Equipment like that would be running embedded systems, they wouldnt be getting OTA updates. The PCs the monitoring equipment is connected to, to pass the data to the hospital intranet, that's another story. Shouldnt stop a surgery though.

I would expect any theatre-bound IT equipment has to pass some sort of validation for just these sorts of events.

[zilo]

Originally Posted by b0son

Sounds like bollocks. Equipment like that would be running embedded systems, they wouldnt be getting OTA updates. The PCs the monitoring equipment is connected to, to pass the data to the hospital intranet, that's another story. Shouldnt stop a surgery though.

I would expect any theatre-bound IT equipment has to pass some sort of validation for just these sorts of events.

Hmm...there were quite a few in that group that seemed switched on and concerned.
The updates probably came from a local update server to all the network and someone stuffed up....

[T3rminator]

errr....remind me never to go to a Canberra hospital for an operation then. Sounds like the head of IT needs the sack.

Windows auto updates and/or auto reboot can be switched off.

As for your issue, windows should be giving you plenty of warning before it reboots. And if internet banking has a higher priority than potentially having your PC hacked, then switch off auto reboot....you just gotta remember to do it manually.

[MITCHAY]

I highly doubt they use Windows or anything other then their own software by the manufacturer for any critical equipment.

ACT Health is a basket case for sure though but tell me any other state/territory that isn't

[arm79]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

ACT Health is a basket case for sure though but tell me any other state/territory that isn't

Queensland Health.

We left basket case about 18 months ago. Have moved into "truly ****ed and completely useless territory"... And we're not stopping the descent!

[George V]

Enterprise version of Windows updates do not happen randomly; Even local updates are not supposed to happen during nominated “business hours”.

It is possible in some random’s laptops. It is Canberra, anything is possible.

Regards,
George V

[Itsme]

Surprised it happen at all since the hospitals PC's should be running off a mainframe server, these updates should have been controlled by the IT team at their choosing.