Microsoft stabilized Windows with a roaming 'USB death cart'

If you've ever wondered how he copes Microsoft To keep Windows running smoothly on millions of different hardware configurations, you might be interested in learning about the “USB Cart of Death.” This is a device that the engineers of Microsoft They are used to test the compatibility and stability of Windows with various USB devices and drivers.

The USB Cart of Death is essentially a cart full of USB hubs, cables, and devices that can be connected to a Windows PC. The device can simulate various scenarios, such as connecting and disconnecting devices, switching ports, changing power states, and causing errors. The goal is to expose any bugs or vulnerabilities in the Windows kernel, driver stack, or device firmware that could cause crashes, freezes, or data loss.

The USB Cart of Death was first introduced in 2011, when Microsoft was developing Windows 8. At the time, Windows had a reputation for being unstable and prone to blue screens of death (BSOD), especially when it came to USB devices. . Microsoft wanted to improve the reliability and performance of Windows, and one of the ways to do so was to test it rigorously with the USB Cart of Death.

According to a blog post by Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen, the USB Cart of Death was so effective at finding bugs that it became a legend among the Windows team. Chen wrote:

“The Cart of Death USB was so good at finding bugs that it became something of a walking grim reaper. If he saw the USB Death Car parked outside his office, he knew his day was about to get a lot worse.”

The USB Cart of Death helped Microsoft fix hundreds of bugs and improve the quality of Windows 8 and later. Chen claimed that the device reduced the number of BSODs caused by USB issues by 90%. He also said that the device was not only useful for testing Windows, but also for testing USB devices themselves. He wrote:

“Sometimes we found errors in the devices themselves. For example, we found a device that would crash if you plugged it into a USB 3 port instead of a USB 2 port. We reported this bug to the device vendor, who responded, “Oh yeah, we know about that bug.” But no one uses USB 3 yet, so we didn't bother fixing it.”

The USB Cart of Death is still in use today, as Microsoft continues to develop and update Windows 10 and Windows 11. The device is constantly updated with new USB devices and drivers, as well as new scenarios and tests. The device is also used to check Windows compatibility and security with various types of USB devices, such as keyboards, mice, cameras, printers, scanners, storage devices, audio devices, and more.

The USB Cart of Death is an example of how Microsoft uses innovative and rigorous testing methods to ensure the quality and stability of Windows. The device also shows how Microsoft values ​​feedback and bug reports from its customers and partners, as well as its own engineers. The device is a testament to Microsoft's commitment to making Windows the best operating system for everyone.

In a recent video with Dave's Garage, Raymond Chen, a veteran Windows developer, shared how Microsoft experimented with Windows 98 to test its compatibility with various USB devices. USB was a new technology back then, so Windows 98 developers had to learn how to handle it.

They came up with the “USB Car of Death.” It was not lethal to humans, but it was lethal to countless versions of Windows. Whenever the Cart of Death USB was connected to a Windows computer, a blue screen would often appear, indicating that the version of Windows on the PC was faulty and needed to be repaired.

The USB Cart of Death had 64 USB devices, the maximum number of USB devices Windows could support at the time (the limit is now 127). Windows developers loaded the cart (which was actually a mail cart used for internal mail delivery) with all sorts of USB devices: keyboards, mice, printers, and even a USB gaming wheel, which they used to maneuver the cart. . All of these devices were connected to the Windows PC under test using a single USB cable. To achieve this, they used several USB hubs.