# Tech Team Laughs at Colleague Who Pressed the Wrong Power Button A server maintenance mishap turns into a team bonding moment. - **Source:** [www.theregister.com - Articles](https://brifing.si/source/2c34ea50-d341-4a10-925d-12c012a9ad10) - **Published:** 2026-09-14 - **Topic:** [Software & Engineering](https://brifing.si/c/engineering) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/33c5ac67-1544-4686-9777-3de766261460 ## Introduction to the Incident In the early 2000s, Bowman worked in a Glasgow organization with a datacenter full of floor-mounted servers. These servers often had external disk storage arrays placed neatly beside them. The similarity in appearance between the servers and storage arrays made maintenance tasks particularly tricky. One day, a colleague named Vince was tasked with performing a hard reboot on one of the servers. ## The Mistake Vince pressed what he thought was the server's power button but quickly realized it belonged to the adjacent storage array. Letting go of the button would have turned off the array, causing a significant outage. With no one else around to assist, Vince decided his best option was to keep his finger on the button to prevent the shutdown. ## The Team's Reaction When Vince didn't return after an unusually long time, another team member went to check on him. Upon discovering Vince's predicament, he returned with a grin and suggested everyone come to see what had happened. The entire tech team filed into the datacenter to witness Vince's situation. ## The Laughter The team took their time to show 'support and compassion' by pointing and laughing at Vince. Some even went as far as giving him underarm tickles. Despite the humor, the situation required a solution to relieve Vince from his awkward position. ## The Resolution After sufficient laughter, the team decided to involve the boss. They requested the server be taken down under the guise of 'urgent maintenance.' This allowed Vince to finally release the button and get some well-earned relief from the pressure he was under. ## The Aftermath The incident became a memorable moment for the tech team, highlighting both the challenges of server maintenance and the camaraderie among colleagues. It also served as a reminder of the importance of double-checking actions in critical environments. ## Lessons Learned This story underscores the potential consequences of human error in technical environments. It also illustrates how teams can bond over shared experiences, even when those experiences involve mistakes. Proper labeling and clear communication can prevent such mishaps in the future. ## Conclusion Vince's story is a humorous yet cautionary tale about the complexities of server maintenance and the importance of teamwork. It reminds us that even in high-stakes environments, laughter can be a powerful tool for building stronger, more cohesive teams. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.theregister.com/systems/2026/09/14/who-me-tech-team-stood-and-laughed-at-colleague-who-pressed-the-wrong-off-button/5295749 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._