This Computer Did Things No Computer Should Do
Thank you to sponsor Opera! Download for free at https://opr.as/Opera-browser-nostalgianerd ~ Remember the Dodleston Messages? Well, here’s a whole new computer based mystery to get your teeth stuck into. In this episode I’m exploring the Stockport Incident. Where it was claimed that a haunted Amstrad computer was terrorising staff and causing disruption for months, before being unveiled to the public. This is an investigative deep dive, so hold onto your pants!
⌚Timings⌚
00:00-04:27 What Happened?
04:27-08:37 Starting the Investigation
08:37-09:54 Opera
09:54-20:03 Chasing Scraps
20:03-25:28 “Ken Hughes”
25:28-31:02 Alexandra Palace
31:02-33:10 Centre for Computing History
33:10-35:24 Back at the Office
35:24-38:15 THE Magazine?
38:15-42:30 A New Lead
42:30-50:32 Peter Brameld
50:32-51:53 Conclusion
51:53-52:31 Credits
🔗Video Links🔗
For a full list of resources visit https://www.nostalgianerd.com/resources-1988-mystery/
The Dodleston Messages: https://youtu.be/nEDgG5MKndo?si=ADLkBMPTaw0_FBQC
WhatHoSnorkers: @WhatHoSnorkers
Stockport 1988: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQpECjGTGdY
PC1512 Advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eJ3Gik8l70
Spanish PC1512 Advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Sc_MnbRoY
Stockport Buses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAJe28wa9uE
Haunted Toaster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiSwnWw65Wo&t=73s
Las Vegas Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maDGvieBzU8
Database 1985: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hhO5p1r2xk
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📜 Resources 📜
In video links and references are provided where possible. If you believe I have forgotten to attribute anything, please let me know (drop me an email via. the about page on Youtube), so I can add it here. Apologies if I have missed anything out, it takes time to make these videos and therefore it can be easy to forget things or make a mistake.
Errors and omissions excepted.
Some material in this video may be used under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. Where under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 (UK: Sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988), allowance is made for purposes including parody, quotation, criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, education and research. Fair Dealing / Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
@Nostalgianerd
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Thank you to sponsor Opera! Download for free at https://opr.as/Opera-browser-nostalgianerd
@davegrizzly6301
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Probably a hacked pc? Lol
@TerryTrowbridge-s8f
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
This is actually a really good video for discussing research design. Archives, the use of museums, how to find old media that are not digitized, and interviews. There;s even an element of preservation here: a implication that we should not jsut throw away stacks of old magazines because we assume they are either archived someplace, or that they are uninteresting. Plus, this is the kind of research that can be done on a budget by undergrads or grad students. There are a lot of topics in popular culture and marketing history that would benefit from this level of sleuthing. I hope this video appears on a syllabus or two. Heck, it would fit into Comp Lit and even some Sociology courses. Thank you for documenting your process so thoroughly.
@RandomRetr0
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Seriously, well done!
@royalaxe
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
High voltage. AC induction. I've seen similar things on a mine site, computer was not plugged in also
@JM-The_Curious
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Great story and investigation. I loved my CPC464 and the games of that era even though I did have to switch it on and put the cassette tape in and then go make toast and coffee and it would still be loading by the time I got back.
@grahamsmith2753
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
As for Dodleston…it's oh so convenient that no independent witnesses were ever present when it played up. A guaranteed hoax, much like the Cottingley fairies. With millions of computers on the planet, only the Dodleston BBC is haunted? Yeah, right. If a computer is picking up messages from the past, where are all the haunted mobile phones, CB radios and Walkie Talkies?
@MxArgent
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Haven't found any ghosts in my PPC640 yet, but maybe Amstrad took them out of the models they sold stateside. Can't imagine 50hz ghosts work on a 60hz grid.
@Benoit-Pierre
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Too long for nothing.
@sallylauper8222
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
In the end it wasn't meeting the ghost, it was all the nothing burgers we ate along the way.
@lensman5710
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
FTA
@scaramonga
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
lol, and this was without WinBloat11!
@Darius_Finnigin
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
talk about Techmoan LOL
@AndyBonesSynthPro
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Aw man I feel robbed 😂 It kind of goes into the Boy Who Cried Wolf territory, if anyone does actually obtain a legit haunted PC. Also what in the f*ck is a boffin
@fpickett4579
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Outstanding, thanks! What a dogged display of detection..
@masturbates
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
This is amazing man.
@DisfrutaElSalvador
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
The unit being unplugged is interesting. The rest of it could be received interference. We're both the tv monitor an PC box unplugged? Growning from the hard drive spinning down perhaps.😂
@jaweeNok
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
I feel like Ralphie just after decoding Annie's secret message. Boo!
@gleni3000
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Enjoyed that a lot . Well done
@ezaxbaker
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Such a good watch. The effort that went into this. Brilliant. 😊
@mattstarf4294
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
In reality it just sounds like a dodgy power button and a crap processor
@MR-vj8dn
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
.. and you’re handling valuable original papers with bare hands 😮 Omg!
@BioluminescenceOfTheSpirit
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
I wouldn't be surprised to see a haunted computer. I've seen a type writer, typing all on it's own. Mostly gibberish. It was spooky. As soon as you put paper in it, it started typing. We put it outside, and threw it away a few days later.
@gwz
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
A soul trapped in a domestic Amstrad is well British thing to imagine. Now we need a Sinclair with a God installed. Love the story! ❤️
@OPENNHQ
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Well, what happened with that Amstrad is that we are actually experiencing the same thing again,
but now with Tesla cars that see human souls at a burial place.
@mirrorebutuoykcuf
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Yay AI!
*Message edited for Roko's Basilisk…
@scottbakalyar2992
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
Great investigative journalism. Incredibly good video that focuses on the facts.
@ericwilson1421
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
I would give you extra likes if I could for attending a vegan food convention.
@anshaar.
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
This was like watching The Da Vinci Code!
@Daijyobanai
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
What a fantastic investigation. I'm looking for a private eye if you're free, the case involves the missing daughter of a millionaire in Los Angeles. The guy sits alone in his greenhouse day after day, cantankerous old geezer. You'll like his other daughter though, Vivian Rutledge, a real classy broad. While I wait for you to get back to me, I'm going for a Big Sleep.
@davidwaters6190
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
interesting but spoilt by stupid annoying music. thumbs down
@RSCJOHN
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
you talkabout the past yet do nothing about the indians and muslims in your country. disliked. screw you used to like you, but you do nothing.
@theNeathBoy
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
EMF from the cleaners hoovers probably.
@john_amend_all
December 16, 2025 at 5:18 am
8:45 "… old forums …" sees my forum avatar scroll past
Comments are closed.