Had to get a client's broken server back online before a 9 AM demo in Round Rock.
Tried the old 'unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in' trick. It actually booted up, saving a $50k contract. What's the dumbest fix that ever saved your bacon?
You know, calling it "percussive maintenance" is a bit off. That makes it sound like a real fix. It's really just a last-ditch shake to get a loose connection back in place for a second. Like an old TV with bad wiring, you'd hit it and the picture came back, but it was still broken. You're not fixing the register, you're just buying a little more time before it freezes again.
Our old office printer jammed every Tuesday like clockwork. A solid thump on the paper tray got it going again for three straight years. It's amazing how much tech still runs on percussive maintenance!