TIL the screens on a bus show a static html stored in a one drive directory. The gps location gets sent to an API which then updates the HTML file in the bucket. The screen just reloads itself every 10 seconds.
Well, the question was tongue in cheek. This error seems to be from one drive determining it was necessary to upgrade right now, even when Windows was out of date and not able to handle this version.
The install shouldn't have been allowed to run one drive and instead should pull updates from Wi-Fi/cellular on a scheduled task.
The same thing could absolutely be done with FOSS. Improper setup in that circumstance may be even more interesting.
Usually there is some reason behind the decision. This may be used by less tech literate people so having the familiarity of windows would be useful, or maybe the machines that are mass purchased are from a company with windows pre installed and it isn't worth swapping. Maybe someone in the company is helping a friend offload licenses at cost to the company. Sure Linux would work perfectly fine, but it's not like it's going to improve the profit of a company or stability to such a high degree that it's worth it.