techrecovery | Sep. 11th, 2007

Cross-posted (after several suggestions) to

scascot

So, I return to my office after lunch to the smell of something burnt. Something...electronic and expensive, with a slight overtone of...petroleum? Sitting in the office is an employee, who is seated at a computer with a distressed look on his face. He has in front of him a can of compressed air ("duster spray") and a DVD. I note from the lack of lights on the front of the tower that the computer is off.

"So," I ask nonchalantly, "what's going on?"

"Well, the computer wouldn't play this DVD, so I got a can of duster spray out of the shop to blow out the DVD drive."

...right. Because the problem with non-playing DVD is always dust in the drive.

"Can I see the DVD?" I ask.

Employee hands me the DVD, which is covered in a strange, greasy substance. "Mmm," I comment, and shoo the employee away from the computer. Using a paperclip, I open the drawer of the DVD drive, and note that the tray is also covered in this same greasy substance. I pick up the can of duster spray, which has the straw attached, and note the same greasy substance on the straw. Just for giggles, I test it out on the table top - nope, just compressed air.

I turn to look at the employee, and ask, "Do you know what this greasy stuff is?" The employee just shrugs, so I investigate the substance further. Very slick, sniff smells like...WD40. I look back at the employee.

"Is there any chance, any at all, that when you went to get the duster spray out of the shop that you accidentally grabbed the can of WD40 instead?"

There's silence for a moment, and then the employee sheepishly nods his head, "Yes."

After a moment of staring down the soon-to-be-ex-employee, I turn and pop the side off of the tower. WD40 is literally dripping from the DVD drive. Casualties: 1 DVD drive, 1 motherboard & processor, 1 wireless network card, 1 video card and 1 employee. Hard drive is greasy but still works - I'll probably have to replace it, too.

Idiots. I'm surrounded by idiots...