German Cockroaches in Computer

J

Jared

New Member
Reaction score
0
Location
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
I had a laptop come in a few days ago, and I just got around to opening it up. Inside there were about 10 dead German cockroaches. http://www.westopthebugs.com/images/GermanRoachLg.jpg

Has anybody else ever found these dead pests in a laptop before, and should I say anything to my client about it? I would think that he would already be aware of the problem, if it still exists, and of course I would never want to offend him.

What do you guys think?
 
I have found...

Dead
  • Spiders
  • Cockroaches
  • Ants
  • Rats

Living
  • Spiders
  • Cockroaches
  • Ants
  • Worms

Nasty things live in nasty peoples houses I suppose...

I would tell the client about your findings. He may not know about the roaches- although if there were 10 dead roached in a LAPTOP then maybe he does.

Still, it might be some information he/she would want to know.
 
Thank God I never found such pests inside any computer systems. However I have a particular client that I have to hold my nose whenever I go into her house due to a nasty dog poop smell. Dogs come and jump on me every time and they are also dirty!
 
i have refused work from a lady whose computer smelled like cat pee...i just told her straight out that it was to gross for me to work on and she was gonna have to take it somewhere else..
 
I hate computers like this. I am thinking of creating a box for computers I suspect being nasty, and that will throw in some "bug Killer" thats safe for the components. That way, my shop wont get infected when I open it up.

My Grandfather runs a shop about 100miles away, and the other day he had one with about 30 baby roaches crawling out.

I refuse to work on site, on any computer that has this issue. Its a health concern.
 
Knightsman said:
I hate computers like this. I am thinking of creating a box for computers I suspect being nasty, and that will throw in some "bug Killer" thats safe for the components. That way, my shop wont get infected when I open it up.

My Grandfather runs a shop about 100miles away, and the other day he had one with about 30 baby roaches crawling out.

I refuse to work on site, on any computer that has this issue. Its a health concern.
Click to expand...

Just need to put on the invoice


HAZARD PAY ---- $XXX.XX

Charge them for it.......
 
It's so funny you posted this question since I had a humorous call about this last week.

A guy calls and is very country I could tell by the way he talked and that's saying something in backwoods East Texas. He asked if I could clean up "insects from computers". I didn't know if he said "insects" or "infects", so I asked for clarification. He said "insects.....you know...in the computer." I'm still thinking he might be confused from hearing about infections, worms, viruses etc. So I apologize and ask if he's talking about literal living bugs and he says "Ya roaches...hundreds of 'em!" I said, "No sir, you've got the wrong guy, I can't help. I have no way of cleaning them any better than you do!" He asked if I had a big vacuum or something to get them out. I explained I didn't and this was not something I could or would do. He was nice about it and said he understood and I thanked him for not just bringing the pc in without asking first and he said, "Ya I called ya first cuz you sure didn't want all these durn things in your office!" Um...NO I don't!!:eek:

I did have a pc come in one time that was full of baby roaches and I found out as soon as I opened it to put in a new modem. I slammed the side back on, got it outside, cleaned them out with canned air, put the new modem in, quickly tested it back in the office, put it back outside, cleaned my hands and called the customer to come get it asap. I was pretty ticked but was nice and explained the issue. Their reply, "Ya we know....they stay in there." Not cool.
 
Appleby said:
"Ya we know....they stay in there." Not cool.
Click to expand...

...not once you open the "dern" thing.

Seriously, how dirty can someone actually live to get that many living creatures in their home/office/whatever and at what point do you not realize you have a problem?

I can understand not vacuuming for a week or so, not mopping the floors or wiping the countertops. But do people really just leave food and mess lying around the house that badly? I'm considered a "messy" guy in my family and I can barely go without a clean restroom for more than 3 days.
 
I have been lucky myself and not come across the little suckers.. However I do come across computers that smell of cigarette smoke.. Combine that with dust, and the yellow staining of a computer that is the worst that has happen to me so far.

No offense to our smokers in the forums, but the smell makes me sick..
 
ITSPEC said:
Dead spiders and other small creatures is bad, but RATS - that's awful..
Click to expand...

Yep, two of them actually. Seemed they found a little home and got stuck inside and eventually died I guess. I still don't know how they got inside of there, also I don't know how the owner withstood the stench of rotting flesh- they were mostly decomposed by the time I got the pc.
 
Found roaches in power supply once

Customer brought computer to me because would not start.

When I tried to power it on, I heard hissing for Power supply.

Took outside, covered with black plastic bag, waited a few hours for the sun to warm the machine.

Performed inspection outside. Found 7 live and many dead roaches in Power supply.


Charged customer:

$25 for power supply
$40 for service
$25 for "bug" removal
 
kagman said:
I have been lucky myself and not come across the little suckers.. However I do come across computers that smell of cigarette smoke.. Combine that with dust, and the yellow staining of a computer that is the worst that has happen to me so far.

No offense to our smokers in the forums, but the smell makes me sick..
Click to expand...

Totally 100% agree. I have to leave my door open and spray air freshner to try and get that stale smoke smell out. Then it's so embarrassing when customers come in and I have to explain the smell to them. I have a small professional type office, so it's really really noticeable.
 
When I read the title "German Cockroaches in Computer", the only thing I could think was....oh, pleeeease post a picture. So morbid. Thank you for making my day! I am a neat freak, but addicted to the show Hoarders. Not sure what that is all about.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

NETWizz
New Laptop Woes
Replies
13
Views
511
HCHTech
HCHTech
NETWizz
Giving away a Personal Laptop
Replies
3
Views
164
ThatPlace928
ThatPlace928
Velvis
Question about hotspot on a phone
Replies
7
Views
457
Diggs
Diggs
frase
[SOLVED] Samsung USB Partition issue
Replies
4
Views
231
frase
frase
Metanis
[REQUEST] Recommending a backup solution.
Replies
8
Views
469
Sky-Knight
Sky-Knight
Back
Top