Since every student and faculty member on Cornerstone’s campus has a laptop, Technology Support keeps busy with computer repairs. Some of the ways the laptops end up in Tech Support are not only amusing, but unbelievable.

Most of these cases are because something is spilled on the laptop, someone forgot where they left their laptop, or someone forgot their laptop was a laptop for a few seconds too long.

Bryan Johnston, director of information systems, works at Tech Support, along with Jason Bowers, helpdesk manager; Andrew Bishop, lead technology support specialist; James VanBemmelen, technology support specialist (2nd shift); and Tom Symons, technology support specialist.

They compiled a list of laughable tales: “Top Ten Reasons” computers have been brought into Tech Support.

At CU, there are many faculty members, staff and students with small children. Some have brought their computers into Tech Support with several missing keys.

“Generally they turn their head for a minute, and the kid has pulled off half-a-dozen keys,” a Tech Support staff said.

Tech Support said they have seen a number of computers with something spilled all over them, but this is one of the crazier ones:

Staff said, “A student brought her laptop in full of melted chocolate. There was melted chocolate all over the inside, on the keys and stuck in the fan.”

One CU student, who served in Iraq as a soldier, brought back a pile of sand as a souvenir—in his laptop.

“We opened it up, and it was full of sand,” staff said.

“A student brought their computer in covered in wax. They left a candle burning next to it. The candle was bumped, and it spilled all over the keyboard and screen. It then cooled and turned solid. It was a mess and embedded under the keys,” one of the Tech Support staff members said.

More than once students have set their laptops on the top of their cars, but then they forget about them. When the car takes off, the computer slides off and falls to its demise.

“A member of Cornerstone personnel fell down [the] stairs with laptop. Both were injured,” Tech Support said, with a hint of humor.

Many students at CU like to keep fish as pets in their dorm rooms. However, they should be careful the next time they leave their computer unattended next to their fish bowl.

“A student had their laptop near a fish bowl. The student returned to find that the fish had jumped out and landed on the keyboard. It brought water with it, and the water fried the computer,” one staff member said.

To personalize their laptops, many CU students put stickers on their computers of favorite bands, causes they support and other such things. One student took it a step further.

“We had a student who carved his name into the lid of his computer with a knife,” Tech Support said.

CU’s campus experiences a lot of rain. What do some students do if they forgot their umbrella?

“Nearly every spring we see a student or two who has their computer open and held over their head like an umbrella,” one of the staff said.

A student was in a car accident with their laptop sitting in their back seat.

“The computer was thrown and crushed. It ended up in an “L” shape, a 90 degree bend,” another member said.