Well, well, well, buying a used laptop means you’re likely to end up with hardware that’s been mishandled or stored improperly. At least, that’s what this Redditor’s friend found out when, after opening up his friend’s laptop after it stopped working over the weekend, he discovered a colony of insects. However, this machine wasn’t bought new—it was refurbished by a “trusted” store.
Used Laptop : Does an Insect Infestation Ruin the Machine?
Was the laptop infested at the retailer’s or at the owner’s?
In a nutshell, we learn that a Lenovo laptop was purchased refurbished from a local store in the hope of saving some money compared to buying a new one. However, overnight, the PC stopped working, and it wasn’t until it was opened up that the damage became apparent. As you can see, it’s an infestation, and there are plenty of bugs inside—or at least what’s left of them.
Obviously, it would be tempting to blame the seller for not properly inspecting and cleaning the machine. However, in the original post, we learn that after being purchased, the PC sat in a drawer for about a month. This raises legitimate questions about the machine’s storage conditions, since a month is plenty of time for insects to take up residence inside. All it takes is a little heat and humidity—not to mention the darkness inside the drawer—and there you go.
As you can see, if you want to store equipment, choose dry locations—which pests dislike the most—and you’ll avoid potential problems with mold and corrosion. Also, if possible, aim for temperatures between 10 and 20 °C. For example, an attic, a poorly insulated garage, or a basement are not good options.