The Stack Attack: How Piling Up Laptops Led to a Tech Support Mystery
If you’ve ever worked in IT, you know that some days feel like you’re living in a haunted server room. Devices misbehave, error messages pop up out of nowhere, and sometimes, it seems like the only explanation is a curse. That was exactly the vibe for one Redditor, u/nicsaweiner, who recently shared a tale from the tech trenches that had everything: mysterious malfunctions, a mounting sense of doom, and a twist even Scooby-Doo would envy.
Picture this: a carefully stacked pile of Dell Latitude laptops, a routine imaging job, and then—chaos. Keyboards and touchpads refuse to cooperate. Displays flicker in and out of existence. And it’s not just one laptop—no, it’s three in a row! Is it bad luck, a full moon, or has IT finally angered the ancient spirits of obsolete hardware? Let’s find out.
When Laptops Go Loco
Our hero starts the day like any other: prepping laptops for new employees. The first device off the top of the pile seems a bit grumpy—keyboard and mousepad unresponsive, display flickering like a ghostly apparition. “No biggie,” thinks our tech, “probably just drivers.” A quick update later, the problems persist. Still, there are more laptops to image, so onto the next one.
But then… deja vu. The second laptop exhibits the exact same symptoms. And then a third. At this point, any seasoned IT pro would be checking the stars, or maybe their coffee for signs of sabotage. Three identical failures in a row? That’s not a coincidence. That’s a curse.
The “Aha!” Moment—Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Move the Laptop
Defeated but determined, the Redditor takes the latest problem child to their desk, away from the cursed pile. Miraculously, everything works perfectly. The keyboard is alive! The screen is steady! Cue the X-Files theme.
But the plot thickens. Returning to the workbench, our protagonist sets the laptop back on the stack—boom, instant malfunction. Lift it up—problem gone. Place it down—malfunction returns. It’s like a magic trick, but the magician is losing their mind.
The culprit? Magnets. Yes, really. Modern laptops sometimes have magnets built in (for lid sensors, speakers, and other components), and when you stack them, those fields can interfere with the sensors or circuits in the laptops below. The result? Keyboards, touchpads, and screens that act possessed.
Lessons from the Laptop Pile
What can we learn from this comedy of errors? First, the basics: Don’t stack laptops when working on them. It’s a simple rule that’s easy to overlook when you’re in a hurry or space is tight. But as this story proves, stacking can lead to some seriously weird behavior.
Magnets are everywhere in modern electronics, and their effects aren’t always obvious. While they’re great for keeping your laptop closed or powering tiny speakers, they can also trip up hall sensors (which detect the lid’s position), interfere with touchpads, or mess with display controls. Put two or more laptops in close proximity, and you might accidentally convince your computer that its lid is closed—or worse.
This tale is also a reminder that in IT, the simplest explanation is often the right one—but so is the weirdest. Before you start blaming firmware, drivers, or the supernatural, take a look at your physical setup. Is anything pressing on the device? Is there something magnetic nearby? Are you, perhaps, stacking laptops like pancakes at a Sunday brunch?
Why We Love Tales from Tech Support
Stories like these are why the r/TalesFromTechSupport subreddit is a goldmine for both IT pros and the tech-curious. They remind us that even in a world of ones and zeroes, there’s plenty of room for slapstick, facepalms, and the occasional eureka moment. Plus, they’re a great way to share hard-earned wisdom with the next generation of troubleshooters.
So next time your devices start acting haunted, remember: sometimes the answer is as simple as moving your laptop off the pile. And if not—well, there’s always sage smudging.
Have a Tale of Your Own?
Ever had a tech problem with a solution so simple it blew your mind? Or maybe you’ve got your own cursed hardware story? Share it in the comments below! Let’s swap “I can’t believe that was the fix” moments—because in IT, we’re all in this (sometimes magnetic) mess together.
Original Reddit Post: I thought I was cursed