We use cookies, including third-party cookies from Google to serve personalized ads through AdSense, to operate this site and understand how it is used. By continuing to browse, you accept this use. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for details, including how to opt out of personalized advertising.
Accept
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
  • Analytics
    AnalyticsShow More
    chatgpt image jul 21, 2026, 04 34 30 pm
    4 Core Benefits of Predictive Maintenance after Vibration Analysis
    10 Min Read
    How Does Data Mining Boost Customer Satisfaction in Logistics? Harnessing Analytics for Results -- AI-generated illustration
    How Does Data Mining Boost Customer Satisfaction in Logistics? Harnessing Analytics for Results
    11 Min Read
    chatgpt image jul 13, 2026, 04 23 45 pm
    How Data Analytics Helps Companies Improve User Engagement
    19 Min Read
    chatgpt image jul 13, 2026, 03 59 46 pm
    How Data Analytics Improves Multi-Location Search Strategies
    10 Min Read
    cybersecurity efforts
    How Behavioral Analytics and AI Are Redefining Cybersecurity for Boca Raton Businesses
    14 Min Read
  • Big Data
  • BI
  • Exclusive
  • IT
  • Marketing
  • Software
Search
© 2008-25 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Even More Ridiculous IT Service Desk Requests [INFOGRAPHIC]
Share
Notification
Font ResizerAa
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • About
  • Help
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
SmartData Collective > Uncategorized > Even More Ridiculous IT Service Desk Requests [INFOGRAPHIC]
Uncategorized

Even More Ridiculous IT Service Desk Requests [INFOGRAPHIC]

LinuxIT
LinuxIT
6 Min Read
Even More Ridiculous IT Service Desk Requests [INFOGRAPHIC]
Illustration generated with FLUX.2 [klein 4B] via Cloudflare Workers AI.
SHARE

We bring you more in our series ‘101 Most Ridiculous IT Service Requests’.

Contents
  • 22.  User: “My mouse has stopped working.”
  • 23. User: “I’ve just had my line enabled for broadband, but there is no difference in it!”
  • 24. User: “Is there a spray I can get for my computer?”
  • 25. User: “I password protected an important document and now I can’t remember the password.”
  • 26. Helpdesk: “Okay, you should now see a small dialog box on your desktop.”
  • Ouch.
  • To find out more about the Open Source success story that is Linux, download From Classroom to Boardroom – the Linux journey.

Due to popular demand – sincerest thanks, both of you – LinuxIT, the leading name in Open Source for enterprise, returns with even more ridiculous IT service desk requests.

We bring you more in our series ‘101 Most Ridiculous IT Service Requests’.

Due to popular demand – sincerest thanks, both of you – LinuxIT, the leading name in Open Source for enterprise, returns with even more ridiculous IT service desk requests.

More Read

IKEA Speaks the Language of Emoticons
IKEA Speaks the Language of Emoticons
Want 60 Million Customers? Here’s How Netflix Does It
Virtual Workforce, A Growing Part of the New Normal?
Nomination Period Underway for the 2011 Government Big Data Solutions Award
Social Media: The Tension between Collaboration and Ownership

Further proof, if further proof was needed, that even when technology comes a knocking, for some people the lights may be on, but nobody’s home.

22.  User: “My mouse has stopped working.”

Helpdesk: “Is it an optical or ball mouse?”

User: “Sorry?”

Helpdesk: “Does it have a ball or light?”

User: “There’s a light on top.”

Helpdesk: “On top?”

User: “Yes. It was underneath before, but I like it better on top.”

Helpdesk: “Right. Could you turn it around so the light’s pointing down at the desk?”

User: “Okay… Oh! Great! It works!”

23. User: “I’ve just had my line enabled for broadband, but there is no difference in it!”

Helpdesk: “Sorry to hear that. What speed are you getting?”

User: “Speed? What do you mean?”

Helpdesk: “The download speed on your computer?”

User: “I don’t own a computer, nor have I any interest in owning one. What’s that got to do with my broadband?”

Helpdesk: “Broadband is high-speed internet. What did you think it was for?”

User: “I thought it improved the quality of voice calls… I did wonder why you’d sent me this black box and all these wires.”

24. User: “Is there a spray I can get for my computer?”

Helpdesk: “Excuse me?”

User: “A spray? One I can squirt the inside of my computer with.”

Helpdesk: “Do you mean compressed air?”

User: “Does that kill the viruses?”

Helpdesk: “… You mean like a disinfectant? For computer viruses?”

User: “Yes! That would do the trick.”

Helpdesk: “I’m sorry, sir. There’s nothing like that available. Viruses are just a name we give to malicious software. We use ‘virus’ because it explains how the software behaves.”

User: “Oh… so no spray then?”

Helpdesk: “No.”

25. User: “I password protected an important document and now I can’t remember the password.”

Helpdesk: “Okay. We have a program that can get passwords from Word documents. Can you email it to me?”

User: “No, it’s very sensitive. That’s why it was password protected. I don’t even keep the file on the server. I keep it secure on a memory stick.”

Helpdesk: “It would be safer if you kept it on the server. At least on the server it would be backed up each night.”

User: “That’s exactly what I don’t want to happen. For legal reasons, I can’t have any copies of this file. I need you to come down here and get the password for me.”

Helpdesk: “I’m in a different office to you, so I’ll have to send someone to help you out.”

User: “Have them call ahead so I can notify security.”

Helpdesk: “Security? That won’t be necessary. We’ve all signed non-disclosure agreements.”

User: “It will be necessary! This is a very sensitive document and I can’t have anybody near it without security.”

Helpdesk: “Okay. I’ll make sure they call ahead and bring the software so they can retrieve the password you forgot.”

User: “I didn’t forget it!”

Helpdesk: “Sorry?”

User: “I’d no need to remember it.”

Helpdesk: “What do you mean?”

User: “The password was written on a post-it note attached to the memory stick and must’ve fallen off. It’s somewhere on my desk, but there’s so many papers here I can’t find it!”

26. Helpdesk: “Okay, you should now see a small dialog box on your desktop.”

User: “I don’t see any box on my desktop.”

Helpdesk: “Are you sure? It’ll be a small window with an ‘OK’ button in the middle.”

User: “How can a window be in my desktop?”

Helpdesk: “Sorry… what are you looking at?”

User: “My desktop, like you said. There’s no box on it, just the computer. I do have a small window at the top of my wall though, but I don’t see anything that says ‘OK’.”

Ouch.

In our capacity as Linux Systems Management specialists, LinuxIT is always on hand to provide a solution to the most demanding of service requests from our customers. We build, migrate and maintain cost-effective and flexible systems, making us the leading specialists in Open Source IT solutions.

To find out more about the Open Source success story that is Linux, download From Classroom to Boardroom – the Linux journey.

From Classroom to Boardroom – the Linux Journey

TAGGED:Help DeskLinux
Share This Article
Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn
Share

Follow us on Facebook

Latest News

Illustration of mobile analytics dashboards with ad performance charts connected to backend databases
11 Best Sisense Alternatives for Embedded Analytics
Business Intelligence Exclusive
Analyst points at colorful circular data dashboard on screen - information technology business metrics
How Fragmented Workplace Tech Undermines Reliable Business Metrics and Reporting
Cloud Computing Exclusive Infographic IT
Using Multi-Source Data and Analytics to Detect Operational Drift Across Franchise Networks -- AI-generated illustration
Using Multi-Source Data and Analytics to Detect Operational Drift Across Franchise Networks
Exclusive Infographic
Beyond The First Impression: The Long-Lasting Impact Of Sensory Marketing -- AI-generated illustration
Beyond The First Impression: The Long-Lasting Impact Of Sensory Marketing
Infographic Marketing

Stay Connected

1.2KFollowersLike
33.7KFollowersFollow
222FollowersPin

You Might also Like

Five More Common Myths About Open Source
ITOpen SourceSoftware

Five More Common Myths About Open Source

4 Min Read
8 Crazy Things You've Heard Before If You Work with Linux
Uncategorized

8 Crazy Things You’ve Heard Before If You Work with Linux

5 Min Read
Key Tips to Writing Linux Device Drivers for Big Data Environments
Big DataExclusive

Key Tips to Writing Linux Device Drivers for Big Data Environments

6 Min Read
Transferring Linux Skills to Your Solaris UNIX Staff: Ten Tips for CIOs
Best PracticesCulture/LeadershipData ManagementITPolicy and GovernanceSoftware

Transferring Linux Skills to Your Solaris UNIX Staff: Ten Tips for CIOs

4 Min Read

SmartData Collective is one of the largest & trusted community covering technical content about Big Data, BI, Cloud, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IoT & more.

Artificial Intelligence for eCommerce: A Closer Look
Artificial Intelligence for eCommerce: A Closer Look
Artificial Intelligence
AI chatbots
AI Chatbots Can Help Retailers Convert Live Broadcast Viewers into Sales!
Chatbots

Quick Link

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-26 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?