Our thanks to reader Scott Wilcox for alerting us to the following sorry tale, posted on October 30 by a certain Steve Andre on the ThinkPad Mailing-list Archive.

The author's Thinkpad, a "wonderful A30p" developed a video memory problem and he sent it off for repair to IBM. The laptop was returned with the following message, he writes.

Your IBM ThinkPad is being returned to you unrepaired, due to the presense of an offensive of biological hazard.

Upon initial inspection of your ThinkPad at IBM's EZ Serv repair depot, out technicians found that your ThinkPad was delivered to IBM containing an offensie or biological hazard. The presence of this hazard prevents IBM technicians from performing repairs on your system."

Err no, says Steve. I AM STUNNED. There is no odor on my ThinkPad, nor does there seem to be any evidence of chemicals on it.

It's a new one on us. Let us know if your Thinkpad contains a biological hazard. Any other ludicrous excuses for not fixing a dud piece of kit also welcome.

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