Custom PC Worked in the Lab, Failed on Site - and So Did the Angry Client
The Register, Friday, May 8th, 2026
A technician is blamed for a PC malfunction that turns out to be caused by an unplugged network cable.
In this On Call column, a technician named Gerald recounts an early career incident where he built a Windows 98 PC data collector that worked perfectly in the lab but failed when installed at a client site.
His boss angrily blamed him for allowing a non-functional system to leave the shop, and Gerald was sent 100 km to fix it while the furious client demanded answers.
Upon arrival, Gerald diagnosed the issue by systematically unplugging peripherals and discovered the network cable was simply coiled and taped to a support column rather than connected, making it an embarrassing situation for both the client and his boss.