Yesterday I get a call from one of our traveling users. He is back in the office and has put his computer in the dock and booted. But when he logged in he couldn't get his desktop, it was a fresh blank Windows XP desktop.

My first thought was "Oh great, Windows Profile problems, those are always fun". I was coming in late so I told him I would be in at 10:30 and help him out then.

I get in the office and go to his computer, and sure enough it is just as he described, a blank windows desktop. So I go hunting for his old profile so I can copy it into the new one. But for some reason it isn't there. Now I have NEVER seen Windows spontaneously delete a profile, I don't think it is even possible. So I log in as Administrator and go hunting.

After a minute or two I notice that one of the profiles is named administrator.intern6. My knee jerk thought was "weird, I wonder how that happened" since his computer name is jmorrison (changed to protect the stupid). Next thought I immediately check the computer name and confirm that it is Intern6.

So I turn around to the luser (well deserved title at that moment) and say "So John, where's your computer?" At first he says "what do you mean" and then an absolutely priceless look of dumfounded realization spreads across his face (My kingdom for a webcam at that moment!).

The punch line is that he has left HIS computer in his backpack (at his feet), and left the Intern/Loaner laptop in the dock, and just turned it on all the while thinking he put his computer in the dock!

The only thing I can say in his defense is that he had just gotten back from an around the world jaunt in Liberia and Nepal, and clearly hadn't had coffee yet.

So his office-mates and I had a nice laugh at his expense as he hung his head in shame. Good thing he is a good-natured guy who is willing to take his well-deserved lumps!