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Missing computers in a workplace can be a huge problem for IT people.

The following story is about an employee who was wondering where a missing computer went.

He later discovered that it had been sold with a manufacturing machine and was still connected to the company’s systems.

After security software locked the device, a stranger in Louisiana contacted the company for help because their production line had stopped working.

He was completely dumbfounded to learn that the missing unit had traveled to another state.

Let’s take a closer look!

A 3rd party company ended up with a company computer.

This is one of those “hold my beer” stories.

Last year, we were working on updating machines to Windows 11.

There was a device we couldn’t find, so our security team locked it down in FortiEDR.

The antivirus program would make the machine inoperable the next time it checked in.

This employee received a call from tech support.

Well, it checked in, and yeah, it was inoperable. I got a call from someone in tech support.

Tech: Hey, I got a call from someone in Louisiana. He’s got one computer that keeps getting FortiEDR toast notifications.

Me: What?

Tech: Yeah. Weird, right?

Me: (Very confused) What’s the serial number of the device?

Tech support gives me the serial number.

I look it up. Me:  I found the missing computer.

He’s dumbfounded as to how one of their machines reached Louisiana.

Tech support also informs me that this person had never heard of our company.

But he researched the notification, and that led him to our website and then to our tech support number for our customers.

Why he didn’t just wipe the computer is beyond me?

I start talking to various members of my team and throughout the company.

I was trying to figure out how in blazes one of our devices is in Louisiana.

He eventually found out what happened.

Apparently, manufacturing had sold one of our ERSA devices, and they neglected to tell IT.

They sold it with the computer attached. Did they reimage or wipe it, you ask. No.

They sold the ERSA with the computer. The computer had an auto-login and was still in our Intune tenant.

Throughout all this, I learn we effectively caused a manufacturing line to go down at this 3rd-party company when we isolated the device in FortiEDR.

His team remote-controlled the computer to delete all company files.

We ask the other company if we can remote in and uninstall our software and unregister it from our system.

To my astonishment, they allow it.

I remote in, uninstall apps, and remove files that are specific to our company.

Then, I remove the device from our Intune tenant.

If it were him, he would have had the computer replaced.

If it was me, I would’ve not called anyone. That machine would’ve been reimaged immediately.

If it came up again after reimage, that device would have been replaced.

The computer tells the ERSA how to make a circuit board via communication software.

The computer is cheap compared to the rest of the unit.

Selling an entire machine with a company-managed computer still attached can be quite an IT nightmare.

Well, at least the new owner called instead of simply wiping the computer, which somehow solved the mystery of the missing computer.

I could imagine the shock of OP when he discovered that the unit had traveled all the way to Louisiana. Lol.

Let’s check out the comments from other people on this story.

This person is curious.

This user shares their personal thoughts.

Here’s another valid point.

Another one chimes in.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a customer who wants to argue about an item they chose not being on sale.

Finally… indeed, right?

Often, the missing piece of the puzzle is hiding in plain sight.