Ants trying to crawl into my Macbook Pro!

[catdog02481]

Drastic times call for drastic measures. Find a used computer dealer or look around for any sort of 'windows xp inside' or better yet, an 'optimized for vista' decal.

Put it on your mac in a place where the ants can see it.

After the smart ants have fled, and dumb ones that stayed in the machine have sickened and died, vacuum out your pro, and remove all traces of the sticker or decal.

I'd further suggest having a priest do an exorcism and then blessing your machine via irc, or preferably, iChat.

Clyde, that is the funniest...how about just running XP on bootcamp instead of OS X for a few days?

cathyy, i am sorry i was in a foul mood and did not mean to hijack the thread. Now that i have taken my meds, i can offer some constructive comments, although we will need the help of other experts:

1-Microwave: find out if ants are sensitive to microwave and if so then if the MBP is more or less sensitive than they are and consider zapping them

2-Oven: find out if ants survive 100 degrees celsius and consider putting the MBP in the oven just short of its melting temperature, although that may cause any sugar in the crumbs if they were cookies to stick together

3-Freezer: find out if ants are sensitive to cold and stick the MBP in the fridge or freezer and then slowly thaw to avoid condensation

4-"Reverse Osmosis": lure the ants OUT of the MBP by placing a large amount of crumbs just outside the MBP causing a mass exodus to re-establish their colony outside of the MBP

5-"Smoke 'em out": although GW is no longer president, some of his techniques still work and this method holds promise: place mbp in an box and light a nearby smoky fire, and "smoke" the ants out of the MBP

6-Install Windows 98 using VMWare or Parallels or DOS 3.01 and play space invaders, that usually results in spontaneous ant apoptosis (kind of like suicide) when they hear the sound when the invaders are about to hit bottom after loosing all bases. Another option is to play Demis Roussos or Yani on itunes overnight for 3 nights in a row.

I hope this helps?...

____

Ok seriously now, i would use some of that anti-ant powder, sprinkle a tiny amount on the keyboard and speaker grille (literally tiny speck) then air-spray the powder off and under the keys to get some of it inside where the crumbs may have gone then wipe the keyboard and outside in case the anti-ant powder is toxic to humans. If that does not work, you may want to take it apart and clean it as recommended above. Sorry for previous "humor".

 

[goMac]

Just wait. If the ants are smelling food (=crumbs) in your laptop, let them go clean it out for you.

They'll stop when there's no reason to enter again.

A couple of days and you'll be free of them.

Unless they establish a colony in the computer...

 

[catdog02481]

Unless they establish a colony in the computer...

For how long would a typical crumb sustain an ant from a metabolic point of view? one day, one month, one year?

 

[Osarkon]

I'd be tempted to try some compressed air. Apart from that, I would have thought they'd give up eventually.

You could do a quick experiment to see if they're going in there for food or whether they're following an old trail by moving the macbook somewhere else. If they still come, it's because there's still food, if they don't, then it's just an old trail they're following?

Just a theory, but it might work.

 

[Apple Corps]

On a serious note - let the ants do the cleaning - I would not kill them - let them haul the crumbs away - and they will stop visiting when there is no food for them.

Think about it - why risk messing up your Mac?

 

[eldy]

Sell your laptop.

 

[Dita]

that sucks man

i would just sell it and buy another laptop

 

[The Flashing Fi]

So... You have Ants crawling into your MBP that's sitting in your house. I think you have a more serious problem than ants getting into your MBP. You should really do something about the ants in your house if anything.

If you want the best way to get the crumbs/ants out, open up the laptop, get a can of compressed air and blow all the crap out. Then call an exterminator and get rid of all the ants in your house.

 

[brentsg]

I would suggest buying a Dell, doesn't need to be an expensive one. Crack open the Dell and put some drops of honey down inside, and sprinkle some crumbs around the honey. For the crumbs I would recommend the peanut butter filled chocolate Girl Scout cookies.

Put the Dell back together and place it in a location far from your MBP.

Edit: make sure the Dell has windows XP on it, as even the ants won't go anywhere near Vista.

 

[clyde2801]

Edit: make sure the Dell has windows XP on it, as even the ants won't go anywhere near Vista.

That's already been covered in this thread, sir.

 

[goMac]

For how long would a typical crumb sustain an ant from a metabolic point of view? one day, one month, one year?

No, they'd live in the Macbook Pro because it's warm, and they'd bring more food in.

I've seen it happen before. It's not fun.

 

[JoshJosh117]

.

 

[Tumbleweed666]

They're also averse to mint.

And anteaters. Try getting one of those from a local petstore, that should clean up the problem quickly and seems like the most straightforward solution to me..

 

[Daremo]

Clean your house?

 

[mikes70mustang]

um, how bout take care of the ant problem in your house? Get a bug bomb, or terro, play a game on a pillow and cook them. Just dont melt the whole thing lol

 

[Skika]

Embrace your new Macbook Pro protectors.

 

[pdxflint]

Just wait. If the ants are smelling food (=crumbs) in your laptop, let them go clean it out for you.

They'll stop when there's no reason to enter again.

A couple of days and you'll be free of them.

Best suggestion yet! You made a mess, they're only trying to come get what you dropped, and take it back to their colony. I doubt they'll hurt your laptop any more than the crumbs. You should let them at it...

 

[runebinder]

Definitely go for the compressed air approach over a vacuum cleaner, vacuum cleaners generate static electricity and would be seriously bad new for any electronics.

 

[alexrose99]

oy

I agree with the compressed air bit. Also, I think the ants are probably, at this point, following an old trail. Wipe your lappie down with some white vinegar (put some on a rag and wipe down the whole thing, you can use windex with vinegar on the screen if it is the new unibody with the glass screen). The vinegar will erase the trail. You should probably do this across your whole house. I would also put some traps/poison out for them. For your general house cleaning, use 1 part vinegar and 1 part water in a spray bottle.

 

[Screwball]

The rest have written some good points, but just in case if everything fails...
I mean it's the 21st century and all...
How about crossing a giant anteater with a mite and getting it into the machine??? That'd make a serious ant-arse-kicker!! After pest control you'd freeze the little bugger's s*m*n, put it right in your fridge, and presumably you'll be able to enjoy the hell out of your mac and life ( including some snack parties with the MBP utilized as table ) knowing that the cure for a possible ant-attack ( i mean hey, you killed one comrade ) is lying in your fridge, ready to be used!
Just my one penny

 

[NPMac]

hahaha I feel bad for the Op...but these responses are very creative and amusing

 

[Stinkysteve]

I agree with the compressed air bit. Also, I think the ants are probably, at this point, following an old trail. Wipe your lappie down with some white vinegar (put some on a rag and wipe down the whole thing, you can use windex with vinegar on the screen if it is the new unibody with the glass screen). The vinegar will erase the trail. You should probably do this across your whole house. I would also put some traps/poison out for them. For your general house cleaning, use 1 part vinegar and 1 part water in a spray bottle.

Be sure to also wipe down the table and legs of the table when you do this.

 

[captivator]

I don't really get it

I am in love with this thread. Seriously, the mental images of someone observing ants crawling in and around their MBP is too ****ing funny. I can just imagine the terror in her face.

In all seriousness, Cathy, I'm very sorry that you're distressed. I would be too.

However, doesn't this beg the question as to why there are ants crawling inside your house? I think you'll find your solution there.

 

[midanekMBP]

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[poozer115]

Drastic times call for drastic measures. Find a used computer dealer or look around for any sort of 'windows xp inside' or better yet, an 'optimized for vista' decal.

Put it on your mac in a place where the ants can see it.

After the smart ants have fled, and dumb ones that stayed in the machine have sickened and died, vacuum out your pro, and remove all traces of the sticker or decal.

I'd further suggest having a priest do an exorcism and then blessing your machine via irc, or preferably, iChat.

I think this is the funniest thing I've ever read on a forum. I just lold for real =D.