Linux admin asked savvy scientist for IT help and the boffin blew it

In science, every day is about testing hypotheses. Such as: 'plugging this thing in here is OK, right?'
Who, Me? Welcome, gentle reader, to another exciting week at the coalface of tech and therefore the anticipation of five joyous productive days ahead and a fresh edition of Who, Me? – The Register's reader-contributed tales of tech gone awry.…