conversely thousands could be OK if they were all careful to avoid circuitry they could short (something I wouldn't count on).
I wouldn't try any insecticide as it would leave dead ants inside the computer. Try removing it away from any food source and disposing of the ants as thy emerge looking for food when they get hungry. Avoid using the computer while eating or drinking surgery substances to avoid ant infestations in the future.
Alternatively, you might try rounding up a few dozen tiny little uncles in an enclosed glass box and setting it down next to the laptop. When the ants come out to visit squash them. ![]()
How many ants must there be to be dangerous to laptops (mine's an eeepc) and external hard drives (Seagate expansion) - will a handful be okay, for example? How would you know, besides seeing ants crawling all over them, that there are ants living inside them? What's the best way to get rid of ants?

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