don't want to babysit computers for family anymore, what to do

[OS]

I gave my parents two computers and every couple months, someone manages to jack something up and I have to piss away several hours fixing stupid sh*t. It's becoming really tiresome.

This time the computer is polluted up the ass with spyware I can't remove. I did make the mistake of letting them run as admin, it was convenient for me when I had to use it, but ontop making them just users, I'm thinking about taking away one computer so they can only jack up one. What else should I do? It already has firewall, AV, anti spyware, blah blah and it still gets screwed up.

 

[KoolDrew]

Set them up in limited user accounts? Use Linux?

 

[Lonyo]

Firefox.

 

[JonnyStarks]

Just do a really really bad job fixing it, eventually they'll stop asking you.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Firefox.

or Opera.

 

[shimsham]

im sure it sucks, but, come on man theyre your parents. the least you can do is fix their comps after they raised you. have you taught them how to run scans, etc?

 

[MX2]

You and me both pal.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Firefox.

or Opera.

or safari + OSX

 

[Xyclone]

Opera FTW.

 

[xcript]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Firefox.

:thumbsup:

 

[Nocturnal]

Limited user account, if you're running XP Pro you can further limit their accounts. Firefox ftw and probably let them know that downloading those free games and various other free software isn't so good and to be smart about it.

 

[Rage187]

make an image of it while it's good, then just reimage it.

 

[Jeraden]

Welcome to the club, you are now your family's computer expert. Anything dealing with computers will come your way. Just be glad its limited to your parents and not your entire extended family, trust me, it sucks.

 

[Darien]

Linux would do you well I think.

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: Jeraden
Welcome to the club, you are now your family's computer expert. Anything dealing with computers will come your way. Just be glad its limited to your parents and not your entire extended family, trust me, it sucks.

Amen to that. I'm in that position, and it suxs big time...
:beer:

 

[EatSpam]

Get in a horrible car wreck and get permanently maimed?

 

[suse920]

Apple mac mini ftw!

 

[sixone]

Tell them it's a hardware problem that would be too expensive to fix. Help them buy a Dell, prominently display the Help Desk number for them to call when they have a problem.

 

[Literati]

You can have them buy some beer and make some food like I do.

They're family, of course you should help them.

But that doesn't mean you can't eat and drink for free while doing so.

 

[BriGy86]

trendmicro internet security, spysweeper, spybot, spyware blaster, and make sure the computer it up to date with patches, along with all the optional ones too

 

[Bryophyte]

Tell them to keep their stuff backed up because from now on you're doing a full reformat and fresh installs of everything everytime they goof it up and you won't backup for them. heh

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Originally posted by: Jeraden
Welcome to the club, you are now your family's computer expert. Anything dealing with computers will come your way. Just be glad its limited to your parents and not your entire extended family, trust me, it sucks.

Although it's fun taking on the task of building them, it definitely sucks when they call you for every problem they face with it in the future.

Oh well, it's what family is for i guess.

 

[her209]

You know what they say, if you don't want to do something, do a really bad job at it, and the next time it happens, they won't ask you.

 

[Looney]

Setup Linux. Seriously. Whatever you're going to do, you can't completely make it idiot proof. An AV is only so good as it's last update. Antispyware generally works on cleaning the system, AFTER it's been infected. They can install software they have no clue about, just because a website tells them to click YES. etc etc

More than likely they can do everything they want on Linux that they do in Windows. If you don't know anything about Linux, then get them a Mac. And get Applecare warranty for them as well.

 

[RBBRMADE]

Originally posted by: OS
I have to piss away several hours fixing stupid sh*t. It's becoming really tiresome.

Any ROUGH idea of how many hours they spent raising you and fixing sh!t you jacked up?

Seriously, I understand when it come to extended family and friends of family....but it's your parents!

Ron