Hey I need help with my computer...it's broken?

[dds14u]

Us AnandTechers being more technically inclined than our peers probably get a lot of requests to fix someone else's PC.

People forget to plug in a cable...or need to configure their routers...or wondering why there PC is running so slow - this is a tough one assuming you don't use the get-out-of-jail-free card aka. reformat. So what's your latest story...with Vista...Linux...maybe even Win 7?

 

[OogyWaWa]

"my computer is broken"
"whats wrong?"
"the screen is black"
"did you turn it on?"
"i don't know, how do i tell?"
"push the power button"
"where is that?"
"usually on the front. circular button, says power"
"oh *click* oh, ok, now it is working. thanks"
"uh-huh..."

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: OogyWaWa
"my computer is broken"
"whats wrong?"
"the screen is black"
"did you turn it on?"
"i don't know, how do i tell?"
"push the power button"
"where is that?"
"usually on the front. circular button, says power"
"oh *click* oh, ok, now it is working. thanks"
"uh-huh..."

Happens all the time.

 

[FP]

Virus infections are the bane of my existence.

I shame every person I know into installing AV and not opening any attachments. About 3-4x a year someone gets one and of course does not know how it showed up. Looking through the browser history it is usually obvious

I give each person one "free" virus fix. Then their only option is do not call me or let me take away admin rights on your computer and have my way with it.

 

[EricMartello]

I only offer to fix peoples' computers when I can leverage the fix to somehow upgrade my own system...i.e. say I want a new HD but don't feel like paying for it, I'll say "You should get a new HD, how about it?" Then I give them my old one and buy myself a new one with the money I charge them to replace theirs...they're happy, I'm happy and everyone can smile easily.

 

[shortylickens]

Most common problem (and my latest) is getting on and seeing 20 icons in the taskbar. I open up the Task Manager and find 119 processes running.

Have to politely remind people not to install every crap program they see on the web and think is cool. I start by killing many of the processes manually. Then I uninstall as many crap programs as I can (most of them go away harmlessly) then I do the whole adware/spyware scan. Then virus scan. Then I rinse & repeat until I get everything. Normally this process requires several reboots, so I disable a bunch of junk at startup too. That makes uninstalling the shady programs easier, and it helps with removing some of the nastier adware. Often have to use Killbox as well.

That can take a whole day (16 hours) and I often dont like the person enough to spend that much time with them.

If the person has a system restore disc I usually just tell them to put all their important files on a thumb drive and then wipe their computer clean. Problem is you still have to make darn sure the thumb drive is safe before you use it on the fresh computer.

 

[nineball9]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
Most common problem (and my latest) is getting on and seeing 20 icons in the taskbar. I open up the Task Manager and find 119 processes running.

Have to politely remind people not to install every crap program they see on the web and think is cool. I start by killing many of the processes manually. Then I uninstall as many crap programs as I can (most of them go away harmlessly) then I do the whole adware/spyware scan. Then virus scan. Then I rinse & repeat until I get everything. Normally this process requires several reboots, so I disable a bunch of junk at startup too. That makes uninstalling the shady programs easier, and it helps with removing some of the nastier adware. ...

I got a laugh reading your post! Seen many systems like this. Another pet peeve of mine is all the browser tool bars people download and don't use. Open IE on their system to find something on the Web and I can't see much - half of the screen is covered with useless tool bars.

 

[shortylickens]

http://www.joehutley.com/pics/too_many_toolbars.jpg

 

[nineball9]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
http://www.joehutley.com/pics/too_many_toolbars.jpg

Maybe my upstairs neighbor is "JoeHutley". She doesn't look like a "JoeHutley", but her browser screen looks like that.
Every time I work on her system I delete that stuff. She doesn't know what the toolbars do much less use them yet she manages to acquire a lot of 'em.

 

[alkemyst]

I will say most that think they know PC's and troubleshooting just get lucky.

I usually get machines after the pros have done their thing. I try to avoid work when possible after hours.

There has not been a machine yet with a software issue I have had to do a full reinstall when one would be problematic. A lot of older folks down here throw away their software thinking it's already installed.

Nerd Herd is quick just to reformat and let the person know they will have to re purchase all their software.

 

[Raduque]

My sister (no there will NOT be pics, and you don't want to see them anyway) brought me this one recently

"My "H" key popped off"
what did you do now?
"nothing, my cat was sitting on the laptop, and then the "H" key stopped working so I pried it off with my fingernail"
/facepalm

She has long fingernails, and she just shoved one under there and yanked up on the key as hard as she could. The little scissor mount is in about 5 pieces (should be two) and the mount points on the keyboard are GONE.

 

[effowe]

Last computer I had to fix was my roomate's dad's laptop. His computer was just stuck at the "Vaio" screen, and wouldn't boot into Windows. He showed it to some "tech" friend of his, who diagnosed it as a BIOS problem. After I took a look and did some googling, I figured it might be the ram. After taking out 1 stick, it booted right up. I upgraded him to a gig of ram which I had laying around, and defragged his hard drive. I told him it would be $100 for the work, which I thought was a good deal compared to Geek Squad standards. He ended up giving me $150 because he said I charged too little. Good deal, everyone was happy.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I only fix computers for money now...no time to do it free anymore .

 

[Crono]

I don't mind when people are ignorant about problems, or do something by accident and mess up their computer.
What I do mind is people I know asking me to clean their computers of viruses/malware that they got from visiting shady sites and downloading crap when I specifically told them in the past not to do so. If you want to continue infecting your computer that's fine, just don't ask me to repair your computer again (unless you want to pay me, of course).

 

[Hacp]

I just need to mention that I'm a republican. It shuts them up.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I put together a computer for a friend and became his go-to tech support. I'm buying a dell and sticking in a video card next time. Anyway, here's how it went:

"My computer keeps shutting off randomly"
"If there are no error messages, then something's probably overheating"
"Yeah, I opened it up and put a box fan next to it - oh, and where does that little fan go?"
"Uh, which little fan? Just buy a can of compressed air and spray it in there under all of them"
"Oh, I didn't know there were so many fans..."

He's a smart guy (better at math than me), but he just doesn't know jack about computers.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Tell them that they need to get a new PC, but you'll take their old one for parts. And then ebay it.

 

[amdhunter]

Originally posted by: FP
Virus infections are the bane of my existence.

I shame every person I know into installing AV and not opening any attachments. About 3-4x a year someone gets one and of course does not know how it showed up. Looking through the browser history it is usually obvious

I give each person one "free" virus fix. Then their only option is do not call me or let me take away admin rights on your computer and have my way with it.

Almost all the people who's computer I've fixed with spyware, had a current and updated spyware solution installed.

AV/Spyware programs are so bullshit.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: amdhunter
Almost all the people who's computer I've fixed with spyware, had a current and updated spyware solution installed.

AV/Spyware programs are so bullshit.

That is very true. I had a site that installed some nasty spyware when I tried to watch a video of an HD enclosure review. There wasn't a single anti-spyware app I found that helped clean it. Spybot did try to prevent it from reinstalling, but no-script plugin was the one thing that actually worked. I just can't recommend it to people since it's not newbie friendly. (they'll just allow everything all the time to "make it work")

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: amdhunter
Almost all the people who's computer I've fixed with spyware, had a current and updated spyware solution installed.

AV/Spyware programs are so bullshit.

That's like saying vaccines are bullshit. AV/AS/AM programs can only defend a limited number of threats.

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: EricMartello
I only offer to fix peoples' computers when I can leverage the fix to somehow upgrade my own system...i.e. say I want a new HD but don't feel like paying for it, I'll say "You should get a new HD, how about it?" Then I give them my old one and buy myself a new one with the money I charge them to replace theirs...they're happy, I'm happy and everyone can smile easily.

Wow, that's a douche bag move bro :|

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: Raduque
My sister (no there will NOT be pics, and you don't want to see them anyway) brought me this one recently

"My "H" key popped off"
what did you do now?
"nothing, my cat was sitting on the laptop, and then the "H" key stopped working so I pried it off with my fingernail"
/facepalm

She has long fingernails, and she just shoved one under there and yanked up on the key as hard as she could. The little scissor mount is in about 5 pieces (should be two) and the mount points on the keyboard are GONE.

Arcadia is a girl?!?

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Originally posted by: Raduque
My sister (no there will NOT be pics, and you don't want to see them anyway) brought me this one recently

"My "H" key popped off"
what did you do now?
"nothing, my cat was sitting on the laptop, and then the "H" key stopped working so I pried it off with my fingernail"
/facepalm

She has long fingernails, and she just shoved one under there and yanked up on the key as hard as she could. The little scissor mount is in about 5 pieces (should be two) and the mount points on the keyboard are GONE.

Arcadia is a girl?!?

Her name is Joan.

 

[n7]

Every work day.
All day.

Just one day, i wanna have someone come up to me & say hey man, my computer's working great, just wanna tell you that!

That'd make my day lol...

 

[Bill Brasky]

Originally posted by: FP
I give each person one "free" virus fix. Then their only option is do not call me or let me take away admin rights on your computer and have my way with it.

That is an excellent idea. These have become my new TOS. :thumbsup: