i hate fixing computers for friends...

[GotIssues]

I won't actively help anyone but immediate family, and my closest immediate family member is 4.5 hours away.

If someone asks, I'll tell them what I think it could be and what they should do, but I make no guarantees or promises, and I'm certainly not touching it. I got burned by the "but it wasn't doing <x> before you fixed <unrelated y>" once, and I'm not putting up with that crap again, most certainly not from someone I'm not related to.

 

[Murloc]

I always try to look less knowledgeable tahn I am, so my friends don't ask me to help with their computers.
When you touch someone's computer, what happens afterwards is ALL your fault, and you have some sort of sworn duty to fix it.
Screw that.

I won't actively help anyone but immediate family, and my closest immediate family member is 4.5 hours away.
If someone asks, I'll tell them what I think it could be and what they should do, but I make no guarantees or promises, and I'm certainly not touching it. I got burned by the "but it wasn't doing <x> before you fixed <unrelated y>" once, and I'm not putting up with that crap again, most certainly not from someone I'm not related to.

this.
But what do you answer if they ask you directly to perform the suggested fixes?

 

[apac]

I built my parents computers several years ago. They were very stable except that my dad always seemed to get viruses, so I'd have to reimage it once a year.

This year I bought mom a MacBook and dad a Lenovo ThinkPad, both with 3 year warranties, and now I no longer cringe when they call.

 

[Pardus]

...this guy.....this is like the 10th time i fixed his computer for him. viruses, trojans, malware..you name it, he got it. i told him 100 times not to download things from the internet that he's not familiar with. but no ho ho ho....what do i know? he even got a fake antivirus program virus

malwarebytes found 83 infections
tdskiller didn't find anything
MSE found a trojan
Adaware found 32 objects so far
Norton found 11 potential issues

i've got it cleaned up pretty good. will create a restore point because i know he'll be back next week :'(

Reformat and install Linux. Problems solved.

 

[shortylickens]

Reformat and install Linux. Problems solved.

Dont even bother with all that. Dual boot and never tell them windows is still there.

 

[janas19]

Dont even bother with all that. Dual boot and never tell them windows is still there.

Lol

 

[bfdd]

I hate this shit too. The worst is they don't expect it to be much of an issue and if they have a skill like lets say plumbing, they wouldn't come over and fix your shower for free would they? No they'd expect at minimum a 6 pack and 40 bucks.

 

[Crono]

I hate this shit too. The worst is they don't expect it to be much of an issue and if they have a skill like lets say plumbing, they wouldn't come over and fix your shower for free would they? No they'd expect at minimum a 6 pack and 40 bucks.

People don't realize tech support isn't necessarily hard but it can be time consuming. I think they all secretly believe we have magic wands we wave over computers when they aren't looking.

Luckily, most of my friends listen to the advice and preventative measures I recommend to them (latest updates for OS, MSE running, AdBlock for FF, don't click email links, etc). Nowadays I just build/upgrade computers for friends and coworkers, and charge for that or for hardware repair. Building the systems gives me the advantage of having a recovery/image partition and installing security applications I trust.

OP, the key is to charge your buddies a nominal fee, even if you don't mind doing it for free. You don't want them to purposely be careless, thinking, "well, I'll just bring it to my computer-savvy friend, and he'll fix it for free". You don't want to be stuck fixing they problems all the time, and you won't be doing them any favors, either. Teach a man to fish.