i hate fixing computers for friends...

[SandEagle]

...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 :'(

 

[lxskllr]

The smart tech would make an image, and store it for ready use ;^)

 

[Gillbot]

I started making automated restore CD's for them. Pop it in and it re-images the HDD. I tell them they better back up often, and that's all the further i'll help them anymore.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I learned not to try to fix my friends' computers because eventually they will rely on me for repairs.

 

[FoBoT]

just stop
or charge them, alot
then they'll stop asking you

 

[janas19]

I started making automated restore CD's for them. Pop it in and it re-images the HDD. I tell them they better back up often, and that's all the further i'll help them anymore.

+1 to this. Make his dumb ass a restore CD, and show him how to use it. Expect him to call you no more.

If he breaks his computer again, tough. Call a pro and pay $75 to have it fixed - he'll learn quickly

 

[lothar]

just stop
or charge them, alot
then they'll stop asking you

You're not supposed to charge your friend for something like this.
If you consider them to be an actual "friend", that is...

 

[sixone]

...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 :'(

I have a friend like that. Being a good Christian, his home is always open to the homeless, and sometimes they think they can "fix" his computer.

He's also a disabled veteran. How do you tell him no?

 

[amdhunter]

Anyone used Sandboxie? I've heard great things about it, but never gave it a shot.

 

[Gillbot]

You're not supposed to charge your friend for something like this.
If you consider them to be an actual "friend", that is...

You do if they constantly expect you to fix their broken stuff for free.
EDIT: You don't (or shouldn't) ask mechanic friends to repair your car constantly for free, why is this different.

 

[Soundmanred]

charge them

 

[janas19]

I have a friend like that. Being a good Christian, his home is always open to the homeless, and sometimes they think they can "fix" his computer.

He's also a disabled veteran. How do you tell him no?

Ok, true but that is an additional qualifier which would change the sich from "generic friend constantly expects help" to "a good guy who helps others"

 

[lothar]

You do if they constantly expect you to fix their broken stuff for free.

You could also show them how to fix by using restore CD's like you mentioned earlier in this thread instead of charging them.

 

[ultimatebob]

The smart tech would make an image, and store it for ready use ;^)

A smarter tech would have known better to fix his computer for free to begin with

But, yeah, an automated restore DVD is a good idea for bozos like this. After losing all of their work a few times, they'll learn.

 

[brianmanahan]

simple, get rid of friends :awe:

 

[tmc]

put in some linux and give them only user permission

 

[ShawnD1]

simple solution: say you don't know how

One of my English teachers taught me that. She had a reputation for being HORRIBLE at math, but she was actually very good at math. She just didn't like to be bothered about math.

 

[HAL9000]

Lol windows.

 

[Jeff7]

You do if they constantly expect you to fix their broken stuff for free.
EDIT: You don't (or shouldn't) ask mechanic friends to repair your car constantly for free, why is this different.

Computers somehow received a special classification.

- Computers at a workplace don't need to be upgraded or replaced over the years. They're good forever.
- Computers don't need proper software or hardware tools to let someone do their job better or efficiently or ergonomically. They're computers, they can do anything, and for free.
- Software costs money?
- Why does it cost anything to fix? You're just pushing a bunch of buttons, right?





:whiste:

 

[JulesMaximus]

Only person I'll do this for is my wife.

 

[Harrod]

I had a friend ask me to fix his system for him, the final straw was when he asked me to pick it up from where he works because he didn't have time to bring it to me.

I eventually asked what was wrong with it, and he said that it had porn popups showing up on the screen. He said that he didn't do it, my reply was it certainly didn't ship from dell like that.

 

[zanejohnson]

i have no time for that kind of crap... you bring me a computer with a virus, it's getting wiped/reinstalled... no fixes... format/reinstall and be done with it..

make a unnattended install cd, with latest windows updates and stuff...

 

[lokiju]

I flat out refuse to work on anyones computer but my own and my immediate family and even at that it's only after telling them to Google it before bothering asking me.

 

[Brainonska511]

I'll only fix immediate family computers - and usually that just means my parents stuff. My brothers are competent at using their computers. Anyone else, I'll just play dumb or tell them I don't have the time (which is certainly true these days).

 

[ultimatebob]

Heh... I just realized that the problem might be a OP's repair job and not the clueless user's fault.

If he's cleaning out all the malware but leaving behind a rootkit that the malware scanners can't find behind (which those fake antivirus programs are known to do), the assholes who originally infected his system might be using this backdoor left open to reinstall the malware.

This is another good reason just to reformat the damn thing instead of trying to clean it.