RANT: Personal Computers aren't, our issues to deal with

[Kalmah]

In my experience it is a bad idea to fix somebody elses computer.

If another problem arises shortly after it's fixed, they may consider it your fault.
(say the hard drive was about to die...then it does 2 days after you fix their problem)

9/10 times their problem is "My computer is too slow, can you fix it?" This is like a triple face-palm usually. They either are using a pentium 2 with 64mb of ram, they have 87 hotbars in their internet explorer, computer is totalled with viruses and spyware, or they just don't understand the concept of not having 30 IE windows open at the same time 5 programs are running.

If it's clustered with viruses and spyware, chances are damage has already been done to the system.. So you'll recomend just running the recovery disc.. "What's a recover disc? Did I get one of those? No.. I don't think they ever gave me one.." When the sales person at circuit city suggested you get one made when you baught the computer why didn't you? "He was just trying to rip me off I think..." "What do you mean you can't fix it? Aren't you a computer person?" Yeah, let me pull a copy of xp out of my ass for you.. here ya go!

Usually, after you fix a problem, the problem comes back a month later. You'll notice that they have disabled automatic updates on their antivirus that you installed because it annoys them when it has to update. It's clustered with viruses all over again..

You just want to tell them that they shouldn't even own a computer. If they aren't even going to try to understand it..

 

[Juddog]

Originally posted by: Kalmah
In my experience it is a bad idea to fix somebody elses computer.

If another problem arises shortly after it's fixed, they may consider it your fault.
(say the hard drive was about to die...then it does 2 days after you fix their problem)

9/10 times their problem is "My computer is too slow, can you fix it?" This is like a triple face-palm usually. They either are using a pentium 2 with 64mb of ram, they have 87 hotbars in their internet explorer, computer is totalled with viruses and spyware, or they just don't understand the concept of not having 30 IE windows open at the same time 5 programs are running.

If it's clustered with viruses and spyware, chances are damage has already been done to the system.. So you'll recomend just running the recovery disc.. "What's a recover disc? Did I get one of those? No.. I don't think they ever gave me one.." When the sales person at circuit city suggested you get one made when you baught the computer why didn't you? "He was just trying to rip me off I think..." "What do you mean you can't fix it? Aren't you a computer person?" Yeah, let me pull a copy of xp out of my ass for you.. here ya go!

Usually, after you fix a problem, the problem comes back a month later. You'll notice that they have disabled automatic updates on their antivirus that you installed because it annoys them when it has to update. It's clustered with viruses all over again..

You just want to tell them that they shouldn't even own a computer. If they aren't even going to try to understand it..

^^ This is why I charge a fee. If the problems come back, and they want you to fix it, they pay. Of course I don't charge my mom but she knows better after the last time I reformatted her system and she lost all of her settings (data was saved of course). I also made sure she was using firefox with adblock and noscript, along with a virus scanner that autoupdates and runs a scan every day.

Now I get a ton of messages from her saying such and such won't work right to which I respond it's dangerous don't run it.

For my parents-in-law I tell them I will charge them to deter them, then once I complete the job I usually just accept a 12 pack of beer. The initial fee stops them from asking questions that can be found on google.

 

[middlehead]

I'll answer questions and give advice when people at work ask me stuff, but I refuse to do any of the actual stuff for them.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
I have a virus on my computer and now it runs slow. Can anybody help me?

Its thirsty, give it water.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: middlehead
I'll answer questions and give advice when people at work ask me stuff, but I refuse to do any of the actual stuff for them.

I recommended GeekSquad :evil:

 

[coldmeat]

I hate when people put commas in, the wrong spots.

 

[will889]

My current place of work isn't IT per-say, yet where I live many know me as a IT person. A lady at work is trying as hard as she can to 'finagle' her way into me fixing 2 of her PC's for free, and it ain't happenin' - in this case not free or paid. It's not that I wouldn't given the right type of customer, but she's the type that won't ever take proper ownership and basic steps to do some basic things herself (you know the type). Not gonna do it.

 

[Schfifty Five]

What pisses me off more is you putting a fucking comma in your topic sentence for no reason.

 

[Kadarin]

Personal Computers aren't, our issues to deal with

You seem to be, ok with it.

 

[SilentZero]

Sounds like a personal problem

 

[Maximilian]

Learn to play dumb, problem solved...