Stupidest Tech Questions You've Ever Been Asked

[No Username]

Ok, so chances are you're on this Site a lot. If you're like me, you're the house's free tech service for everything that has a switch, cord or wire.

And we all know we've been asked some pretty stupid questions. So why not have a good laugh about it rather than strangle the person who did it?

After you're out of real ones, if you have to feel free to make them up. Just make sure they're in the field of realism.

For example: no "How do you plug the computer in?" to get the most attention. (unless of course someone actually did ask you that and by all means feel free to say it.)

I'll go first because, well no one else has a choice I'm going first.

Earlier this year my sister asked me "How do you use iTunes?" and later... "How do I sync my iPod?"

(yes I understand that doesn't really seem to be in the bounds of realism, but I'm serious! It happened!)

So go ahead, think you can beat me with a dumber family member or friend?

Also, if you happen to be knowledgeable on the forums or you've seen people post this on forums, feel free to post those too.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Xcobra]

Another one of these? Fine. One time, someone (could be a co-worker) told me that they were turning off the computer by turning the monitor off -_-

 

[WT]

Where's the 'Start' button ??

 

[kranky]

I've been using computers (PCs, minicomputers and mainframes) for 20 years, and I found iTunes to be a steaming pile of incomprehensible crap. So I am sympathetic to the OP's sister and would not put those questions anywhere near the dumbest ever.

 

[Demo24]

I was asked the other day if the blinking lights on the printer ( ink indicators) were why it wasn't printing. The printer and user had been there for years

At least she knew how to replace the ink.

 

[thejunglegod]

"Since there is no space on my hard disk, can i save the movie on my 2GB RAM?"
^
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This actually happened.

 

[Zorander]

Someone told me she has lost Excel from her computer and she could not find it anywhere. Turns out it was simply minimized

 

[Dallascisco]

Where is the any key....

 

[ch33zw1z]

not stupid i guess, but typical:

outsourced admin: what's the password?

me: pfft, your the admin.

 

[Monster_Munch]

An older coworker told me his hard disk recorder was awesome because it has 2 teragigs of storage.

 

[slsmnaz]

How do you plug the computer in?

 

[mvbighead]

In a tech shop years ago, I've had several A+ certified "technicians" try and tell me that you can't mount a Socket A processor fan backwards. Uh, there's a ledge next to the CPU socket, and a lip on the heatsink for the CPU... there is only one way you can align it to make it fit flush against the CPU. Then they're pissed that we can't warranty the part due to their negligence.

 

[steve wilson]

Not exactly a question or computer related but here it is

I was at my first European Seafood Exposition with my Dad and brother. My dad had wrote a phone number of a guy he was supposed to meet in his diary. He rings up, gets the answerphone so leaves a message. He hangs up, his phone beeps, he has an answerphone message... he listens to the message and it's the message he just left the guy... he does this whole thing again... I look at the number he is ringing and he's written his own telephone number against this guys name in his diary... me and my brother were laughing our heads off and my dad was just getting more and more mad.

Another one my aunt asked me to fix her printer... she was putting paper in the out slot.

Another one I built my first PC and spent ten mins trying to figure out why it wouldn't turn on... hadn't flicked the power on at the switch. Doh.

 

[spacejamz]

the funniest one I remember reading (not sure if true or not, but definitely sounds possible) is when someone was asked to make a copy of floppy, they put it on the copy machine and hit copy...

or plugging a power strip into itself and wonder why it didn't work...

 

[steve wilson]

Everyone in the computer industry must of heard the word perfect story but just in case someone hasn't

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/response.htm

 

[KMFJD]

Had an older man angrily yell at me 'how do you press ctrl+alt+del' after we upgraded his workstation from Windows 95 to Windows 2000

 

[rudeguy]

I've been using computers (PCs, minicomputers and mainframes) for 20 years, and I found iTunes to be a steaming pile of incomprehensible crap. So I am sympathetic to the OP's sister and would not put those questions anywhere near the dumbest ever.

I fully agree.

Pics of OP's sister?

 

[rudeguy]

also...

at least twice a week I'm asked how many "gigs" a customer's internet is. A couple times a month if their internet is 3g or 4g (its cable) and a couple times a year I get someone who corrects me when I say mega bits per second. They inform me its "mips".

 

[ch33zw1z]

Another good one. while traveling and staying at a hotel, the front desk called to see how everything was. I mentioned that the internet is barely good enough to pull emails and virtually useless for anything else.

Her reply: "Really? We just got more mega-gigabytes."
Me: "well, it's not enough."

I didn't laugh or correct her, but it did make me lol after I hung up.

 

[MisterJackson]

Gave my Grandmother a PC. She asked me to show her a few things on it. I told her, "To access your programs, click on 'Start'.".

Her: "Click with what?"
Me: "The mouse."
Her: "Which one's the mouse?"
Me: "*Groan*"

 

[darkxshade]

In an elevator, door opens
Guy standing outside
Guy: "going up?"
Me: /points to elevator direction indicator to the side

 

[StrangerGuy]

Some lady once put a sticker under her optical mouse sensor and asked me why it doesnt work.

 

[mmntech]

Not a tech one, but a friend of mine who worked on cruise ships said the number 1 question people asked her was "what time's the midnight buffet"?

 

[darkxshade]

Some lady once put a sticker under her optical mouse sensor and asked me why it doesnt work.

She totally wants to bang you.

Pics?

 

[SandEagle]

what's right click?