The Most frustrating thing you deal with when working on other people's computers.

[cronos]

The left handed ergonomic mouse, and its brother the trackball mouse. These two are killing me and reduce my work productivity by 80%.

 

[Red Squirrel]

What baffles me more is why people keep doing it.
Unless it's your job, you just stop doing it.
Once they take it somewhere and realize how much it actually costs to just have someone look at it, they will learn a valuable lesson.

Easier said than done. You end up having to explain what you would be doing with that time, and it will always be less important than their computer. Usually goes something like this:

user: "Can you fix my computer?"
you: "no"
user: "why?"
you: "I'm too busy I have stuff to do"
user: "Well what are you doing right now?"
you: "I doing a cleaning on my site's code since I found a SQL injection vulnerability, then I need to double check all my backups as a routine. When I'm done I need to check electrolyte levels in my backup batteries and add water as needed. I still need to clean the house. "
user: "Well can't that wait? I really need my computer"

And you'll go around in circles like that.

So what I do now is say yes, but I can't guarantee a time stamp since I'm busy. I'll make sure to hold onto it for several days, at very least.

I find now that I work shifts I can get off easy too, since people are only available on weekends and I sometimes work weekends, so I usually tell them to drop it off Tuesday because I start work Friday and work the weekend. Then they can't because they work. It goes in circles for a while till it magically just gets forgotten.

The thing with fixing computers is there is almost enough demand for it to make it a full time business, it's just that it would not pay well enough to live off of. People are not really willing to pay more than like 50-60 bucks to get their computer fixed even if it takes several hours or even days of work.

I had tried it in high school just to see where it goes, but the issue is it comes in bursts. You might get 4-6 computers on the go at once, but then a whole week with none. So if you charge even 100 bucks per unit that's 600 bucks on a really good week. If you do it legal, that's 400ish by the time you account for taxes. I was really well setup for it too so I could do them in batches fairly quick. The bigger companies like future shop do it more as a side thing, so they don't do the best job, (wont backup your stuff or anything) but they get it done quickly and effectively so they can move on to more profitable stuff.

This is actually where the cloud shines though, because no local data = very easy to reinstall a PC especially if you have a base imagine with all the drivers, as hunting around the internet for drivers can be half the battle sometimes especially with the really proprietary crap like old Compaq laptops.

 

[Jeff7]

Easier said than done. You end up having to explain what you would be doing with that time, and it will always be less important than their computer.
...

You could always fake a head injury.

"Sorry, I don't remember computers anymore after my meeting with a steel door. Now I think that wallpaper is really entertaining."


If that fails, it may be necessary to resort to a real head injury, which may be an improvement over playing Tech Support.

 

[Red Squirrel]

You could always fake a head injury.

"Sorry, I don't remember computers anymore after my meeting with a steel door. Now I think that wallpaper is really entertaining."


If that fails, it may be necessary to resort to a real head injury, which may be an improvement over playing Tech Support.

That could work. :hmm:

Or throw them off completely "Your what?" "What's a computator?"

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The absolute worst are the ones who want you to remove all the virus, spyware and, leave everything "just as it was " and after you spend 4 hours or more doing just that, saving their special icons minus the malware and, their two extra searchbars because they "need " them to access their bejewelled /canasta /pugs world account. They tell you their computer is just too slow and, they're going to go to BestBuy and buy another.

 

[exdeath]

Mechancial hard drives and the fact that it takes 10 hours to do anything.

Which is why I don't work on other people's computers any more unless a OS reinstall is needed and they are willing to cough up for a SSD.

 

[88keys]

The absolute worst are the ones who want you to remove all the virus, spyware and, leave everything "just as it was " and after you spend 4 hours or more doing just that, saving their special icons minus the malware and, their two extra searchbars because they "need " them to access their bejewelled /canasta /pugs world account. They tell you their computer is just too slow and, they're going to go to BestBuy and buy another.

Yeah when people tell me to just remove the malware, I try to explain that it's not that simple. If a PC has been infected for so long (usually with a Trojan Horse of some kind), you reach a point to where god only knows what is fucked up on it. You can obliterate all of the malware, but you know that it probably infected tons of system files and settings that will make a PC run like crap. By far the easiest and best thing to do is a wipe the HDD and start over.

That's why alot of these system backups arent that effective because eventually you reach a point to where it's backed up all of your malware too unless you wanna go back several months but then you lose whatever you have accumulated in that time frame.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Dont Windows computers have a time machine feature?

Something similar. It's great - even backs up the viruses!

 

[AznAnarchy99]

My god the dirt/dust/grime on some of these people's computers. I don't understand how people go to work every day on those machines that literally have brown gunk on the keyboard.

 

[sportage]

The most frustrating? Everything!
I use to help out family with pc problems.
I use to...
But then, all I would offer to do is restore the pc back to factory.
I told them that they would lose anything and everything not backup up.
That was their responsibility. Restoring to factory was mine.
After I finished the restore, I also re-applied all the windows updates, which could take hours to do in itself as so many others know only too well.

Then, that wonder day arrived out of nowhere.
It hit me like a brick.
I went out and bought (actually ordered) my very first iMac.
After exploring my new system, I suddenly realized that a commuter could actually be something of pure pleasure to use.
For once having obtained that peace and normalcy in my computing life.
Naturally, I began to refuse to work on other computers, regardless of kin or friendship.
Now I simply recommend to that desperately helpless soul that they commit the funds and buy a mac, or run over to wally world and grab one of those $498 windows based system.
Sadly, they usually ran off to wally world.

I' have had my current and very first iMac for nearly 5 years now and never once had to open the hood or restore one single thing.
So the first rule of thumb when ever considering working on other computers would be convincing that person to buy a mac.
If that doesn't work, wally world.

Its amazing.
I was house cleaning just a month ago and came across an old windows 7 system that I built for video editing. Asrock motherboard, 1080p graphics card supporting two simultaneous monitors, two 500GB hard drives, 8 GB memory, WiFi card, two BR dvd drives, all within a then very pricy media PC case.
So... I decided to get rid of the animal by clean-restoring windows 7, loading some basic software, and selling the beast.
I posted this contraption under the online classifieds at work, even included an Acer 21" monitor, all for $200.
No takers.
Seems now that everyone prefers sticking with tablets or phones. Few desire desktops.
But finally one lady, just one, and all it takes is just one, inquired wanting to replace her old HP.
So thru fate I am now finally and totally windows-based pc free.
And it feels wonderful !!!

But what the amazing part was, that when restoring the box back to clean installed win7, I was amazed how much I had forgotten about messing with windows based systems within just the past 5 years.
All the little tricks, short cuts and time saver tips, all forgotten.
And as I went thru the dreadful process of restoring this pain-in-the-rear-end machine, I also recalled all that frustration I once had to endure when working not only on other computers, but on my own computer(s).

Never again. Never a-gain!

So as Nancy Reagan might say, "just say no" when anyone wants the family pc guy, meaning YOU, to screw around with their screwed up pc.
Sure, you might become known as that uncooperative A-hole in the family for refusing to once again endure that world of pc hell, but so be it.
"Oh... he knows how to fix it, he just won't. And after all I did for him", is what they will say.
And your response? F-U lady
I got my life back. You do the same.
Don't be such a F-ing tightwad and go out and f-ing buy a f-ing damn mac.
Mommy.....? Dearest...? Giver of life...?

 

[yhelothar]

I'm lucky my siblings had too much pride to ask for help.

 

[mikegg]

Finding porn.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Around '98 I was the sysadm when a senior programmer left the company. I first checked the PC, then simply burned every folder to CDs as I found out he had been basically using the C:\Windows folder for file storage.

Never take any risks with users.

 

[highland145]

No restore partition.

"You back up your stuff?"

No.

"Sucks to be you."

 

[deerslayer]

I had a guy that screwed up his computer at least once every month or two. He payed me well and never hovered over my shoulder. He'd just go watch TV while I fixed it. I finally gave him a simple rule to follow. If you get a popup or prompt of any kind and you don't know what to do, CTRL ALT DEL and kill your browser. If it still won't go away, reboot the computer.

He hasn't had a problem with his computer since. I should have kept my damn mouth shut.

 

[ch33zw1z]

People. People are by far the most annoying part about computer repair.

 

[highland145]

I had a guy that screwed up his computer at least once every month or two. He payed me well and never hovered over my shoulder. He'd just go watch TV while I fixed it. I finally gave him a simple rule to follow. If you get a popup or prompt of any kind and you don't know what to do, CTRL ALT DEL and kill your browser. If it still won't go away, reboot the computer.

He hasn't had a problem with his computer since. I should have kept my damn mouth shut.

Ya think?

 

[Sho'Nuff]

My least favorite thing about working on someone else's computer is the fact that they stare at me when I am on it. Hate that.

On another note, every time these threads pop up I am reminded of the Nick Burns skits on SNL.


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x557tg_nick-burns-your-company-s-computer_fun

http://screen.yahoo.com/nick-burns-companys-computer-guy-000000899.html

 

[Newell Steamer]

The Most frustrating thing you deal with when working on other people's computers.

Semen covered keyboard.

 

[deerslayer]

Ya think?

Based on past experience, no one ever listens to that advice. The one time someone finally listens it has to be the guy with deep pockets.

 

[highland145]

My nephew hosed up his again, win xp, brought me the reinstall disks, etc. A long while ago, I downloaded a version of vista called dream weaver/maker (?) so I put that on his machine. Imagine his surprise when it's Arabic.:biggrin:

 

[highland145]

Based on past experience, no one ever listens to that advice. The one time someone finally listens it has to be the guy with deep pockets.

Email him a virus...:whiste:

 

[deerslayer]

Knowing him he'd probably just go buy a new computer.

 

[Exterous]

The people themselves are the worst part about working on people's computers.

So many things instantly came to mind which means this is really the only way to sum it up.

That said my biggest pet peeve are overly general emails or problem reports. I got one last week that said "The server is broken." Oooohhhh the server! Because we only have one and there is only one thing it runs so it should be so easy to figure out what issue you are having from that email.

 

[biostud]

Helping my parents are ok. The worst I've found was an ask toolbar that comes with Java. But my mother can now edit her own movies from her camcorder and burn them to DVDs. Otherwise I just help her with her smartphone which she's really happy about. I've recently moved all their important files to a SkyDrive folder.
Last time I helped my sister she actually found the problem before me, so that is also fine.

I have a friend though who call with a shrill voice if her computer is acting up, and want me to tell if it is broken. Quite difficult to say over the phone...