the woes of fixing friend's computers

[Lucky]

My friend was getting some error messages upon bootup for some time, and yesterday she couldnt get in at all. She's using Windows 95. :/

So After poking around a bit, I told her the best route would probably be to backup the files she wanted to keep, wipe the HD clean (8 gigger, part of a P2 400 NEC system), and then do a clean install of Win2K. She agrees to let me do this. So I backup files, format the disk in WinXP in another machine, and put the HD back into her machine to proceed with installation. Only It wasnt working, couldnt get it to boot from CD. So I pop the HD in another machine and figure, well, Ill just install Win2k from this box and pop it back into her box when Im done. Only my rig wouldnt recognize it. After 5 frustrating hours of driving myself crazy trying to figure out what was broken, I've came to this conclusion:

1. Her HD ate sh*t, apparently right after I backed the data up and formatted it. Windows says the partition is invalid, corrupted, or damaged and wont let setup continue. HD is also making nasty clicking noises (maxtor HD, probably 3-4 years old)
2. My CD-Rom drive on rig 3 is broken. Half the time it wont recognize the boot CD.
3. Her machine is so old it wont let you boot from a CD


So I tell her you need a new HD. Calls up her dad and asks for money. Her dad says sure but tells her only if she gets best buy to install it for her. I nearly sh*t myself. All those idiots are going to do is screw the damm thing back in and charge $30 for it! :Q

 

[DaveSimmons]

That's bad luck. Out of curiousity, why didn't you do the formatting with a W98 boot floppy instead of removing / installing / removing / installing the HD?

 

[Red Dawn]

<< All those idiots are going to do is screw the damm thing back in and charge $30 for it! >>

Uh.. you think they could screw it up any worse than you did?

 

[Imdmn04]

never fix computers for others not because you are lazy but because it pisses you off when they blame every little glitch on you and they act like they know what they are doing and want you to do it their way.

 

[Lucky]

I couldnt simply install over win95 because there was literally like 2 free megs left. I could have freed up 1-2 gigs but I didnt feel upgrading over win95 was a good idea.

Did I screw it up? I dont think so, I think the HD was just failing (forecasted by the errors and eventual windows lockout) and the format did it in.

 

[Jzero]

Last time I was at BB I saw their "fee schedule" and I had a good laugh upon seeing that a CD-ROM is like $30, a CDR is $40 and a CDRW is $50! hahahahahahahha

 

[Mean MrMustard]

...sure but tells her only if she gets best buy to install it for her. I nearly sh*t myself. All those idiots are going to do is screw the damm thing back in and charge $30 for it!

Best Buy!! HAHAHAHA!!! Thats rich!

 

[tcsenter]

I tend to avoid installing Win2K or XP on older computers like that which probably have never had a BIOS update specifically to support or resolve conflicts any recent OS. I usually go with Win98SE, since they are probably already using some flavor of Win9x.

 

[FelixDeCat]

Ill screw it in for only $19.95 ! Thats right ! Only $19.95!

 

[GooberPHX420]

Damn Lucky, that sucks. I had the same thing happen once. hard drive completely ate sh!t right after I had formatted. So now the guy thinks I know nothing about computers and made off with a free 20gb hard drive, upgraded from a 10 gig And people wonder why we are hesitant to try and fix their computers...

 

[dirtboy]

I'm kinda curious how you were going to get her from Win95 to Win2k. I hope you weren't going to load your copy or pirate a copy for her.

 

[Lucky]

<< I'm kinda curious how you were going to get her from Win95 to Win2k. I hope you weren't going to load your copy or pirate a copy for her. >>





The University has free copies you can check out if you are a student. They are basically burned coporate CD's with an educational label on them telling you not to copy them. No CDkey needed.

 

[Tiger]

Family is much, much, much, worse.
Especially the e-mail, MSM, AIM, ICQ, addicted.

 

[toant103]

that suck. Now your dad thinkg you can't do jack.

 

[abovewood]

<< never fix computers for others not because you are lazy but because it pisses you off when they blame every little glitch on you and they act like they know what they are doing and want you to do it their way. >>



That is so true.

 

[GooberPHX420]

Yeah, people act so stupid. I installed a CD-ROM for my neighbor and a few days later she came yelling at me that her comp turns itself off. MR. Norton told her it was the virus she got while DOWNLOADING PORN VIDS! ROFL...so uhh...she owes me one