Aaaargh! A PC rant...

[ShinyD]

I've a reasonable knowledge of computers, having qualifications in computing from Bournemouth University and more than a passing interest in them since they first became accessible on the high street.

I've found this knowledge increasingly useful at home in looking after my own and my wifes PCs and network, but have never advertised it outside of friends and family.

Through the years I've found myself sorting out problems for people, both friends and strangers (referred via family and friends) on numerous occasions, at times becoming almost an on-call helpdesk and all for free!

The last time went on for 6 months before I finally said enough was enough and made up excuses not to go to a work colleagues house to fix an endless stream of computer issues. He lived 15 miles away so it was a 30 mile round trip for which I'd be given a bottle of wine on occasion (I don't drink!).

Finally over the last 18 months I've been plague free...until today! My wife works at the local Citizens Advice Bureau and has recently made friends with a lady new to the area who has also volunteered to work at CAB.

We were invited around yesterday for afternoon drinks and snacks and I met this lady for the 2nd time and her husband for the first time.

After an excruciating 3 hours during which I inspected his album of old Navy photos (he left the Navy before I was born!) and his endless coin collection (in which I've no interest at all) my wife mentioned I 'knew something about computers'...

I really need to educate her. It's a subject that should be as taboo as 'my husband has AIDS' as far as I'm concerned, and sure enough I spent the next 30 minutes inspecting this guys PC and it's EXTREMELY slow boot up time.

He had so many programs starting on boot up that I'm surprised it started at all and only had a single strip of 256Mb RAM. There were the two issues causing his problems, so having dispensed advice on removing all but necessary applications AFTER installing more RAM (I recommended the computer shop 5 minutes down the road from his house to do that) we beat a hasty retreat and headed home.

Fortunately Sailorbuoy (Richard) had messaged me to say he'd be around at 5:30 so I was relieved to spend the next 90 minutes in his company talking diving and looking some Red Sea photos from my recent trip (maybe Richard was relieved to beat a hasty retreat by the end of it too!!).

Suitably calmed we arrive at 3pm today when I get a phone call from this guy saying he'd attempted to uninstall Norton and the PC wouldn't start at all now. Additionally he'd hauled a drive out from another PC (which he happily informed me has 7 disk drives in it!) and tried that and it still doesn't work and...here's the line I was waiting for...can I come around and have a look

Sigh...

I'd met this guy for the first time less than 24 hours before and already he's phoning me up expecting me to drop everything and rush around to sort out problems I'd already advised him on!!

I wish I was capable of saying an outright 'No, I advised you what to do yesterday and I don't have the time', but after managing to wriggle out of an immediate home visit I found myself saying I'd go round at 10am tomorrow.

I'm sick of being used like some free pc helpdesk, but I'm more angry at myself for allowing the situation to arise again.

I willingly give my time to those I consider friends (and family of course) and expect nothing in return but the ability to request help in other ways should I need it in the future.

The abuses I've experienced in the past have been from those I barely know or work colleagues that I have little in common with.

I'm not letting this happen again! This guy gets no more than an hour tomorrow and I shall firmly advise he takes his PC round the corner to the independent PC repair shop and has it looked at properly!

Sorry...rant over. Now I just have to steel myself to be firm tomorrow

[hogen-deifar]

Sorry to ask, Dave, but are you free tomorrow after you've been to his, to come and have a look at my monitor, please???

Only joking, before you think I'm being serious!!!

[ShinyD]

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

Sorry to ask, Dave, but are you free tomorrow after you've been to his, to come and have a look at my monitor, please???

Only joking, before you think I'm being serious!!!

You're a friend - pay the fuel bill and I'll take a look

As I've said I don't mind for friends or family as I know if I need help with anything in the future I'll be able to call on them in return. It's just these people that don't think twice about using others to their advantage that really get my blood up and I'm too much of a pushover to say no.

[Scuttler]

I know what you mean. I learned a very good self defense mechanism.

1......I'm not familiar with this version of windows......
2......This is outside of my capabilities.....sorry
3......Have you tried CTRL ALT DEL?
4......You what?
5......ooooohhh....is that the time

[PW1664]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

I know what you mean. I learned a very good self defense mechanism.

1......I'm not familiar with this version of windows......
2......This is outside of my capabilities.....sorry
3......Have you tried CTRL ALT DEL?
4......You what?
5......ooooohhh....is that the time

6. That's fcukced it, you're better off getting a new PC now!

[swissdave]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

I know what you mean. I learned a very good self defense mechanism.

1......I'm not familiar with this version of windows......
2......This is outside of my capabilities.....sorry
3......Have you tried CTRL ALT DEL?
4......You what?
5......ooooohhh....is that the time

You forgot the good old .......Turn it off for 10 seconds then turn it back on

[principia]

You only have to wreck a couple completely before your reputation precedes you.

J.

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by swissdave

You forgot the good old .......Turn it off for 10 seconds then turn it back on

Nooooooooo.....need a minimum 30 secs between an on and off cycle

[PW1664]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

Nooooooooo.....need a minimum 30 secs between an on and off cycle

24 hours... surely... and if that doesn't work, try a little longer!

[endoman]

Sorry if it's been posted before, but I still love this, " Technical Support"

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