QOTD: Are You Always Fixing PCs for Others?

[echdskech]

all the time. it's part of the job, in my case.

top 3 most common:
1) user
2) user
3) user

far 4 and 5 would be lose lan cables for network problems, dead psu's for dead pc's.

 

[tiredwolf]

Yes I am, but I charge people 😛

 

[JaredAudiophileGamer]

Im formating my friends hard drive as we speak -__-

 

[devilgear44]

I run around fixing the 10 or so computers in my household constantly, and I've built new computers for 4 family members now. I enjoy fixing computers when it's challenging, but hate it when they want me to fix their "slow" computer. Or they managed to format C: and think I can magically fix it. The problem with building your own computer is that your entire family thinks you are some tech genius that can communicate telepathically with computers 😛

 

[mohammed2006_eg]

it is my jop to fix computers but you know the problem you can't take mony from your friends

 

[Winly]

are you selling those T-shirts?? that will be awesome hehe, so i can wear that a few times. im tired of fixing PC's, people give me a break!!! lol

 

[sonofliberty08]

thats my job , the most common problems are internet problems , virus or corrupted windows ...... and some ask for help is just because they don't know how to use the computer

 

[keither5150]

I am the IT support at work so I spend much of my free time fixing computers for friends and family.

Most common problems.

Human error... some people just can't find the "any key"
Virus
Malware
overheating due to dust.
Hardware failure.
Conflicting programs.... my brother seems to think if one anti-virus program is good, then 3 must be better. He falls for every pop-up that says "free scan"

Nice shirt

 

[deltatux]

I've been constantly fixing systems since start of high school. That's for being the computer guy.

They call me the kwokinator (my last name + terminator), even my teachers ... that's how integrated I am in the school, they should've paid me to be the resident computer fixer lol.

 

[xnem3s1sx]

All the time, teachers, friends, family, etc.

 

[justaguy]

The worst part about it is that the stuff people want me to fix for them is garbage. No, your 2.0 GHz, 256 MB Celery based DDR1 machine really isn't worth the 2 hours it would take me to clean all the nasty bugs you got from dirty websites. No. Really.

Copy your MyDocs to CD and buy something new. Really.

But do they ever listen? Nope.

 

[Guest]

Well let's see. In some cases it's laptops with failing components. Parts can be hard to find, even if they are used. But ebay and some oems will sell used parts. And then a lot of times it's software issues, somebody doesn't know how to do X, or someone tried to do something, no X doesn't work when they run an application. For those situations, I refuse to come and do the work. I send them screenshots and directions through email and hope for the best.

 

[boop334]

yeah pretty much all of the time, actually today i worked on my friends pc.

 

[jerfle]

I build and work on friends and family pcs. I do as a hobby. My biggest problem is spyware! People go to walmart, buy a pc, never update antivirus or (windows for that matter- because it takes to long) then a year later when there crappy antivirus runs out their computer starts "running slow"
they call me to save the day. No matter how many times I explain to them what they need to do. So now I just show some tough love if they don't keep up with the updates I don't help. Guess what , it worked.

 

[billin30]

Word got out that I built my own computer, then i fixed one persons computers, now I have everyone coming to me. I usually charge a little depending on what I have to do and how much time it takes.

 

[wikiwikiwhat]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I'm drinking at the bar watching the game and one of my friends ask me, hey, for some reason my computer keeps doing this weird stuff. I'm like, Dude, I do this all day and I'm particularly not wanting to talk about computers especially when I'm drunk. F'ing buzzkill.

 

[computerninja7823]

oh man...all time. i get asked, not only for computer help but for any tech help...phones, cameras, computers, game consoles you name it. its all good though i enjoy it.

 

[jouno53]

Yes, and I've made a good buck doing so!

 

[amd_guru]

zomg...almost everyday Im asked to help with a computer issue or i get the "my computer is really slow" or the "i downloaded some new antivirus program called xp antivirus 2009...they said it would remove the 4000 infections!" I lol inside everytime i hear it and then i charge 200 bucks to remove malware and optimize the system.

 

[scimanal]

except weekends, i would say about one or two times an hour. I live in a dorm, and so i cannot charge. I also live in a dorm, so the questions revolve around things like "why can't I print?"

 

[KyleSTL]

Yes, and frankly I don't mind most of the time. Computers are a hobby I love, not a career.

 

[jsc]

This T-shirt sums it up for me quite nicely:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/frustrations/59fe/

 

[jivdis1x]

It's does not end with PC. People ask me to look at the electrical wiring in their house, frig, TV, car, home theater, networking, how to use their new cell phone and even how to program an answering machine!

Some problems are so obvious and avoid me to high heaven that they can't figure out what is wrong. Example: Brought me a new laptop that their kid was using-freaking thing has a huge crack from top to bottom on the LCD. They ask me what's wrong with it. Why is the screen looks so weird? Did I download a virus? OMG!!!

 

[jivdis1x]

Not avoid=annoy

 

[Guest]

The most common problems I face would be

1) Finding parts for dated computers (you just can't convince the owners that it's cheaper to buy a whole new computer)

2)virus/spyware removal

3) and the most irritating, fixing what someone else "tried" to fix.