What do you do when you need computer help?

Originally Posted by sarahp

Hahaha DH has that shirt too!! He always wears it when we go to visit the family

DH is a computer geek, and we both work at Google, so we are the family computer fixers. Mainly everyone goes to DH, but my aunt came to me recently to ask me if I could find out her Gmail password since I work for Google and all...

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How cool! How do you like working for Google? I have a buddy from college that worked there. I don't know if he is still there now.

Originally Posted by churchi4cubs

How cool! How do you like working for Google? I have a buddy from college that worked there. I don't know if he is still there now.

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I've actually only been there a little over a month, but it's awesome!! My husband has been there a little over a year, and we both think it's fantastic. I'm a project manager with not a huge amount of technical knowledge in a very techy/geeky area, but it's all going well and I'm learning heaps!!

Oh and the other good thing is that we've completely lost all connnections with Microsoft now! DH uses only Linux, and I use Linux and a Mac at work, and a Mac at home.

i bulit my first computer in 1982 or 81 a 8088, man that was soo cool
after that i really got into the games. Well back then you really had to learn
about DOS and how to memory worked etc to get different games to work,

Of course with all of that came learning about hardware. then with Doom and the ability to kill your friends with chain saws, we learned about networking. Then with better interent access wow hacking is so much fun. Free phone calls anyone?

So i guess it just makes sense for me to end up in IT and everyone in the family calling and asking how do i do this(i really want to say, look it up in a book that is what i will have to do sometimes)

First of all, I walked in the door tonight and 10 minutes later, my BIL called with a problem that he was having with ITunes. Didn't have an answer for him. My other BIL called last Sunday asking why he couldn't get his CD-ROM to read a CD I do set up a lot of the family computers, but I don't do phone support well because I just figure things out by wandering all over the place.

I used to help some co-workers but when they ask me the same STUPID question more than 3 times, I stop helping them and send them to the outsourced IT help desk (a hellish experience ).

Originally Posted by strange_wings

I've learned one thing over the years, when there's a computer problem google is your friend

of course that's if you have access to a comp that does work. If I can fix something myself I will not ask someone else, that would mean I would have to admit to breaking it in the first place

I've also had a few people want help fixing or buying computers. Imaging explaining what every part and number/speed listed means

The only thing that I really dislike is having to fix my husband's comp when something goes wrong, XP annoys me to no end.

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Google almost always finds me the answer. My problem is that I know MS well, but not Solaris/UNIX/LINUX. My husband keeps trying to set up Solaris/UNIX/LINUX boxes and then gets frustrated and is a PITA with it. To shut him up, I will usually figure out something. The worst was when I built GNOME from scratch. Not recommended unless you are into torture.

Originally Posted by sarahp

Hahaha DH has that shirt too!! He always wears it when we go to visit the family

DH is a computer geek, and we both work at Google, so we are the family computer fixers. Mainly everyone goes to DH, but my aunt came to me recently to ask me if I could find out her Gmail password since I work for Google and all...

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I missed something here - you got the job!! Congrats.

I was going to set my mom up with a Gmail account, but I had her so confused that I think it is simpler for her to just keep her one with Comcast.

Originally Posted by katachtig

I missed something here - you got the job!! Congrats.

I was going to set my mom up with a Gmail account, but I had her so confused that I think it is simpler for her to just keep her one with Comcast.

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Thanks!!! It's all going really well!! Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that they'll make me permanent!

Originally Posted by theimp98

i bulit my first computer in 1982 or 81 a 8088, man that was soo cool

after that i really got into the games. Well back then you really had to learn
about DOS and how to memory worked etc to get different games to work,

Of course with all of that came learning about hardware. then with Doom and the ability to kill your friends with chain saws, we learned about networking. Then with better interent access wow hacking is so much fun. Free phone calls anyone?

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You're the old school computer geek. You're the guy I come to when I give up! LOL Just kidding.

Originally Posted by theimp98

So i guess it just makes sense for me to end up in IT and everyone in the family calling and asking how do i do this(i really want to say, look it up in a book that is what i will have to do sometimes)

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Seriously, a lot of times figuring something out is as simple as a google search.

Originally Posted by churchi4cubs

Seriously, a lot of times figuring something out is as simple as a google search.

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Yep, that's all DH has ever done when some random family member rings saying "my Windows computer has crashed and is giving this error". After he picks himself up the floor with shock that a Windows based computer would have problems that is

Originally Posted by sarahp

Yep, that's all DH has ever done when some random family member rings saying "my Windows computer has crashed and is giving this error". After he picks himself up the floor with shock that a Windows based computer would have problems that is

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It is always a good day when they give you the error message. I've had enough questions where they say:

Them: My computer gave me an error.
Me: What is the error message?
Them: Don't know, I clicked ok.
Me: What did you do before the error?
Them:
Me:

Originally Posted by churchi4cubs

You're the old school computer geek. You're the guy I come to when I give up! LOL Just kidding.

Seriously, a lot of times figuring something out is as simple as a google search.

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Yep, i would agree that i am old school comptuer geek
google book, both same. But people dont want to hear that, they want it easy.
as in you do it for me.

Originally Posted by katachtig

It is always a good day when they give you the error message. I've had enough questions where they say:

Them: My computer gave me an error.
Me: What is the error message?
Them: Don't know, I clicked ok.
Me: What did you do before the error?
Them:

Me:

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i would like to have a dollar for each time i have had that same thing happen.
since i do networking i get networking issues,
them: i cant get my wirless laptop on the network.
me: wants the error message.
them: i dont know, i dont have it on right now.
me: can you turn it on and tell me the error
them sure, wait let me put the phone down a cop is behind me(that was a real call)

lol why call if you not at your desk? and able to work on the issue.

When I have a computer issue, I just tell DH. When he gets the "Can you fix my computer?" and it's not a really good friend of family member, the answer is "Sure, and I'll only charge you $70/hour, which is still cheap compared with GeekSquad."

I tend to be computer geek enough to fix most of the problems I end up with - if I can't fix it, I usually either stump the tech guys too or it can't be fixed. I had a few guys declare their undying love for me in chat rooms after the occaisional "Oh look, a random heat sink and processor" comments...

Too bad I got beat to the t-shirt, I was going to suggest that to you!

What do I do when I have a computer problem????

Call one of my 4 computer geek friends - but all of them are specialists in one way or the other...and they usually help coz it gives them a reason to laugh at me...I may be a bit more knowledgeable in things cat but these boys are way over my head when it comes to the computer!

Both my husband and I know quite a bit about computers and what we don't automatically know, we can learn. He knows a bit more than I do, but we have different problem-solving styles (he starts with the most difficult possibility, I start with the most obvious). Family and friends will ask, and there are those co-workers that do as well, but that's it.

My husband recently traded his expertise with a lawyer in town. He fixed his computer back-ups (they were failing for some reason) and we got our living will and power of attorney papers drawn up for free. Try striking a deal like that. "I'll help you with your computer, if you'll ...."

I like what my sister-in-law recently asked..."What do people do who don't have you to ask?" heehee I think I know now.

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Thats me when I have a computer problem, I call my uncle who is a Web Developer..

Do you think he hates it?

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Originally Posted by churchi4cubs

Hahah... no, anyone that is cute gets a free pass on computer questions.

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And your point is..... Oh, you think she's cute!

Originally Posted by neetanddave

And your point is..... Oh, you think she's cute!

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Maybe a budding TCS romance hmmmmmm????

Originally Posted by theimp98

hacking is so much fun Free phone calls anyone?

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DOH................yes please !!

oh and my answer to this thread

well I turn it off and wait til DH gets home

Originally Posted by churchi4cubs

Hahah... no, anyone that is cute gets a free pass on computer questions.

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Okay sweet, I'll be sure to ask you the computer questions from now on

I know your errr..pain Churichubs!!!

I went to school for web design...somehow got a job in tech support, and now I'm an IT manager, who is suppose to know EVERYTHING about the firewall, the network, emails, internet, computers, printers, phone systems, etc, etc etc etc.

Even iTunes...heck, I just got my first iPod for Christmas, so I'm just learning about this "Pay for music downloads thing"

If its Microsoft related, I just go to their support site. When I find a general question I can't answer, I go to www.tek-tips.com. It covers a whole bunch of topics that can sometimes take time on google. If its not there though I'll google it.

Yes, though, anytime there is something wrong in the house...I'm the fix it. I set up B's Playstation (ok he did help in the end :rollseyes and I was asked to fix the humidifier etc. For some reason he thinks I Have an "Engineer's mind". Nooooo...I did not go to college to be an engineer, so therefore I don't think like one.

Oh and Dad is now giving me payback. All the questions that I asked him as a kid (he use to work for a major IT firm), are now all coming back to haunt me.

I've accepted it though. It's just something you have to accept being in IT. I'm sure doctors suffer the same thing..."I know you're a foot doctor, but can you take a look at my son's ear? I think its infected".

Oh and those that don't know much, well I begin by saying "OK class, let's learn about printers today. Repeat after me: DEE-FAULT PRIN-TER"
*mimics puppet hands* "dee-fault print-er"