Idiot customer wrecks his PC again

[Platypus]

In my spare time and for earning a few beer tokens I fix broken PCs, which usually means removing viruses and other nasties they've somehow caught.

In the workshop today is one from a repeat offender who always seems baffled how this keeps happening to him, and I always have to feign surprise that so much p0rn etc has somehow snuck its way onto his machine ... "these people are very clever at getting past anti virus and firewalls".

Of course the fact that his internet history is stuffed full of all sorts of material combined with his propensity to click every pop-up which says "873287 viruses detected, click here to download our free scanner and remove it" may have something to do with it.

Anyone else bother with this sort of tulipe? I suppose it's easy money

[bobspud]

Yes I have several clients like this although they are all family so I get the pleasure of spending the afternoon fixing it for nowt

Being a unix god I tried to move my dad over to linux OMG what a mess

[Pondlife]

Which bit, the downloading pron or the denying it after?

[NetwkSupport]

No, did it a few times but generally cant be bothered.

but is it a nice earner? I may consider starting it up again, how much should i charge (ball park figures)

[Board Game Geek]

Arrrgh, the bane of my life !

Because I'm the computer geek in the family, I'm the one who gets the intrusive calls in the evenings from relations saying "I think the computer is up the creek, again".

It never stops.

I fixed a neighbour's PC once. Never again.

He told all his neighbours and friends that there was a really helpful computer guy in the street and what number I lived at.

After a flurry of knocks during random times in the evenings, I've now managed to keep them at bay.

I even get Clients asking me "do you do home support as well?" Arrrgh...What about time for me and my family ?

Home support for users would be a nightmare.

You'd fix problem A (driver on a graphics card) and get paid X.

Then you'd get a call the next day, saying, "I don't know what you did to the machine, but it's gone wrong again, so you'd better hurry over and fix it, and I'm not paying because whatever you did, didn't work".

You get there and realise that little johnny has tried to install GTA from a file-sharing site, and brought 41,532 viruses with it.

And you explain that it's not your fault, and that little johnny knackered the PC, and they get really angry and defensive of their little monster..and it's just not worth it.

Dealing with Clients is one thing, but Joe Public are mental.

[Platypus]

but is it a nice earner?

Not really - usually about £30 per job

[MPwannadecentincome]

Its bad enough supporting the PCs and laptops in the house. My OH has vista - I have given up on it.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Arrrgh, the bane of my life !

Because I'm the computer geek in the family, I'm the one who gets the intrusive calls in the evenings from relations saying "I think the computer is up the creek, again".

It never stops.

I fixed a neighbour's PC once. Never again.

He told all his neighbours and friends that there was a really helpful computer guy in the street and what number I lived at.

After a flurry of knocks during random times in the evenings, I've now managed to keep them at bay.

I even get Clients asking me "do you do home support as well?" Arrrgh...What about time for me and my family ?

Home support for users would be a nightmare.

You'd fix problem A (driver on a graphics card) and get paid X.

Then you'd get a call the next day, saying, "I don't know what you did to the machine, but it's gone wrong again, so you'd better hurry over and fix it, and I'm not paying because whatever you did, didn't work".

You get there and realise that little johnny has tried to install GTA from a file-sharing site, and brought 41,532 viruses with it.

And you explain that it's not your fault, and that little johnny knackered the PC, and they get really angry and defensive of their little monster..and it's just not worth it.

Dealing with Clients is one thing, but Joe Public are mental.

Thats so true - Joe Public is crazy - its a jungle out there - dont go.

Imagine meeting an acountant at a party and then asking him if hed mind having a look at some accounting issues youre having - we does the public assume IT folks are interested in rescuing their wretched porn riddled sordid computers ???

After a flurry of knocks during random times in the evenings, I've now managed to keep them at bay.

What cheek !

[Platypus]

Thats so true - Joe Public is crazy - its a jungle out there - dont go.

Imagine meeting an acountant at a party and then asking him if hed mind having a look at some accounting issues youre having - we does the public assume IT folks are interested in rescuing their wretched porn riddled sordid computers ???

So, not bitter then?

[dinker]

I quite enjoy rummaging through other peoples computers.