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My Almost-daily Journal |
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| About I love trying out new things, especially when it comes to internet technology. I never really kept a journal, but it's something that I've always wanted to do. Now, everybody will get a chance to look inside my twisted, and somewhat-warped mind.
I've also subscribed to Audio Blog, so a few times a week, I'll leave actual voice blogs. Very cool!XML Newsfeed Previous Posts
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Thursday, September 23, 2004
Computer Altruism It's sucks sometimes knowing too much about computers. It crushes me to hear coworkers at work talk about taking their computers to Best Buy or local computer stores for "virus removal" or "spyware cleanup" or the installation of antivirus software. That's when I usually chime in and say, "I can fix your computer." What the heck is wrong with me!? Do I not have enough to do at home!? So my latest streak of computer altruism is helping out a coworker with a computer from hell. A few months ago I had his computer, a relic IBM Aptiva with 128 MB of RAM, running on an old Pentium 3 500 Mhz cpu. "My computer is having issues", he tells me. After reviewing his system, I decided to scrap Windows 95, install a second hard drive, and load Win XP. Adding a second hard drive is usually a no-brainer. Not this computer... he had no additional bays, so I had to fabricate a hard drive cage from muffler hangers. Worked like a champ. I hate working on old computers. Hate it hate it hate it. So, since I did that install, I now am a permanent 1-800-TECH-SUPPORT for that computer. Heaven help me. Lesson learned. My bottled advise should always be, "If the computer is more than two years old, take it to Best Buy." So a few days ago he started describing that his IE was running slow. I had him try a few things on the phone to no avail. "Just bring it in and I'll look at it", I told him. The computer has now been at my house for two days. My analysis: he got hit by a few different viruses and spyware crap. If you have kids, either stand over their shoulders when they're checking their email, or give them highly restricted access to your operating system. His new high-tech virus turned off the ability for Norton to do liveupdates, as well as updates on MS Windows site. It caused a program called update.exe to run continuously in the background that tied up system resources to 100% all day long. It was a nuisance. Removing the rogue file was easy. Then as soon as you would reboot, system would slow down again. File reappeared, even with no internet connection. I had a similar problem with Josh's infected cesspool of a computer. Turning off system restore, then running NAV solved the problem. But his computer still perplexes me. Internet is still slow, and I still can't do liveupdate. At least now his cpu resources aren't tied up. I'm going to spend day #3 going through this computer with a fine-toothed comb. I hate viruses. I hate spyware. And I hate infected computers. Why is it that my computer(s) never get infected with viruses or spyware? Why do I do it? I don't know. I like to help people that can't help themselves, assuming they put due diligence into trying to fix the problem, first. There's nothing I hate more than lazy people that just pawn off work without thought. This was not the case here, and for that, I was appreciative. Three MCSE certified PhD's in computer science couldn't have fixed the demon computer I've been working on. It's a fricken case-study. Maybe that's what I get out of it: the challenge. And this one is quite the challenge, since it's ten times slower than the shittiest computer sold today. Notes to the public: 1) If you know nothing about computers, and you're thinking about buying a computer, buy it from Dell. They give you a 1-800 number to call with issues. You can talk to them for hours and hours at a time. I learned most about computing from being on the phone with Gateway about ten years ago. One time I had a four hour marathon session with their Tech Support. 2) If your computer is more than two years old, or you're using an operating system that's more than two generations old (i.e. Windows 95 or 98), then it's time to turn your computer into a boat anchor... and I'm not in the anchor business. I can help pull your hard drive out of your boat anchor to help save your data, and then run the old computer over with my car, but the help stops there. 3) If you have a newer computer, and you've exhausted all self-help avenues such as Microsoft's knowledgebase, and your computer is running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, then I will look at your computer. Pickup and delivery is your responsibility, and I work at my own pace. Backup your data because worst-case scenario is I'm doing a full reformat-install. posted by Dino at 3:51 PM (permanent link)
Comments:
Don't forget, you should really be charging for your time, plain and simple. Unless, of course, the person helped you install a second water meter, or something that required THEIR time!
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