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Thread ID: 135530	2013-11-14 01:42:00	Computer techos ripping off some people	stuffed (1469)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1359824	2013-11-17 03:41:00	Back to the subject ... there used to be a company down here that wouldn't look at your TV, Computer or other electronic equipment unless you paid $90 up front to cover "investigation" costs, i.e. to find the problem, then they'd phone you and tell you how much the repair would cost you. Not sure if they're still in business or not, but do any techs on here do a similar charge ?? fairly common across many trades these days. even worse if its a call out to pick the item up. when i was in appliance repairs, many years ago, used to get heaps that would not get things repaired and we ended having to pay to get rid of their trash. the worst was when people brought things in that we had already thrown out. so we had a policy of destroying it so no one would take it out of the trash. pissed a few people off when we used to destroy gear that was to dangerous to use and could not be repaired. but i've thrown burnt out multi boards only to come back 1 month later to find they reused it.	tweak'e (69)
1359825	2013-11-17 20:14:00	Just a quote from the article... Budget Mobiles and Computers store manager Aamir Hussein said three or four customers had come to him after being locked out of their computer by a scammer. Most of the time the hard drive needed to be re-formated, which often meant people lost all their personal data, he said." Cough, say what? Don't take your PC to that guy either...	wratterus (105)
1359826	2013-11-17 20:46:00	Cough, say what? Don't take your PC to that guy either... Could be the 'scammer' encrypted the data or moved it all to offline storage somewhere?? - as with the new crypto malware Could be the reporter was computer illiterate & didnt know what he was writing about ? Could be a mis quote or quote taken out of context, not that Im saying reporters do that all the time . :p Any idiot knows how to back up data before formatting, so I find that quote from the article a bit hard to believe, especially if the tech knew he was going to to be directly quoted.	1101 (13337)
1359827	2013-11-18 02:13:00	Any idiot knows how to back up data before formatting, so I find that quote from the article a bit hard to believe, especially if the tech knew he was going to to be directly quoted. I don't know, I came across loads that wouldn't bother and just wipe the machine - and not retrieve stuff first either. There are idiots in the IT trade too you know...	pctek (84)
1359828	2013-11-18 05:36:00	I don't know, I came across loads that wouldn't bother and just wipe the machine - and not retrieve stuff first either. There are idiots in the IT trade too you know... reminds me of a local crowd who wiped a business pc without making or checking that there was backups. the crap hit the fan big time. and that crowd is still in business, bloody hopeless but charge huge amounts.	tweak'e (69)
1359829	2013-11-18 08:55:00	Yep, don't know how you full-time techs get enough for the time it really takes to sort a machine out without exceeding the cost of a new comp . There are quite a few upgrades from old XP PC to laptop now . Sounds easy . Whip the data off and there you go . Yeah, right . First problem is finding the data . It can be spread anywhere! Best one I saw was a business database buried at least four levels down from a Temp folder! Just as well I imaged that machine as I didn't see the database file first time around . Then there's working out how to get the old email to newer progs . Re-installing progs . Damn, their prize one won't work on Win 8 . Or there is no printer driver for the old printer . Now for the 350MB of windows updates on the laptop . That can take a LONG time and needs several goes . And don't forget the time showing them how the new laptop works, incl windows 8! And this is about half the things that need doing! You can easily spend four hours on a new machine upgrade, plus training time . So, let's see . 4+1 X 80 = $400 . New laptop was $600 . Mmmmm . Suddenly that laptop jumped 66%! I think that really fair minded conscientious techs are probably more likely to get the dirty end of the stick than their customers . And, yes, on top of the workload you guys have time to answer our questions . Thank you .	linw (53)
1359830	2013-11-18 21:19:00	Yep, don't know how you full-time techs get enough for the time it really takes to sort a machine out without exceeding the cost of a new comp . . Thats why the PC repair business is dying (in general) . People often replace rather than repair . Heck, they see a new Lappy at warehouse stationary for $500 so why repair (yes , a $500 lappy wont be the greatest ) . If you dont have some descent corporate clients, then your IT repair company might struggle . Sometimes you have to spend the full time to fix the bldy thing , just to be able to be able to quote on how long the repair will actually take . Then drop that charge right back just so the job isnt cancelled . You are expected to know, completely, the ins & outs & workings of every oddball bit of software out there . They will ring IT rather than ring that programs helpdesk . Companies give zero training & just call IT for any stupid (non chargeable) thing , eg not knowing how to insert a USB Flash Drive(yes its true) :badpc: :badpc: Backing up before deleting: sometimes the customer will tell you they dont need anything backed up, then ask where all their email & photos are . Or data might be saved in VERY stupid directories that most techs wouldnt be looking in :eg using recycle bin & deleted email folder as a archive/backup (yes its true) :badpc: :badpc:	1101 (13337)
1359831	2013-11-19 03:32:00	Thats why the PC repair business is dying (in general). Heck, they see a new Lappy at warehouse stationary for $500 so why repair (yes , a $500 lappy wont be the greatest ) .: No it's because most people are sheep and no sense of economics. New toy - must have. New version - must have. Not all repairs, not all techs and not all upgrades cost much. Buying a piece of crap new because you got a virus is false economy......	pctek (84)
1359832	2013-11-19 06:29:00	Backing up before deleting: sometimes the customer will tell you they dont need anything backed up, then ask where all their email & photos are .Or data might be saved in VERY stupid directories That reminds me of a job a few years back. Had to reinstall the Computer, asked the people if there was any data other than ( named usual places) the guys wife said no, but you could tell by the guys body language there was something his wife didn't know about. When putting all the data back I found what he was hiding --- pictures of female models, bikini, erotic poses, topless ( non porn), when I took the computer back, I looked at the guy sideways, as I was talking to his wife and said "everything" ( kind of hung on the word everything) is back exactly where it was -- he smiled as if to say thanks ;)	wainuitech (129)
1359833	2013-11-19 17:34:00	When putting all the data back I found what he was hiding --- pictures of female models;) What I found was it was best to do things before starting: 1)Disable screensaver 2)Change Explorer view off thumbnails to anything else . The number of people I cam across who not only had their bedroom activity pics on the PC but also screensaver set to slideshow pics - including those was amazing . Did they forget? They didn't care and were happy to have some tech see them? Not to mention Mr Dairy Farmer posing with his sheep . . . .	pctek (84)
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