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Thread ID: 139603	2015-05-30 20:52:00	Free PC Repairs?	pctek (84)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1401632	2015-05-30 20:52:00	Bumped into a former colleague from one of the helpdesks I worked in a while ago. She's my age, out of work now. We exchanged cellph numbers, emails… Then, I get asked how much I used to charge when I had the business. Then I get an email saying sound problem on PC, tried driver but no go, what to do? I ask what MB it is, she sends me CPU details. After a long back forth exchange I step her through finding correct driver off MB website, checking device manager etc and telling her the onboard sound had died, put a sound card in, step her through that and it’s driver. Then next thing I get asked if I can come help her swap a laptop screen. Then I get one saying 4 post errors then no boot at all, can I ring her urgently as it seems no power on desktop. Then I get one saying have trouble with LAN drivers all the time, can I ring. Then I get another asking more basic troubleshooting questions. She has worked in IT for as long as me....I started to get the idea she is doing repairs for people now, and I guess I am supposed to solve it for her, tell her what to do and then she gets paid?	pctek (84)
1401633	2015-05-30 21:17:00	Find another friend PC. You are being taken advantage of.	CliveM (6007)
1401634	2015-05-30 21:26:00	Give her wrong info, that will slow her down.	Cicero (40)
1401635	2015-05-30 22:04:00	Enroll her in the Act party, they were made for each other. Put her on Suzanne Paul's phone list, then drop her details to Readers Digest. While she is slightly groggy with this largesse, convince her to install Norton & McAfee (Both!) on every client's machine. Wait for nature to take its course, send flowers.	R2x1 (4628)
1401636	2015-05-31 00:06:00	Find another friend PC. You are being taken advantage of. Exactly. :thumbs: Things are a bit different if you posted a reply to someones problem here, as you are doing it because you want to. I get it all the -- Phone rings -- Hi I'm after some advise on a problem with my computer -- Then most want you to talk them through fixing it for free -- I give them some advise, but its totally useless and wont help them with the problem -- In basic's, its you want me to come to your place to fix it, it will cost a service.	wainuitech (129)
1401637	2015-05-31 03:08:00	I helped her with the sound one, but none of the next lot. The last one yesterday was some laptop....no power and she put the battery in the freezer already but out of ideas...I told her she had a cheek. What got me though, was how is it she worked in IT for that long but can't do the basic stuff? It's not that she asked me tricky ones, they were all piss easy.	pctek (84)
1401638	2015-05-31 03:46:00	help her some more providing all assistance in the form of lmgtfy.com links	Mirddes (10)
1401639	2015-05-31 10:46:00	I hear what you Techies are saying & I agree with you. However I worked for myself, self-employed electrician, for five years. Did I charge for every job, or only part charge, or do a freebie? All of these. You learn quickly who are the bludgers. I admire you people for what you freely give. Computers are terrific...when they work. When they don't...it can be so annoying. Often it is the smallest thing that needs doing to get going again. As an apprentice, my tradesman would say...'If the m/c doesn't work, look for the simplest reason first.' Sooo...Good on you, you lot. PJ :clap	Poppa John (284)
1401640	2015-05-31 11:31:00	Send her an invoice for your time.	Webdevguy (17166)
1401641	2015-05-31 22:57:00	I have worked directly from some of NZ top packagaging research scientists and engineers, some with PHD's, and some could not do the "basics". They had brilliant conceptual minds, but some could not correctly grammatically write a report, or repair simple stuff, I would do that. Maybe she's wants confirmation, or simply unable to do basic things alone, particularly for others. Some people, in my experience get by with sheer learning/adapting (modelling towards experience) or with cleverness/intuition. Even those with uni degrees/d phils, can fall well short, due to lack of reasoning, training, brainstorming, or experience. I felt I got used by extended family memebers/friends for fixing their PC's. It got too much, so I just quickly write an article to email them, or refer them to my blogs and other sites/forums, to learn it themselves.	kahawai chaser (3545)
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