having to keep 'fixing friends PC, would you??
Discussion
Right, last Feb I built for Chan's friend and hubby a very well specc'd PC, using only the very best parts for their budget (£500), not only that, but I wanted to give them even better parts, as it was for all the family, so I used £100 of my own money from the goodness of my own heart to make it perfect for them.
I have it back here for the third and final time, as once again, they have completly ignored my advice about updating and never, under any circumstances vist dodgy sites or download anything that even sniffs suspicious.
Do these Chav-like friends of Chan's listen, of course not, the PC is once again riddled with spyware and a couple of viruses! The time before this one, they asked me to 'clean up' their PC because they let their son go onto porn sites and guess what happened, yep, virus with a dialler and £600 phone bill.
When I try to log into Windows this time, I find that same son has become the PC administrator so have to ring for passwords
, then, what do I find in the cookies and history, porn galor!!!!!
I have told them time and time again to be careful, I even installed a cosha copy of McAfee internet security to help them,,,,, what would you do???? I am so pi**ed off with having to waste more time on their behalf because they are either too thick/stupid to learn themselves, or, like true chavs, they can't be arsed!!!!!! Bloody annoying, don't even like them!!! (Chan's friends, not mine)
A very annoyed and feeling stupid Chris
I have it back here for the third and final time, as once again, they have completly ignored my advice about updating and never, under any circumstances vist dodgy sites or download anything that even sniffs suspicious.
Do these Chav-like friends of Chan's listen, of course not, the PC is once again riddled with spyware and a couple of viruses! The time before this one, they asked me to 'clean up' their PC because they let their son go onto porn sites and guess what happened, yep, virus with a dialler and £600 phone bill.
When I try to log into Windows this time, I find that same son has become the PC administrator so have to ring for passwords
, then, what do I find in the cookies and history, porn galor!!!!! I have told them time and time again to be careful, I even installed a cosha copy of McAfee internet security to help them,,,,, what would you do???? I am so pi**ed off with having to waste more time on their behalf because they are either too thick/stupid to learn themselves, or, like true chavs, they can't be arsed!!!!!! Bloody annoying, don't even like them!!! (Chan's friends, not mine)
A very annoyed and feeling stupid Chris
I know exactly how you feel.
I have bumped into exactly the same situation you are in many times.
I have given up my own time to go and fix family/friends computers, and had to put up with a assortment of problems. The latest one been, I fixed a windows problem 2 months ago which was simple enough. Get a call yesterday saying you what have you done to my sound card?, even though they have been using it for the past 2 months. So, after 20 minutes of trying to explain it can't have been me I end up telling them to ram the PC and I'm not going near it again.
I would repair it this time if I was you, and then after that let them know in a gentle way that you are unwilling to touch it again.
The morale of the story, if you can avoid going near family/friends PC's then don't go near them. Thats my thinking anyway.
>> Edited by __LEE__ on Sunday 19th December 21:49
I have bumped into exactly the same situation you are in many times.
I have given up my own time to go and fix family/friends computers, and had to put up with a assortment of problems. The latest one been, I fixed a windows problem 2 months ago which was simple enough. Get a call yesterday saying you what have you done to my sound card?, even though they have been using it for the past 2 months. So, after 20 minutes of trying to explain it can't have been me I end up telling them to ram the PC and I'm not going near it again.
I would repair it this time if I was you, and then after that let them know in a gentle way that you are unwilling to touch it again.
The morale of the story, if you can avoid going near family/friends PC's then don't go near them. Thats my thinking anyway.
>> Edited by __LEE__ on Sunday 19th December 21:49
If it where me, keep it for a while (ie over xmas period) don't even look at it. In new year take it back to them say you couldn't fix it. Then had over Yellow pages turned to a page of One man band MR PC fix it types and tell them to hand over some of their money to them to fix.
That way they may try and look after it abit more as it is costing them money. Then again it may not, but it is not your time they are wasting anymore.
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year
That way they may try and look after it abit more as it is costing them money. Then again it may not, but it is not your time they are wasting anymore.
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year
Cheers guys 
, glad I'm not the only one with these probs.
I think I will keep it over Xmas, but I think to myself, I'm not touching it ever again anyway, as all the faults are of their own doing, so I'm just doing the bare minimum and they can have it back.
They haven't got any files of importance anyway, it seems the parents haven't the first clue, and they've had almost a year!! The only files I found that their son may want to keep were porn and a Word file on how to make different types of bombs!!!
Obviously a very level headed young lad there then 
, glad I'm not the only one with these probs. I think I will keep it over Xmas, but I think to myself, I'm not touching it ever again anyway, as all the faults are of their own doing, so I'm just doing the bare minimum and they can have it back.
They haven't got any files of importance anyway, it seems the parents haven't the first clue, and they've had almost a year!! The only files I found that their son may want to keep were porn and a Word file on how to make different types of bombs!!!
Obviously a very level headed young lad there then 
trevorw said:
So I'm just doing the bare minimum and they can have it back.
Good man, so that will be a Format of drive then. Hand it back and say "it was worse than i thought"
LOL,, indeed, 'tis now reformatted and reinstalled with bare minimum
I always find it amazing how these chav types insist they never know why things go wrong, never accept responsability for what they or their offspring do,can't fix it in a zillion years,,,,, yet,,,, they still manage to install new games (pirated of course) so they don't need to use the disk to play them, but from the hard drive,,,,
[quote=GreenV8S]In a word: Ghost.
[quote]
Ah but you see the software isnt the only solution - listen to the real Gh0st
This comment actually has some irony here as I had the same problem but I turned peoples whingings into a part time business.
Result - I now go around fixing peoples PC's and get paid for it
Gh0st
[quote]
Ah but you see the software isnt the only solution - listen to the real Gh0st
This comment actually has some irony here as I had the same problem but I turned peoples whingings into a part time business.
Result - I now go around fixing peoples PC's and get paid for it
Gh0st
Sort it out this time, but tell them it's the last time you'll do it for free as you haven't got the time anymore… next time you'll have to charge £xx per hour…
Might also be worth installing Spybot as it lets you "immunize" the system from quite a lot of spywear, trojans and diallers...
Might also be worth installing Spybot as it lets you "immunize" the system from quite a lot of spywear, trojans and diallers...
Podie said:
Sort it out this time, but tell them it's the last time you'll do it for free as you haven't got the time anymore… next time you'll have to charge £xx per hour…
Might also be worth installing Spybot as it lets you "immunize" the system from quite a lot of spywear, trojans and diallers...
,, it is the last time I touch it, and I DID install both Spybot and Adaware for them!!! Showed them how to use it but obviously never been touched since the last time I used it to get rid of the dieller spyware on their PC!! lol Gh0st, I sometimes think of starting up a PC fixing business, so many people out there who are just plain ignorant to even the simplest things! lol
chris watton said:
Sort it out this time, but tell them it's the last time you'll do it for free as you haven't got the time anymore… next time you'll have to charge £xx per hour…
Might also be worth installing Spybot as it lets you "immunize" the system from quite a lot of spywear, trojans and diallers...
Gh0st, I sometimes think of starting up a PC fixing business, so many people out there who are just plain ignorant to even the simplest things! lol
If you select the immunize option then it does protect you... just make sure you select the option that doesn't prompt them... just blocks stuff!
) Ah, the classic "rod for your own back" syndrome.
I do sympathise. I've tried to distance myself from neighbours who asked for help with their PCs, just can't be arsed anymore. Whatever you do isn't good enough, or it breaks again. Its like painting the Forth Bridge but without the vistas or the fresh air.
I do sympathise. I've tried to distance myself from neighbours who asked for help with their PCs, just can't be arsed anymore. Whatever you do isn't good enough, or it breaks again. Its like painting the Forth Bridge but without the vistas or the fresh air.
I used to (and continue to) fix PCs and electrical gear for close friends and family but it got to the point a while ago that all manner of stuff from friends of friends of friends was turning up on my doorstep.
In the end, I told everyone out side of my closest circle that it was £40 minimum charge (but no fix, no fee). Whilst I will not be retiring on the extra cash I earn, I only end up doing repair jobs for people who value the work that is undertaken. A much nicer situation than people who think its their right to get equipment repaired for nowt.
I also think its important to state to people EXACTLY what repairs / maintenance have been undertaken. That way, if they do come back after 2 months complaining that some other fault has occurred and 'it must have been what you did', you are in a strong position to politely advise them otherwise but, for a small fee of £40, you will have a look-see.
Might seem mercenary, but it works.
In the end, I told everyone out side of my closest circle that it was £40 minimum charge (but no fix, no fee). Whilst I will not be retiring on the extra cash I earn, I only end up doing repair jobs for people who value the work that is undertaken. A much nicer situation than people who think its their right to get equipment repaired for nowt.
I also think its important to state to people EXACTLY what repairs / maintenance have been undertaken. That way, if they do come back after 2 months complaining that some other fault has occurred and 'it must have been what you did', you are in a strong position to politely advise them otherwise but, for a small fee of £40, you will have a look-see.
Might seem mercenary, but it works.
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