Are you "computer support" for everyone you know?

[eSDee]

Today I received 3 phonecalls from friends/family/coworkers who were having computer problems. I do have a job where I am a Sys Admin, but even before then I was the computer support for all my family and friends. I am wondering, how many of you are considered tech support by your friends and family?

[Hiro]

Yes, and it sucks sometimes when that's all they use you for. But then again, you learn to cut off those "friends".

[NuTs62]

i always get IMs from friends, and calls from family. Luckily those are the easy questions.. the hard ones, i ask my other friends, or post 'em on here for y'all to answer :P

[jase71]

I've weaned most of my friends and family off of my support. Got tired of spending an hour on the phone each and every evening talking someone through removing Banzai Buddy, or moving their task bar back to the bottom of the screen.

Biggest help came when I stopped building systems for people. I just started pointing them at Dell, so the "good people at Dell", who maintain a tech support number, can answer those questions instead of me.

Now I only build systems for people who can appreciate them, and who I know won't call me for stupid problems. That list is short, and includes my parents, my wife, and my two brothers. That's it.

Everyone else can go hunt for that 800 number.

[hoey222]

yup - that's me - but its ok - i dont mind

it keeps me on my toes



:D

[CluelessSi]

yup, but it is hard since most ppl don't know what the problem is or what they did to get the problem and not being in front of the computer also makes it hard. nowadays some of the problems I just say I am not sure how to fix or I would just point them to the correct place to find out how to fix it.

[CluelessSi]

Originally posted by cpugeek04

:stupid:

that and i'm always learning new stuff, even if it is something stupid/simple
it is cool and fustrating at times, when there is a problem someone has iw ill try to figure it out if i don't know it and I just keep diving in deeper cause I want to learn it and stuff.. haha so i kinda branch off and start researching all kinds of stuff for a simple fix. askign questions like why and stuff =P If i don't get it solved I would get the person to notify me if they solved it so i learn more hehe.. i guess that makes me a geek/nerd/book..err..internetworm? :D

[DoPeY5007]

big surprise on the poll results :hehehmm:

But yeah I get the calls quite often, the most from this one dude, his screen name happens to be ZrEo0 :hihi:

[ribitch]

i am always being asked to fix someones system. best person to help i s my uincle though. every time he upgrades, i get his old stuff. He upgrades constantly.

I have built atleast 2 systems from hiis old stuff. They are not the latest and greatest, but still very comparable to many new systems.

[psycho-]

I love it when these people ask you for free advice, then don't do what you tell them and still complain that it doesn't work. :rolleyes: Leon knows who I'm talking about. He lives close to you! BWAHAHAHAHA!

[Nanotech9]

my job is computer support / networks / building computers / webcrap / servers / graphics / etc...

[ZrEo0]

all my friends call me to fix thier computers, but when i need help, i call dopey, and thats b/c i chose a bad video card or hard drive, so my system is always f'in up

[Ladogaboy]

:wavey:

That's me! Man, it sucks to be in a town where the most sophisticated piece of machinery is a hay-bailer... :2far:

[faither]

My brother calls me today at my office from his. He works for a multi-national organization. He tells me the problem he's having and asks my help. I asked if he'd gone to his tech support and he responded that he emailed them but they hadn't gotten back to him. When I asked how long ago he sent the email, he said 30 minutes. I hung up on him. :rolleyes:

I love this stuff as a hobby but I couldn't do it full-time. Even as a hobby it can be a pain in the a$$. Anytime anybody wants to buy any piece of equipment -- from cameras to PDAs to computers and peripherals -- I have to be consulted. Hey, make your own mistakes, that way I can mock you later. :D

[Lady In Red]

The secretary at works bugs me to death. Now she get's confused opening Word!! :rolleyes:

Then she forget's how to set matgins. I sure would love to send here to Mars for about a life time! :P

I learn fast - When I get tired of stupid questions I always say "I've never used that program before"!

Works good! ;)

[whitak24]

yeah, i'm pretty much tech support on call to anyone who knows me.

especially my family, my gf's family, etc.

oh, and all my friends from work would call me when they had computer problems.

but i don't think i get called near as much as some of you guys.....maybe it's because i don't have too many friends :(

:heh: j/k

[GraingerGuy]

That's an affirmative red leader!

I have people asking for advice on a home grown computer or problem that they are having.

But...like someone said up there....it keeps me on my toes. So...I guess that's good. :) I actually kinda enjoy it...it's fun. But I couldn't do it for a job!

[GraingerGuy]

Originally posted by cpugeek04
oh yeah, if i did it for a job, i'd end up killing someone.

Exactly.....

If I did it for a job...I'd either get fired for screaming at someone....or laughing at someone too hard. :) After all the tech support stories that I have read....I'm afraid to help people over the phone...:D