This mother tereza **** needs to stop.

theforce

theforce

theforce

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5 Jan 2005
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Cyprus
As hardware enthusiasts we all have friends and relatives that want our help when it comes to their computers. I have no problem building their new computers and solving all their hardware problems for free but every single time they encounter something or mess up their computers because they either installed 100 useless applications they manage to become malware collectors, it's me to the rescue.

My attempts to hint that l am not oblidged to solve all their software errors, it's like throwing eggs on a wall. I format their PC's and tell them not to install bogus software and use common sense, only to visit them a few weeks later to discover that they downloaded all that **** that caused them the problem in the first place.

Any ideas of how to deal with this guys because l find myself spending my free time fixing other people's PC instead of just chilling.
 
If they are too stupid to follow your advice after you have fixed it once, then don't feel guilty about not going around to help out again. I would just say I am too busy to go and help if they kept doing it.

I'm sure when they bring in a PC repair guy who charges the earth to help out, they may take more care of their computer.
 
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This works. ;)
 
Enable UAC and drop them into the basic Users group, get some anti-malware and decent AV on there and say that if they want you to support them and their PC, they have to play by your rules
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I know that feeling very well. Been an IT engineer for 7 years, before i quit that job, and after everyone knows about it you have knocks on your door or rings on your mobile at ANY time... sunday 11 PM calls anyone?

My way to deal with it, i got so ****ed of that i started being rude. Ask them if they are happy that their customers, on whatever trade they have, come to their door asking help on every cockup they do at any time of the day.

That helped, no more weird time calls or ppl knocking on the door. Works all the time.
 
The best way ive found is to sit infront of thier computer and say "i havnt a clue whats wrong with it" and send them packing to the Purple shirt people.

That in its self should be enough to stop them downloadign rubish on to thie computers.

Keep helping them and they WILL keep doing it.
 
Uninstall windows then install either Ubuntu, Kubuntu, LinuxMint or even try LinuxPuppy.

Install the required software they need (VLC, Google Chrome/Firefox, flash, 3rd party codec, Libre office, Open office etc), set it up to auto login and never give then the password so they cannot install any software. Techy size 12 boot well and truly used.

Regards.

C.
 
My ex used to be a nightmare with malware so I ended up sandboxing her browser at first. This still didn't work so I ended up installing a VM and making her use that every time she wanted to use the internet. Every time she trashed it I just copied over the clean image. *sigh*

The only alternative you really have for complete morons is something like Deep Freeze, and make them save their docs off to a USB drive.
 
Used to get this a lot, in the end i started telling people that they either do as |I've told them or stop asking for my help. Haven't had a call in about 5 months :)
 
Simple, don't offer help.

I am the ONLY tech guy in both sides of the family, and everyone knows not to ask me. I do it as a job, no one wants to do their job for free out of hours.

Simples, if they want me to do it, I will charge. Yes it's mean, but I don't want to end up like you OP. No thanks.
 
I am pretty shoddy at PCs but whenever a family member asks for help and they have so much rubbish and 'free' software they thought they were getting for nothing, when I reinstall windows for them they get guest privileges only on their own machines.

Seems to work my dads laptop is 6 years old and was only 250 then and it's still suitable for what he wants
 
Yeah I find this annoying also......but then they get the attitude that the are a paying customer when they are not and want more more more....lol.

And i feel like their pc bitch.....haha
 
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