Your computer is broke!

[SingleCharles 0]

The AV poll got me thinking about how people deal with broken computers. What do you do if your hard disk stops working? Or you get the BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH! *shudder*. Or what if your Mac stops powering up? Curious minds... okay at least my curious mind wants to know.

[amberdima 6]

i have a friend in IT. he fixed my old laptop a couple times, but it had to be plugged in to work. it needed a new mother board. before i gave it to him i took it apart and tried to fix it myself. didn't work lol. after a few months, i gave it to my mom and bought a new one.

[bslsailor 0]

Had THREE hard drives fail w/in 6 months - GRRRR

Replaced my Maxtor that was acting up with Seagate -

ordered two BARRACUDA 250 Gig from Newegg - one was DOA

and the other failed within a couple of weeks -

Now have a mirror RAID (two Seagates) and MOZY online backup

www.mozy.com has automatic backup and you can sign up for 2GB free

if you want to have a barebones backup of your most important files.

[Ban Hammer 13,657]

usually fix it myself, for really difficult problems, i know people to ask.

[bora bora 1]

My laptop had a problem last month and the network manager at my school fixed it for me. We gave him a gift in return.

But usually before I get a professional I ask a couple of my best friends who know "stuff" about computers because God knows that I don't (or my hubby who THINKS that he does).

[Mikkel 0]

People usually come to me with their issues, and I usually try to avoid helping them. Have you ever noticed how if you know a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician or any kind of hands-on tradesman, and you need something fixed around the house, most people start out by asking how much they'd have to pay to have it done, whereas if people have issues with their computers, money is very rarely involved, and at best an afterthought. The compensation will mostly exist of a 'thank you', and perhaps a trivial token of gratitude like a bottle of wine or something. No compensation for time spent. Most anyone soliciting help from a person in a hands-on trade do not expect to pay just for the materials used.

I've heard people argue everything from "but it's your hobby!" to "but it didn't cost you anything to fix it!"

I want to make this clear right now; very few people consider spending hours removing viruses, worms, trojans and other malware from antiquated machinery a "hobby", and while it might not have cost anything to fix your issue in physical materials, the knowledge needed to repair your computer was gained through expensive classes, certifications and examinations that we need return on investment on. What it all comes down to for me is that when my employer needs my services out of office hours, they pay me $100/hour for the privilege. If they paid me half of that, I'd rather spend the time with my family. That means that when friends, casual acquaintances and distant family members frequently try to solicit my services for $0 and a friendly gesture, I politely refuse, but quietly resent being put in a situation where I have to decline to help the people who are close to me.

Please, please treat people in IT to the same standards that you treat people of other professions to when asking for their help.

Edited February 21, 2009 by Mikkel

[SingleCharles 0]

Had THREE hard drives fail w/in 6 months - GRRRR

Replaced my Maxtor that was acting up with Seagate -

ordered two BARRACUDA 250 Gig from Newegg - one was DOA

and the other failed within a couple of weeks -

Now have a mirror RAID (two Seagates) and MOZY online backup

www.mozy.com has automatic backup and you can sign up for 2GB free

if you want to have a barebones backup of your most important files.

Good thing Newegg has an excellent return policy!

[AbsentMindedKat 1]

What action I take depends on what's wrong with my computer. For me, there are three areas of issues: Software, network/internet, and hardware. I generally try and succeed with fixing software issues myself because I can Google answers. If it's the network or internet, I'll make an attempt but usually wind up asking for help because this area combines software AND hardware, and when the internet doesn't work, I can't Google anything! But for hardware alone, I don't even consider touching it. I have a long history of bad luck when it comes to hardware. So I just whine to my fiancé (Mikkel) for help and as per his post, I give him sexual favors in return.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

I always fix my own PC. My kids taught me how to strip it down and rebuild it. Thanks to hubby, i need to spring into computer tech mode on a monthly basis grrrrrr. He never listens to me when i give him sound advice on what websites to avoid lol

This is the 4th pc i've built since i got here 2 yrs ago.

Edited February 23, 2009 by Maria~n~Dane

[Jasman0717 9]

It depends on what is wrong with it but I would normally fix it myself

[Nagishkaw 510]

Apart from my husband being an electronic engineer back in his country, he landed a job here as an IT tech and security systems installer. He takes care of any pc problems I may have.

[Marilyn. 340]

I usually fix it myself.. and if all else fails I just reinstall windows

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I have a Toshiba laptop that went out on me a couple of months ago. It was thankfully still under warranty - so I took it to a certified repair shop. They replaced the mother board at no cost to me.

For software issues, I try to resolve by myself or look for help online.

My other laptop is Dell - bought it over 7 yrs. ago and I've never had anything major go wrong with it.

Edited February 24, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[Dr. Obvious 49]

My husband probably already fixed it before I knew anything was wrong.

[Jasman0717 9]

Had THREE hard drives fail w/in 6 months - GRRRR

Damn I have never experienced a hard drive failure, knock on wood