Hey /g/. What are your best horror stories of having to fix a parent/grandparent's PC?
>>54317246
I opened a few browsers and found about half the number of toolbars in this pic. Also uninstalled a dickload of Malware.
Sidenote, anybody know why people install Chrome and Firefox on their PC? Seems redundant desu.
>>54317463
I use Chrome most of the time but I keep Firefox around so I am able to download .7z files from untrusted sources since Chrome won't let me.
>>54317246
if there's no way to avoid fixing it I just make them copy documents or whatever on a separate drive or usb drive and then I just format, fuck everything up. Fire from the sky and start anew.
>grandpa calls up, computer is fucked
>he drops it off
>10,000 toolbars
>reformat
>install ArchLinux
>compile everything from source
>get superior rolling release minimal system
>force all daemons and proessces, x windows, etc required to be manually started (like they SHOULD BE)
>return laptop in now working condition
>he calls up
>WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT WHAT DID U DO TO MY COMPUTER FUK U KID
Fucking old people, just die already.
>>54317542
what were you really expecting?
>doing a PhD in embedded systems
>need some quick money so I go for a minimal paid job.
>boss is niggardly reducing my paycheck. Forbidding me to go on toilet on company time as "this is what your lunch break is for"
>few weeks later "hey, anon. Are you good with computers?"
>"yeah, I guess"
>"can you help me with a problem I have. I guess that's a virus. You can do it on company time :DDD"
>"I'll do it, but not at minimum hourly salary"
>gets angry. Mutters some stuff I don't get
>I get fired for "unprofessional behavior"
>>54317246
>they tell me that they cant log in to the email
>ok whats your email and password
>gives me the email and the same password that I know its wrong
>been happening over the last year
>>54317664
>Forbidding me to go on toilet on company time as "this is what your lunch break is for"
I don't think this is even legal
>>54317463
>i need firefox because it has a good sqlite editor
>>54317688
I don't know. I'm a foreigner (not in the us) and o don't speak the local language well enough to fully understand law texts
>>54317246
I got to start learning how to fix computers when I got Red Alert for Windows. According to my parents, it was just a hotbed for constant viruses.
Eventually, they got a new computer with XP on it, so I got the old Windows 3.11 box. Suddenly, no more viruses on my PC, and I was constantly being told that my Word files were installing viruses to the point that it was literally messing with the SATA cord.
Moving out was the best thing I've ever done, although they still asked for all sorts of problem solving for years, until I switched to Linux. Then I could tell them I wasn't familiar with the OS anymore, that even though it looked the same, "too much has changed behind the scenes."
My dad's Sony Viao currently has the ENTIRE fucking desktop filled with apps to 3rd party software. Pretty sure he doesn't use any of it.
>>54317463
i use firefox yet have chrome for testing
damn chrome with its shitty spec support and proprietary shit
>>54317777
>>54317463
I use firefox normally, but occasionall I need something without all the privacy tweeks/ add ons, because it's fucking with something like a job application, so I switch over to Chromium, which only has HTTPS Everywhere on it.
>>54317777
>7777
>>54317542
Expecting oldshit using arch
Kill your self
![image[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/DxmPppL.jpg "image[1].jpg")
>>54317542
lol, just remembrered when I changed my grandpas browser to chrome after he installed malware once again. With adblock and no browser history because porn (mostly redheads, vanilla stuff)
Had to change chrome icon to internet explorer icon to avoid constant calls of "how do I connect to internet"
He's 91, I'm not expecting him to understand what a browser is.
>>54317940
>91 and still looking at porn
>>54317940
>Had to change chrome icon to internet explorer icon
That is a pretty clever solution, actually.
>>54317949
kinda proud of him for that.
>Dad fucked up his laptop
>too lazy to figure out the problem
>re-install the OS
>done
Just chill the fuck out neckbeards, don't disrespect old people just because they can't use the computer properly
>>54317697
Who are you quoting?
>>54317713
>inb4 japan
>>54317518
>being so fucking botnet that it doesn't allow you to pull media on a pull medium network type
so fucking nazi
>>54317542
>grandpa fucks computer
>he brings to me
>put xubuntu on it
>put solitare on it
>he thanks me every time I see him
>it's been years, he's never had issues.
>>54317777
this
chrome is so fucking garbage I hate having to fix little standards fuck ups in it. especially with css
>>54317956
are you this dense that you've never done that?
>>54317246
This shit happened to me a couple of years ago...
>Work at PC repair shop (and hating it)
>Get sent on a house call, 45 min. out of town, to this cranky old dude's house
>He has a junky Gateway computer from 1999, still running Windows 98
>Bitches he bought a new USB keyboard (those ones for old folks with the bright yellow keys), and can't figure out how to hook it up
>I go to try and hook up keyboard -- Computer hasn't a single USB port on it (and the keyboard didn't come with any of those USB-to-PS/2 adapters)
>He also has another job for me...
>His only access to the Internet is, no joke, a fucking dial-up MSN WEB TV BOX hooked up to his fuck-huge HDTV (the only modern piece of technology in the house)
>Bitches that it's extremely slow and web pages have never shown up correctly on it, he can't check his Yahoo mail, and wanted me to fix it
>I break down and politely explain to him that there's nothing I can do for his computer/keyboard and Web TV because it's all severely outdated
>Old fuck starts screaming and cussing at me
>I get the fuck out of there, and head back to the shop, pretty pissed off and stressed out
>Even though I explained the situation to him, my asshole boss tries to write me up anyway for costing the shop a sale and pissing off a customer
>Told boss to fuck off, and I quit right then and there
TL;DR - Went to cranky old dude's house, he had severely-outdated tech, couldn't do anything for him, get screamed at, asshole boss tries to write me up, ended up quitting.
>>54318085
It's trying to communicate in 4chan language.
>>54318491
Should've installed kernelEx and opera 12.02
WebTV I don't know about.
>>54318491
As it should be. I have this argument at work every day
>multi billions dollar compay
>we have a T1 line
>"have you watched the new training video anon?"
>..............
>>54318491
What do you do for the living now?
>>54317713
Poo in loo
>>54318161
same, but i installed elementary instead. he can't install malware and his computer is now much faster, and he seems to like inkscape over corel (lol)
>hey anon, could you come and see my PC?
>okay
>find out that computer has a bunch of manufacturers crappy programs, multiple web browsers ( I didn't even open them and look at toolbars because I am sure there was at least "Ask"), multiple media players ( power DVD, nero etc), multiple office programs, on top of that there are two fucking AVs : avast and avira.
>hey who installed two AVs?
>......(An actual computer engineer) did and he says " the power of two" will catch all viruses.
>what the fuck?
>mfw I am a physics grad.
After a few months later, some others came to fix their shit because he told them I was good at fixing computers. I simply told them I forgot windows because I am using Linux.
I fucking hate people.
[Spoiler]I am a GNU/Linux user since ~6 years. [/spoiler]
>>54317246
I had to format my dad's computer after shit ton of virus, help him get stops on some credit card transactions, and then explain to him how to safely watch porn. Then I gave him a demo of my favorite stroking methods. Was pretty awkward.
>>54317463
I have Chrome around for flash.
>>54317246
None. I always set them up with a Lnux distro. No calls, no malware, occasionally ssh in to update/bleachbit and that's it.
>>54318111
mod spotted
>>54319497
wha--what?
>>54319509
how would you know my location without my ip?
>>54319574
I was just guessing, but looks like I hit the mark.
Loads of malware
1000 toolbars
take the pc for a hour
install xubuntu
install wine
mess around a bit to make it more familiar to XP
done
>>54319582
good guess
>>54317463
Simple. They consciously installed Firefox to use as their main browser, but Chrome comes bundled with a lot of installers. So they end up having Chrome without even having wanted it.
>give my parents an x220 with mint installed
>get a call about a virus
Kek, they got their normiebook infected by pressing some spam message.
Didn't believe them for quite a while that they had managed to fuck it up
Best thing I ever did was install Kubuntu on my Grandparents machine. Grandma still asks if I know where the Kubuntu people live so she can send them a thank you basket.
>>54317246
Too many to tell. All the standard cleaning up 300 adware toolbars, 100 viruses, 200 applications installed that don't do shit because a website had a "install now" clickie bvutton.
The real horror starts when you're doing the cleaning, making them stand or sit there, explaining what you're cleaning and why (not even how). Trying to probe their memory as to what they were installing and when and why.
Explaining in detail how they can avoid all this pain, what to do, what not to do. And, not even complicated shit, just the simple basics, like kill pop-up windows with the little "x" button in the upper right, don't EVER "install now" because I have already put everything on the machine they need.
Get a call 2 days later: "Anon, my screen doesn't work. there's a big message in the center that says I have to call them and give them my credit card information so that Microsoft can fix something that broke."
Need I mention that using the right-mouse click is a mysterious function that my mother cannot fathom after telling her & showing her how to use it since Win95?
Friend of the family, after I spend a month getting her computer cleaned and functioning, calls up and tells me I broke her computer. Pretty mad. Why? It cost her $5000 because she got a call from microsoft tech support telling her that her windows was broken and they needed her credit card info to remotely fix her computer.
But, I'm the one who broke her computer, because microsoft wouldn't lie to her. they are a reputable company, after all.
>>54317246
>being asked to fix the computer/internet of friends of my parents
>being told they got a new ISP
>boot up windows, wait 10+ minutes until all programs in the auto start finish loading
>tfw 20+ tray icons
>tfw they are using the (german) telekom browser, which is WAYYYYYYYYYY worse than IE6
>configure router, install chrome and leave
>being asked to install Windows 7 on the family computer for other friends of my parents
>computer is ancient
>boot it, trying to back up everything
>tfw running WinXP with IE6 and 10+ toolbars
>tfw 20+ tray icons
>tfw "C:\Papa" casually contains gigs of porn, their children must be aware of this
>not enough memory for running Win7, install Mint instead
>be in school auditorium with the whole grade because of a guest presentation of 2 indian women fighting for women's rights
>they want to show us a video on their notebook, failing to do so for 10 minutes
>fellow students start laughing and convince teacher that I could fix this
>I refuse, because those are indian women, but pressure is too high from teacher, so I do it
>take a look at the computer, open file explorer
>double click video file on the DVD drive, windows media player launches and video starts playing
>sit down, everyone's cheering, shit took basically 5 seconds
>>54317542
topkek underrated #satire
>>54318491
>nothing i can do for his kb
Buy a ps2/usb adapter or a ps2 keyboard and charge him for it?
>>54322233
this, even more so as it triggers some spergs here
>>54317518
How/where does chrome not let you do that?
>>54317697
>>54318085
Meme arrows
> le le le le le
>>54318161
>get parents chromebooks
works every time
>>54322233
>#satire
>#
kys.
>>54317246
Deep freeze and forget.
>>54317246
Has anyone actually tried setting up as a restricted/normal user under Windows? Wouldn't that prevent 99% of the issues with idiots installing trash onto their PC?
I used to fix a computer for my mother's coworker. Every few months it would get re-infected. She was nice so I didn't mind doing it too much. When my grandmother died we had a funeral for her and it was all family except for this woman whose PC I had been fixing. I thought it was strange of her to show up, but I thought that perhaps she was just being supportive. After the priest gives a sermon, we walk up to her open casket. Then, just a few feet from my grandmother's dead body the woman turns to me and asks "Can you take a look at my computer again after this?". It was highly inappropriate. I said "No". I didn't say anything else.
I put up with a lot of normie bullshit. Showing up to my grandmother's funeral to ask about your shit PC because you can't take any responsibility for it yourself crosses a line.
>>54319315
>Then I gave him a demo of my favorite stroking methods.
D-did he ask you, or did you decide to do so yourself?
>>54322572
Would've punched that bitch right in the face.
>>54322572
wtf... people...
>>54322572
I... What the fuck.
>>54322572
Damn son
>>54319574
>>54319497
>>54317713
What the fuck did you expected? Work culture in Japan consists of forking overtime for free and sucking your boss's cock in gratitude for giving you job. Workers' right and all other stuff evil commies gave us are nonexistent here.
>>54317463
I like having a lot of browsers to log into multiple things from different accounts sometimes. /shrug
Part 1
>dad using my mum's tablet
>says aloud "this popup says I got a virus"
>"Dont click that, that's what gives you the virus"
>taps anyway
>"why did the tablet shut down?"
Part 2
>my dad using his windows XP computer
>asks me to do something for him
>using IE, but whatever
>notice spammy search bars and addons all over the browser
>naturally I start deleting them
>"anon where did my search bars go?"
>"they aren't search bars, they're viruses you installed accidentally"
>continues to complain for a week because his "Internet is slower now I deleted them"
>>54319315
I don't habeeb it.
>>54326092
Hard life
malware, spyware, multiple viruses and randsomware on a chromebook
a chromebook
i didnt even think it was possible
>>54328602
wat
pics or it didn't happen
>>54317246
ITT a billion reasons to never help anyone with their computers, ever.
>>54317563
isn't that a copypasta?
>parents have never had a true internet connection to their house
>mom had line in for her work a while back to telecommute, but they stopped doing that years ago
>no cable, satellite either
>get TV from a OTA antenna
>not a flat screen in the house, only tube TVs in 4:3 so everything is cut off on the sides
>barely got them to upgrade to smart phones, spent days showing them how to work them
>still pay for a shitty land line phone that they never answer or use
>will probably end up buying a shit computer from Best Buy because it's "cheaper than having you build one dear"
>get really frustrated and angry whenever I try to get them to upgrade or use anything new
>don't want to pay for anything to upgrade
This has been my whole life. I only got internet at school and when I moved out
>>54318161
elementary had worked wonders for my dad. Laptop is kind of shitty (ungodly weak APU) but it does solitaire, he can write and print documents, do his spreadsheets, and edit his website. I haven't gotten a complaint since.
>>54317246
I don't really have any horror stories since most of my experience involves offering tech suggestions and provisioning new desktops/laptops/tablets.
However, this one instance blew my mind.
>boss sends me on a few runs'
>hauling furniture between locations
>meet guy who has been doing this for a while
>we shoot the shit while transporting furniture
>conversation turns to computers
>he requests that I go to his house to look at his
>seems like a nice guy, so I offer to help
>get to house and see the laptop
>It's a two year old toshiba with i5 processor, 4gb ram, 250 gb hard-drive
>decent specs but it runs like shit
>he explains he bought it off some lady for $300
>he asks if he got it for a decent price
>I say "yes" to sooth his worries
>Wouldn't have been a bad price if he bought it new, but that motherfucker was loaded with malware
>ran malwarebytes and got 15,000 instances of malware, blew my mind
>ran it a few more times to quarantine the stragglers
>deleted a bunch of malware-ridden "cleaning tools", trojan-ridden games, and other useless garbage
>he explains that the woman's kids used to download everything and anything related to games from sites like softonic, CNET, etc.
>ahh, that explains all of the malware
>Suddenly, his web browsers, task manager, and control panel work
>After a few hours of cleaning, it runs like new
>"Thanks Anon, here's $100."
>Sweet, thanks!
Interestingly enough, there wasn't a toolbar in sight. Then again, he used Chrome as his browser. A good day, all in all.
Slightly unrelated but when I was younger my grandma freaked out whenever I used her computer. If I watched a youtube video where the person looked at the camera and talked to it, my grandma thought I was talking to a pedophile online that would kidnap me.
>>54330505
Usually infection that bad means even after MBAM runs, parts of Windows remain broken (control panel, start menu, task manager no longer work at all, sometimes networking is fucked)
>>54317246
>Dad is a programmer and hardware engineer
>tfw I will never know what it feels like having to delete viruses from his laptop every month and delete his collection of redhead porn
>>54328752
Yeah
>>54330977
Its a thankless job anyway anon.
>>54317463
I prefer firefox but use chrome for flash things
