The computer man

Dr Lobster* · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 20.43

some of you here are very proficient with the old computer and i'd be willing to bet that you are often called upon by friends, family and colleagues to sort of their computer disasters.

what are the tell-tale signs that the user you're dealing with is a bit of a wonker?

here's mine:

> google and/or yahoo toolbar installed in internet explorer
> more than 3 non-standard icons in the notification area
> start menu with 20 or more items in
> norton internet security
> computer is made by advent
> msn loads on start up

nwtv2003 · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 21.17

Can't say I'm a "Computer man", but I'm more of a "TV Man", for me hooking the TV and everything else altogether is a walk in the park, but on several occassions I've had to help others, especially when it comes to installing Freeview, even though that in itself is a simple task.

I've learnt as I've gone along, especially with the introduction of Digital TV and DVD's etc, sad to say but I've been able to use a VCR from when I was about 4 or 5 years old, I guess it's something I've always had a great interest in.

Nini · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 21.32

I have my own list of telltale PEBKAC based issue identifiers and a couple of those are on mine also, these very same reasons are why I have retired from being levels 1-3 tech support to all and sundry.

iSon · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 21.34

Dr Lobster* wrote:some of you here are very proficient with the old computer and i'd be willing to bet that you are often called upon by friends, family and colleagues to sort of their computer disasters.

Last night in fact

Dr Lobster* wrote:what are the tell-tale signs that the user you're dealing with is a bit of a wonker?

here's mine:

> google and/or yahoo toolbar installed in internet explorer
> more than 3 non-standard icons in the notification area
> start menu with 20 or more items in
> norton internet security
> computer is made by advent
> msn loads on start up

In the case of the call out last night it was getting a virus from visiting a porn site. Tut.

Norton Internet Security is the biggest example of computer ineptitude in my opinion. It just the most useless piece of crap - not because it isn't effective but it's like going from A to B but going via C, D and E. Slowly.

I can just about live with Google toolbar installed and maybe even Yahoo - it's when I see the others that are obviously less than desirable. "SearchMeNow!!!" type toolbars.

Sput · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 21.43

> more than 3 non-standard icons in the notification area
- what about anti-virus, backup and VNC?

> start menu with 20 or more items in
- I have lots of programs

> norton internet security
> computer is made by advent
- Fair enough, although I did naively recommend one once as it was good on paper

> msn loads on start up
- TSK. I do that because I want to use it on startup. Or do you mean it signs in on startup?

Alexia · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 22.00

Due to financial constraints when I bought it, I have an Advent laptop. Have had for three years. I've upgraded the memory, kept it clear of viruses, defragmented and ScanDisked it every two months, installed essential updates, stripped out any pre-loaded software I don't need, and run programmes like CCleaner to remove any pish I may have infecting the system. Aside from a couple of buggered USB ports, it works lovely.

Ant · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 22.05

I couldn't live (maybe an exaggeration there...) without the Google Toolbar. I hate any other toolbars though - especially that AVG one.

Gavin Scott · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 22.09

I'll tell you what doesn't help - I just bought a Sony Viao little pink, gorgeous laptop for my pink, gorgeous boss.

It came littered with icons all over the desktop - including links to ebay, the sony site and various other nonsense.

Not only that, IE opens with no less than 5 windows, each prompting her to buy something.

Diabolical liberty. It took ages to clear it all away - but not knowing any better she would have ended up buying half of what it prompted.

At £850+ for a laptop, its an absolute disgrace.

Sput · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 22.11

Yeah, I expect that bullshit from Dell (who have the audacity to CHARGE to remove it) with their bargain-basement stuff but Sony? Really? That's sone shitty OEM behaviour and DEFINITELY something Apple understands people are best off without. No stickers all over it and no crap software/advertising in it.

Dr Lobster* · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 23.16

Sput wrote:> more than 3 non-standard icons in the notification area
- what about anti-virus, backup and VNC?

> start menu with 20 or more items in
- I have lots of programs

> norton internet security
> computer is made by advent
- Fair enough, although I did naively recommend one once as it was good on paper

> msn loads on start up
- TSK. I do that because I want to use it on startup. Or do you mean it signs in on startup?

there is nothing wrong with legitimate things in the system tray, as you say, vnc is one (but do you need it running when you're *at* your pc?), it's those useless icons that tell you your fan speed, the java and quicktime update things, those crappy printer ink level gadgets, 'one touch' scanner tools which, coupled with the increased bloatness of msn messenger serve to increase significantly the time it takes to get to a usable desktop, it's just the configuration i describe above that i have recently been asked to fix because it was 'slow'!

it's not just the users fault i agree (microsoft don't exactly make it easy for regular users to remove such things), but the type of person's computer who i dread is perhaps the 'computer active!' reader who installs every piece of untested crap that graces their pages.

Sput · Wed 28 Jan, 2009 23.25

Tell you what really IS awful: HP printer software. In the office I'm forced to use it and somehow they make the thing take an *hour* to install and completely fill a cd. Naturally, it then installs a load of stuff that I don't want and in the first 10 minutes following a reboot I'm besieged by half of it performing illegal operations.