Computer Bloopers...and other funny tech stuff

[Draco]

As some might know, I work in the IT industry as a Computer Hardware Technician. I just read the "Why Americans shouldn't travel " thread and a funny story came to mind.

I was working on the front counter one afternoon when a male customer fronted up and asked me about virus infections. I expalined briefly that we would have to look at the PC to tell what sort of virus he had. He asked me..."Did we have a secure area for dealing with infected computers?" I asked him why. He said "I dont want to be responsible for infecting other machines. These virii spread like wildfire, I've already moved this machine into my garage so it wouldn't infect my sons machine." I raised my eyebrows and asked him "Are the two networked together?" He replied "No, mine is in the lounge and my sons is in his bedroom." I went to explain that the virus is not airborne (like a cold) and then thought better of it. I asked him whether the machine was here, or still at home. He replied it was in the trunk of his car. We went to his car and sure enough, here was his tower case, wrapped in a plastic bag...I had the awful thought that he was going to tell me to wear rubber gloves before handling it. we took it into the work room and I put it on the bench, he scanned the room and mentioned that maybe we should take all the "healthy" computers out of the room so they didnt get infected. My 2IC (Denni) was trying her hardest not to wet herself, and my face was aching from trying to keep the smile off it. We filled in the jobcard and he left the store before we both collapsed on the floor, laughing our fool heads off.

C'mon now, all your techys, you must have some good stories to tell, trot them out.

I'll tell you about the guy who bought a modem for his PS2 later...another classic story.

 

[Spinaroonie]

Linux makes people type "Man Mount"

 

[Draco]

I was working from home for a while, doing repairs and system maintainence. i had a call from a man who wanted a modem installed. "No problem..." He told me he had already purcheased a internal 56k modem so I told him to bring it and his COMPUTER over to my place and i'd fit it for him. He arrived about an hour later and presented me with a modem in a box (brand-new). I asked him where the computer was and he handed me a Playstation 2. I asked..."What is this, I cant fit the modem in here. This is a COMPUTER modem and you have brought me a gaming console." He looked blank and went on to tell me, he had heard that in some parts of the world, the PS2 is equipped with a modem and you can surf the net on them. he was convinced that he could pop a 56k into his PS2 and be "good to go"...I sent him on his way...before laughing myself into a stupor....
It takes all sorts...I guess

 

[Spinaroonie]

I was working from home for a while, doing repairs and system maintainence. i had a call from a man who wanted a modem installed. "No problem..." He told me he had already purcheased a internal 56k modem so I told him to bring it and his COMPUTER over to my place and i'd fit it for him. He arrived about an hour later and presented me with a modem in a box (brand-new). I asked him where the computer was and he handed me a Playstation 2. I asked..."What is this, I cant fit the modem in here. This is a COMPUTER modem and you have brought me a gaming console." He looked blank and went on to tell me, he had heard that in some parts of the world, the PS2 is equipped with a modem and you can surf the net on them. he was convinced that he could pop a 56k into his PS2 and be "good to go"...I sent him on his way...before laughing myself into a stupor....
It takes all sorts...I guess

Lol

 

[T.H. Oughts]

lol

Yep, in every trade there are some funny stories to tell.

 

[Ezarc]

I had a woman with the broken coffee cup holder once.
Ezarc

 

[Ezarc]

I had a woman with the broken coffee cup holder once.
Ezarc

Otherwise known as as the tray for the cd. She had been putting her coffee cup there. After a week it broke and wasn't sure what to do.
Ezarc

 

[PacificBlue]

I like PC Anywhere...that tool rocks!!!

Now if I could just get someone to do my work that way...I'd be in heaven.


ps...seen Sweet Cherry, she is late with her bagel and raspberry jam drop and I need a hit.

 

[Dessert]

My S/O worked at a tech support call station and told me this one.

A lady called in and told him "I think my computer's just been infected with a virus. My screen went black and there are all these worms and lines crawling around the screen." He replies, "I see.. can you move the mouse for me please?" She does, and replies "Hey, it's working again! What was wrong with it?" He proceeded to explaining what screensavers were and how they worked.

 

[T.H. Oughts]

I like the story about the guy who rings support because his screen went black.. turned out the power had gone off in his street.....

 

[Jedi_Outcast]

don't have many stories about users, most of my problems have been self-inflicted

 

[sabbathstorm]

I get an awful lot of power related calls. Either the power won't turn off or turn on. I've had people call that have left machines locked up for days because they didn't realize they could power down from the tower. I've had panicked calls about disk drives not working....mainly because there weren't any disks in them. I've even had ISPs bounce people back to me for jobs they should be doing (stupid things like IP addressing). I swear there are two particular ISPs that answer their tech calls and blame everyone else for their problems.

 

[SweetCherry]

It just goes to show that some people shouldn't own a pc.

 

[bknight2602]

I get an awful lot of power related calls. Either the power won't turn off or turn on. I've had people call that have left machines locked up for days because they didn't realize they could power down from the tower. I've had panicked calls about disk drives not working....mainly because there weren't any disks in them. I've even had ISPs bounce people back to me for jobs they should be doing (stupid things like IP addressing). I swear there are two particular ISPs that answer their tech calls and blame everyone else for their problems.

I understand what you're saying but I hate it when somoneasks you "is it turned on?" Some people will treat "us" like newbees alll the time

 

[mokum13]

I understand what you're saying but I hate it when somoneasks you "is it turned on?" Some people will treat "us" like newbees alll the time

That's one of the most important questions on a service desk. At least i tell so to my students who are bount to work on a service desk or as a network engineer.

The best solution for any pc problem is to shut the computer down and restart. Used it a lot in my days as a service desk employee.

 

[Bindii]

It just goes to show that some people shouldn't own a pc.

*looking around*

"Oh my god she is talking about me!"

*hanging head in shame*

 

[bknight2602]

That's one of the most important questions on a service desk. At least i tell so to my students who are bount to work on a service desk or as a network engineer.

The best solution for any pc problem is to shut the computer down and restart. Used it a lot in my days as a service desk employee.

No, I meant that it is a good solution, re-boot many times myself, but when you go to a help desk that's one of the first things they ask, even after describing what error message you have. Did I write it all down and shut my computer off, then call??

 

[lovetoread]

when you go to a help desk that's one of the first things they ask

Being a student of this fine field,I swear in the books,that is one of the first questions that you are supposed to ask.



After asking if its turned on.

 

[sabbathstorm]

I understand what you're saying but I hate it when somoneasks you "is it turned on?" Some people will treat "us" like newbees alll the time

That's one of the first questions we're supposed to ask in most situations. I skip that a lot when I have someone say a certain device isn't working. We get an awful lot of calls from people who aren't even in front of their PCs to troubleshoot. They decide to call from work and think we can fix it from there Hell, one agent had a call the other day from a guy who had no monitor but wanted to fix a problem

 

[Jedi_Outcast]

I understand what you're saying but I hate it when somoneasks you "is it turned on?" Some people will treat "us" like newbees alll the time

I usually preface the stupid questions by saying "I gotta ask the obvious questions, but my boss says I have to"

 

[woodgie2]

Well here's a kind of reverse thing.

I called Apple today as the keyboard on my laptop is playing up. It's causing Kernel Panics related to the USB bus.

The guy had to go through his checklist with me. Knowing it by heart and having gone through it myself already I just rattle off what I'd done. He pauses and asks another couple of questions, I've preempted him again and answer straight away. He then gets creative (in a good natured "I'll think of something you haven't" type way) and I prove I've done it all.

When I offer to eMail him the core dumps from the Panics he tells me I'm a sad geek! ...the bastard!

Anyway, things will be sorted soon.

 

[floridaguy64]

I was working from home for a while, doing repairs and system maintainence. i had a call from a man who wanted a modem installed. "No problem..." He told me he had already purcheased a internal 56k modem so I told him to bring it and his COMPUTER over to my place and i'd fit it for him. He arrived about an hour later and presented me with a modem in a box (brand-new). I asked him where the computer was and he handed me a Playstation 2. I asked..."What is this, I cant fit the modem in here. This is a COMPUTER modem and you have brought me a gaming console." He looked blank and went on to tell me, he had heard that in some parts of the world, the PS2 is equipped with a modem and you can surf the net on them. he was convinced that he could pop a 56k into his PS2 and be "good to go"...I sent him on his way...before laughing myself into a stupor....
It takes all sorts...I guess

That is hillarious... maybe he was thinking of the IBM PS2?

 

[mokum13]

One time a student told me that he had a man online who couldnt connect to the internet. The helpdesk employee asked what he did and what was wrong.
The man told him that whenever he tried to connect his pc made a terrible noise, and he would shut it down quickly before someting terrible would happen.

 

[Draco]

Oh these are classic's...awesome..I love em. The one about the PC making noises while connecting to the net almost gave my monitor a coffee coating...keep em coming.....

 

[Viceman]

I Know

this has been on b4 but its worth another look