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Computer help: Poll: What do you think computer problems are caused by?
- 12/5/08 3:19 PM
Poll: What do you think computer problems are caused by?
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 12/5/08 3:19 PM
Generally speaking, do you think computer problems are caused by:
-- Users themselves (Please explain.)
-- Operating system failures (Please explain.)
-- Hardware failures (Please explain.)
-- Software conflicts (Please explain.)
-- Outside factors such as hackers, viruses, Trojan horses. (Please -- explain.)
--My pet. (Was this the one that ate your homework, too?)
--Other factors. (What are they?)
All of the above
by Jimmy Greystone - 12/5/08 3:56 PM In reply to: Poll: What do you think computer problems are caused by? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
All of those play a part in what causes problems with computers.
A user doing something stupid, like downloading pirated software off of some file sharing network, will almost certainly lead to problems.
Windows is far from perfect, as evidenced by the need for regular patching.
Crap hardware will always be a problem. If the computer expects the hardware to respond one way, and instead the hardware just sends a bunch of garbage, the best case scenario is some kind of exception being thrown by the program resulting in an error.
Software conflicts are pretty rare with 32-bit operating systems and the protected mode execution that it affords. Keeps one app from clobbering the memory address space of another app like happened all too often in the Windows 3.1 days. Still, you try and run two active AV scanners on a system, you're going to have problems.
"Outside factors" like malware and viruses are far too common, especially for Internet Explorer users. Attacks by hackers are pretty rare, unless you count the pre-pubescent kids who build up botnets. Since they tend to have no actual hacking skills of their own, but rather rely on ready made kits, it's hard to call them anything but pathetic.
Pets also cause problems. Knocking over drinks at inopportune times, chewing through power cables, getting tangled up in cables and pulling them out, etc.
It's a combination of some or all of these things that create problems for people.
RE; All of the above
by emanday - 12/5/08 6:12 PM In reply to: All of the above by Jimmy GreystoneI agree.
At any one time a problem can be caused by all or usually a varied combination of these factors.
Users can do some daft things, but I don't believe they are responsible for the majority of problems that arise.
Pet Problems
by mwooge - 12/7/08 7:24 AM In reply to: All of the above by Jimmy GreystoneOne over-looked problem caused by pets: hair. It gets into the computer and blocks fans and air flow. Be sure to keep your box off the floor or where the pet will go to, and blow out your machine regularly.
B I N G O
by TN-Hawk - 12/9/08 7:49 AM In reply to: All of the above by Jimmy GreystoneI so agree. You hit it perfectly with " all the above "
That is exactly what I was thinking.
TN-Hawk
P.E.B.K.A.C. - ID-10-T
by Coryphaeus - 12/5/08 5:59 PM In reply to: Poll: What do you think computer problems are caused by? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair
It's all about maintenance
by ramo89 - 12/5/08 6:29 PM In reply to: P.E.B.K.A.C. - ID-10-T by CoryphaeusI can tell you horror stories with some of my clients,
"I've been running this computer for 10 years now with no firewall or virus protection, and I've never defragmented, chkdsk'd or formatted my hard drive or reinstalled a copy of my operating system, nor have I been installing any updates, drivers or service packs. Hardware upgrades are out of the question. I've never given my computer a decent cleaning of any kind and I've left it running 24/7 because I'm too lazy to move the mouse to get it out of standby. I never uninstall programs I never use and always download and install a bunch of crap(I've got 22 different anti-spyware apps installed and scanning at once! I must be safe!) I never clean up my hard drive of unused junk... but I can't see why I'm getting all these errors, and why is my computer so slow?"
Sadly, very few people know how to decently maintain their computers. I'd say 99% of computer problems can be linked directly to the average user. I've built and repaired computers since I was a kid, and the times where I believed the hardware manufacturer was at fault for producing a bad part were far and few in between. Most hardware/software failures I've found were the direct results of users who ignorantly abused their products. I don't blame them entirely, they're simply ignorant and they probably excel in other things that techies generally don't succeed in (like social lives). Regardless, learn some basic maintenance people!
Computers are extremely complicated
by minonda - 12/6/08 5:28 AM In reply to: It's all about maintenance by ramo89ramo89, you are obviously an expert who does tech support for a living, so you know computers inside out. You understand the terms and the jargon, and are not mystified or overwhelmed when reading "instructional" material about operating and maintaining computers. Your view is slightly skewed because you meet more than the average number of people who are TOTALLY ignorant and/or negligent about their computers.
Consider that before computer, the technological devices in the average home did not require a thorough grounding the principles of their operation. Usually if something went wrong with the TV or the radio, you'd get someone to fix it. No maintenance was required, and no ongoing learning to keep up with whatever might be influencing the performance of your device. Stereos could be very complicated, if the consumer chose that level of involvement, but you could own and use a stereo without having to absorb volumes of information about how it operates. Most of these devices - TVs, radios, stereos, tape recorders, whatever - could usually be plugged in, turned on, and enjoyed.
Operating and maintaining a computer is more like operating and maintaining a car. Most people (not techies)don't see computers that way, at least not until they become very familiar with them, so they don't approach them with the right mindset. Even once they do understand that a computer is a complex device that requires a reasonable amount of knowledge and constant maintenance, they might be bewildered by the sheer quantity of information they must absorb just to comprehend what's going on.
Just because all this stuff is simple and obvious to you doesn't mean that it's the same for all the people out there who own computers.
Complicated computers, simple users...
by rbsjrx - 12/6/08 7:15 AM In reply to: Computers are extremely complicated by minonda"you are obviously an expert who does tech support for a living, so you know computers inside out. You understand the terms and the jargon, and are not mystified or overwhelmed when reading "instructional" material about operating and maintaining computers. Your view is slightly skewed because you meet more than the average number of people who are TOTALLY ignorant and/or negligent about their computers.
[...]
Just because all this stuff is simple and obvious to you doesn't mean that it's thes same for all the people out there who own computers."
Back in 1978, I belonged to the local Apple Users Group. This was in the pre-Mac days of the Apple II. Once VisiCalc was released, the group grew enormously with bean counters and other business types who bought an Apple II and wanted to use this new technology. At the time, half joking, I made the comment that they should only sell computers to people who understood them. Over the years, that view has remained to some degree.
On the one hand, the popularity of computers has driven the technology forward while driving the prices down. And that is good for everyone. On the other hand, it has brought the "great unwashed masses" into the community of computer users. As you say, these are people who want to use computers as appliances - buy them, plug them in, turn them on, and use them until they're either obsolete or dead. "Maintenance" is something you pay people to do to your car or house, not your appliances.
As you say, it doesn't work that way. However, reliable solutions that anyone can understand are readily available from sources like c|net, http://ask-leo.com/, http://www.datadoctors.com/, etc. There are similar resources for Mac or Linux users. So, yes, most problems can be traced directly back to the user.
However, software incompatibility is still a major and insidious issue. At this moment, I have 88 processes running on my WinXP MCE machine and 192 directories in my Program Files folder, each representing an installed program that I use - some regularly, some only occasionally. All have the potential to interact with one another. And at times, they have, often in non-obvious and mysterious ways. Diligence in keeping software and drivers updated is the only defense against this problem.
However, there remains one user issue that needs to be mentioned... Everyone should keep their firewall, anti-virus, malware, and spyware protection updated. Likewise, Windows security updates should generally be applied when available. The registry should be cleaned and the hard rive defragmented at regular intervals. However, beyond that, the old adage, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it!" should apply. Too many computer users feel compelled to buy the latest and greatest software, whether they need it or not. The software vendors encourage this by keeping upgrade prices reasonable. However, before you buy the latest version of whatever software you use, read the new release features list and see if there's really anything new in there that you really need. Remember, every time you install some new software, you're exposing yourself to often subtle compatibility issues.
On a related note, if you install some trial software and decide not to keep it, be sure to run a registry clean up utility after you've uninstalled it.
Ignorant user rants
by keithhodgson - 12/7/08 6:22 AM In reply to: Computers are extremely complicated by minondaYou can tell "ignorant" users until you're blue in the face not to go onto dodgy websites, keep their anti-malware up to date, don't click cancel when the anti-malware software does a scan, don't stick your PC in that tight blocked off area because it will overheat, etc, etc. and do they listen? It's too much trouble for them. Forget understanding what PCs do you only need to use simple common sense and listen to the advice (and follow it) that people who do understand (support dept guys, etc) give.
If it weren't for the users there'd be no-one to create the problems therefore users must be No 1 probelm area! - closely followed by the OS, software and hardware.
It's all about maintenance
by godebbiedog - 12/11/08 11:42 AM In reply to: It's all about maintenance by ramo89I agree most problems with freezing is failing to keep your computer updated and defraging including regularly scheduled maintance programs being ran. Also letting others on your account.
In other words...
by rbsjrx - 12/11/08 11:58 AM In reply to: It's all about maintenance by godebbiedog...you're agreeing that the answer is users since it's users who neglect maintenance.
It's all about maintenance
by LandyReg - 12/11/08 2:19 PM In reply to: It's all about maintenance by godebbiedoggodebbiedog wrote:-
"most problems with freezing is failing to keep your computer updated"
I guess you are referring to Windows updates. Actually this is what causes most freezing.
I have laptops for use with GPS and mapping, also digital photography. These have never been connected to the internet, so never get an update.
These are the most stable versions of Windows.
Once I made a big mistake of installing AutoRoute on one. After it installed all the M$ Office bloat, it immediately would not close properly. This bloat was not required as I don't run M$ Office - have no need for it.
Computer Problems
by Ron Geiken - 12/5/08 6:14 PM In reply to: Poll: What do you think computer problems are caused by? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think that a lot of the problems could be caused by Windows Vista updates. a lot of time the problems seem to surface after they have been installed. I am having a lot more problems with Firefox this past few weeks then I had had in many, many months. Microsoft doesn't worry too much about their software updates causing non Microsoft software problems. I am having a lot of Firefox Freeze ups late November early December 2008.
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