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Computer help: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems?
- 6/5/09 2:40 PM
Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems?
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 6/5/09 2:40 PM
How do you generally deal with your computer problems?
-- I try to fix it on my own. (How does this usually turn out?)
-- I call or e-mail tech support of the company giving me problems. (How does this usually turn out?)
-- I bring it to the computer repair shop. (Besides costs, how does this usually turn out?)
-- I call a tech-savvy friend or relative. (How does this usually turn out?)
-- I do research online and usually find the answers there. (How does this usually turn out?)
-- I post it to a tech forum. (How does this usually turn out?)
-- I don't deal with them. I just work around them. (Do you back up your data?)
-- Other. (What do you do?)
I try to fix my own,
by Jonmor68 - 6/5/09 3:56 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
mostly successfully. On one occasion about 5 years ago I had a problem with computer restarting I couldn't find. I went to my local computer shop where I buy my parts and asked the tech-savy owner to have a look, turned out to be memory delay settings in bios needed changing. Fixed in 2 minutes no charge because I was a regular customer.
For the odd software queries, I find reading the computer forums usally finds an answer.
A couple of years back I was unable to locate a few gb's of hdd space, I posted on Cnet and Bob gave me the answer.
Data backup: that I learned when I got my first computer a Toshiba with 512kb of ram running on CPM/Dos 2 and two 5.25 inch floppy drives, I can't remember the year but about 1988-9.
As I had to learn from the scratch, reading everything I could find, I was constantly being reminded to backup, so now it's automatic.
While I passed this on to others, I found very few took notice untill they lost something of importance.
I do an image backup daily, which goes to a second hdd weekly, all my documents, photos and music are backed up on dvd's as well as downloaded programs, particularly the ones I paid for, along with their keys.
I run Acronis True Image before trialing new software, so it doesn't play nice with the system, I can have it restored in less then 15 minutes.
I do a lot of video edditing so I like to try recommended programs before buying, most recently VideoReDo, found it works great in Vista and Windows 7, so have now purchased it.
"Other"
by jean harrington - 6/5/09 7:15 PM In reply to: I try to fix my own, by Jonmor68I answered "other" b/c it really depends on what type of computer problem you are experiencing.From a simple reboot to xxs security holes, there is not any one answer to that question.At times, I have done ever one of those.
Fixing computer on my own
by anneship48 - 6/5/09 9:00 PM In reply to: I try to fix my own, by Jonmor68Actually, Vista has an excellen fix-itself program. I've had it for 14 months, and I haven't had to explore the web, call a repair shop, or even pull my hair to fix my computer once. It seems to fix itself before it becomes a problem! Where was this 16 years ago when I was learning Windows 3.11?
Vista's self fix-it feature?
by King_of_Harts - 6/10/09 10:11 AM In reply to: Fixing computer on my own by anneship48I have Vista Home Premium. Could you give me more details on where you go or what you do when you have a problem? Thanks. From a novice. Obviously.
PC Problem Repair
by maldelus - 6/5/09 6:37 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I took two PC repair courses about ten years ago and have been pretty much able to troubleshoot and do internet searches for similar problems. If none, I begin with simple avenues of exploration. If Vista related and I have an installation problem with Windows Update I search for downloadable to hard drive KBs and then install. Voila, problem solved. If a hardware problem, I am able to isolate the difficulty and have the faulty item repaired or replaced.
Fix it myself
by Willy - 6/5/09 6:40 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
9 out of 10 times, I'll be able to fix it. On the remaining, 10%, maybe I can fix it(more time) 1 out of 2 times as I get the real answer via the WWW or t/s it out down to a "repairable" component. That remaining few problems, no parts available, no clue, too costly or too old, time to move on.
If I find a unique problem, I may post it but my problems aren't that special. Or, it maybe outside of any real value to pass on as too old PCs are my systems until I finally wear them out.
tada -----Willy 
I try to fix everything myself
by billfranke - 6/5/09 6:56 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
and I usually succeed. I took the Novell CNE course about 15 years ago and learned a lot more than I already knew about computers, and since then I've never stopped being interested in or learning how to fix problems by myself. I also have been taking care of my home network for more than a dozen years. Sometimes, of course, I have to call a friend who is currently working as network engineer. I haven't had a paid PC repair job since 1996, so my friend is much more knowledgeable than I am. I don't do my own repairs to save money, but to save time and the hassle of having to take my PC to a shop or call my friend to spend his time.
Experienced service technician
by mjd420nova - 6/5/09 7:03 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I solve ninty five percent of mine and my clients problems by myself. When I have a problem, we, meaning the other techs I work with, have a vast library on a corporate server that we can fall back unto. On rare occasions, I will submit the problem to a couple forums I belong to and mostly come up with a resolution. It has been a couple years since I have been stymied by a hardware problem but software is subject to so many variables and can often make you pull out your hair and turn the air blue.
Fix myself with help from the internet
by Doh_1 - 6/5/09 7:40 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've got no problem leveraging the help available on the internet when the need arises. I can usually figure things out (after years in the software industry *smile*), but occasionally need to do a lot of searching when an obscure problem finally bothers me enough to get me working on it. System restore is one of Microsoft's best addition to Windows, by the way. Allows you to systematically go back to a day before a lot of problems appeared...
-Roger
I break it and i fix it
by wheelnut53 - 6/5/09 8:16 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
READ READ and read some more aint nothing ever gonna happen that aint happened to somebody else. Everything you need to know is on the web.Sometimes I'll screw things up just to have something to do.
Fix it on my own & post it on forums if I can't fix it haha
by FrankQC - 6/5/09 9:09 PM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
They both work out great. I have the power tool of CNET and Google by my side :P
I get Linux problems frequently and I fix all of them through Google. I'm more knowledged on computers than the average joe, so I tend to fix my computer problems and also help my friends with theirs. It's great.
Hey! That's why I joined this forum!
Frank
Successfully -most of the times
by jose_luis2006 - 6/6/09 1:13 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I try to understand what's going on (lots of learning involved, sometimes). Search at manufacturer sites for new drivers, and finally I post in Forums if nothing worked (very few times),
I have to give up in some extreme cases, such as trying to install Explorer 7 on my XP Netbook. Ended up using Firefox 3.
I would never take my PC to a technician for repair, I would rather buy a new one!
I try to fix it on my own.
by bcw142 - 6/6/09 4:07 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Really I fix it on my own. I've been working fixing PC for 10 years and I'm the one friends and family turn to. I just fixed the mess I got into with fedora9 (old version, just about to release 11), I did the update and was running in a 4GB compact flash it and filled it up and hung (only had about 280M free). I searched a few forums, found it used yum and that logging in as root (normal for most Unix/Linux 'su - root') and running 'yum clean all' would do it. I then used yum to install the updates I wanted a few at a time doing the same clean command to free up the space after a group dropped it below the 280M area (really had about 320M after first clean). I'm typing this on one of my home Linux systems, this one Ubuntu with DOS/XP Pro or Ubuntu (Default) at boot. The biggest challenge I face is supporting my mother's Vista system (she used to run Me, she seems to like the bad releases) as she only has dial up (Vista is near impossible to keep up with dial up). I only try to keep her up with the latest major service packs via downloads on my systems (ADSL) on CD.
I try to fix it on my own. (How does this usually turn out?)
by H-bound - 6/6/09 9:31 AM In reply to: Poll: How do you generally deal with your computer problems? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
a) Usually it works great => HW/SW problem gone
b) Sometimes I need to google etc. => HW/SW problem gone
x) When all else fails (w/ no HW issues) => the trusty old format c: command does the trick (boot from CD/DVD in todays world)
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