Do you spend a lot of time calling for tech support?

Ralphy1

Ralphy1

Well-known Member
I am so teched up that I find myself regularly glitched up and have to make regular calls. It is interesting talking to people all over the country to get straightened out but it does become tedious. How about you?
 

Husband is a geek and he can fix anything techie. We are however having the BT guy here today to see why we've been having trouble with our internet dropping out. Husband spoke to a BT call centre in India last week to complain. :rolleyes:
 

I have occasional problems with my "smart" phone but Straight Talk's live chat is good for help.

The cable has occasional glitches and Comcast isn't at all helpful, but when the cable goes out I fuss and fume a bit and then go read a good book, or write something.

I haven't had any problems with my new laptop, a Chromebook, or with Comcast Internet. My last laptop, a Windows 8.1, had problems from the moment it arrived and I finally threw it out. Tech support for it was nonexistent.
 
Guitarist said:
I have occasional problems with my "smart" phone but Straight Talk's live chat is good for help.

The cable has occasional glitches and Comcast isn't at all helpful, but when the cable goes out I fuss and fume a bit and then go read a good book, or write something.

I haven't had any problems with my new laptop, a Chromebook, or with Comcast Internet. My last laptop, a Windows 8.1, had problems from the moment it arrived and I finally threw it out. Tech support for it was nonexistent.
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Comcrap and 8.1 *X^7##*&!@*(%() !!!!!!!!!

I know someone who tries to call web browsers like MSN when they have a problem. They fail to realize it's free site and they don't own them squat. And it's probably something else. They wind getting referred to contractors, subsidiaries and sponsors after an hour or two.
 
I just run a bunch of diagnostics and maintenance programs, Google the problem, and fiddle around until I fix it. Sometimes it takes ingenuity, and it always takes a long time. Trial and error works for me. Sometimes I need a new computer. It is because of that possibility that I use Carbonite to back up my system.

I hate calling tech support. They have never, not once, been able to help me. It makes me want to punch them when they ask me if the computer is properly plugged in, then tell me to try a succession of things I have already tried, and they know it. They are following a script, not analyzing and solving a problem. This is IMO only ... for all I know, tech support people aren't like this any more. I won't be finding out for myself, that is for sure.
 
The person I previously referred to got a ransom virus/pop up 'MS Security Alert. Your Computer Has Been Infected By A Severe Virus. Call This Number To Have Us Remove It'...-for $400.
 
I don't but I hate it so much. Comcast drives me bonkers.

jnos, I can image that could be a problem. I have an old Yahoo e mail account I closed and can't get it off some of my other accounts. Luckily I just use it to sign in and I remember my password. For example Youtube, I can't find where I can list a new e mail account. And they are not the only site with this issue.
 
My younger son first, second choice is daughter...special needs and developmentally challenged, yet waaay further than I'll ever be with techy stuff. If we need the big guns we call oldest son or The Geek Squad.
 
My husband calls them a lot. Sometimes he spends his entire evening with tech support. He has better luck than I do. Mesembryanthemum like when I call, we end up going in circles for solutions.
 
I don't use a smartphone, and we don't have cable TV, but I have seen and fixed quite a few PC problems for friends and relatives over the past few years. Invariably, when a PC goes bonkers, it seems to be because it has been hacked by a virus, or malware. With all the trash on the Internet, it is Imperative that a person use a good Anti-Virus, and keep it regularly updated. I am NOT a fan of Windows Defender...which comes with Windows OS...it is Marginal, IMO. I recommend Avast or AVG Anti-virus...both free. I have used Avast for several years, and have had No issues. I also run a spyware/malware program called Spybot...also free. The only disadvantage to these free programs over their "purchased" counterparts is the need to manually update them. Running extra protection on a PC, AND avoiding opening any questionable e-mails goes a Long way towards keeping a PC running good.

We use satellite TV, and about the only time it craps out is for a few minutes ahead of a violent thunderstorm....losing the TV is a clue to make sure all the windows are closed. We had cable TV when we lived in the city, and it was rather unreliable...it sounds like things haven't changed much in that regard.

We just keep a basic TracFone for use when we are away from the house, and it works great....but I suspect that many "Smartphones" are susceptible to the same hacking and privacy issues that a marginally protected PC can be exposed to. If I had such a phone, I would be Very suspicious of Any messages from an unknown source, and If there were a reliable spyware/antivirus "Ap" for it, I would be sure to have it installed and active.
 
Yes. Sometimes Robert. Sometimes Wayne. Without my grandsons, I'm dead. Right now I'm having problems. My screen keeps freezing even when I'm not on-line. I have to turn the power off to re-boot. It works, but its a pain.
 
I use an antivirus that is really good. I also use an antispyware that is really good and I don't have any problems with my computer over the past few years. I still am thinking about getting a new computer, though, to get an updated model. Mine is getting old and I'm not getting updates on some things any more.

Once in awhile I will need tech support for the cable tv but haven't recently. My phone has been behaving, too. I just knocked on wood. lol
 
I've probably only called for tech support once or twice. It was usually when my cableTV or Internet went down. I'm a computer nut, and used to provide tech support for a living. Now my Dad calls for tech support, and I try to help him over the phone. It's exhausting.
 
One of the granddaughters and her husband picked up a laptop at a garage sale for $5, and it was/is a total basket case. I took it with me the last time we visited them a couple of weeks ago, and have spent several hours playing with it. It has a counterfeit copy of Windows 7, and I have removed 36 viruses or malware programs. I found No evidence of it ever having a good anti-virus installed, other than Defender. I now have it to the point where once you wade through the counterfeit Windows warnings, it comes up and is quite usable. If I can figure out how to bypass or install a new Administrator code, I may be able to make Windows 7 "legal". Needless to say, this thing has taxed my PC skills, and I now have a better appreciation for why some of these tech support services can quickly get expensive.
 
You've already spent way too much time on the laptop. Certainly more than the $5 that was paid for it. Dump it. Get a new one.
 
ronknights said:
You've already spent way too much time on the laptop. Certainly more than the $5 that was paid for it. Dump it. Get a new one.
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That's for sure....this thing has become almost a test of my will, to see if I can make a good PC out of it. I certainly have no need for it...have a great CyberPowerPC desktop, but I have just decided to make this thing work. One things for sure...it has given me a good challenge on rainy days...far better than sitting around watching some dumb TV show.
 
Well, the only actual way to make a counterfeit Windows 7 install legit is to buy a product key for it. A clean installation would be the best solution for a potentially infected Windows system. If you're just having fun with this laptop, and don't really 'need' Windows for any specific purpose, you might find trying out Linux on the laptop alot of fun. ;)

Linux downloads
 

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