I myself wound up being the go to guy around 5 years ago. I always get the call when the security software comes into play and offer my advice as well as for sure fixes. I also opened up a computer store 3 years ago and now have made it a fulltime job helping everyone cure their ill pc’s.
Hi,
I have to say - yes. I am the goto PC tech - most family gathering - I will find my way to a PC or MAC or iPhone or Game Console or DVD or same other Hi-tech device.
MY God-daughter usually flies in from LA with Laptop in hand and with a big smile - "Can you Fix it?"
The In-laws - who are up in years - will need help from time to time.
I am a MCSE for Win2k - and gave it up to go back to my main line - Mechanical Engineer. I have format and troubleshoot evey PC from a 8088 to latest and greatest......
PerDiem856
Since I just spent 4PM to 10PM buying a new computer, hooking it up, checking it out, configuring backup, AV, etc. for my father in law who is visiting, I can assuredly say "yes" I am that guy.
Karl
I'm like free tech support to my friends and family, and this works especially well for my family as I give them the spare registrations for my NFR of previous NIS-range products I've been fortunate enough to test.
I sometimes help my friends out remotely using the Remote Assistance tool on Windows, but if I can be in front of the computer, I'll always sort it out that way.
2 Likes
Another yes vote for me :) Just like the rest of you I'm "free technical support" for the entire family... and then some. Friends, neighbours, extended family... I also seem to be flipping tech support for taxi drivers in my area too (!) It's true - sometimes when I've got a taxi to get to the train station or airport to go meet a client the usual 'cab chit chat' occurs. They'll usually say things like 'So what do you do then?' Well, as soon as I say IT I've had it. :D Spent one journey trying to troubleshoot a non booting XP machine; it was 6AM and I was 'working' :(
Still... at least you know you'll always have loved ones :P They don't dare piss you off in case you tell them to manage on their own(!)
Yes I get asked most of the time usually from my work colleagues and lately by
my daughter who recently purchased a laptop with a Nortons Internet Security
package. Had no Idea what she was supposed to do with it so I had to install it
activate it and then explain some things to her about the program.
Dear Shakeym,
What is the reason your daughter who purchased a laptop with Norton Internet Security on it had no idea what she was supposed to do to activate it?
Obviously, this would concern Symantec's Norton Internet Security marketing team, as we desire smooth "customer experience" for every one of our customers.
In your daughter's case, what do you think Symantec needed to do for her to have figured out for herself the activation process?
Curious - Nancy
Most of the time, family members tell me their computer is running slow or their internet is running slow. I have no clear answers to give them other than "I'd have to look at the machine to see what's going on." This can be frustrating to both parties as it's not a specific answer to their question and I feel like I didn't help them much.
Well indeed as a member of the Syamntec team I am indeed the go to guy for friends and family. So don't feel like your alone out there and keep on teaching em they will get it eventually.