Author	[Modern View]
Royse 11-15-2012 19:22:29 69.36.49.151 Report to Moderator	I'm a computer repair guy. I got a call tonight from an elder woman who had a problem with a computer cable. She had broken the little clip off the network cable where it plugged into her router. Her husband put it back in and wrapped a piece of tape around it to hold it to make it work. She wanted to know if that would work, or if she needed a new cable, or if they needed a new router. A new router? I asked her if it was working, and she said it was, but she wanted someone to look at it. So I drove over there, about 5 miles, and it was exactly what was described, just the little plastic clip that holds it in broken, nothing major. She didn't like the tape so I cut the end of the cable off, crimped on a new end and tested it. All was good, and no tape, so she was happy. That's the good part. We sat to have a cup of coffee and I asked her how she got my number. She said she was complaining about what the repair cost was going to be to a friend of hers, and that friend told her to call me. The place she normally (used?) to deal with never looked, they just told her over the phone that because they put tape on it she would need a whole new setup. Roughly $200 once they came out to set it up. Remember, it was still working! It just had tape on it! I left her a few of my cards to pass out and asked her to call me if they had a problem I could actually bill them for. It cost me my gas money, but I probably have another life-long customer. I can't believe how crooked some people can be! Always pays to get a second opinion I guess. Ok, rant over. I just wish I could post that company's name! [Reply]   [No Email]
Royse 11-16-2012 18:52:21 69.36.49.151 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Goose, 11-15-2012 19:22:29   I will do that jm. I started running Windows 8 part time when the developer edition came out about a year ago. I think I would like it on a tablet or a phone, but my laptop does not have a touch screen and I find it kind of clunky to use with a mouse. I will need to start using it full time just to support it competently. [Reply]  [No Email]
Will Herring 11-16-2012 18:49:52 50.103.252.25 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Royse, 11-15-2012 19:22:29   As a computer person myself (but I don't like to work on other people's very much any more -- just a few friends and relatives), I try to shy people away from businesses I know are outrageously priced or will push you to do bad things (like spend $300 in hardware upgrading a piece of crap computer when you could just get a new one by the time they were done gigging you for "labor"). As long as you have anti-static stuff, working on your own computer isn't too hard at all. Saved many people a lot of money over the years. Especially on avoiding terrible upsells on stuff like anti-virus or "computer optimization" at various places. Have even had to re-do computers that so called "professionals" that, to the tune of $80-$120 per hour, managed to not do the job they said they did at all. Don't trust these places to scrub your data, because apparently they either don't care or are idiots. They also rather sell you expensive services and hardware than just diagnose your real problem (ie. broken cable, just snip and re-crimp). And dealing with customer/tech support for big electronics companies is a nightmare too. I don't miss dealing with any of it, honestly, but good on you for helping out here. This post was edited by Will Herring at 18:50:21 11/16/12. [Reply]  [No Email]
John B. 11-16-2012 06:51:27 38.114.64.174 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Royse, 11-15-2012 19:22:29   We have a new laptop for the last three weeks. It has windows 8. Yes it's different but takes a lot of getting use to. Like anything, to move ahead forget about what was similar. I was more familiar with XP but that took years too. The more I use the laptop windows 8 is much faster and more convenient once you learn the shortcuts. [Reply]  [No Email]
rustyfarmall 11-16-2012 06:30:44 216.248.71.226 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to dave2, 11-15-2012 19:22:29   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I know very little about the new Windows 8, but I know enough to know I DO NOT want any part of it. I'll stay with Vista, and if was possible, I'd go back to XP in a heartbeat. [Reply]  [No Email]
jm. 11-16-2012 18:38:56 75.105.128.37 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to rustyfarmall, 11-16-2012 06:30:44   Well actually I am kinda like JohnB as big a change as it is I THINK in the long run I am going to like it. Ever day (Night) I find something else I like.. Just going to take a little longer learning curve..Ask me again in 6 months... jm. in Tennessee [Reply]  [No Email]
jm. 11-16-2012 05:55:59 99.196.0.56 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Royse, 11-15-2012 19:22:29   Royse " You probably want come back to this post but.. 70 Year hard to change old F... Anyway my laptop crashed 4 months ago. Bought a new Toshiba, intel core 15 running windows 7 . Now last week the GeekSquad calls says hey you have a new windows 8 up grade free bring in you computer. Now here is the comment if you have any older customers tell them they may want to rethink that move. I am sure I will learn but sure is a lot to put on the table for this old man..I have to call them about ever day. Get hung on screens that just wont go away.. [Reply]  [No Email]
Goose 11-16-2012 06:28:51 174.225.137.46 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to jm., 11-16-2012 05:55:59   After running XP since it came out, I'm just now getting used to Windows 7. No way am I going to try 8. From what I've heard, it won't be around long, anyway. When they replaced the computer I had with all the bugs in it, they had to order this one in, 'cause all the ones they were stocking now had 8. [Reply]  [No Email]
Royse 11-15-2012 20:24:58 69.36.49.151 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Leroy, 11-15-2012 19:22:29   I'd need a little more information Goose, like how is the camera connected to the computer (USB Cable?) and maybe what brand of camera. Off the cuff, most likely your new computer just needs the driver installed for the camera. Free software from the manufacturer's website as long as they support Win7. My email is open on the modern side of the forum if you want to send me a note I'll try to help. [Reply]  [No Email]
SweetFeet 11-15-2012 20:15:21 70.35.103.74 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Royse, 11-15-2012 19:22:29   Royse, That was really nice! She will be your best advertisement. [Reply]  [No Email]
Goose 11-15-2012 20:11:01 174.253.144.64 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Royse, 11-15-2012 19:22:29   Oops, meant my post to go to Royse. [Reply]  [No Email]
omahagreg 11-15-2012 19:55:12 72.213.46.156 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Royse, 11-15-2012 19:22:29   In May of 1998, I bought a full size Dodge van with 140,000 miles. They told me it had a new tranny in it, as our main transmission shop had serviced it, but left it 7 quarts low, so it had self destructed. This was in February of 1998-so 4 months prior to me buying it! It had a slow engaging reverse, so got the paper work from seller, went to talk with Certified. They said it needed a new transmission to the tune of $2500.00! I said that was interesting as they had just done it 4 months prior! All of a sudden they could fix it, no problem! I have a problem trusting that shop! [Reply]  [No Email]
Goose 11-15-2012 20:09:17 174.253.144.64 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to omahagreg, 11-15-2012 19:55:12   If you're a computer repairman, maybe you can answer a quick question. I'm setting up a new computer with Windows 7, and it won't recognize my digital camera. Same camera has worked OK on several other computers, including the one I'm replacing. I transferred a lot of stuff over from my old computer before I even tried connecting the camera, but the camera worked fine on the old computer, and still does, so I don't see how any of the stuff I transferred could be the problem. Any suggestions? The whole story is, this computer is one Best Buy gave as a replacement for one that had many problems right from the start. Everything else has worked great on this one till I tried to download some photos. Any clues would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. [Reply]  [No Email]
BCnT 11-15-2012 20:24:19 68.65.150.242 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Goose, 11-15-2012 20:09:17   try a different USB port to plug your camera cable into. if your problem is you cant get older software to load,you will need the WIN 7 version...the camera should show up as another drive in windows explorer...you can move files from there. [Reply]  [No Email]
Goose 11-15-2012 20:38:26 174.253.144.64 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to BCnT, 11-15-2012 20:24:19   Bingo!! I'd added a USB extender with four ports to bring ports to the front of the computer, and that's what I was plugging the camera in to. When I plugged the camera into one of the original ports on the computer, it worked. Thanks a bunch! Guess I should have thought of that. Although the extension ports have worked on other stuff. [Reply]  [No Email]
paul 11-15-2012 20:19:36 66.60.223.232 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - Computer Repair Rant in reply to Goose, 11-15-2012 20:09:17   Model # and brand of the camera would be needed to come close to helping you. Tho XP and Windows 7 are the better options, lots of stuff should work on both, some very early XP hardware might not work on W7? Likely you just need to go to the manufactuerers web site and find new drivers suitable for W7? --->Paul [Reply]  [No Email]