Although I don't have a college degree, I have been a "go-to" guy for problems from everything from plumbing to engine overhauls. Recently, an engineering type in my office was having problems getting his new DSL router, and his new laptop to talk via 802.11g. So, I decide to stop over at his house, and help him out. After triple checking all his device settings, workgroup, and wireless channel settings, I asked him if his laptop came with more in depth documentation, it did, and on page 3, there was a big drawing showing all the switches/bells/whistles of his new laptop. I asked him if there was a wireless activity light, and he said yes, right above the wireless power switch!! Doh! We both got a good laugh, hope you did too!

You became tech support when you let people know what skills you have. Just be glad you don't have to spend a weekend and put hundreds of miles on your vehicle to fix your In-Law's computer every couple of weekends.

Quote: Originally Posted by BigAkita You became tech support when you let people know what skills you have. Just be glad you don't have to spend a weekend and put hundreds of miles on your vehicel to fix your In-Law's computer every couple of weekends.

exactly..i'll be heading to the mother-in-law's place to set up her dsl and new pc this weekend

I'll take a pic of the pile of PCs i'm supposed to fix in the next week.. thats a good laugh

Get out while you still can! Unless you enjoy this type of thing, that is. Sometimes i spend entire nights and weekends fixing multiple computers. I think im going to start charging soon.....

Yeah, I think I need to start charging too.

Same thing happens in my family, except my bro handles all the software crap and I do all the hardware. Needless to say, he got the short end of that one.

if its at work you can solve it in one easy dialogue.

"Well, they made changes in the It department and they took away user acces to be able to do/change/add/fix/alter _______. Im sorry, i cant even do it on my computer, give em a call and make em do it"

If you break something they probably wont ask you to fix stuff again.

people in my hall I don't know just show up and poke their head in and go "do you know anything about computers?" Then I fix their problem (one of the guys had a fuzzy monitor, it was just too close to the TV)

I figure if I ever need help playing basketball or something they all owe me favors.

Quote: Originally Posted by DuplexEmotions I figure if I ever need help playing basketball or something they all owe me favors.

Unfortunately, they probably don't feel that way.

I make damn good money being tech support - I do work on the barter system with family but if your that one useless mofo that doesnt help build fence, dog houses, porches or help re-roof Uncle Daves house your gonna get a bill just like any other member of the public. You work with me and I will work with you.........if you like to sit on your azz your gonna write a check.

I have no problem fixing friends' computers, or friends of friends. I almost always do it for free. Do unto others, in my opinion. I would want somebody to help me out if my computer just died and I had a paper on it that's due tomorrow and I knew nothing about computers.

Quote: Originally Posted by HappyCamper Yeah, I think I need to start charging too.

Start charging now in that case! My brother doesnt get away - built him a duron system no long ago for school - halved his bank balance in a matter of days...well he is my brother....gotta pay for somthing in his life.

Seems we all have our "2nd" jobs here peps. Know computers? Work computers. As soon as people start realising your good at it..they come back again and again...it does get bad tho - people fone you up when they wake up..in some cases that 6am...a time that rarely gets an insight into my life.

Just yesturday one of my client phoned. He decidied I wasnt good for business anymore and tried to setup his own boradband connection...for 3 computers. The fool did an ecellent job at fouling up. First off he bought both a 4 port asdl router, and a usb modem. I sympathised and told him to keep it just in case. Next there was the way he had cabled his router (this is a router and modem inbuilt).

Phone port - microfilter - 56k modem - router - PC. I decided the best ocurse of action was not to laff my head off. Eventually got htings sorted after 2 hours of checking and testing each PC for connectivity. £50 to me and 40m of enthusiast sound cableing ( he didnt want it, so i had it ).

If you make 1/2" of effort you'll find money you never knew existed.