Funny and Humorous Technical Support Tales and Stories

One that just happened to me. So about 1-2 weeks ago, can't remember exactly, my laptop charger shorted out. Ok, no problem, order another one. So I get it and plug it in, no dice. So I try every possible troubleshooting steps I could find, still nothing. I was finally able to take it in for a simple look-see by a tech. BEST take it to a shop before I BUY anything else first. They say they can send it in for $85 for the intial diagnostic, then give an estimate for a fix afterward. Nope, don't know, not gonna do it. Take it over to a PC shop that also does LAPTOPS. The tech there, having done such service before, said it would cost about $250 to fix. [He then talked about getting a whole new system with money I didn't have...yeah, as if that's going to happen.] So I let friends and family know what's going on, and one of them, who originally gave it to me, will be sending me another one. (Bless her, she's such a great friend.)

But the main point of this is always get a second (or third, or even possibly fourth) opinion or diagnostic just to be on the safe side. Then see if you can get another for free (hehe). I was not going to spend time and money on something I didn't know about or have the money for. Thank goodness for amazing friends.

My wife asked me a question the other day. "My e-mail says "cannot find server." Where's the server? She doesn't like really technical answers, so I just told her "It's just one of many boxes back at the cable company (we get our Internet from our cable provider). I don't actually know exactly where it is." "But it's not here, is it? It's not one of your computers?" "No--the e-mail server isn't one of my computers. Not yet." "What do you mean 'not yet?'"

My wife asked me "how are we connected to the Internet? Is it over a wire or over the air?" I tried to explain: "There's not a single answer. Your computer has a wireless network card that connects to our Cable Modem, which is connected by a wire to the cable TV network, and from there, it's anybody's guess." "But do we get our Internet over the air or by a wire?" "Yes."

I work at the Goodwill computer store, and its in the ghetto.....

I will give a dictionary of new terms I have acquired, I promise I have really heard all of these.....

Compooty

Streen

Desktop (in reference to Monitor)

Monitor (in reference to Tower)

Flattop

Membrane......

(all the usual's too)

When seeing xbox 360's with stickers that CLEARLY say "*Parts Only* *AS-IS* $24.99" "these work good right?"

So I've finally gotten the big promotion to IT; or rather, "on the job training" helping out IT while still in the warehouse. Here's what I've dealt with so far in the first week:

Being assigned an issue with someone's phone not receiving voice-mail alerts; this isn't handled by me but by one of the other techs.

Someone's cell phone isn't synching up and receiving emails from our Exchange system; it works better when not in "airplane mode". Just, apparently, like the last three times they had this issue.

One person's monitor isn't working. "Are there any lights or anything, just a black screen?" "No it just won't work period." Unpack new monitor, set up cables, bring it over to see two fully functioning monitors. Apparently somehow the left and right monitors got reassigned by Windows, so instead of saying "My left and right monitors have been switched" she just shut one off until I got over there.

Three people were out on the day after we performed a massive inventory software system upgrade, and thus were emailed the instructions on what to do with their computers to connect to the new setup, which was just type in the new server address. Guess how many actually read the email before setting up a helpdesk ticket?

And the saddest part is, these are all LESS ridiculous than the issues I deal with back in the warehouse!