Self Computer Repair for laptop...

[katz]

I know we all get these types of customers, but I still shake my head...

*College educated (new) client* (professor at a local university) contacts me about a Toshiba that isn't running properly. Never worked right since new...

Long story shortened;

She sprayed several different chemicals in any vents she could find in an attempt to stop the "freezing" issues she was experiencing.

Chemicals include (but may not be limited to;

Silicone spray
WD-40
Bike Teflon Spray

After all that didn't do a whole lot to improve things, she placed the entire laptop in the oven on the lowest setting and baked it for 30-45 minutes! (according to some internet directions she googled)

At this point, she discovers that the touchpad behaves erratically, along with keyboard issues. Oh yeah, and the screen goes blurry at times.

(Personally, I think it required a longer baking time, lol)

To my disbelief, the laptop then goes into their freezer for an overnight cooldown! WHAT?!?!?

Amazon offers this particular laptop at a price tag of over $1000.00!

http://tinyurl.com/o9ffkak


During the phone conversation I was thinking this was a joke call, but it wasn't. I now have the sprayed/baked/frozen laptop in my possession and am in the process of transferring all data to a newly purchased Dell that she provided.

I've had some winners, but I think this one takes the cake for me.

But I don't mind, really - I can sure use the business!


Thought you guys/gals could use a good laugh!

...I can't believe that someone would actually admit this repair attempt to a tech. I would feel like an idiot if I told someone this.

 

[PBComputer]

This is one reason I keep on thinking about writing a book about all the things and tales I hear about. But I doubt any publisher would believe them

 

[Larry Sabo]

I've met obviously brilliant university types who were barely functional at the mundane things we do every day without thinking. They can be a little eccentric and amusing at times. That one takes the prize, however.

Edit: ...which reminds me of that hilarious scene in Catch 22 One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest with Jack Nicolson, where the escaped inmates of the mental hospital/institution are preparing to board a local transit bus and tell the driver, "We're from the mental hospital; this is Dr. <whatever>, and Dr. <whatchamacallit>, etc.". They all looked so much like some prof's I've had. Broke me right up.

 

[HCHTech]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Oh my god...

 

[nlinecomputers]

I'm just amazed the woman didn't set the unit and or herself on fire with the sprays used.

 

[mrapoc]

but I think this one takes bakes the cake for me.

=]

 

[cypress]

Definitely one of the best I have heard of. Wow.

 

[FremontPC]

I would have looked her straight in the eyes and said "The manual clearly states that you must use Cheez Wiz before you put it in the oven!"

 

[frase]

I would have looked her straight in the eyes and said "The manual clearly states that you must use Cheez Wiz before you put it in the oven!"

hehe who RTFM - she missed adding thermite

 

[lan101]

lmao wow this is a classic for sure

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Wow. None like that, but I know one user that is a nice person and has learned done things, is actually smart and has a couple of degrees. But with computers just does not always get it. We got a request once that she didn't know how to turn on her computer. That is she could not find the power button on the front of her dell tower.

Another time, we got a call that she could not log in, keep in mind this is in an office, system is attached to a domain. We had logged in with our IT log in to work on something. She calls and can't get logged in. Did not grasp the fact of control-alt-delete, type her own name in and her password, since it always remembered her name before.

Another guy that used to work in the IT department with me said sometimes he would walk by her desk and she'd be sitting there with a blank look and the screen would still be black so we don't know if sometimes she was just sitting there staring at a blank screen for hours on end.

 

[OaksLabs]

These customers are always a character building exercise -- because you must refrain from laughing hysterically. The scary part is that she teaches at a college...and from the sounds of it she cobbled together instructions from a MB reflow and a HDD recovery (which isn't a good technique anyways). These instructions don't just exist when you Google "PC running slow," so she has demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of printed English....or basic logic.

But, a fool and his (her) money are easily separated. This sounds like a repeat customer for you.

 

[Markverhyden]

What did she lecture in? Philosophy? LOL!!!

It's amazing how, otherwise well educated, individuals will react to a particular situation like that. Some already know the limits of their knowledge and realize that expertise in one matter does not translate over to another. And there are others, like this professor, that think that because they achieved success in one specialty they can read some stuff and their expertise is automagically transmutated into The Right Stuff.

 

[acscva]

WOW I just can't believe this!

 

[nlinecomputers]

Wow. None like that, but I know one user that is a nice person and has learned done things, is actually smart and has a couple of degrees. But with computers just does not always get it. We got a request once that she didn't know how to turn on her computer. That is she could not find the power button on the front of her dell tower.

Another time, we got a call that she could not log in, keep in mind this is in an office, system is attached to a domain. We had logged in with our IT log in to work on something. She calls and can't get logged in. Did not grasp the fact of control-alt-delete, type her own name in and her password, since it always remembered her name before.

Another guy that used to work in the IT department with me said sometimes he would walk by her desk and she'd be sitting there with a blank look and the screen would still be black so we don't know if sometimes she was just sitting there staring at a blank screen for hours on end.

Must be really good drugs. Seriously, that's not a dumb end user,that's a stoned end user.

 

[TechLady]

Holy crap. I'd be worried about getting in a car with her.

Edit: I found some camera cleaning tips for her.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

I know her personally, no drugs or anything like that. Just perhaps absent minded. Like we had to help her with printing some cards. Note the cards should expire Jan 1, 2016. As we are working on things, we realize for the first 7-8 months of the year she's been printing cards that say they expired Jan. 2015.

 

[HFultzjr]

She forgot to try these repairs:
Drop on hard floor to reseat things....several times if necessary.
Sometimes not enough voltage can cause issues, try direct wiring to 240v
I've heard putting them in a dishwasher ( not sure with or without soap), then putting in a bag of rice to dry. Or, tumble dry on low.
"Google" more answers, lots more to try.

LOL.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

A long time ago people use to swear by the hard drive in the freezer trick. I'm guessing if that ever really worked it was before 2001.

 

[sebastien2b]

Omg ! is crasy