Tech Support House Call - Comments Page 1

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Posted by:

PgmrDude
10 Oct 2013

Yep, Cannon should know better. Even after all these years the PC is still about as difficult as it could possibly be (at times anyway). Pitiful.

Posted by:

Patrick
10 Oct 2013

Bob - I've experienced the same phenomenon of computers running perfectly when I'm around. I believe geeky people give off some sort of cosmic energy that computers sense. They fear us because they know we are their masters. The exception to this seems to be Apple computers which seem to be oblivious to us.

Posted by:

Lucy
10 Oct 2013

Another great article, funny too :-)

I have bookmarked this page because it has all the steps on the one page and I am sure it will prove to be useful for me or someone I try to help.

People come to me for computer help, not because I know stuff, but because I know where to go to find out.

So I am glad you are here Bob, you make me look smart too.

Posted by:

MmeMoxie
10 Oct 2013

Bob, I completely relate, to your story. Trying to think, of everything, can be a challenge. Most times, it is the little things, that can make a computer, go haywire. I have found, as computers get more technology, those of us, who knew what to do, years ago ... Are still useful. So many times, it is the "old" technology, that just isn't meshing with the "new", that can be the problem.

Please Bob, your knowledge of the "old" and the "new" is a blessing. The same goes for those who work in surgery, with surgeons, like I did. Sometimes, just remembering an older piece of equipment, got the job done or how to "twit" the older piece of equipment. :)

Guess, all of my love of the orthopedic and laprascopic equipment, helped me to love fixing computers. Loved assisting surgeons, during the surgical procedures ... Also, loved to take all the equipment apart, to clean it/them. :)

Posted by:

Ed
10 Oct 2013

Interesting article. But, I would love just a clue, not the whole story about how the printer problem was resolved.

Posted by:

dale
10 Oct 2013

where's the beef? this article did nothing but "shill" software. shame on you. can I have my time back? please?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sigh. I give detailed info on how to diagnose and fix a computer, along with links to FREE software tools, and all you see is "shill"?

Posted by:

Bill
10 Oct 2013

My 8 month old puter has been getting slower and slower. I've done the normal things like check registry/check startup items/defrag disks/check hardware etc but to no avail. So I backed up a system image and then ran PrivaZer with all functions enabled. Puter is now lightening fast!

Posted by:

Thee Ox
10 Oct 2013

Paging Dr Bob? It should be
" They call Me...Dr. Love! They call me...Dr. Love..."
Sorry Bob, I couldent resist.

Posted by:

Daniel Wiener
10 Oct 2013

Hi Doctor Bob,

As an electronics engineer, I go through a lot of what you do -- I'm tech support for my family and friends. Much of that is done long-distance using the free LogMeIn remote desktop utility (which I make sure is installed in their computers ahead of time).

My wife and I are opposites in many ways, among which are our effects on electronic devices. Things constantly go on the fritz around her, whereas I exhibit the "television repairman syndrome". For example, she couldn't connect her computer to the internet all day yesterday, but when I got home from work it started functioning perfectly. Neither of us were surprised.

After reading your article, I'll add a few tools you recommended to my computer repair box. Thank you.

The other advice worth mentioning is that Google is awesome: Whenever anything strange happens to a computer, or some weird problem arises, just Google the behavior or the error message or a description of the problem (try phrasing it in several different ways). Invariably lots of folks will have had that same problem or seen the same error message, and other folks will have described the solution. It's much faster and more effective than calling any company's tech support hotline.

Posted by:

Daniel
10 Oct 2013

I too would like to hear at least an outline re the printer. Sometimes those issues are so easy, but sometimes they are a real pain. I have a computer that was printing fine, then suddenly stopped. I figured I'd take a shortcut, un-install the printer, then reinstall it. But, it will not locate the networked computer. I've even tried telling it which ip address to go to. It can find another printer on the network, but not our main one. Kinda has me bumfuzzled.

Posted by:

Maura
11 Oct 2013

Re the Dr. Bob reference (which I may have shared with you way back in those IBM days), there was a spoof soap opera segment on the old Muppet Shows, called Veterinarian's Hospital. Rowlf the Dog played Dr. Bob, a surgeon, and one of the band members, Janice, played a nurse whose catch phrase was (spoken in a real hippie, dreamy voice) "Oh, wow, Dr. Bob! Many bad jokes and puns ensued. Great show. And I liked this column very much also.

Posted by:

Chuck
11 Oct 2013

Sorry Bob! It's hard to understand why an individual like Dale would be so demeaning about this article. The value of advice and information that people like you and your friend Leo so freely give, should never spawn such a comment. I have never posted a comment myself until now. Dale's just fried me and I had to respond! Keep up your good work...and I hope all of your "shilling" manages to provide you a cup of coffee now and then. Maybe Dale could get his "Shift Key" fixed too!

Posted by:

RandiO
11 Oct 2013

Page header sez "Ask Bob", so I be asking:
What could have possibly fixed this ailing PC.
Surely, it was not FM... unless it was PrivaZer!

Posted by:

Tony
11 Oct 2013

Bob, I've been a subscriber and a fan (from the land down-under) of yours for more years than I can remember. You Sir are a total unselfish legend which in part is demonstrated for what you did for this nice lady in computer distress.

Know that I normally do not express my opinions though I sincerely believe you're one of the many unsung heroes that merit recognition for what you do.

Best to you and yours

Posted by:

JAMES
11 Oct 2013

Bob,
I was not going to comment at all except save the page for all the good info in one location until I saw that negative comment. I want you to know that I too come from way back working for IBM in Boca Raton when the PC was invented. Unfortunately I was not into computers but had someone like you always help me out. Now that I'm on my own you are my sole support and help me fix all my problems on a daily basis. Right now I'm working on setting up a new PC and decrapifying it as you suggest. You are a blessing to all of us who depend on your knowledge that you so freely share with us. Keep up the good work we all appreciate what you do for us!
By the way can you write something on using those recommended programs as mobile where they do not need to be installed on the PC and can be run of a flash drive.
Thanks!

Posted by:

Tom
11 Oct 2013

Bob,

Good article and we have similar backgrounds, and I worked on IBM systems programming, DB, and all the rest too over 30 years.

Your approach is the same as mine and I have added Hitman Pro that takes a cloud approach, and has got me out of some jams that were MBR virus types that others missed.

I also chuckle and tell people that the computer I'm about to work on should be "shaking in it's boots" as I approach it!

Been involved with computers since HS, where we had a IBM 1620, with 20k memory, and 230k hard drive, and was "hooked" from a Freshman forward on computers.


Regards,

Tom

http://www.remotepcfixers.com/

Posted by:

Barbara
11 Oct 2013

Dr. Bob, as Tony said I've been a fan and subscriber of yours for several years and have downloaded a lot of the free software you recommend. I want to say thank you for your free tech support, it takes a good person to do this for free.

Again, thanks. :-)

Posted by:

Tony
11 Oct 2013

Now this is weird - I've just read Daniel Wiener's post and felt deja vu - either that we have some kind of doppelganger connection. What he describes regarding his wife's affect on things electronic is almost identical to the adverse properties my lady wife displays. I concluded that she must possess and impart evil electricity and probably is in need of exorcism of some kind:)

In any event Daniel's comments re Google is spot on as I have long held the view that any computer problem one encounters has bound to have happened many time previously and because there are many many more good people than otherwise a number of them would have posted solutions. Just remember to try different syntaxes if at first you don't succeed. Other than that - they could always you Bob

Posted by:

Alan Miller
11 Oct 2013

I also have a Cannon 3100, AND am having many problems. Mostly I can't print with WiFi. Cannon HELP is useless. I installed it using their instructions and I wouldn't know how to begin reinstalling it. My son who is a computer geek :) checked and all my settings and they are correct. We're baffled. I guess the solution is to NEVER buy Cannon crap again.

Posted by:

SamG
11 Oct 2013

Just worked on a friend's computer to fix the Epson printer. 3 days of spare hours. Never got the Linksys wireless router to recognize his Sony bluray player or the E2500 printer. Maybe redo the router with DD-WRT firmware? The Linksys has very few settings. Cisco Connect program wireless section saw the printer but Vista OS kept saying it had a problem. Disabled the printer wireless. Hooked up a usb cable to it. Uninstalled the wireless printer in Devices. Vista couldn't delete it before the usb connection. Went to Linksys website and updated the printer firmware. Installed an unnecessary remote access printer program to get the printer software up to date. And all scanner printer programs worked. It just wouldn't print. The cartridge program displayed 2 of the 4 cartridges as being about ~30%. The other 2 ~40%. Installed new cartridges and Voila! Shazam! Kapow! Worked like new. Just no wireless.
Thanks for being so helpful, Bob! When repairing PCs I use most of your recomendations. Malwarebytes, Spybot S&D, plus a new one to me, awdcleaner. Have yet to try PrivaZer, but will. By the way, this friend subscribes to Norton 360. When Norton dropped Ghost years ago, I dropped Norton. Tried many other PAY AV solutions. Now stick with AVG or Avast FREE. They offer very good protection with few annoying popups. Why pay for popups and questions that bewilder?

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