[Undertaker989]

I am facing a difficult dillema concerning my father's IT needs at his office. Here are some examples:

1. My dad's secretary does backups on a CD-RW which uses some Roxio software on a Plextor cdrw drive. A few months ago, the program was lagging and freezing the computer. I went to the office to look at it, and came to the conclusion that it was a problem with the drive and windows98 b/c explorer would freeze up when I put a CD in the drive. I ran HDD error checks, trendmicro's online scan, and rebooted the machine to see if it was more of a software issue and sure enough, after the reboot, the CD's being loaded wouldn't freeze up explorer. If it were up to me, I would wipe 98 off of the HDD's and put XP pro on his computers, but he is being stubborn about that. For the time being, b/c I don't call his shots, I may have to be stuck with 98, so I told them to reboot the machine if it froze like that. Well, she is still bitching about it and saying that it is freezing on her. I know she is not re-booting the machine so obviously a solution involving the user to take an extra step is out of the question.

2. A year ago she complained about not being able to send e-mail. I checked it out and I determined that her e-mail client was faulty...she installed an ADWARE E-MAIL PROGRAM ON BOTH OF HIS COMPUTERS!! The program, called "incredimail" was conflicting with Norton and freezing when he went to send mail. I proceeded to take the program off and lectured them about spyware and showed them how to use MS Outlook Express that I setup for them. Well, when I went to check out her CD-RW issue, guess what was back on the computers? INCREDIMAIL! She installed the program again on BOTH computers and they are both using it again! This just pissed me off.

3. When I confronted my dad about installing windowsXP pro, he said, "Cyndi checked out Microsoft's website and she told me that our computers aren't compatible." I told him flat out: "OK....SHE IS A MORON!" Both of his boxes are P4 2.4's with at least 512 system ram. I told him to let me decide what upgrades are necassary. This was just the icing on the cake.

So, after these 3 examples, what would you do? (vote above and reply w/ input if needed)

A.) Put another CD-RW drive from home in her box and put NERO on it to see if that fixes the problem while keeping win98. Basically...continue troubleshooting in his fucked up computing enviornment.

B.) Reformatting and putting XP Pro on all his boxes, and giving the secratary a very limited user account w/ NO install abilities. (I also want to install browser monitoring software to see what URL's she is going to).

C.) Not dealing with his computers at all b/c he is refusing to take my advice (option B). I hate to take this route, but why handle a situation that is too screwed up to make it worth fixing or worth your time?

[ThatHideousStrength]

If their aren't cooping ditch them. They obviously aren't taking in any advice you have.

[ivanolo]

You can't help people that won't accept your help....

[Electric_Head]

Option B

If the users wont put forth the extra step to help themselves, take away all steps from them that way they dont trip.

[mushu]

incredimail is pretty tame. there's nothing really devious about it.

and i would go with option c.

[SoulAssassin]

Gotta go w/ C

[Undertaker989]

I'm relieved I haven't seen any votes for option A yet.

Mushu: I am mainly upset that they re-installed it even after it messed up and I removed it from the system. I also checked out the user agreement of the program and it said that they reserve the right to collect and use any information sent via the program. That didn't fly well with me.

[mushu]

if your dad is going along with what shes doing, have him hire her as the it guy

[Undertaker989]

Originally Posted by mushu

if your dad is going along with what shes doing, have him hire her as the it guy

Thats a good way of putting it. Maybe I should put it to him like that to give him the proper perspective.

The problem in this situation is that they are too stupid to understand what is right and wrong, and I don't have the desire to teach them computers 101 from chapter 1.

They just want a working computer w/o the restrictions necassary for proper functioning (i.e. don't install unapproved software and keeping softwre updated and patched).

That is why I want to do option B. If they want to be babies, I will treat them as such....that means restricted accounts, remote desktop and administrative privleges for myself, regularily schueduled virus scans/updates, restricted browser privleges, and whatever else that enters my mind.

[mushu]

you can always tell them to plop down 400 bucks for a dell and let Apu Nahasapeemapetilon deal with the tech support

[Undertaker989]

Originally Posted by mushu

you can always tell them to plop down 400 bucks for a dell and let Apu Nahasapeemapetilon deal with the tech support

LMFAO! SO TRUE! Fucking outsourcing crap.

[superman]

Originally Posted by mushu

you can always tell them to plop down 400 bucks for a dell and let Apu Nahasapeemapetilon deal with the tech support

that was the greatest comment in the world

[hans5849]

I say B if that fails go to C

[trancosrt]

Option B with no way whatsoever of HER of logging is another user.
Maybe even go as far a install Linux so that she doesn't know AT ALL what the heck is going on. For her needs (word processing, inet and mails I pressume) a Linux box with Open Office, FF, and maybe Thunderbird or your choice of mail client should suffice.

[tex]

Originally Posted by trancosrt

Option B with no way whatsoever of HER of logging is another user.
Maybe even go as far a install Linux so that she doesn't know AT ALL what the heck is going on. For her needs (word processing, inet and mails I pressume) a Linux box with Open Office, FF, and maybe Thunderbird or your choice of mail client should suffice.

not a bad idea, my parents run KDE at home, and we have it on 1 box at each of our stores, going to switch everything over at xmas. makes for a lot less maintainance.

As for incredimail, I have the same problem. Everyone in the company loves incredimail. I've just given up, and let them do it. There is a way to get norton to work fine with it, but I can't remember how I did it (I used to have the same problem as you). The program isn't that bad really, like mushu said. I'm not aware of it sending any info, the only time it asks for web access is for smtp and to check mail.

[Goofus Maximus]

Stay away from relatives, when doing computer help at all costs! Jump out of a 30 story window if you have to, but RUN!!!!!

Nothing good ever came from dealing with situations like this. Trust me.

Besides, you know he'll just give her the password anyway.

[Undertaker989]

goofus, if you only knew the information my dad divulges to that woman...you would pass out from shock.

[ivanolo]

Originally Posted by mushu

you can always tell them to plop down 400 bucks for a dell and let Apu Nahasapeemapetilon deal with the tech support

Ah, he's a great guy!

Originally Posted by Goofus Maximus

Stay away from relatives, when doing computer help at all costs! Jump out of a 30 story window if you have to, but RUN!!!!!

Nothing good ever came from dealing with situations like this. Trust me.

Besides, you know he'll just give her the password anyway.

That's my philosophy for work as well. Never work for/with relatives.

[Shrivara]

Yeh right option v