From the Mind of James, a geeks blog...



2:43 PM 8/17/2008: It's Sunday...

I am at the shop today working on data recovery for 3 different computers. Besides that I am also working on a few laptops with other problems.

Sundays are pretty slow most of the time as far as phone calls but I just got a pretty stupid one.
This guy calls me up and says "hey, I need a copy of Office. Can you make me one?
I say... no, but you can download openoffice and get almost the same thing for free.

He then says... Well, if you don't make me a copy I'll report you!
I then say ... Well buddy, you might want to turn off your caller ID before you try and use the phone to commit a crime. Then for some reason the phone went dead. lol.





8:32 AM 8/12/2008: Evil Techs...

I don't use the word "Evil" very often but over the last few weeks I have come across the work of some people that I can not describe any other way.

Now for legal reasons I can not "out" these "Techs". It use to be you could tell the truth about somebody that did wrong and they would ask for forgiveness or at least run away and hide. Now they hire a lawyer.

Anyway, The first one is a so called systems administrator that for the life of me I have no idea what they were doing for the last five years. This person quit without any notice and I was asked to come and see how "easy" it would be to take over the network and keep things humming along. Well you can't keep a train humming along after it's derailed is about all I can say. No documentation, no backups worth anything and no maintenance on any of the hardware.

It also seems this person was using this place as a base of operation to host other businesses they had. And because this place helps kids all I can say is shame on this person. It's a special kind of evil that puts your needs above the needs of kids you were hired to help.

Now the 2nd one is a "tech" that sells things on craigslist from time to time. I had somebody ask me to do a data transfer from their "old" system to the "new" system they got off this guy. Well I get there and the "new" computer sold to them was a 8+ years old "thin client", a system that was never ment to be used as a home computer system. I just don't get how you can look somebody that is trusting you in the eye and say something like that was "new" yet alone useful.

Well KARMA does have a way of getting back around to everybody. One day when these 2 need to trust somebody for help they may end up asking "why me"?

Well I got 4 service calls this morning and a shop full of systems to fix. So off I go...





8:39 AM 7/18/2008: Just got off the phone with...

Another "national" computer repair company asking me to do a service call for them. All they wanted to know was how fast I could get to their client and how much I would charge. Not one word asking about backround checks or even that really weird question are you qualified to fix computers? As I always say ask, ask, ask before you let somebody into your home or office or you may get sent some "guy" the company is testing out on you.

Well I got a shop full of computers to fix....





11:24 AM 7/10/2008: Been going steady...

Since I have been back from the 4th weekend. So I had no time to post here. Got 3 websites I am working on, 5 machines in the shop and booked for service calls from now till the middle of next week. Break over back to work.




8:14 AM 7/3/2008: Well it's been months...

Since I have taken any real time off. Got the last customer system fixed and dropped off. Heading out for the 4th! See you all on Monday!




8:27 AM 7/2/2008: Lame Company...

I have to order replacement parts from all around the world. But just came by a pretty lame company. I ordered a replacement laptop power jack and my biz card got charged the next day so I assumed it was on it's way. Well after 3 phone calls and a bunch of emails I find out it was back ordered and now they don't know when it will be in. Pretty lame to charge for stuff you don't have yet.




12:05 AM 6/30/2008: and still, Still here...


It's been a looooooonger day and I am just getting ready to call it a night. Had allot of people needing rush service today and I took in a system with a nasty rootkit installed on it.

Looking through some CL ads and found this...

"Initial position is for simple hardware repair. Duties included are swapping bad hardware for replacement hardware onsite at homes and businesses. Printer part replacement is part of the duties, but if applicant is capable of computer hardware repair the printer work is very simple to learn. Applicant must have a vehicle and the ability to transport Computer/Printer Hardware on/in it. As quality service is performed with initial duties, applicant will be offered the opportunity to work with a different customer base for greatly increased pay. Initial duties will only be needed 20-30 hours/week, however applicant will be offered other tasks in order to obtain a full 40 hours.

Location: Reno, NV
Compensation: $8-10/hr"

So the deal here is they pay somebody that has just 6 months working on computers less then they could make at burger king to go out on-site to customers that may be paying $100 or more an hour thinking they are getting a "real tech". And I love the part where they will be learning printer repair on customers machines.

Always ask if your getting a "Real Tech" from the comapny you called and not some unknown sub contractor that may or may not know his stuff.





10:39 PM 6/28/2008: Still here...


It's been a looooooong day and I am just getting ready to call it a night. Right now I have 3 computers running that customer installed copies of Norton anti-virus say are clean. But all have viruses on them anyway. Think the last good things norton made were DOS defrag and the first versions of ghost. Oh well I got calls for tommorow too so I better get out of the office and get some sleep.




9:45 AM 6/23/2008: Monday Morning Stats...


Well checked my email and have answered 23 questions from current customers...
Answered questions from 3 "might be" customers.

And choose not to respond (with regret) to the wifes of ambassadors from Namlbla, South Africa and Angola. I am sorry ladies but I have already cut a deal with the foreign minister of Nigiera to handle their banking needs.

Besides that I have 3 laptops opened up right now as well as a tower I am working on.





9:12 AM 6/12/2008: Is this fair?


I just talked to a friend last night that knows somebody that used a local company (I'll be nice and not post their name). This company came out to her business to fix 3 computers. When they were done only one of the computers was fixed and the company network was down and they did not charge her the rate she was quoted because they added "trip", "business" and "networking" charges to her bill.

It's hard for me to understand when you did not do 2/3's of the job you were hired for and on top of that broke the business network how you could have the balls to invoice this customer at all. Yet alone trying to pad the bill with a bunch of extra charges.

This is one of the reasons honest repair people always have to fight to gain a new clients trust.





6:03 PM 6/9/2008: It's Monday now


Well it's a Monday. Lots of service calls and running around.

I have talked on here before about not using a company based out of the state as you never know what you will end up with. Well as my listings show up pretty high on google searches I get a few of these companies call me every week asking if I want to take their service calls for them.

In other words do I want to be a 3rd party contractor or middle man. I turn these offers down as I don't think the customer is served well by this type of deal and then you got to deal with issues of who pays who when. who covers the work ect...

Well I got such a call once again today from a guy claiming to service Rite-Aide stores and after telling the man I did not do such contracts he went off saying he was muliti-billion (yes billion) company and I did not know a thing about business and then hung up.

Well I tracked the phone number back to some post on a fourm and found out that not only has this billion dollar company changed it's name a bunch of times but that some other techs were still waiting for their payment. At about this same time he calls back asking to speak to the owner and I told him I was and I had just looked him up and I did not want to do business with him.

Once again this just proves the point I keep making check out who you hire. As you may get some company like this hiring a tech they know nothing about to work for a company that has to keep changing it's name.





8:54 AM 6/6/2008: It's Friday?


Well the week went by pretty fast. On-voice mail got somebody demanding a free copy of Vista from me because he lost his and as I am a MS partner I have to give it to him. ah, no.

Also on Voice mail some guy wanting to know why geek squad never showed up for it's appt. Don't know, wrong Geek, lol.

And to top it off got a phone call from a scammer asking for my credit card number so they can ship my $2,000 order.

They seemed a bit miffed that they would have to give me proof that I placed an order. Then they tried the old scam "well, give us your SSN, FAX and Banking Numbers so we can confirm you did not place an order". yea, right.

Well if this is friday then Monday should be a hoot.





4:17 PM 6/2/2008: Where did May go?


Wow, one of the most busy months for me in a long time. May just flew buy and June looks like it is going to be going by fast as well. A bunch of computers here in the shop to fix, 5 websites to program and the week is almost full for service calls. Guess you could say business is good.




4:19 PM 4/25/2008: Programming.


Did a few repairs here and made some service calls this morning. The security program idea I have has been moving along pretty fast. Think it might suprise a few people once its done and ready to post.




6:46 PM 4/23/2008: All over the place


Been on the road all day from 5am without so much as a chance to check my email or grab a bite to eat.

Put the utility software I have been working on hold in favor of a cool security app that came to mind which will use some ideas never done before. But will be free as 99% of my software always has been.

I just looked up some of the info in my logs and it seems PowerShell just passed the 3 million downloads mark. Kinda of cool. But would never happen without the websites that highlighted it in the past like lockernome and shell city.





11:36 AM 4/14/2008: It's Monday...


Just got back from my 2nd service call and got another one in a few hours and am already booked for 4 calls on Tuesday.

One of the places I was just at had a run in with one of the "cheap techs" I talk about. The guy has great rates only problem was he never could get things together long enough to make any appointments for this customer and then when he did set a time he was a no-call / no-show. Guess customer service does not matter if your just going after the money.

Besides all that I am working on 3 websites and programming some utility software I have an idea for.

Busy, busy, busy....




2:21 PM 4/6/2008: It's Sunday...


Got up around 6 am today (That's sleeping in for me).
Worked on a couple of customer websites as well as a laptop I have in the shop here.

Came by this cool gadget...
FindMeSpot.com




12:17 PM 4/3/2008: Got a bit backlogged...


So I have not had time to play on here.
By Tuesday I was running out of space for repairs.
Today, I just dropped off my last repair that I had here and am just waiting on some parts while I code a few websites before my next service call.




7:03 AM 3/31/2008: Blog Links...


I use bloglines to check for the newest tech posts. But it seems now days some bloggers are getting pretty lazy. I just clicked on a link for a story that had a link to the story...that had a link to the story... that had a link to the story.....

First I think bloggers should come up with some of their own stuff and 2nd do you really need to link to everybody that linked to the first link?

Just so you can see what I mean here is the link....(just kidding)
Got service calls to do and a shop full of PC's to fix.
Happy Monday!




9:29 AM 3/28/2008: Bloated Junk...


In the past few weeks I have worked on a bunch of computers that have Norton 360 anti virus/spyware suite installed.

What a load of junk! It slows the systems I have seen it on 25%-50%, tells you every few minutes what its doing and in the systems I have seen it run in, miss simple to get rid of infections! And it has one of the sloooooooowest system scans I have seen yet! Did I say junk?

Well, off to save the world (or at least a few computers).




11:04 AM 3/25/2008: Checking in...


I went out to my Sister-in-law's house for Easter and had a great time.
And Monday was a normal day after a holiday with everybody needing everything done yesterday.
With my visit and service calls I have put 1,000 miles on the car in just a few days.

Today has also been busy just got back from my 2nd service call and am heading out to my 3rd.
Then I got to do updates on 3 different websites and back to the bench to work on the systems I have here already.




12:48 PM 3/20/2008: Found this ad for techs


I found a ad for techs in the Reno area. The part that got me was this...
Min Tech Req: reliable transportation and a valid driver's license, a cell phone, and a computer with internet access.

So who needs anything like experience or certifications??? lol.
As I always say watch who you hire to work on your stuff or you may get one of these guys.




9:44 AM 3/19/2008: Get on Google's 1st page?


Well I get this call from some wanna be SEO company a few times a month.
Hey your not on Google's 1st page, we can change that for you!
ME: (your wrong, I am listed more then once on their 1st page).

See here

Oh, well your only #2 and for just $150 a month we can get you that #1 spot you want!
ME: (Soooo, you Guarantee I'll be #1)?
Oh well, no
ME: (bye)...

And then from a email this morning...
I notice your trying to get into website design... Well I need a small site done.... And it would make a great site to demo for your future customers..... and it would only be 40 or so pages... I can't host, but I am sure you can host it on your server...

Now as I am sure you know this is all code for give me a free website.
I just find it funny that people like what you do enough to ask for it but then turn around and think it has no vaule.

Well, off to the car to make some service calls...




7:43 AM 3/17/2008: Got a ton of calls...


Doubt if I'll get a chance to post the next few days.
Happy Wear Green Day!!!




12:43 PM 3/16/2008: Guy is doing a video about how great MACs are...

Gotta see the end...
Video is here



9:43 AM 3/16/2008: From a email I got this morning...

Hey,
I need copies of vista, office 2007 and photoshop C3. I can pick it up from you today. I need it before 3:00 and I will give $40.00 but you have to have the keys to. I am really busy so call me at...

Well I'll be nice and not post the guy's phone number on here. But I am pretty sure you can buy all this at the store. It might be a few $$$ more then $40, lol. FYI geek does not = thief or hacker. Thank you.



10:06 AM 3/15/2008: Geek Squad Hand Book

Well about 2 or 3 times a month somebody will send me a link to one of the 50,000 copies of Geek Squads (has nothing to do with my company) service manual that you can find online.

Now as I have had to come in and clean up after them dozens of times I have never really cared how they train their techs as I know its not well enough.

But for some reason I clicked and read this time, then re-read as I wanted to be sure it was not a joke. Nope, not a joke. Too bad I wish it were. Not to give away their trade tricks (you can look it up online anyway) it seems most of the "manual" is geared to getting customer to upgrade their systems with more RAM and bigger hard drives.

When a real fix is called for do they tell their techs to pull out the company CD with lots of custom made geek squad apps? Nope they tell their techs to use a list of free software that anybody can get. Including spybot, adaware and a old dos version of mcafee antivirus. Are you kidding me?

And one of the lines I like the best is...
"Each computer is granted a five minute consultation.
Wow is that 5 whole minutes the customer gets to talk to the tech before they give their cash over? How kind! Just another example of how untrained people can ruin the rep of thousands of good techs.

Well got a few service calls this morning and then back to the shop to clear the rest of the repairs off the benches.



7:39 PM 3/14/2008: Get your pre-installed Virus?

Just one more reason to make sure yourself that your equipment is always protected. See this story


1:46 PM 3/14/2008: What happened to your blog?

Well its been a few months since I took the time to write anything down and as I was uploading the new files to the site I got another email from like the 8th person in two weeks that asked me "whatever happened to that blog?"

So since I was redoing the whole site I put all the old posts on another page (see link at bottom) and started typing...

This morning I got the old "I hate almost everything on the site bug" and what you now see is the result of 6 hours of typing code. It looks a bit cleaner and fresher to me. It turns out that everybody wants their computers fixed after 3 today so... Now I am off to fix more computers... I'll try to keep this updated...



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