Really? Since I span up my consultancy in 2006, (granted i don't do much PC repair), I've seen one. I don't think it's an unreasonable assumption at all. In fact I'd go further and say I probably wouldn't even consider it myself, at least not as a 1st port of call (and I've been mucking about with PCs since 386 days). Jumpers don't move themselves.
nichomach (14-10-2012)
Thats true, they don't move themselves. But then there are a stack load of PC's out there with IDE drives in still in operation !Originally Posted by b0redom
Right, go on then, everyone join in! - choose your own adventure.
You enter the front room of the house. The customer points you to the computer in the corner. "That's the one, just stopped working" he says apologetically. you smile on seeing the 3.5" drive, thank god those days are over.
You sit down in front of the computer and [enter your first move]
Vodka
Agent (11-10-2012)
Ask the customer if he's tried turning it off, then back on again!
(the traditional tech support opening gambit, after all).
I do so hate to double post, but:
How is that different from *any* other company? The whole point of running a company is to make loads of money. Otherwise you'd run a charity...
Scaryjim - The customer gives you an affirmative nod and chuckles. He obviously worked on submarines in his younger days, you conclude.
anyone else in? no? ok
The customer asks you if you would like a cup of tea and you accept readily, your love of tea is only matched by your love of biscuits, you hint. The customer departs to make you one.
With the formalities out of the way you turn back to the task in hand and [enter your second move]
Last edited by MadduckUK; 11-10-2012 at 03:44 PM.
Vodka
[second move]
... ask the customer to clear all the crap, post it notes, fluffy toys, empty CD cases, etc, from the desk area or offer to do it for him.
The customer is not here at the moment, you are not going to put on your robe and wizard hat, and you are not going to rob him blind. You decide to stop procrastinating and do some work. [Go again]
Vodka
[Me asking the customer]It was working perfectly yesterday and then all of a sudden it just stopped working?
[Customer]Yes!
[Me] (thinking in my head) - Dead HDD? Power Cable? ....thinks of a million different things...jumpers would be way down the list of possible problems due to the customer admitting to not touching the PC and it was working yesterday, jumpers don't move themselves.
[Me]45 minutes later I eventually diagnose the problem and fix it but charge her extra for being a deceiving cow
I hate to sound all official and serious, but unless you are in an apprentice or similar role, where you are quite literally learning on the job, if you work with computers in a technician role, you are expected to have the widest possible knowledge of the subject both software AND hardware. To not know what IDE or SATA is, is just completely unacceptable in my view.
It was stated on the program (by the director) that some if not all his staff were on minimum wage, and it was commission based, which really tells you everything.
Second move depends if there is any sign of activity. If it completely dead, I'd look to see if there is a switch on the back of the psu, and then check the fuse in the plug top.
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
Been helped or just 'Like' a post? Use the Thanks button!
My broadband speed - 750 Meganibbles/minute
After you remove yourself from your "troubleshooting trance" and wipe the dribble from your chin you decide to try turning the computer on.
You are pleased to see that it posts, however as the post screen flashes past you notice (cobbled together, could do it for realsies but won't, especially now im home)
and then the inevitable
your psychic "troubleshooting trance" seems to have paid off somewhat! this seems like a hard drive problem after all! Mental high-fives all round!
You give the power button a good four seconds, and then [enter your third move]
Last edited by MadduckUK; 11-10-2012 at 05:40 PM.
Vodka
Reboot into the bios. See if any disks are detected there and see what the system time is - have the cmos settings been lost - cmos battery? Boot order?. If I was really prepared I might try booting from that DOS disk I just happened to have with me
After that it is time to have a peek inside to see if there are any hard drives physically fitted.
There might not be too many IDE hard drives around anymore, but I bet there's an enormous amount of PCs with IDE DVD drives still knocking around.
You reboot and enter the BIOS, heading for where the system date/time lives. You are presented with
You check you aren't falling out of a pub to go looking for a club, you don't seem to be so you presume the time is probably wrong.
You panic, is it the CMOS battery? Is it the boot order? Where have the years gone? You decide to get out of this horrible blue screen of blatant clues. You pop in your antique 1.44 floppy and reboot.
Upon seeing the commend prompt you realise you probably didn't need to be here. You remove the floppy, power off the system, pull the plug and break out the screwdriver.
Through the festive frosting of dust you make out a pair of hard drives, [enter your fourth move].
Vodka
so whats the diagnosis ?
The hard drive is changing it's own jumpers?
Sorry, in my book a hard drive that can move it's own jumpers is surely faulty. therefore correct diagnosis.
I would have charged him £300 for being a time wasting liar.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
