Computer information you can not only use, but understand!
Tune in today at 12 Noon MST for a brand new live episode of Castellini on Computers.
The show is carried locally (Grand Junction, CO) on KAFM Community Radio 88.1 FM or you can listen
by visiting the KAFM web site from Noon to 1pm Mountain time.
If you have a question to ask, call 970-241-8801 extension 1 during the show!
I can't ask you a question on :Questions@Helpmerick.com
I get a message:
Can't complete request because my default mail was not properly installed.
What do I do to fix the default.
________________
I have internet explorer 2 and I am getting a request to update to windows 7....Should I ?
I have an "emachine W6409 Desktop Pc".
Thank You.
Carolyn
computer service, or lack of......
My husband's computer crashed back in September, when he was trying to update his subscription to Norton. OMG, talk about a nite mare. We enlisted the service of a local merchant. Then had to go to another local merchant to repair the original repair. I am still fighting the original repair charge. Anne GJ, CO
Help Me Rick
Thanks to the radio program, I haven't had to call anyone for a long, long time...I did have Rick over to check out my computer, he deleted the things I wasn't sure whether I needed or not (like all that trial software they put on) but he was impressed with the clean efficiancy of my computer. I told him it was because I listen to his show.
Keep it up, big guy!!!
Tech Support
I made the mistake of calling Dell with a problem with my laptop. My D drive stopped working, and trying to get help with Dell was like going to the dentist. I gave up on using tech support with Dell and finally hired a company locally that took care of the problem. As far as Dell, never, ever again will I purchase their product.
A good lesson
As far as machines go, I think Dell puts out as good of a product as anyone. However, gone are the days of buying a computer based on support.
Many of the machines that Rick and I work on in a week are still under warranty but the customers has become tired of calling tech support to worth through the waves of Indians proper to reach someone who can (or will) help.
That is why we often recommend that people buy based on specs and price, not service. Unlike a car, almost every component in a computer is made by another (and sometimes competing) company. When you have a hardware failure, it is likely not because of a poorly manufactured computer, but a poorly designed component.
This means that when you call tech support, everyone wants to blame the other guy. The Dell guy will blame Seagate or Wester Digital or whoever made the hard drive, the hard drive company will try to blame Dell or the motherboard company and they all will try to blame you or Microsoft.
So, here are some pointers:
1. Never buy an extended warranty unless you are willing to put hours into getting the problem fixed. You will likely spend less on getting the computer fixed than what it costs for an extended warranty.
2. Try everything you know to do before you call tech support.
3. When you do get a hold of a person, take control of the call as soon as it is possible - before they start walking you through stuff you have already tried.
4. Stay calm and professional the whole time. Mention that you love their company and have always had great products from them. Or tell them that all of your friends use their products and have had good luck - in other words, butter them up. As soon as they detect hostility, they will treat you as an angry call and your service will go down.
5. Once you take control of the call, slowly (don't worry about taking up their time) walk them through everything you have already tried. Explain the problem slowly and in great detail.
6. Don't be afraid to say, "I've already done that." Before walking through a series of steps that you have gone through multiple times while troubleshooting.
7. Don't say, "I've already tried that," to things you haven't really tried. Stay humble even though you are frustrated. Be willing to try anything.
8. You might have to instruct them to listen. As you talk the person on the other end is typing in keywords from your problem into their computer where a database of possible solutions will show up. This is why you talk slowly.
They can only hear as fast as you can type. Sometimes I tell them to just listen to the problem first before they start searching for an answer. I tell them I will gladly repeat the problem again if they need.
Contrary to what it may seem, most of the people you talk to in India are college educated and very intelligent. If you talk slowly with them and request them to do the same, they will usually work with you quite well on a problem.
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