Spyware Problems - Page 3

**Kyobanim** · 02-28-2005, 19:26

This would probably be one of those 'lessons learned' kinda things.

Rule number one, back up everything. If you have a CD burner, put your files on that. If you have big movies, spend the money for a DVD burner and put them on that. The only thing you should really have on your system is the operating system and the applications. Your important files should be on a disk. If you nee dto change them, copy to the drive and save them to a CD. CDs are cheap. A lot cheaper than the time it takes to find/recreate all those missing files.

I've got OS and apps on the primary drive, files in progress on secondary drive and everything else on DVDs or on my web server (which gets backed up every night). I've lost too many important files to not do this.

Martin, Add FAT 16 to your list of file formats that you can recover. What you said applies to all the formats that MS has been using. Partician magic won't recover files but like you said, there are hundreds of products out there that will if you follow the guidelines you laid out.

One thing that can help with the spyware problem but is a pain in the ass. Create an account on your computer just for browsing. set the permissions as User. This will stop most of the most malicious spyware apps, the ones that actually install themselves, on your PC. We've been testing this out at work since we're getting ready to go Active Directory and it's made life easier for us on the test network.

Just remember, if you can't live without it, it shouldn't be on your hard drive. At least get a memory key, or 2.

Guy · 03-02-2005, 10:49

Thanks for the advice and offers. I learn more if I just tackle the problems "head on."

Make sure you keep the "Product Key" # somewhere. I'm in the process of trying to locate my XP Offfice key.

Those "help-lines" they talk about...will drive you crazy!

Smokin Joe · 03-02-2005, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy

Thanks for the advice and offers. I learn more if I just tackle the problems "head on."

Make sure you keep the "Product Key" # somewhere. I'm in the process of trying to locate my XP Offfice key.

Those "help-lines" they talk about...will drive you crazy!

Just wait tell you get one that is out sourced.

"Heylo Joo, how ma I hup yoo?"

"Uh? oh ya, hey my shits broken help me fix it."

"Ohhkey whad is D probblbeb?"...........

For the most part they know there stuff but it sucks having them repeat it 10 times before you can understand EXACTLY what they are saying.

Good luck Guy.

**The Reaper** · 03-02-2005, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokin Joe

Just wait tell you get one that is out sourced.

"Heylo Joo, how ma I hup yoo?"

"Uh? oh ya, hey my shits broken help me fix it."

"Ohhkey whad is D probblbeb?"...........

For the most part they know there stuff but it sucks having them repeat it 10 times before you can understand EXACTLY what they are saying.

Good luck Guy.

Got that with a Linksys router a few weeks ago.

I called Tech Support and could hardly understand what the heck she was saying. She finally told me that it was Microsoft's, my PC maker's, or the ISP's problem, but not hers.

Last of their products I ever buy.

TR

Guy · 03-02-2005, 11:41

That's exactly what I got!

No wonder..."yellow" legal pads are still a big seller.

**Kyobanim** · 03-02-2005, 13:08

Maybe I should open a tech support company.

At least I don't speak in 7-11iese

DunbarFC · 03-02-2005, 15:01

My job is currently in the process of being outsourced to India

In fact I'm helping to train the folks that will then train the people there

Just know that even the folks they choose to send here speak English just as poorly as the folks that answer the phone

I've resorted to saying "send me an email" to everything they ask

Smokin Joe · 03-02-2005, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Got that with a Linksys router a few weeks ago.

I called Tech Support and could hardly understand what the heck she was saying. She finally told me that it was Microsoft's, my PC maker's, or the ISP's problem, but not hers.

Last of their products I ever buy.

TR

I had that problem with my Linksys router too. So I turned it into a wireless switch instead. No more

"Ip con pig"
"Uh, say again please"
"Ipconpig, doo hab to conpigur yoor ip."
"Oh ipconfig, now I gotcha"

Its actually pretty easy to do drop me a PM if you want help.

zeroalpha · 03-02-2005, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by DunbarFC

My job is currently in the process of being outsourced to India

In fact I'm helping to train the folks that will then train the people there

Just know that even the folks they choose to send here speak English just as poorly as the folks that answer the phone

I've resorted to saying "send me an email" to everything they ask

My work laptop died a few weeks ago so I phoned the helpdesk... didnt know atthe time but it was in India. (Local toll free number - ya just expect to speak to a local@!

I couldnt understand a frigging word that the guy said... so they put me on to a woman who was figging worse!

I ended up accidentally leaving it on the roof of the Land Rover.....

I now have a new laptop.

Guy · 03-02-2005, 18:02

I have my photograph on my credit card and they still ask for ID.

**The Reaper** · 03-02-2005, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokin Joe

I had that problem with my Linksys router too. So I turned it into a wireless switch instead. No more

"Ip con pig"
"Uh, say again please"
"Ipconpig, doo hab to conpigur yoor ip."
"Oh ipconfig, now I gotcha"

Its actually pretty easy to do drop me a PM if you want help.

Nope, already had a computer wiz board member square me away.

I wonder if these companies realize that the money they save in outsourcing is being lost in customer dissatisfaction.

TR

**Kyobanim** · 03-02-2005, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Nope, already had a computer wiz board member square me away.

I wonder if these companies realize that the money they save in outsourcing is being lost in customer dissatisfaction.

TR

Some of them do. We have a contract with Dell for all our PC and server needs. They tried to pass us off to the India call center. That lasted until we invited them to a meeting with us and IBM for contract renewal negotiations.

DunbarFC · 03-03-2005, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Nope, already had a computer wiz board member square me away.

I wonder if these companies realize that the money they save in outsourcing is being lost in customer dissatisfaction.

TR

I think you hit the nail squarely there sir

In my case my company is outsourcing development efforts, change and configuration management etc

The goal in the short term is to cut costs, but when wages rise in India and they start to demand health care, costs will rise again

Not to mention that when the system that prices out a good deal of the funds on Wall Street fails, they can't exactly get the people who they need to fix the issue because once the job is in India, who is really going to be doing the job ?

Ahh well back to the job searh

**Roguish Lawyer** · 03-03-2005, 09:44

If I get one more call from an electronic voice telling me to hold for a "very important" bullshit sales call from Dell, I am going up north to join Guy's growing insurgency and go medieval on their ass.

Guy · 03-03-2005, 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

If I get one more call from an electronic voice telling me to hold for a "very important" bullshit sales call from Dell, I am going up north to join Guy's growing insurgency and go medieval on their ass.

Imagine walking into a place and some SOB calls you "Mr Turner."

The funniest thing about those help-lines....I can "cuss" up a storm and they will have NO idea what I'm saying.

"I wanna talk to Bill Gates"

"Who's this mister gates"?

"The SOB that developed Windows OS"

"he not here now"

LMMFAO!