Great tech tip

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

If your wireless mouse quits working and won't start even after you replace the batteries, look again. The batteries are probably in backwards.

Yep, I got a call from a client this morning. I rushed to her office and took a quick look. Sure enough, one of the batteries was in the wrong way.

I charged her for the diagnosis, too!

Easy money.

[Robeson]

1. Since you actually had to take time to go to their office, ......

...I'll cut you slack. You should get paid for your time.;-)

[RazzleCat]

2. I had a more stupid service call

Emergency, the computer won't work at all, nothing lights up, you have to get here now. So drop everything rush to the site, and you guessed it, they unplugged it (possible random foot wiggling), and yes I charged for the call. Just maybe you won't be so stupid next time.

Have also had to teach someone how to re-boot. (Yes the level of user ignorance is awesome).

And yet another favorite for the machine that is not booting correctly is to tell them to take the CD/Floppy out of the drive.

[alfredo]

3. I don't see how leaving a CD or Floppy in a drive can cause problems

My computer will only boot from the CD if I specify to boot from the disc or hold down the C key at launch.

[youspeakmylanguage]

4. It depends on the CD , DVD or floppy...

...if they've left a bootable disc or disk in the drive it will boot first. A computer newbie should still see and hear the drive booting, though. Hence the difference between ignorance and stupidity.

[alfredo]

5. I have next to no experience on the Windows platform.

On the Mac you have to hold down the C key to boot from a removable disk or you have to set a new startup disk in the preferences. On the install disk you have to restart to begin the installation, but again you have to knowingly make it boot from the CD.

It just seems odd that it would default to the removable media on startup.

[youspeakmylanguage]

6. I have too much experience with the Windows platform...

I didn't realize it, but the last 12-14 years or so of using Windows has stunted the growth of my computer expertise. I'm in the process of trying to learn Linux and it's like attempting live brain surgery with a swiss army knife and an advanced medical textbook. Intensely frustrating.

[alfredo]

7. first, don't be afraid of fucking up.

The more you screw up, the more experience you get at installing and configuring Linux. In time you start to understand why they do what they do.

I haven't used Linux for some time. I am letting a friend use my iMac that is running Linux, and all the UNIX/Linux apps I like now run on OSX.

Get "Running Linux" from O'Reilly press. (the cowboy cover)

A site I used quite a bit.

http://www.justlinux.com/

BTW, what flavor Linux you using?

[youspeakmylanguage]

8. Thanks so much for the recommendations...

...I started with Ubuntu, then switched to SuSE Professional 9.2. Now I'm thinking of trying Mepis.

The fundamental frustration comes from the fact that I still can't grasp how Linux actually works AND that I don't have an Internet connection at home. I'm trying to remedy both at the moment.

I also made the HUGE mistake of bragging to my fiance about how everything with Linux and the GNU/GPL software costs either nothing or next to nothing. Now I have to justify spending $40-$50 on a good manual. She won't be too happy, especially since we're supposed to start saving for our wedding.

[alfredo]

9. "Running Linux" is a good investment, but you might get by

with just hitting the linux forums as needed. All my computer books were bought with pocket change saved in a jar.