My semi-senile older friend needs a computer just for email and web, but keeps messing with Windows cfgs, viruses, spam etc. a support nightmare/comedy. Is there a recommended Linux or Windows distrib for a 5-year old PC, that stays the same with every reboot, support for web and email only, prevents messing with OS, and remote support ability?
posted by stbalbach on Dec 6, 2011 - 10 answers

I need to brush up on and refresh my memory of various topics in the area of IT technical support for an interview. Can you help? [more inside]
posted by karizma on May 19, 2011 - 5 answers

I have an external usb drive running off my Windows 7 computer. It keeps switching back to Read-Only, so when I try to send files to it, it merely appends a file and adds a number to its name, instead of re-writing the entire file. I've tried to change it back, but it does not stay changed. The minute I refresh the page, the read-only status comes back! Is there some setting I'm missing? Is there something in Windows 7 that's causing this to happen?
posted by noir on Feb 11, 2009 - 2 answers

I need some help and some hand-holding with hard drive recovery on a failed main drive in a Windows Server 2003 RAID 5 array. [more inside]
posted by Oops on Apr 21, 2007 - 7 answers

Why is my computer suddenly grumpy, slow, and generally uncooperative? [more inside]
posted by chefscotticus on Sep 6, 2006 - 14 answers

Riddle me this: there are two Windows XP computers (desktop and laptop) on the same Internet connection, behind the same router, connecting wirelessly to it. The laptop often (but not every time) takes a really long time (30 seconds+) to send email and connect to certain websites. The desktop never has this problem. What's going on? [more inside]
posted by frenetic on Feb 10, 2006 - 10 answers

Whenever I right-click in a folder window, Windows Explorer hangs for about 30 seconds. Same thing if I select a file and hit the delete key. The right-click keyboard key: same thing. Eventually, I do get my right-click menu and can use it, but the lag is making me insane. I've done my Google homework and there's [more inside]. [more inside]
posted by scarabic on Jan 7, 2004 - 14 answers