I would like to create an online troubleshooting "tree" in which users needing tech support get directed to different pages with further suggestions and questions depending on their answers to earlier questions, similar to (but hopefully more useful than) the Microsoft Windows troubleshooter. If they are unable to resolve the problem themselves, I would like to be sent an email or for a ticket or spreadsheet row to be created with the answers they provided.
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posted by espertus
on Feb 25, 2012 -
9 answers
My IT Help Desk is stumped - can you help me? My computer is making what I can only describe as a
hardware beep that I can't turn off. Muting Windows and disabling all system sounds doesn't work. Yet the beep only happens when I do certain things with the software - at first, it was only when trying to save a document into my virtual system in Word, but recently it's every time an email arrives in Outlook, which is just awful. This didn't used to happen, but once, many months ago, I accidentally pressed a random combination of keys and it started. I have no idea how to turn it off - and neither do the IT people. System details inside.
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posted by Dasein
on Feb 17, 2012 -
10 answers
I am interested in working for Apple as an AppleCare At-Home Advisor. Although the position works from home, the job description states that you must live within 100 miles of certain US cities (e.g. SLC, Columbus)
Do they ever hire anyone outside those cities?
Any other ideas for jobs supporting Apple products from home? If it matters, I'm in Pittsburgh, and I'm not a student.
posted by skidoom
on Feb 13, 2012 -
1 answer
Does anyone have simple paper-based technical support ticket they could share? I've become the default tech support person and the interruptions are making it difficult to get my own work done. A Word or Excel document I could edit would be great.
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posted by fishpatrol
on Dec 2, 2011 -
7 answers
My iPhone is suddenly working five times as fast. Great! How can I keep it from slowing down again?
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posted by theodolite
on Sep 27, 2011 -
8 answers
A family member struggles with computer skills, but is self-employed and uses email frequently for his work. He has a Mac and a paid Google Apps account. Can you recommend a trustworthy person or service based in LA (or advice on finding one) he could hire to help him with managing his Mac, Google Apps, and other basic computer needs?
posted by Meg_Murry
on Aug 21, 2011 -
11 answers
Is my (partner's) laptop display kaput? It alternates between a blank screen (although the backlight is on) and strange wavy pink-green effects.
The system outputs to an external monitor, and I've updated the bios and display drivers. I have also taken off and apart the screen to check the cable connections, with no change. What's happened? Motherboard? Display? Cable? Specs inside.
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posted by Wulfhere
on Jun 10, 2011 -
3 answers
Who in the Dallas, TX area (deliberately vague; I'm willing to drive) can repair my broken laptop AND answer my questions about it, especially how it got that way? Even just "this guy I know" would be perfectly fine; I've learned my lesson about the big-name places.
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posted by jinjo
on May 18, 2011 -
1 answer
It's all gone dark here....My Acer Aspire One AOD150 is just out of warranty and the screen will not wake up from sleep. I'm out of tricks and wondering if it's just time to buy a new lappy.
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posted by teleri025
on Apr 11, 2011 -
6 answers
Wondering if I am definitely dealing with a bad system board or if there is any other possibility. (more inside)
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posted by Raichle
on Mar 9, 2011 -
5 answers
PlayStation3 has stopped playing with Netflix. I have done the fixes I found on internet and set a help request to Playstation. However, if y'all have the solution, it would saving me waiting for Playstation to get back to me.
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posted by crush-onastick
on Feb 19, 2011 -
4 answers
I have a small but growing IT tech-support firm. We need a cost-effective way to track client contacts, technician time, and the work performed for clients.
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posted by BigLankyBastard
on Jan 14, 2011 -
13 answers
How can I make it clear to users what pieces of a database I've changed so that they don't assume everything going forward that is wrong with it is because I've 'done something'?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 12, 2011 -
16 answers
eBay's support system is driving me nuts, and now my account has been suspended for something that is completely not my fault. Is there a more direct line to eBay I can try to complain?
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posted by divabat
on Dec 8, 2010 -
15 answers
Internet Explorer 8. It's got the ability to delete individual items in address bar history by clicking little icons in the history list. I want it to stop.
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posted by disclaimer
on Oct 26, 2010 -
2 answers
How do I get my browser(s) to stop back tracking? When I use both Firefox and Chrome on my office computer, the browser will automatically flip back to the previous page (as if I hit the "back" button) after about 30 seconds. It will actually keep doing it until it gets back to the first page I opened in the browser. It doesn't happen with all web pages (Gmail and Metafilter seem fine), but it's particularly a problem with media sites (e.g. local newspapers, the Atlantic, Good Magazine). I mostly get around it by holding 'ctrl' when I click a link so it opens in a new tab and can't back track. But it's a pain in the butt.
Is there a way to stop this?
posted by dry white toast
on Jul 30, 2010 -
15 answers
GoDaddy just employed some Jedi mind tricks to con me into a $150 Paypal charge. How do I recoup this money?
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posted by gacxllr9
on Jul 6, 2010 -
20 answers
When trying to boot my computer, I am getting a Grub Error 21. I have tried several methods to fix and none of them have worked. I am at wits end.
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posted by hellojed
on Jun 23, 2010 -
21 answers
Weird internet blockage—problem resolved, but mystery remains. Macintosh and Time Warner cable internet inside…
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posted by klangklangston
on May 13, 2010 -
3 answers
Please explain to me exactly what is going wrong with my laptop, why doing a particular thing fixes it, and what I need to do to keep it from continually happening, or getting worse.
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posted by Mizu
on May 4, 2010 -
10 answers
How to get Dell to follow through with their warranty promises, when they insist the problem is "software related"? PS They installed the problematic software.
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posted by BusyBusyBusy
on Mar 19, 2010 -
15 answers
Help me re-find the most helpful tech website ever. It all started with a search for how to remove GoogleToolbarNotifier Task Manager process list...
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posted by undercoverhuwaaah
on Feb 25, 2010 -
8 answers
How can I help those less-technically inclined to think more abstractly about using a computer? Also, what's the best way to introduce smarter behaviors to avoid problems down the road and encourage them to learn and explore on their own?
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posted by cgomez
on Feb 24, 2010 -
28 answers
When did you have a great interaction with technical support, and what did the technician do to make the experience better? In-person encounters preferred, but call-ins also welcomed.
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posted by d. z. wang
on Dec 25, 2009 -
23 answers
Three times this month: we lose dial tone. We call to complain. Their automated system runs an automated "line test," which fixes the problem. Is the excuse Verizon just gave me for why we this keeps happening plausible?
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posted by ook
on Sep 2, 2009 -
10 answers
My company is looking at adding a "chat with tech support online" feature from our support website. I have dug around on the intertubes and found a lot of marketing material, but would like to know if any folks here have experience with implementing that kind of product and are willing to make recommendations.
Our Requirements are fairly simple: It has to be hosted on site (so no external providers), and has to integrate with IIS. Any suggestions?
posted by Lord Widebottom
on Jul 20, 2009 -
6 answers
My laptop's been infected by something that is interfering with all the usual solutions. Please help!
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posted by Rhaomi
on Jan 25, 2009 -
30 answers
Through a long series of circumstances, I need to reencode my entire .mp3 music collection. I would like to reencode them at the same bitrate, but am getting very strange results when I do. Please help!
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posted by WidgetAlley
on Dec 15, 2008 -
10 answers
Does the Blackberry 8310 curve's browser have a maximum password length?
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posted by bofe
on Dec 2, 2008 -
2 answers
Are there any remote help companies that I could earn residual income for by signing people up for their service? (not just disguised as a BS affiliate program)
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posted by schindyguy
on Oct 30, 2008 -
1 answer
VistaFilter: Since installing Service Pack 1, I have had multiple crashes, many of which generate the message "Host process for Windows services has stopped working," cause a BlueScreen error, and reboot. When I attempted to uninstall SP1, Stage 1 got to 98% and then I got the message "Service Pack did not uninstall. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer." This stayed up for about 30 minutes; after it rebooted itself, things appear to be OK (for now, anyway). HP Pavilion desktop dual-core system (model a6120n), 2GB memory, Vista Home Premium.
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posted by catlet
on Oct 22, 2008 -
5 answers
I am trying to figure out what do with my life after college for money and in general. I have a couple ideas like remote tech support and web development, please give me your wise advice (very long explanation)
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posted by schindyguy
on Oct 10, 2008 -
13 answers
ParentTechSupportFilter: My father has a virus. *sigh* before I send him to Geek Squad, what else should I tell him to do that he hasn't done already?
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posted by micawber
on Aug 15, 2008 -
15 answers
Is there a good ticket/support/bug management system that builds a queue out of incoming emails?
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posted by c:\awesome
on Jul 3, 2008 -
16 answers
I can fix my sister's iMac, but she doesn't want me to. Do I go behind her back and get it running again?
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posted by hellojed
on Jun 30, 2008 -
28 answers
Experiences with remote desktop software for help desk troubleshooting?
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posted by enfa
on Mar 5, 2008 -
14 answers
Can anyone help me with installing older Bioware games (BG2, NWN and expansions) on a new Mac Powerbook?
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posted by jeff-o-matic
on Feb 5, 2008 -
8 answers
