Who do you call for computer help?

I'm a little late getting onto this thread but if you live within reasonable travelling distance of Portsmouth I can recommend my computer man. He is called Jack Tatersall and trades as The Computer Doctor. He is straightforward and honest about your PC problems and his rates are very reasonable. I have used him now for quite a few years and can really recommend him.
He can be contacted at <[email protected]>

The OH - if he ever leaves me, one way or the other, I'll just have to give up, lol.

Can mostly do it myself. As I may have already said, as this post has been pottering about for a while.

There are two young men who live within 5 miles of me who will come out if I have a real problem, but mostly I seem to find swearing at it, switching it off and ignoring it for a while makes it come to its senses!

I trust The Tech Guys at PC world

I have been consulting them for years and no complaints............

http://www.computerhope.com/

I can usually do most of it, but we have a PC consultant company who service everything once a year and will sort out problems over the phone, or come round.

Never followed up the above post about the hinge (apologies to Apple) they fixed it free within hours despite the fact and accepted it was a manufacturing fault (although machine not old) And did it much faster than they said. new screen within hours.
No Apple really don't have the number of faults with software that microsoft have. It is also less subject to being attacked by viruses etc.
If you go apple, you have an apple machine. Other makes the computers are all running microsoft - and the equipment may vary. I found that Dell hinges go and no friendly apple shop to fix it for free when it is out of warranty.
This is why Apple can charge more for their kit.
And it looks nice, and that seems to influence DH. I am more interested in the other stuff.

Having just moved to the south coast my desk top refused to boot up so we called in the local computer services. That turned out to be tall, dark and handsome Paul who could not have been kinder, nicer or more efficient. He sorted me out, said I needed more RAM - which he installed and came back three times to make sure I was firing on all cylinders. I reckon £70 was well spent as I am now driving a Formula 1 computer instead of my old Morris Minor.

DH was a systems analyst in the 1970s but some problems are beyond him- he's OK with a lot of it but I'm pretty useless as I find the language and terminology in computer-speak baffling so always end up asking for his help.

I have often asked for help on one of my expat forums and the members are very kind, but the men tend to use jargon that I don't understand. They can't fathom the depths of my ignorance about IT matters. Otherwise, I just google 'How do I......' etc.
In extremis, I take it to a computer shop in the next village. He doesn't charge me much.

I normaly struggle along until I can sort it myself, google the problem and sometimes gte an answer sometimes not..but some how I eventualy get it sorted

Hmm, have tried phoning my son whenever I have a blip with my pc or laptop but he just says, "sorry mum I'm with Apple!"
Don't Apples have blips?

Then there are various forums I have tried - one was techsupportguy but didn't always get an answer from them.
So at last I have found you! Good to know I can come on here and get some advice from you in future!

Cheers!

I now can use apple help!

Now that is interesting - how much does the service cost?

If I can't fix the problem myself, I call BT and they log on to my computer and sort out the problem. I have to pay for the service, but it's worth it. The only time I've taken my computer to a computer shop was to have the RAM memory doubled. My IT people at work said I could probably do it myself, but I was a little nervous, especially when they said I would need to 'earth' myself. Sounded dangerous! BT have been excellent.

O2 broadband Assistant -the cd came with the router when I switched to them. This sorts out a lot of problems but on the few occasions I've had to use their remote help I have found them very helpful and courteous. This help is part of my monthly package.

Greatnan his services of course

If we are a little? ignorant of the facts, there are times when we have to trust someone to put us right, and if we have logmein with either a relative or a close friend, then we have to learn to trust them. I have come to the conclusion that there are so many people out there (according to the media) willing and able to steal my identity, the only thing to do is trust my instinct.

I do occasionally!

Still nobody who uses a paid-for service - as I suspected!

But in my experience the real answer is giving someone you trust access to your computer. Logmein (as mentioned by other posters) is one of many services that allow this, and their free version is fine for most people.

I help an 87 year old lady this way - she can see what I am doing, and we are talking on the phone whilst I do it, even though we are hundreds of miles apart,

But just how keen are we all to give someone, anyone, this sort of access? Even if permission has to be given each time? Do we trust it?

My nephew, who has a computer business. The only problem is, you have to fight to make him accept any money! I try not to let my otherwise wonderful son know I have a problem, because he insists on "looking at it" for me. Trouble is, he won't confine himself to "looking at it" and we usually end up in more trouble than we started!

My son has a way of accessing my computer. From his house approximately 200 miles away. It's something you can sign up for, but I can't remember what it's called.

He assures me he can't see what I post on GN. (phew)

GoldenGran, would you like to specfy what you actually pay him for?

My DH , then one of my brothers and finally if no-one has any success, a gorgeous young man called Fergus who is in computers for a living, so I pay him,but he is lovely to look at

DS1. He is pretty knowledgeable though not a professional. Trouble is he is a Linux fan and not much help with any other system.