computer help rage

[Sava]

"Sava, my system says it's updating."

me - "Okay. Your "system"... what does that mean? Windows?"

"No, my PC"

me "Yes. I understand that. What on your PC is telling you this?"

"My system. It says it's updating."

me "Is that a question?"

"Well, it says it's updating the registry"

me "What is 'it'? A program? What is telling you this?"

"my system"

/facepalm

me "Yes. We've established that the computer is responsible for all output on your screen. But generally, a specific program does things. Is there a problem?"

"Yeah, my PC is updating"

me "It's supposed to."

"Are you downloading something?"

me "Why? What would that have to do with anything?"

"Because the system is running slowly"

me "You just said it's updating."

"But everything is slow."

me "Because it's updat-----"

*phone rings*

"Hello? Yeah my system is slow, I don't know what's wrong"




..........

[Buster Crabbe's Uncle]

I have a mother, too, and you have my sympathy.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

obligatory

[Lorizael]

Correct response:

"Sava, my system says it's updating."

Sava: "Yeah, it does that every once in awhile. Just wait until it's done."

[Sava]

Correct response:

"Sava, my system says it's updating."

Sava: "Yeah, it does that every once in awhile. Just wait until it's done."

"But is it supposed to be doing that? Why is it so slow?"

[Sava]

I have a mother, too, and you have my sympathy.

Keep in mind... this woman has a Master's in Information Systems (among other things).

[Lorizael]

"But is it supposed to be doing that? Why is it so slow?"

"Yeah, it's supposed to do that. And yeah, it's slow. Computers, what are they good for?"

(None of this may work in your case. In my experience, with my mother, the best solution has been to go along with her general frustration with computers while also convincing her that nothing is actually wrong.)

[Buster Crabbe's Uncle]

My mom has a Masters in Education (which involved several computer classes, which she did well in) - and doesn't like asking for help. When she does, she gets shirty real easy, like I'm telling her she's stupid or something. She's definitely not and I don't. I explain and have her push the keys herself, and she still can't remember how to copy/paste to save her life for ten minutes.

She's pretty good with GIMP, fixing up old family pictures, so that copy/paste mental block is a problem.

However, she figures out her cellphone on her own -I take credit for teaching her how to work out that kind of thing- and the other grannies think she's teh haxxor...

[Buster Crabbe's Uncle]

"Yeah, it's supposed to do that. And yeah, it's slow. Computers, what are they good for?"

(None of this may work in your case. In my experience, with my mother, the best solution has been to go along with her general frustration with computers while also convincing her that nothing is actually wrong.)

I do that - "Everybody's system boots slow, Mom. Windows is of the Devil. This is normal."

[The Mad Monk]

My mother has Favorite Programs that are now at least a decade old. She insists on installing them on every new computer, which then runs like its ten years ago.

[Lorizael]

We have a pretty wide range of ages here. Does something about the pregnancy process cause technophobia? I kind of want to ask Marissa Mayer if her computer is running okay.

[Sava]

We have a pretty wide range of ages here. Does something about the pregnancy process cause technophobia?

Not directly.

My sister is currently 8+ months pregnant.

[ColdWizard]

Hire Elok to take care of that ****.

[Buster Crabbe's Uncle]

[Sava]

Elok does 8+ month abortions?