Who do you think you are, computer repairman?

[Airman Doors, USAF]

The input for the power cord on my laptop was broken, so as I couldn't charge my computer I needed to get it fixed. I took it to a local HP-approved repair place to get it fixed. It took them almost a month to get it back to me between waiting for the parts and waiting my turn in line, but I understood that going into it so I waited patiently and today I finally got it back.

So I turn it on, and what did I find?

I found 5 different programs, including Safari, installed on my computer. I opened Firefox and found the Yahoo! by AVG toolbar installed.

When, precisely, did I tell this guy that he could install any Apple crapware on my computer? That's right, the answer is never. If I wanted that stuff on my computer I have had ample time to put it there myself. Why would I put anything on my computer that I have never before used and have no intention of using?

I brought the computer to this business to fix the power input problem, not to put on programs that for the last hour have fought my every attempt to remove them. Finally I got rid of all but the AVG toolbar, which I will hide for time being because I'm too annoyed to delete AVG, re-download it, and reinstall it right now.

I know what my mistake was. I should never have given them my password. I should have created a Guest account without Administrator privileges. But I am baffled as to why a straight component issue requires installing a bunch of garbage I don't want on my computer.

Never again. These guys will not get any more of my business, now or in the future. And all because some pinhead tech guy couldn't resist clicking the "Install" button, which he had no right to do in the first place.

[drachillix]

The input for the power cord on my laptop was broken, so as I couldn't charge my computer I needed to get it fixed. I took it to a local HP-approved repair place to get it fixed. It took them almost a month to get it back to me between waiting for the parts and waiting my turn in line, but I understood that going into it so I waited patiently and today I finally got it back.

So I turn it on, and what did I find?

Hell, on a jack repair all we do is make sure it boots into windows unless the customer asks us to look into other things.

[SteveG1]

Reformat the damn thing and start fresh. It's less aggravating.

[MacTech]

That "repair" is unacceptable, regardless of the OS used, the tech should not have installed anything on the machine, especially for a simple component swap

[LurkMeister]

Never again. These guys will not get any more of my business, now or in the future. And all because some pinhead tech guy couldn't resist clicking the "Install" button, which he had no right to do in the first place.

I presume that you brought this point to the attention of the manager of the repair place, as well as to HP. At the very least, the manager should be aware of what his employees are doing, and may even offer to fix the problem with the AVG toolbar free of charge. And HP, particularly if yours is not the first complaint they've gotten about this place, just might decide to yank the shop's approval for HP repairs.

[MsRobyn]

Since the store was dealing with me in terms of approval for repairs and so forth, I will be calling the owner this morning to complain. I hadn't thought to call HP, but I may do that if I can't get satisfaction when talk to the owner. And I will be talking to the owner.

[BobLibDem]

Am I missing something here? Is MsRobyn actually Mrs. Doors?

[runner pat]

Am I missing something here? Is MsRobyn actually Mrs. Doors?

She is, looks like someone didn't log out or check which account they were posting from.

[tacoloco]

Just wait until you find the hidden porn.

I'd be livid if I took a system in for repair and the did something like this.

[drachillix]

Since the store was dealing with me in terms of approval for repairs and so forth, I will be calling the owner this morning to complain. I hadn't thought to call HP, but I may do that if I can't get satisfaction when talk to the owner. And I will be talking to the owner.

If you have any further problems with getting this resolved drop me a PM, if nothing else I can strip the toolbars without reinstalling AVG and such.

[drachillix]

Just wait until you find the hidden porn.

Or all of their personal porn at the new NaughtyRobynlikesAirmenSemen.com

[Really Not All That Bright]

That's not new.

[BubbaDog]

She is, looks like someone didn't log out or check which account they were posting from.

So which one is actually going to talk to the shop owner?

Putting myself into the shop owners shoes I would be somewhat nervous of an AD scolding but would turn into a whimpering, sniveling puppy if put on the receiving end of a MsRobyn verbal attack.

[kayaker]

These guys will not get any more of my business, now or in the future.

That's your best move, along with informing them of your decision. I'd be pissed in your shoes. (what are they, 12 1/2s?)

[Really Not All That Bright]

You know, if you kept Safari, you and MsRobyn wouldn't have so much trouble remembering to log in/out of the SDMB - you could just stay permanently logged in on separate browsers.

That's what the wifey and I do - I use Chrome, she uses Firefox.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Finally I got rid of all but the AVG toolbar, which I will hide for time being because I'm too annoyed to delete AVG, re-download it, and reinstall it right now.You know you can just uninstall the toolbar from Firefox's add-ons menu, right?

[THespos]

I doubt they actively sought out to download and install these applications on your machine. Somebody was probably careless in downloading updates and didn't pay enough attention to checkboxes during the update process. Safari likes to bundle itself with Quicktime updates, and if you're not careful, you'll try to update QT and end up installing Safari. Y! Toolbar rides along with Java updates in a similar fashion.

Yeah, I know you brought the machine in for a hardware repair, not a software repair. And I think that the repair tech ought to be keelhauled, but I don't think it's as malicious as you might think. The repair tech probably thought he was helping by updating your software and ended up installing some programs accidentally.

[chorpler]

She is, looks like someone didn't log out or check which account they were posting from.

To me, it looks like Airman Doors posted the complaint, and then MsRobyn stepped in to mention that she was the one they were dealing with and she'd be taking it up with them. All pretty straightforward, no account problems.

But I could be wrong.

[Shot From Guns]

Yeah, I know you brought the machine in for a hardware repair, not a software repair. And I think that the repair tech ought to be keelhauled, but I don't think it's as malicious as you might think. The repair tech probably thought he was helping by updating your software and ended up installing some programs accidentally.

A tech that fucking ignorant is, IMO, potentially worse than a purely thoughtless one.

[Gryff]

I doubt they actively sought out to download and install these applications on your machine. Somebody was probably careless in downloading updates and didn't pay enough attention to checkboxes during the update process. Safari likes to bundle itself with Quicktime updates, and if you're not careful, you'll try to update QT and end up installing Safari. Y! Toolbar rides along with Java updates in a similar fashion.

Yeah, I know you brought the machine in for a hardware repair, not a software repair. And I think that the repair tech ought to be keelhauled, but I don't think it's as malicious as you might think. The repair tech probably thought he was helping by updating your software and ended up installing some programs accidentally.

What!? No, it is completely irresponsible to update some ones software unless you have been asked to. There is no shortage of incompatibilities with different versions of software requiring people to use an older version of something for various reasons. It is even worse with some versions being nigh on impossible to roll back (I am looking at you Microsoft!)

[NineToTheSky]

I doubt they actively sought out to download and install these applications on your machine. Somebody was probably careless in downloading updates and didn't pay enough attention to checkboxes during the update process. Safari likes to bundle itself with Quicktime updates, and if you're not careful, you'll try to update QT and end up installing Safari. Y! Toolbar rides along with Java updates in a similar fashion.

Yeah, I know you brought the machine in for a hardware repair, not a software repair. And I think that the repair tech ought to be keelhauled, but I don't think it's as malicious as you might think. The repair tech probably thought he was helping by updating your software and ended up installing some programs accidentally.
I've worked in computer businesses that had repair departments. I came across technicians that seemed to think the computer was theirs to do with as they liked. Not only were they abusing the customer's privacy, they were wasting company time.

[THespos]

What!? No, it is completely irresponsible to update some ones software unless you have been asked to. There is no shortage of incompatibilities with different versions of software requiring people to use an older version of something for various reasons. It is even worse with some versions being nigh on impossible to roll back (I am looking at you Microsoft!)

I do believe it's irresponsible and I do think the tech should be held accountable. I'm just trying to explain how it might have happened without malicious intent. That's all. I sincerely doubt the tech thought "Lemme take Airman's computer and download a bunch of programs onto it for shits and giggles." It was probably more like "Hmm...Quicktime wants to update. Maybe I better let it. Oops - I accidentally let Safari slip in there..."

[Really Not All That Bright]

Why would he have needed to connect it to a network to fix the power supply jack?

[Shot From Guns]

It was probably more like "Hmm...Quicktime wants to update. Maybe I better let it. Oops - I accidentally let Safari slip in there..."

Then that person shouldn't be allowed within 10 yards of another person's computer. Period. It's like a pet-sitter who decides that since the dog keeps whining, they're going to give it chocolate to shut it up. Sure, they didn't mean to poison your dog, but they're still too fucking stupid to ever be allowed to take care of your dog (or anyone else's) again.

[MeanOldLady]

like a pet-sitter who decides that since the dog keeps whining, they're going to give it chocolate to shut it up.Well, it would shut the dog up...

[Shot From Guns]

Unless it doesn't get a lethal dose (probably won't, especially if it's milk chocolate), in which case it would probably just ending up whining more and shitting all over everything.

Moral of the story: force-feed the dog baker's chocolate if you really want it to stop crying for a treat.

[Joey P]

Why would he have needed to connect it to a network to fix the power supply jack?

Ding Ding Ding...I think that's going to be the magic question to ask the manager.

[Cat Whisperer]

What!? No, it is completely irresponsible to update some ones software unless you have been asked to. There is no shortage of incompatibilities with different versions of software requiring people to use an older version of something for various reasons. It is even worse with some versions being nigh on impossible to roll back (I am looking at you Microsoft!)
That's why I have all my Windows stuff on a separate partition on my mac hard drive that I can wipe out with a simple command. :)

Add me to the "that is inexcusable!" pile. You, repair tech, don't get to decide what I load onto my computer.

[E-Sabbath]

If I were you, Doors/Robyn, I'd go get malwarebytes and run it real quick, just to be sure.

[MsRobyn]

Am I missing something here? Is MsRobyn actually Mrs. Doors?

I am, in fact, the lovely and talented Mrs. Doors, and I have been since 2002.

I sent an e-mail to the company's owners this morning, and I got a very nice call back from the guy who actually fixed the jack. He's not sure what happened, either, but he would like to see the install logs to find out when the software was added. He seems to think that it was added after he reassembled, and that it was supposed to be installed on someone else's machine, but someone in that area made a careless mistake. Considering that it was legit software and not something malicious that would have installed itself, I'm inclined to agree that it was a careless mistake on the part of the repair shop. No harm, no foul, and they get points for trying to make good on it. On the scale of things that are worth being upset about, this is down at the bottom near a slightly overcooked steak.

[THespos]

Then that person shouldn't be allowed within 10 yards of another person's computer. Period. It's like a pet-sitter who decides that since the dog keeps whining, they're going to give it chocolate to shut it up. Sure, they didn't mean to poison your dog, but they're still too fucking stupid to ever be allowed to take care of your dog (or anyone else's) again.

I'm sorry. You've accidentally confused me with someone who was defending the tech. The OP asked "Who do you think you are, computer repairman?" as if the tech deliberately loaded up his machine with unwanted stuff. I was just explaining how that could happen as the result of incompetence rather than ill intent or a sense of entitlement to surf porn on a customer's machine or something like that.

[jayjay]

a slightly overcooked steak.

Darn Texans...just because it's not mooing doesn't mean it's overcooked!

[Shot From Guns]

I'm sorry. You've accidentally confused me with someone who was defending the tech.

I want you to do me a big favor and take a deep breath. Hold it for a second. Okay, now you can let it out. Calmer? Ready to listen? Good.

Just because a post is in reply to you doesn't mean that it's attacking you.

Get it?

You, me, these other people, we're all having what we like to call a "conversation." And sometimes, in a conversation, one person says something that stimulates a response from someone else. Now, sometimes that response is saying, "You're full of shit and here's why," but other times, it means, "I take your point, but here's my addition." This, since apparently you couldn't figure it out on your own, was the latter.

[ivn1188]

I want you to do me a big favor and take a deep breath. Hold it for a second. Okay, now you can let it out. Calmer? Ready to listen? Good.

Just because a post is in reply to you doesn't mean that it's attacking you.

Get it?

You, me, these other people, we're all having what we like to call a "conversation." And sometimes, in a conversation, one person says something that stimulates a response from someone else. Now, sometimes that response is saying, "You're full of shit and here's why," but other times, it means, "I take your point, but here's my addition." This, since apparently you couldn't figure it out on your own, was the latter.

But that post was "You're a giant asshole. Raaar."

[Shalmanese]

Use the system restore feature to bring your computer back to the state it was in before the repairs.

[Airman Doors, USAF]

Use the system restore feature to bring your computer back to the state it was in before the repairs.

I wanted to, but the last restore point was the day after the installations took place.

You know you can just uninstall the toolbar from Firefox's add-ons menu, right?

No, you can't. I looked. In fact, let me check again right now...

Nope. The Uninstall button will not highlight. The only functional command is Enable and when I enable it the only functional command is Disable.

[tacoloco]

I'm sorry. You've accidentally confused me with someone who was defending the tech. The OP asked "Who do you think you are, computer repairman?" as if the tech deliberately loaded up his machine with unwanted stuff. I was just explaining how that could happen as the result of incompetence rather than ill intent or a sense of entitlement to surf porn on a customer's machine or something like that.

Incompetence or malice is irrelevant.

You don't let incompetent techs work on customer machines and competent techs shouldn't be installing software on customer machines.

[Joey P]

Use the system restore feature to bring your computer back to the state it was in before the repairs.

Be kinda funny if you did that and the jack broke. :D

[Really Not All That Bright]

I am, in fact, the lovely and talented Mrs. Doors, and I have been since 2002.
Before 2002, of course, she was the ugly and worthless Mrs. Doors.

















:D

[Lute Skywatcher]

No, you can't. I looked. In fact, let me check again right now...

Nope. The Uninstall button will not highlight. The only functional command is Enable and when I enable it the only functional command is Disable.Hm. Must've been changed since I wanted to uninstall it.

[Dag Otto]

When you get this all sorted out, can you please update NaughtyRobynlikesAirmenSemen.com? There has been nothing new there for over a month!

[zweisamkeit]

I'm sorry. You've accidentally confused me with someone who was defending the tech. The OP asked "Who do you think you are, computer repairman?" as if the tech deliberately loaded up his machine with unwanted stuff. I was just explaining how that could happen as the result of incompetence rather than ill intent or a sense of entitlement to surf porn on a customer's machine or something like that.

As someone who does tech support for a living, you sure sound like you're defending the tech. The tech was a fucking moron and if he accidentally let anything install, he's completely incompetent. You don't install extraneous software. And for a hardware issue he shouldn't be making any software changes whatsoever.

You're giving him possible excuses that are, to someone who works in the field, absolute bullshit.

[NineToTheSky]

As someone who does tech support for a living, you sure sound like you're defending the tech. The tech was a fucking moron and if he accidentally let anything install, he's completely incompetent. You don't install extraneous software. And for a hardware issue he shouldn't be making any software changes whatsoever.

You're giving him possible excuses that are, to someone who works in the field, absolute bullshit.

I don't see that. THespos said that the technician was incompetent, just as you are.

[E-Sabbath]

Hey, maybe zweisamkeit isn't incompetent, he's just busy.

(You set 'em up, I knock 'em down.)

Doors, did you go into the add-on control panel, (tools, add-ons), disable it, then restart the browser?

[NineToTheSky]

I don't see that. THespos said that the technician was incompetent, just as you are.

I have just re-read my post. I can see that the way I phrased it could be misconstrued. :o

Just to set the record straight, that should have read:
...just as you are saying.

[Airman Doors, USAF]

Reformat the damn thing and start fresh. It's less aggravating.

Well, this turned out to be remarkably prescient. The plot thickens...

So I get all the crap off the computer and decide to do all the updates I have overlooked (it's kinda hard to update in the desert on slower-than-dialup connections), and I download Service Pack 2, thinking hey, that's what I am supposed to do.

Yeah.

So the computer goes through the shutdown and the first two stages of installation, then it freezes with an error code that indicates something that nobody should ever have to see on a computer: Catastrophic Failure. Thanks, Microsoft. You know a program is good when you follow all of the directions and the program fails to function as advertised. What else is new, right?

So I checked the stuff that HP packaged with the computer, and lo and behold, there were no recovery disks. The computer is supposed to have the ability to recover on its own, be it with System Restore or System Recovery. System Restore didn't work, so I backed up my entire computer overnight onto an external hard drive I got just for the occasion. The computer said it worked and I haven't checked on our other laptop yet, so I assume it worked. Then I activated System Recovery, which is supposed to restore factory presets, and it reset automatically.

Didn't work.

Now the only thing I get is "BOOTMGR is missing". My computer has ceased to be. It is now a paperweight. But hey, I can order recovery disks from HP, right? Sure can, only I pay the shipping on them. For something that they should have included to begin with. They very magnanimously informed me that I am getting the software for free, though, so that's something.

You watch. The recovery disks won't work. The way things are going I can all but guarantee it. We'll find out tomorrow (allegedly). Stay tuned for more of the soap opera that my computer has become.

I do note that none of the above has anything to do with what the tech did (I presume), but since I just started this thread I figured I'd drop this in here rather than start a new one. Besides, this may go to 15 pages just on the strength of my posts the way things are going.

[DiosaBellissima]

I do note that none of the above has anything to do with what the tech did (I presume), but since I just started this thread I figured I'd drop this in here rather than start a new one. Besides, this may go to 15 pages just on the strength of my posts the way things are going.

I'm not a computer person but. . how do you know that? I mean, if it happened immediately after you had to waste your time going through and deleting all the bullshit they loaded on your system, then it sounds to me like it's logical to assume they are responsible.

Or your computer is just a piece of crap that breaks a lot.

[Lord Ashtar]

Or your computer is just a piece of crap that breaks a lot.

Unfortunately, that's been my experience with HP laptops.

[I Love Me, Vol. I]

And HP, particularly if yours is not the first complaint they've gotten about this place, just might decide to yank the shop's approval for HP repairs.Are you kidding? Who do you think pressured (paid) the repairperson and/or repair company to install the HP crapware to begin with?

[Mtgman]

Unfortunately, that's been my experience with HP laptops.
That's been my experience with laptops in general. Occasionally you'll find one that's built like a tank and takes everything you ever dish at it, and still performs well(usually older IBM thinkpads) but most laptops are shit.

Enjoy,
Steven

[NineToTheSky]

That's been my experience with laptops in general. Occasionally you'll find one that's built like a tank and takes everything you ever dish at it, and still performs well(usually older IBM thinkpads) but most laptops are shit.

Enjoy,
Steven
It shouldn't be forgotten that nearly all laptops are basically the same. They all have components and software made by reputable manufacturers: Intel, AMD, Seagate, nVidia, Microsoft for example. (I am aware that the door is wide open for snide comments, particularly in the last example, but I hope you know what I mean.) The laptop manufacturer can affect the reliability of its product in a few ways; for example, how it controls air flow to minimize heating problems, but, generally, the ingredients don't vary much between manufacturers.

To take the 'built like a tank' comment: yes, some manufacturers use stronger casing materials, and yes, there can be variations between how carefully (in terms of tolerances) they are screwed/moulded together, but that is more likely to affect the longevity of the product rather than its reliability.

I think it's largely luck - and crucially, what is done with the laptop after purchase - both to the software and physically - that affects the performance, and the likelihood of problems occurring.

I said upstream that I have worked in businesses that repaired computers, and sometimes when laptops were opened up, the crud and detritus that was found there was extraordinary. More mundanely, it is certainly not unusual for the air vents to be blocked by dust, thereby causing overheating.

I'm not suggesting that the OPs' problems have anything to do with the above BTW.