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Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

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Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#11

Post by merlincorey »

bmurray7jhu wrote: post #9

> Many of the common complaints, such as "my computer is slow," have known solutions: registry cleaners for Windows Registry cleaners are rarely, if ever, the solution for a slow PC.

One of the main use of every registry cleaner is to remove start up programs, especially otherwise hidden ones.

This process, even when undertaken by a non-expert removing things at random, will cause the computer to start less software when turning on and logging in, which will make it seem to be much faster.

If one of those programs was something with a large resident memory set or CPU usage then it really is objectively faster.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#12

Post by sp332 »

bmurray7jhu wrote: post #9

> Many of the common complaints, such as "my computer is slow," have known solutions: registry cleaners for Windows Registry cleaners are rarely, if ever, the solution for a slow PC.

Microsoft warns against them. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2563254/microsoft-s...

“Registry cleaners” will offer to damage a brand-new installation of Windows just to make it look like they are useful. Imagine being told your brand-new car with 50 miles on it needs the “headlight fluid” replaced. It’s the same scam. https://decentsecurity.com/registry-cleaners/

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#13

Post by sp332 »

merlincorey wrote: post #11
bmurray7jhu wrote: post #9

> Many of the common complaints, such as "my computer is slow," have known solutions: registry cleaners for Windows Registry cleaners are rarely, if ever, the solution for a slow PC.

One of the main use of every registry cleaner is to remove start up programs, especially otherwise hidden ones. This process, even when undertaken by a non-expert removing things at random, will cause the computer to start less software when turning on and logging in, which will make it seem to be much faster. If one of those programs was something with a large resident memory set or CPU usage then it really is objec…

Hit Ctrl-Shift-Escape, click the Startup tab, disable things to your heart's content. This is not a good reason to install a registry cleaner.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#15

Post by darishante »

jbob2000 wrote: post #2

One word of advice that is missing from this article: if you provide the solution, you own the outcome. Say you updated uncle joe to the latest version of outlook. Great! Now he will call you when he doesn’t understand the new interface. Or you told your aunt to buy this model of laptop. Great! She will call you when it doesn’t boot up one day. My advice is to tell people where they can go for proper support. You wan…

Yeah, this -- the reason, why my answer to tech support outside of job is a firm "no". No to friends, no to family, no to anyone. I don't want to deal with panicked requests starting "you did something to fix my computer, now it ate my grant application, deadline is tomorrow, help!" And I don't deal with sudden stress particularly well.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#16

Post by blackearl »

bmurray7jhu wrote: post #9

> Many of the common complaints, such as "my computer is slow," have known solutions: registry cleaners for Windows Registry cleaners are rarely, if ever, the solution for a slow PC.

Is it because they're not a Windows company that they would suggest this?

If anything registry cleaners are more likely to bork your PC.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#17

Post by switch007 »

atarian wrote: post #14

One of the best investments I ever made was replacing my parents' ailing Windows machines with Mac Minis. I no longer come home to a laundry list of issues that I need to fix.

My Mum loves her Macbook Air. All I have to do occasionally is click the update button when she's a bit too scared. She manages everything else. It's the best thing ever.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#18

Post by scrooched_moose »

sevencolors wrote: post #3

For those who don't mind being a hero. And getting an extra slice of pie https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/in-which-i-fix-my-girlfr...

The biggest problem with that story is rural Iowa is almost exclusively Mediacom, who are even worse than Comcast.

Re: Tips for being the family holiday sysadmin

#19

Post by snypox »

darishante wrote: post #15
jbob2000 wrote: post #2

One word of advice that is missing from this article: if you provide the solution, you own the outcome. Say you updated uncle joe to the latest version of outlook. Great! Now he will call you when he doesn’t understand the new interface. Or you told your aunt to buy this model of laptop. Great! She will call you when it doesn’t boot up one day. My advice is to tell people where they can go for proper support. You wan…

Yeah, this -- the reason, why my answer to tech support outside of job is a firm "no". No to friends, no to family, no to anyone. I don't want to deal with panicked requests starting "you did something to fix my computer, now it ate my grant application, deadline is tomorrow, help!" And I don't deal with sudden stress particularly well.

Interesting approach. I don’t like to take the blame either, but I’d never tell my mom and dad to screw themselves. I usually fix whatever is up with their laptops, fortunately they don’t call me up too often. I usually try to go for long term solutions and explain everything carefully.
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