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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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 Posted -
17/12/2010
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10:26
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Over the years I've not done so bad when it comes to working with computers, and most times I can eventually fix things up when it all goes pear-shaped.
Yesterday my Mac went not just pear-shaped but a complete fruit pudding with meringue and custard. Over the past few weeks it had been getting slower and slower until it said: "You know what? I can't be bothered anymore. I quit." And it did.
Fortunately there's a thing called Time Machine which regularly backs up the OS and all files to an external drive, so I wasn't too nonplussed.
Unfortunately my Mac refused even to start up. Missing its core thingies or something.
No probs - just re-install the OS from the original discs. Almost there - the discs were a bit out of date but I could easily update the version from the internet.
Went to restore all my settings, files, programmes, etc from Time Machine. Unfortunately my finely tuned and slimmed down original system had bloated by about 20GB when reinstalled - and my drive didn't have enough space on it to complete the job.
Grrr.
My backup drive (1TB capacity) is also getting full so it looks like I'm going to have to buy another to dump my data into, then give it all a good clean out.
On top of that, once you start messing with reinstallations, I find much of my work software needs reactivating from the software companies - it's going to take me absolutely ages to get back to where I was a few, happy and organised days ago.
I hate computers.
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panbiker
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Posted - 09/12/2011 : 14:28
My experience with Talk Talk support has been very good. They sorted my line out for me logging the BT engineer visit very promptly when I had an intermittent fault on the line.
The trick is to negotiate your way past the first line of response who only work from script, no deviation from same, answer all questions and then offer a suggestion to try and then a "please ring back if you need further help". You will then get a different operator and start the script again.
If you can get to speak to a line manager or supervisor they generally have a lot more technical knowledge. Once you make them realise you know what you are talking about you are home and dry. You have to be persistent but it has always worked for me.
First line support normally exists to support customers who are totally none technical. Most operators in this area are also on timed support, (the time it takes to work through the script) when that has expired and the script has offered some suggestion to the customer they have to move on to the next one in the que or in many cases they will lose money as they have call quotas to meet.
Strange that this practice is seen as cost effective for an organisation. It seems to frustrate more than support but that's not surprising.
Ian  |
Tizer
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Posted - 09/12/2011 : 14:57
quote:
pluggy wrote:
Cept us skinflint Orange users on old tariffs who never upgraded from 8Mb/s because it cost more money.........  I'm on 8Mb/s too (different ISP) and it's fast enough for me. They were talking about superfast broadband on the radio again this morning and how important it is to get those poor folk in the country onto faster connections. Well I'm one of those folk in the sticks and I'd rather stay on 8Mb/s and have them spend the money on giving me a reliable electricity supply (fast broadbnd ain't so helpful when your power goes off) and a piped gas supply so I could avoid expensive oil.
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Big Kev
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Posted - 09/12/2011 : 22:39
quote:
pluggy wrote:
Cept us skinflint Orange users on old tariffs who never upgraded from 8Mb/s because it cost more money.........
Not sure what the comparison is but Orange told me the "new" 8MB service is the same price as the "old" 20MB service and will stay the same when it is back at 24MB (expected 21cn speed).
I'm currently paying £19.99 a month for broadband, line rental and evening/weekend calls.
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 10/12/2011 : 05:54
I only have bband from Orange as I believe in keeping my suppliers separate even though it costs more. Orange upgrade to 20mb was free and price remained same when it fell to 6mb. £12.26 a month. I will admit I have been tempted to go for a package but most of my calls are to OZ and US so I have left everything alone. Orange BB, BT tel line and Talk Talk for calls. I suspect that though I am a dinosaur, I would not save a lot by having a package and I am not tied into any contracts which can vary in price.
Kev, any news on timescale for our new improved service via BT? The promise was October of course but there you are.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Big Kev
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Posted - 10/12/2011 : 08:33
quote:
Stanley wrote:
Kev, any news on timescale for our new improved service via BT? The promise was October of course but there you are.....
You must have missed this from the 7th...
Word on the street for the Barlick exchange,
21CN WBC status:RFS date set : 31/03/2012
source: http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/LCBAN
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Big Kev
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Posted - 10/12/2011 : 08:35
quote:
Stanley wrote:
most of my calls are to OZ and US so I have left everything alone.
Why don't you use Skype? It's free
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
pluggy
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Posted - 10/12/2011 : 11:16
£15.50 a month, including 8Mb broadbad, Line rental, anytime UK and 30 foreign countries calls is why I'm staying put, their current deal is £22 without the foreign calls. It went up from £15.00 when the VAT went up, other than that its the same price as its been the past 3+ years. If I 'upgraded' it would be the new price.
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk" 
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Tizer
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Posted - 10/12/2011 : 11:59
If the bankers ran ISPs Pluggy you would be on £22 and the new customers on £15.50!
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Big Kev
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Posted - 10/12/2011 : 14:33
quote:
pluggy wrote:
£15.50 a month, including 8Mb broadbad, Line rental, anytime UK and 30 foreign countries calls is why I'm staying put, their current deal is £22 without the foreign calls. It went up from £15.00 when the VAT went up, other than that its the same price as its been the past 3+ years. If I 'upgraded' it would be the new price.
A very good deal, I wouldn't go anywhere else, either...
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 11/12/2011 : 06:49
I know, I ought to be looking at it. Old Blokes and inertia! Skype doesn't work with the people I call as they are not always on their computers. Tried it and this was the issue, more efficient and successful in contacting them on steam powered telephone and answering machine.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
pluggy
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Posted - 23/12/2011 : 14:08
What makes me think that a certain administrator has a desktop with a huge widescreen monitor ? 
Edited by - pluggy on 23/12/2011 14:09
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 23/12/2011 : 16:18
Funny that - it looks OK in Safari but not in Firefox. It's usually t'other way round.
I'VE GOT IT!
Doc has finally seen the light and converted to Mac...
Summat tells me this is unlikely... 
Edited by - Callunna on 23/12/2011 4:20:35 PM |
Another
Traycle Mine Overseer
6250 Posts
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Posted - 23/12/2011 : 16:38
Sorry, I'll minimize it. Nolic
" I'm a self made man who worships his creator"  |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 24/12/2011 : 04:54
Funny, I never had a problem....
Over the last few days Ubuntu has updated everything and Thunderbird did the same. Firefox had a spring clean the week before. Wonderful when you realise that you have a completely updated OS for nowt. Thanks to all those good people out there working seflessly to keep old farts like me up to date!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
pluggy
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Posted - 24/12/2011 : 10:11
You have a huge widescreen monitor Stanley, you wouldn't have problem.
I've put another 3 local computers on Ubuntu the last couple of weeks. People want their old 7 / 8 year old computers to run at something other than a snails pace. Ubuntu gives machines that are past it for Windows a new lease of life. Most people just want to use their machines for the web, email, managing their photos and music, and writing the odd letter. It does all that 'out of the box' .
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Computers: the agony and the ecstasy
