It starts, keep me in your thoughts

[lordlundar]

She probably has no frigging clue WTH she's doing. The whole virus thing is probably because she had a friend connect her computer i.e. all peripherals and she's never been bothered to even learn how to do it.

I hate people like that. "Oh well I just need to use the computer, it's not my business to learn anything more than the programs I need to use."

Unfortunately that's the attitude of many people around the world and especially on campuses (or is that campii) cos you know "We got to kolledge we godda be smrt!"

yeah, or to paraphrase the BOFH

"People who know where the power switch for their computer automatically think they know everything about computers."

[JustADude]

yeah, or to paraphrase the BOFH

"People who know where the power switch for their computer automatically think they know everything about computers."

Ah, but if you're talking about the switch on the power supply, then that is, indeed, an advanced secret, my friend. I enlighten people about when they ask me how to make their computer work better. Flicking that switch repeatedly while the computer is pluged in will unlock the Magic Smoke from its home, and you will be granted your wish, a new computer.

[Customer Beating Robot]

If she's a web designer she should know that there isn't any virus capable of physically damaging a keyboard or mouse.

Or is there? Theoretically, how would it work?

The virus would have to attack the computer on the most basic I/O level, by rewriting the BIOS or CMOS. That is next to impossible for your average virus writer (If it weren't it would already be done.). And it would be difficult for even an experienced programmer as you are talking assembly or even binary coding in some cases.

[LostMyMind]

The worst hardware damage a virus can do is blank out the BIOS. Which can be pretty bad depending on the motherboard. But still, it's not "damage" just been blanked out. You can restore the BIOS (again, depending on the motherboard).

A virus can cause the hard-drive to crash it's head is a thing of the past. You'll have to have one serious old hard-drive for that to work. I doubt anyone is still using a hard-drive that about the same size (datawise) as a floppy. Now days all mechanical parts operate on it's own software independent of what the motherboard/BIOS tells it to do.

[technical.angel]

well, after talking to the student one last time, she said that she had gotten a keyboard failure at bookup when she started up her computer and decided that it meant that her keyboard and mouse HAD to be replaced!!

Jenni

[Great Unknown]

So I created a list of the 24 most common mistakes/assumptions our customers make, made them into Bingo scorecards and passed them out to my co-workers. First person to get five in a row wins...something.

Nice! Got a scan or transcription of your bingo card, 'cause that's going to be really useful in the next few semesters...

[repsac]

You know, there's a fake virus bouncing about that scrambles your keyboard and causes your mouse pointer to vanish. I wonder, if perhaps, she didn't get a hold of one of those?

[Dips]

Nice! Got a scan or transcription of your bingo card, 'cause that's going to be really useful in the next few semesters...

OK here is the text from the 25 squares (24 regular squares and one free square):

NEW RELEASE BINGO

If you get one of the following inquiries, mark the space. Five in a row (either across, down or diagonally) WINS!

1. Asks if update is free without providing license number
2. Expects free update because a free update was received last year.
3. Thinks the build date in Help/About is his purchase date.
4. Uses all his activations in one day and asks for more.
5. Tells us he is using a later version than he is eligible for
6. Leaves “this is licensed for one user” out of the text after being told to enter it
7. Registers a license without giving the serial/license number
8. Thinks license number/text is activation code
9. Tries to activate right after his order was placed, even though told to wait a day for his data to go in the system
10. Asks for an activation code without providing a reference code and/or license number.
11. Complains about copy protection.
12. Mixes up registration and activation
13. FREE SPACE
14. Tries to activate a license more than 5 years out of date for the latest version
15. Asks us to guarantee that version released in 2000 or earlier will run on WinXP.
16. When told the price of new version, asks if he can get just one feature for free.
17. Asks for an unlocking password for the latest download even though we haven't used an unlocking password since 2003.
18. Mixes up installation and activation
19. Tries to activate a license which was returned for a refund.
20. Throws away license card and instructions before installing and calls us because he is stuck.
21. Brags he is going to pirate our software.
22. Thinks the example license number from the manual is his license number and tries to register it.
23. Registered user tries to get activated by registering again.
24. Complains about having to pay.
25. Demands license text for a license belonging to someone else.

Obviously, this is specific to my company and industry. You will probably want to write your own bingo card. Enjoy!

[Dreamstalker]

You'll have to have one serious old hard-drive for that to work. I doubt anyone is still using a hard-drive that about the same size (datawise) as a floppy.

I think I have an ancient HDD of that sort (scavenged from a 286) floating around somewhere...damn thing was probably responsible for half the weight of the entire machine.

well, after talking to the student one last time, she said that she had gotten a keyboard failure at bookup when she started up her computer and decided that it meant that her keyboard and mouse HAD to be replaced!!

Pfft, I get that sometimes when reconnecting OEM machines. Reboot and 9 times out of 10 everything's fine again.