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I do some minor tech work for my Mom's office, the only other person there able to do it is one of the bosses (there are three) who I will call tech boss, even if it's not really his job. They don't have a tech, one because it's a small company and not really needed, two they are afraid that if they had a tech he would blow his own brains out at some point and that is a sad and messy thing to deal with. So when ever they get new office computers in or need to do a lot of work on them or just sit on the phone with tech support I get called in to do it, I'm not really great with computers, but I follow directions really well and I work for cheap so it works out for all.
It's a small office and just about every person but that one boss is completely and utterly confused by computers. To the point of I make up their passwords for them, reset them for everything and then go to the next person, because otherwise it turns into an argument, hours of explaining, badgering and excessive drinking on my part. Frankly the company can't afford the amount of alcohol needed after trying to get them to do it, so I do it.
Anyway, the two biggest challenges lately are email, yes you can check your work email at home, yes you can check your home email here, really, I promise, look I'm doing it right now, no the world won't end, yes you can do it when I'm not here...so far my Mother seems to get it, and the bosses. The other big challenge is to get the woman at the front desk to allow her computer to update itself. She is CONVINCED it is a virus, so anytime it starts up it is promptly stopped by her, if it tries to update as it shuts down she panics and tries to stop it, even the virus scan, she tried to take it off the computer more then once. I finally got her to stop that, but anytime there is an update she calls me or the tech boss to tell us to come look at fix it.
She also refuses to use search engines, or go beyond the sites she needs for work. Today's issue? The front desk secretary was out, and tech boss went and sat at her computer to look up info and it was bad. I've no idea what she did, but he sounded like he was holding back sobs or laughter, or he finally cracked from the insanity around him, tomorrow I'm going in replacing her computer with another one we have in back then dropping off the broken computer at the shop. He won't tell me what happened but from the sounds of things she deleted some important things and he mentioned wanting to use shock treatment to keep her from deleting anything from now on.
It's a small office and just about every person but that one boss is completely and utterly confused by computers. To the point of I make up their passwords for them, reset them for everything and then go to the next person, because otherwise it turns into an argument, hours of explaining, badgering and excessive drinking on my part. Frankly the company can't afford the amount of alcohol needed after trying to get them to do it, so I do it.
Anyway, the two biggest challenges lately are email, yes you can check your work email at home, yes you can check your home email here, really, I promise, look I'm doing it right now, no the world won't end, yes you can do it when I'm not here...so far my Mother seems to get it, and the bosses. The other big challenge is to get the woman at the front desk to allow her computer to update itself. She is CONVINCED it is a virus, so anytime it starts up it is promptly stopped by her, if it tries to update as it shuts down she panics and tries to stop it, even the virus scan, she tried to take it off the computer more then once. I finally got her to stop that, but anytime there is an update she calls me or the tech boss to tell us to come look at fix it.
She also refuses to use search engines, or go beyond the sites she needs for work. Today's issue? The front desk secretary was out, and tech boss went and sat at her computer to look up info and it was bad. I've no idea what she did, but he sounded like he was holding back sobs or laughter, or he finally cracked from the insanity around him, tomorrow I'm going in replacing her computer with another one we have in back then dropping off the broken computer at the shop. He won't tell me what happened but from the sounds of things she deleted some important things and he mentioned wanting to use shock treatment to keep her from deleting anything from now on.
Now I'm being asked to hang around as a bodyguard for anyone there to work, just so no one gets the idea he or she is there to be asked general questions. 
Btw (don't try this home, use a trained professional, Etc.) did you know a laptop will go boom and start on fire if it is shot? I learn the best things from former Airforce computer guys. 
She means well, and now she is scared into not deleting things, and offered to pay for the repairs 
when tech boss called to tell her she did bad. I think tomorrow might mean I spend the morning reminding everyone not to delete files they did not make themselves without checking with us first. I think this woman would be in more trouble if she wasn't otherwise damn good at her job. I mean she is GOOD, but I swear part of her fear of computer viruses is the same as her need to make sure we have tons of antibacterial stuff around the office....maybe it is, hmm.
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