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First off, I'm not an IT worker, I just happen to know how to use a computer and was foolish enough to be spotted as such. Given I currently work in pensions in a department made up largely of ladies of my parents' age then that makes me the first port of call in a disaster.
I've had to fix someone's excel sheet where they'd managed to "delete" the entire departments record of work. This was done by showing them the little slider at the bottom of the sheet and moving it back over to the left.
For some reason on our system, pressing the scroll lock button in the dos based system causes it to lock until you press it again. At least once a day someone will manage to do that and not realise it (or remember how to fix it).
The main issue though is people rushing their work, making a simple error then going "Why is it not working? Come and look at it." My standard method of walking over, getting them to repeat the attempt and watching as it suddenly "works again" once they pay attention to what they're doing. My explanation in this case has a choice of three reasons, "Computers are afraid of me and work when I'm near", "Computers don't work when you're nearby but at least you'll be useful if Skynet or the Matrix actually occur" and "Because you don't pay attention to what you're doing, this is the third time today!" After three times I just ignore them unless I'm specifically told to go and help by a manager.
I've had to fix someone's excel sheet where they'd managed to "delete" the entire departments record of work. This was done by showing them the little slider at the bottom of the sheet and moving it back over to the left.
For some reason on our system, pressing the scroll lock button in the dos based system causes it to lock until you press it again. At least once a day someone will manage to do that and not realise it (or remember how to fix it).
The main issue though is people rushing their work, making a simple error then going "Why is it not working? Come and look at it." My standard method of walking over, getting them to repeat the attempt and watching as it suddenly "works again" once they pay attention to what they're doing. My explanation in this case has a choice of three reasons, "Computers are afraid of me and work when I'm near", "Computers don't work when you're nearby but at least you'll be useful if Skynet or the Matrix actually occur" and "Because you don't pay attention to what you're doing, this is the third time today!" After three times I just ignore them unless I'm specifically told to go and help by a manager.
I learned to program in DOS... two decades ago. Perhaps your company should upgrade both the system and your coworkers to something a little more recent?
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