anything here sound familiar ?

A scenario :-

Customer arrives with just his or her system box, as requested, and also a
very large cardboard box brimming over with floppy disks and cd's. "Oh
****" ...I think to myself, is that a box of 51/4" floppies in there!"
After a polite greeting, and while I'm connecting it up at my work station
kept for such arrivals, (ups, monitor, phone line, kb, mouse etc.), I ask a
few more questions to further determine the 'best' and safest approach to
this particular box. "...so it doesn't sound like a dead or dying hard disk
from what he/she said on the 'phone / is now saying," I quietly think to
myself. I gleen that, allegedly, there hasn't been any recent software
changes, installations or uninstalls to it, since the "problem" arose. I
ask, "Do you use the internet?" "Oh yes, the kids go on it, ....I hardly
ever go on it myself," is quickly added to this statement with an expression
of "genuine" innocence and a fleeting expression of concealed concern, and
also a smile ! I quietly think to myself that 'someone' is perhaps becoming
just a little concerned that "discoveries" could be made, or "things" could
be noticed, ...so I'll have to be a little cautious here, and will have to
do little "cleaning up," without 'noticing' anything, along with a few brief
explanations, along the way, to put the client at ease.

"How old is your system?" one asks, instantly realising that that was a
stupid question ! "Only about three years old and it only cost me £300," is
the answer ! This often means that it was a second hand one that was
quickly sold on to yet another unsuspecting purchaser, because the previous
owner quickly realised their blunder, and that it would have been much
better to have put that money towards a much newer system, or parts for a
much more newer system.

All plugged in and ready to go, I prod the start button on the case front,
immediately notice that it's a "biro" action mains on/off switch, (i.e. an
AT mains power switch - not an ATX trigger). "I should have noticed
something suspicious when I had to dig that serial mouse adapter out of the
drawer," I continue thinking to myself," ...but, that was an ATX block of
sockets on the back of the thing, ....must be one of those old boards with
AT and ATX power connectors on it, in one of those old multi-format cases.

Shortly after prodding the 'on' button, there is a distinctively mechanical
'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' every second or so,
coming from the innards of the box. "Your hard disk has failed, it cannot
realistically be repaired - is there anything in there that you don't want
to lose such as an email address list or Word documents," I ask ? Again,
a slightly too enthusiastic, "NO, no, no nothing at all really." Did I
detect a suppressed sigh of relief there....? I feel like asking, "Why did
you tell me on the 'phone that it's "not doing anything at all, I'm just
looking at a black screen? but, of course I won't. I briefly explain disk
doctor services but, of course these are dismissed. I dunno...some people
!!

regards, Richard

Was there a point buried in there somewhere?

Testy

"RJK" wrote in message
...
A scenario :-

Customer arrives with just his or her system box, as requested, and also a
very large cardboard box brimming over with floppy disks and cd's. "Oh
****" ...I think to myself, is that a box of 51/4" floppies in there!"
After a polite greeting, and while I'm connecting it up at my work station
kept for such arrivals, (ups, monitor, phone line, kb, mouse etc.), I ask
a
few more questions to further determine the 'best' and safest approach to
this particular box. "...so it doesn't sound like a dead or dying hard
disk
from what he/she said on the 'phone / is now saying," I quietly think to
myself. I gleen that, allegedly, there hasn't been any recent software
changes, installations or uninstalls to it, since the "problem" arose. I
ask, "Do you use the internet?" "Oh yes, the kids go on it, ....I hardly
ever go on it myself," is quickly added to this statement with an
expression
of "genuine" innocence and a fleeting expression of concealed concern, and
also a smile ! I quietly think to myself that 'someone' is perhaps
becoming
just a little concerned that "discoveries" could be made, or "things"
could
be noticed, ...so I'll have to be a little cautious here, and will have to
do little "cleaning up," without 'noticing' anything, along with a few
brief
explanations, along the way, to put the client at ease.

"How old is your system?" one asks, instantly realising that that was a
stupid question ! "Only about three years old and it only cost me £300,"
is
the answer ! This often means that it was a second hand one that was
quickly sold on to yet another unsuspecting purchaser, because the
previous
owner quickly realised their blunder, and that it would have been much
better to have put that money towards a much newer system, or parts for a
much more newer system.

All plugged in and ready to go, I prod the start button on the case front,
immediately notice that it's a "biro" action mains on/off switch, (i.e. an
AT mains power switch - not an ATX trigger). "I should have noticed
something suspicious when I had to dig that serial mouse adapter out of
the
drawer," I continue thinking to myself," ...but, that was an ATX block of
sockets on the back of the thing, ....must be one of those old boards with
AT and ATX power connectors on it, in one of those old multi-format cases.

Shortly after prodding the 'on' button, there is a distinctively
mechanical
'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' every second or so,
coming from the innards of the box. "Your hard disk has failed, it cannot
realistically be repaired - is there anything in there that you don't
want
to lose such as an email address list or Word documents," I ask ?
Again,
a slightly too enthusiastic, "NO, no, no nothing at all really." Did I
detect a suppressed sigh of relief there....? I feel like asking, "Why
did
you tell me on the 'phone that it's "not doing anything at all, I'm just
looking at a black screen? but, of course I won't. I briefly explain
disk
doctor services but, of course these are dismissed. I dunno...some people
!!

regards, Richard




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.708 / Virus Database: 464 - Release Date: 6/18/2004

RJK,

What is the moral of this wonderful story?

J

RJK wrote:

A scenario :-

Customer arrives with just his or her system box, as requested, and also a
very large cardboard box brimming over with floppy disks and cd's. "Oh
****" ...I think to myself, is that a box of 51/4" floppies in there!"
After a polite greeting, and while I'm connecting it up at my work station
kept for such arrivals, (ups, monitor, phone line, kb, mouse etc.), I ask a
few more questions to further determine the 'best' and safest approach to
this particular box. "...so it doesn't sound like a dead or dying hard disk
from what he/she said on the 'phone / is now saying," I quietly think to
myself. I gleen that, allegedly, there hasn't been any recent software
changes, installations or uninstalls to it, since the "problem" arose. I
ask, "Do you use the internet?" "Oh yes, the kids go on it, ....I hardly
ever go on it myself," is quickly added to this statement with an expression
of "genuine" innocence and a fleeting expression of concealed concern, and
also a smile ! I quietly think to myself that 'someone' is perhaps becoming
just a little concerned that "discoveries" could be made, or "things" could
be noticed, ...so I'll have to be a little cautious here, and will have to
do little "cleaning up," without 'noticing' anything, along with a few brief
explanations, along the way, to put the client at ease.

"How old is your system?" one asks, instantly realising that that was a
stupid question ! "Only about three years old and it only cost me £300," is
the answer ! This often means that it was a second hand one that was
quickly sold on to yet another unsuspecting purchaser, because the previous
owner quickly realised their blunder, and that it would have been much
better to have put that money towards a much newer system, or parts for a
much more newer system.

All plugged in and ready to go, I prod the start button on the case front,
immediately notice that it's a "biro" action mains on/off switch, (i.e. an
AT mains power switch - not an ATX trigger). "I should have noticed
something suspicious when I had to dig that serial mouse adapter out of the
drawer," I continue thinking to myself," ...but, that was an ATX block of
sockets on the back of the thing, ....must be one of those old boards with
AT and ATX power connectors on it, in one of those old multi-format cases.

Shortly after prodding the 'on' button, there is a distinctively mechanical
'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' every second or so,
coming from the innards of the box. "Your hard disk has failed, it cannot
realistically be repaired - is there anything in there that you don't want
to lose such as an email address list or Word documents," I ask ? Again,
a slightly too enthusiastic, "NO, no, no nothing at all really." Did I
detect a suppressed sigh of relief there....? I feel like asking, "Why did
you tell me on the 'phone that it's "not doing anything at all, I'm just
looking at a black screen? but, of course I won't. I briefly explain disk
doctor services but, of course these are dismissed. I dunno...some people
!!

regards, Richard

....i think there was going to be one but, I got tired, and didn't like to
waste it, so I posted it anyway :-)

regards, Richard


"Jo Tart" wrote in message
...
RJK,

What is the moral of this wonderful story?

J

RJK wrote:

A scenario :-

Customer arrives with just his or her system box, as requested, and also
a
very large cardboard box brimming over with floppy disks and cd's. "Oh
****" ...I think to myself, is that a box of 51/4" floppies in there!"
After a polite greeting, and while I'm connecting it up at my work
station
kept for such arrivals, (ups, monitor, phone line, kb, mouse etc.), I
ask a
few more questions to further determine the 'best' and safest approach
to
this particular box. "...so it doesn't sound like a dead or dying hard
disk
from what he/she said on the 'phone / is now saying," I quietly think to
myself. I gleen that, allegedly, there hasn't been any recent
software
changes, installations or uninstalls to it, since the "problem" arose.
I
ask, "Do you use the internet?" "Oh yes, the kids go on it, ....I
hardly
ever go on it myself," is quickly added to this statement with an
expression
of "genuine" innocence and a fleeting expression of concealed concern,
and
also a smile ! I quietly think to myself that 'someone' is perhaps
becoming
just a little concerned that "discoveries" could be made, or "things"
could
be noticed, ...so I'll have to be a little cautious here, and will have
to
do little "cleaning up," without 'noticing' anything, along with a few
brief
explanations, along the way, to put the client at ease.

"How old is your system?" one asks, instantly realising that that was a
stupid question ! "Only about three years old and it only cost me
£300," is
the answer ! This often means that it was a second hand one that was
quickly sold on to yet another unsuspecting purchaser, because the
previous
owner quickly realised their blunder, and that it would have been much
better to have put that money towards a much newer system, or parts for
a
much more newer system.

All plugged in and ready to go, I prod the start button on the case
front,
immediately notice that it's a "biro" action mains on/off switch, (i.e.
an
AT mains power switch - not an ATX trigger). "I should have noticed
something suspicious when I had to dig that serial mouse adapter out of
the
drawer," I continue thinking to myself," ...but, that was an ATX block
of
sockets on the back of the thing, ....must be one of those old boards
with
AT and ATX power connectors on it, in one of those old multi-format
cases.

Shortly after prodding the 'on' button, there is a distinctively
mechanical
'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' every second or so,
coming from the innards of the box. "Your hard disk has failed, it
cannot
realistically be repaired - is there anything in there that you don't
want
to lose such as an email address list or Word documents," I ask ?
Again,
a slightly too enthusiastic, "NO, no, no nothing at all really." Did I
detect a suppressed sigh of relief there....? I feel like asking, "Why
did
you tell me on the 'phone that it's "not doing anything at all, I'm just
looking at a black screen? but, of course I won't. I briefly explain
disk
doctor services but, of course these are dismissed. I dunno...some
people
!!

regards, Richard

What is this, a serial? Should we stay tuned? Same time, same
station........ :-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In ,
RJK hunted and pecked:
...i think there was going to be one but, I got tired, and didn't
like to waste it, so I posted it anyway :-)

regards, Richard


"Jo Tart" wrote in message
...
RJK,

What is the moral of this wonderful story?

J

RJK wrote:

A scenario :-

Customer arrives with just his or her system box, as requested, and
also a very large cardboard box brimming over with floppy disks and
cd's. "Oh ****" ...I think to myself, is that a box of 51/4"
floppies in there!" After a polite greeting, and while I'm
connecting it up at my work station kept for such arrivals, (ups,
monitor, phone line, kb, mouse etc.), I ask a few more questions to
further determine the 'best' and safest approach to this particular
box. "...so it doesn't sound like a dead or dying hard disk from
what he/she said on the 'phone / is now saying," I quietly think to
myself. I gleen that, allegedly, there hasn't been any recent
software changes, installations or uninstalls to it, since the
"problem" arose. I ask, "Do you use the internet?" "Oh yes, the
kids go on it, ....I hardly ever go on it myself," is quickly added
to this statement with an expression of "genuine" innocence and a
fleeting expression of concealed concern, and also a smile ! I
quietly think to myself that 'someone' is perhaps becoming just a
little concerned that "discoveries" could be made, or "things"
could be noticed, ...so I'll have to be a little cautious here, and
will have to do little "cleaning up," without 'noticing' anything,
along with a few brief explanations, along the way, to put the
client at ease.

"How old is your system?" one asks, instantly realising that that
was a stupid question ! "Only about three years old and it only
cost me £300," is the answer ! This often means that it was a
second hand one that was quickly sold on to yet another
unsuspecting purchaser, because the previous owner quickly realised
their blunder, and that it would have been much better to have put
that money towards a much newer system, or parts for a much more
newer system.

All plugged in and ready to go, I prod the start button on the case
front, immediately notice that it's a "biro" action mains on/off
switch, (i.e. an AT mains power switch - not an ATX trigger). "I
should have noticed something suspicious when I had to dig that
serial mouse adapter out of the drawer," I continue thinking to
myself," ...but, that was an ATX block of sockets on the back of
the thing, ....must be one of those old boards with AT and ATX
power connectors on it, in one of those old multi-format cases.

Shortly after prodding the 'on' button, there is a distinctively
mechanical 'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click'
every second or so, coming from the innards of the box. "Your hard
disk has failed, it cannot realistically be repaired - is there
anything in there that you don't want to lose such as an email
address list or Word documents," I ask ? Again, a slightly too
enthusiastic, "NO, no, no nothing at all really." Did I detect a
suppressed sigh of relief there....? I feel like asking, "Why did
you tell me on the 'phone that it's "not doing anything at all, I'm
just looking at a black screen? but, of course I won't. I briefly
explain disk doctor services but, of course these are dismissed. I
dunno...some people !!

regards, Richard

Whatever anyone else may say, I can relate to what you wrote - and for those
who just don't get Richard's post, the answer is: there are way too many
computer owners out there who don't have a clue and are too lazy to put
forth a little effort to learn.

Meanwhile the kids, with PCs in their private bedrooms, are watching porn -
and the parents don't really want to know (might make them feel
uncomfortable).

That is a symptom of acute XP-dementia, that you left out the moral!

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"RJK" wrote in message
...
| ...i think there was going to be one but, I got tired, and didn't like
to
| waste it, so I posted it anyway :-)
|
| regards, Richard
|
|
| "Jo Tart" wrote in message
| ...
| RJK,
|
| What is the moral of this wonderful story?
|
| J
|
| RJK wrote:
|
| A scenario :-
|
| Customer arrives with just his or her system box, as requested,
and also
| a
| very large cardboard box brimming over with floppy disks and cd's.
"Oh
| ****" ...I think to myself, is that a box of 51/4" floppies in
there!"
| After a polite greeting, and while I'm connecting it up at my work
| station
| kept for such arrivals, (ups, monitor, phone line, kb, mouse
etc.), I
| ask a
| few more questions to further determine the 'best' and safest
approach
| to
| this particular box. "...so it doesn't sound like a dead or dying
hard
| disk
| from what he/she said on the 'phone / is now saying," I quietly
think to
| myself. I gleen that, allegedly, there hasn't been any recent
| software
| changes, installations or uninstalls to it, since the "problem"
arose.
| I
| ask, "Do you use the internet?" "Oh yes, the kids go on it, ....I
| hardly
| ever go on it myself," is quickly added to this statement with an
| expression
| of "genuine" innocence and a fleeting expression of concealed
concern,
| and
| also a smile ! I quietly think to myself that 'someone' is
perhaps
| becoming
| just a little concerned that "discoveries" could be made, or
"things"
| could
| be noticed, ...so I'll have to be a little cautious here, and will
have
| to
| do little "cleaning up," without 'noticing' anything, along with a
few
| brief
| explanations, along the way, to put the client at ease.
|
| "How old is your system?" one asks, instantly realising that that
was a
| stupid question ! "Only about three years old and it only cost me
| £300," is
| the answer ! This often means that it was a second hand one that
was
| quickly sold on to yet another unsuspecting purchaser, because the
| previous
| owner quickly realised their blunder, and that it would have been
much
| better to have put that money towards a much newer system, or
parts for
| a
| much more newer system.
|
| All plugged in and ready to go, I prod the start button on the
case
| front,
| immediately notice that it's a "biro" action mains on/off switch,
(i.e.
| an
| AT mains power switch - not an ATX trigger). "I should have
noticed
| something suspicious when I had to dig that serial mouse adapter
out of
| the
| drawer," I continue thinking to myself," ...but, that was an ATX
block
| of
| sockets on the back of the thing, ....must be one of those old
boards
| with
| AT and ATX power connectors on it, in one of those old
multi-format
| cases.
|
| Shortly after prodding the 'on' button, there is a distinctively
| mechanical
| 'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' every second
or so,
| coming from the innards of the box. "Your hard disk has failed,
it
| cannot
| realistically be repaired - is there anything in there that you
don't
| want
| to lose such as an email address list or Word documents," I ask ?
| Again,
| a slightly too enthusiastic, "NO, no, no nothing at all really."
Did I
| detect a suppressed sigh of relief there....? I feel like
asking, "Why
| did
| you tell me on the 'phone that it's "not doing anything at all,
I'm just
| looking at a black screen? but, of course I won't. I briefly
explain
| disk
| doctor services but, of course these are dismissed. I
dunno...some
| people
| !!
|
| regards, Richard
|
|
|
|

RJK wrote:
A scenario :-

Customer arrives with just his or her system box, as requested, and
snip

And this relates to OE in what way?
(Whilst I sympathise, this was not really the place to post?) vbg
--
Kath Adams
MS MVP - Windows (IE/OE)

There was going to be a section on OE but, I got tired !

regards, Richard


"Kath Adams" wrote in message
...
RJK wrote:
A scenario :-

Customer arrives with just his or her system box, as requested, and
snip

And this relates to OE in what way?
(Whilst I sympathise, this was not really the place to post?) vbg
--
Kath Adams
MS MVP - Windows (IE/OE)

oooh! I can't wait to see what happens to that waskily=20
wabbit.
-----Original Message-----
What is this, a serial? Should we stay tuned? Same time,=20
same
station........ :-)

--=20
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In ,
RJK hunted and pecked:
...i think there was going to be one but, I got tired,=20
and didn't
like to waste it, so I posted it anyway :-)

regards, Richard


"Jo Tart" wrote in message
...
RJK,

What is the moral of this wonderful story?

J

RJK wrote:

A scenario :-

Customer arrives with just his or her system box, as=20
requested, and
also a very large cardboard box brimming over with=20
floppy disks and
cd's. "Oh ****" ...I think to myself, is that a box=20
of 51/4"
floppies in there!" After a polite greeting, and=20
while I'm
connecting it up at my work station kept for such=20
arrivals, (ups,
monitor, phone line, kb, mouse etc.), I ask a few=20
more questions to
further determine the 'best' and safest approach to=20
this particular
box. "...so it doesn't sound like a dead or dying=20
hard disk from
what he/she said on the 'phone / is now saying," I=20
quietly think to
myself. I gleen that, allegedly, there hasn't been=20
any recent
software changes, installations or uninstalls to it,=20
since the
"problem" arose. I ask, "Do you use the=20
internet?" "Oh yes, the
kids go on it, ....I hardly ever go on it myself," is=20
quickly added
to this statement with an expression of "genuine"=20
innocence and a
fleeting expression of concealed concern, and also a=20
smile ! I
quietly think to myself that 'someone' is perhaps=20
becoming just a
little concerned that "discoveries" could be made,=20
or "things"
could be noticed, ...so I'll have to be a little=20
cautious here, and
will have to do little "cleaning up,"=20
without 'noticing' anything,
along with a few brief explanations, along the way,=20
to put the
client at ease.

"How old is your system?" one asks, instantly=20
realising that that
was a stupid question ! "Only about three years old=20
and it only
cost me =A3300," is the answer ! This often means that=20
it was a
second hand one that was quickly sold on to yet=20
another
unsuspecting purchaser, because the previous owner=20
quickly realised
their blunder, and that it would have been much=20
better to have put
that money towards a much newer system, or parts for=20
a much more
newer system.

All plugged in and ready to go, I prod the start=20
button on the case
front, immediately notice that it's a "biro" action=20
mains on/off
switch, (i.e. an AT mains power switch - not an ATX=20
trigger). "I
should have noticed something suspicious when I had=20
to dig that
serial mouse adapter out of the drawer," I continue=20
thinking to
myself," ...but, that was an ATX block of sockets on=20
the back of
the thing, ....must be one of those old boards with=20
AT and ATX
power connectors on it, in one of those old multi-
format cases.

Shortly after prodding the 'on' button, there is a=20
distinctively
=20
mechanical 'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'click' ...'cli
ck'
every second or so, coming from the innards of the=20
box. "Your hard
disk has failed, it cannot realistically be repaired -
is there
anything in there that you don't want to lose such as=20
an email
address list or Word documents," I ask ? Again, a=20
slightly too
enthusiastic, "NO, no, no nothing at all really." =20
Did I detect a
suppressed sigh of relief there....? I feel like=20
asking, "Why did
you tell me on the 'phone that it's "not doing=20
anything at all, I'm
just looking at a black screen? but, of course I=20
won't. I briefly
explain disk doctor services but, of course these are=20
dismissed. I
dunno...some people !!

regards, Richard

.