Does it frustrate if you alone can not fix your computer?
By bluemars
@bluemars (952)
Australia
March 27, 2009 11:14pm CST
That is how I felt a few days ago, I was alone and it stopped working on me. I felt a little bit confused and then I started to get a bit more frustrated with it as I was not able to come online either. Perhaps its just me but are all laptops sensitive? Is it better off to stick to a desk top computer? I mean it feels like it is always having problems. I have to wonder whether it was such a good idea. Technology does last but I wonder how long my laptop will last me.
3 people like this
22 responses
@saichandtalluri (1486)
• India
28 Mar 09
My computer never gave me a problem i have been using this for 5 years i faced no problem with this. I don't think we get hardware problem every time I often get problems with my operating system because of VIRUS then i re-install the operating system then my computer works fine again.
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
28 Mar 09
Yes it is good that we do have that option to reinstall everything when it is something like that. It still is frustrating when you lose time trying to fix the problem. Wow five years is great, considering most computers only have like a one year guarantee on them. It does make us less confident in them but one can only hope with technology advancing that we will get better products over time.
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
29 Mar 09
I don't think they will make one that reinstalls on its own. After all how will they make their money from all the fixes they get when people's computer crushes. It is like a cycle that keeps going and going earning them lots of revenue at the same time.
@saichandtalluri (1486)
• India
28 Mar 09
My computer must be a good one.
I wonder if we have computer which can re-install Operating system on their own without wasting our time.
1 person likes this
@brew2x (3094)
• Philippines
28 Mar 09
Laptops are really more sensitive than desktops. You can't use it for a long time even if you have a cooling pad. The hard drive will be easily damage and might as well the motherboard. The only advantage I could think of for laptops is that you can use it anywhere. Just try to rest your laptop once in a while and disconnect the adapter from the wall outlet whenever it is off, that will avoid overheating. A laptop's maximum lifespan as I've learned is only five years.
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
Well I will be happy to have it last that long. I really hope that it will continue on for a few more years. I have had it for two years now and laptops are enjoyable yes as you said in that they allow you to take them anywhere you want with you. It even allows you to use it when laying down. That is the best when you are tired.
@coolayoub (64)
• Morocco
29 Mar 09
Yeah Desktop computers may be able to resist for hard works, but they still the same, its just that u have to take care of uryour laptop, don't spend a lot of time using it, and try to Use some tuneup software, they are good enough to keep ur laptop clean and working fast, thats all what i can say :)
sorry for my bad english
wish you luck with your laptop
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
Thank you yes I will try to not use it too much as I know that can be very bad for them because they were not made to be used too long at any one given time. I think people just like to use them and be able to move them where they want and lay in bed if they want to too. However they should be made more to cater for longer use as people are using them longer and longer these days.
@nekonyanta (892)
• Philippines
28 Mar 09
Hi there. I know how frustrating it feels when your computer goes crazy on you and you don't have any idea how to fix it but you really need to do something like check your e-mail or pay your bills. I don't think it makes any difference if your computer is a laptop or a desktop - it's bound to have problems eventually. 
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
28 Mar 09
Yes I agree but I think desktops do last a bit longer because they are not transported around here and there and are situated in one spot which means there is less of a risk of dropping them. It can be a bit more hard that way. It is still frustrating either way I totally agree with you on that one. I wish they were made a bit tougher than that.
1 person likes this
@nekonyanta (892)
• Philippines
28 Mar 09
*lol* Well, I guess when you put it that way, laptops are indeed more prone to having problems after all. I haven't really had any major earth-shattering problems with both my desktop and the laptop that I use - and both are earlier models (bought around 2001). 
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
29 Mar 09
I have one old desktop that is still working well, however I think it maybe still working well because of the fact that it is not hooked up to the internet. I do like the look of the new technology though. Oh well one will have to keep saving if they want to upgrade all the time. But most of us don't have the money to do that.
@my1341 (456)
• China
30 Mar 09
I will definitely feel frustrated if I can not fix computer problems alone. I am computer users for about eight years and during those years, I met various kinds of computer problems which I tried my best to solve. I can solve most of the common problems. I'm not sure whether I am competent to deal with the complicated ones. Whenever I met thorny computer problems which I can't handle easily, I never easily give up because this is also a very good chance for me to make progress in computer knowledge if I can try to solve it. I will try as many ways as I can according to my experience and what I learned on the web or heard from others. If I can't solve it in a short time, I just leave it there. I will try to log on the net to search ways to solve. Usually computer show some typical symptoms when problems appear, we may type the error message into the search engine and we may find a lot of similar problems and someone has got the answers to them. We may try those solutions. If I still can't solve the problems, I will call my friends to help or send the computer for repair.
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
31 Mar 09
I think most people especially now with the world economical situation are trying to save their money and are seeing if they can in fact solve the problem themselves and or have someone they know help them out. Or like you said just go online to see alternative solutions as opposed to spending money on someone to come in and do a simple thing. If it is a huge problem it might be worth it but if you find out it does not require much it is better to save your money and attempt it yourself.
@haoli1118 (121)
• China
30 Mar 09
yeah, a little, especially when something wrong with the software. if i could not handle it, I will feel a little frustrated
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
Usually when it is the software I just remove it if I can and reinstall a better one if I feel it may play up again. It can be quite annoying to say the least to have to deal with some of the bugs that come out with the software. I mean why send out the software to consumer with any bugs, is there no concern for the people who pay for these programs.
@pacepicaso (48)
• United States
28 Mar 09
it completely frustrates me if my cpu messes up and i cant fix it that usually meens im a have to pay someone else to do it and i really hate spending my money
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
I know what you mean. I had a problem once two weeks before the warranty ended but they fixed it because it was under warranty but I only took it in straight away because I didn't have to spend money on it. The second time it happened I thought no I will try to fix it myself and sure enough I succeeded in my efforts.
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
29 Mar 09
At first yes. Especially during those period that I have no computer knowledge. But now that I already gained some, I can already fix my computer on my own. But if it more technical, i still seek for the help of a professional.
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
I am like that too. I know some things and if there are somethings I don't understand I do like to do some more research so that I can better understand them. It is hard sometimes when you don't know what will happen, and you lose time especially going online and having fun there too.
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
29 Mar 09
Laptops are supposed to be a lot tougher as they are portable. Still, I always favour a desktop over a laptop. You will pay more for a laptop with the same specifications as a desktop computer. I love fixing my own computers and I really am into computers in a big way. I did a course in computer maintenance and so I guess I love finding out about how computers work deep inside. Anyway, upgrade capability of a laptop is very limited whereas a desktop you can upgrade quite a bit. Good luck. Andrew
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
Yeah I think people get more from a desktop these days and it really is amazing how far technology has come in terms of the durability goes. It is a good feeling I do have to admit when I am able to figure out what the problem is and be able to fix the problem myself. You are right sometimes you end paying more for a laptop just for the sake of its conveinence but actually in some places they have less specifications than their partner desktops too. Interesting though.
@zhangfzoe (432)
• China
28 Mar 09
Hi, I also felt frustrated when mey desk top computer broken down. It served me for 6years. Today, I bought a new one. Technology innovation is getting more quickly. To keep up the its speed is not easy. So, I am not sure how long the new one will serve for me. But I will use it carefully to avoid the mechanism problems. I am not good at fixing the computer problem well. what I can do is only to prevent to cause problems.
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
With all the problems they entail and because they get outdated so quickly I think they should be a lot cheaper. I think more and more though technology is becoming increasingly more affordable. Its great though, it offers us so much and for some of us we really do get to expand our knowledge in so many areas.
@paoxav (1382)
• Philippines
28 Mar 09
Yes of course it is. Because it's costly to hire a computer technician to fix a computer. I'm trying my very best knowledge in troubleshooting to fix it myself. So far, I haven't tried yet to consult to a computer technician everytime my computer needs some check ups or repairs. I can do it myself..
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
Yes I agree there is a lot of things that if one educates themselves about can help them fix their own problems so one should really attempt if they want to also save their hard earned money on other things or even a new computer all together. It feels so good when I figure out what is wrong with my computer and am able to fix it myself.
@uicbear (1900)
• United States
28 Mar 09
I don't think it matters if it's a laptop or a desk top, both can be equally tempermental. When my computer starts misbehaving, I don't try to do too many things to try and fix it. Besides restarting it, or doing a hard boot, that's the extent of my abilities
. I am always so afraid of making things worse, that I give up pretty quick. I then proceed to call on my brother who is much more computer saavy than I am.
. I am always so afraid of making things worse, that I give up pretty quick. I then proceed to call on my brother who is much more computer saavy than I am.1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
Yeah sometimes I quit usually at the beginning when I am frustrated at the whole thing but then I try again and see how I go. If I am able to do it then that saves me time and money to call someone else in to fix it. It is a good thing that some computer do come with software to help to figure out what could be the problem.
@jshekhar (1562)
• India
28 Mar 09
I have felt that once, when my 5 month old laptop was working fine and all of a sudden, it went completely blank with a prolonged beep sound. I was a bit frightened because I thought now I would have to go to the service center and do their rounds for a few months, as had happened to a friend of mine. By God's grace, it was not a serious problem and it probably arose because of over heating. I had not switched off my laptop for two days and probably that is what caused the problem. So, now I make sure that I switch it off at least once in every 24 hours, if not twice.
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
Yes they are sensitive like that. Apparently you have to not let the batter keep charging with the power adapter after it is fully charged, because it could overheat and that is when problems can occur too. I wish they would allow the adapter to think for itself. Who knows maybe in the future everything will be automated and will not allow the battery to be fully charged again until it hits say ten percent or something.
@roctetman (28)
• China
28 Mar 09
Hi,I can totally understand how you were feeling. My laptop's screen turned to blue when I shut it down yesterday.So I had to ask my mates for help.unfortunately they couldn't figure out what's going on there. OMG. It's just the second day since i bought it.
I think a new laptop will not be out-of-date, at least in a longer time than desktop. Additionally,you can upgrade hardware once you need to. So I give five-year expectation to my laptop.
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
30 Mar 09
Yeah that seems to be the consensus about laptops at the moment so five year life span, well it does make you think that maybe one should save for a changeover every five years or so. It is great when they work for a very long time. I mean there are people who are lucky and get a few more years out of them. I think that is great. I love to hear that.
@the_dutchess (2610)
• Philippines
28 Mar 09
It frustrates me too and sometimes, it really pisses me off a lot when I'm not able to fix a certain problem in my laptop but that rarely happens. I always look for some resolutions on online tech forum and all that. My laptop is working fine now and I'll try my best not to damage it in any way so I could use it for a long time. I always do maintenance thingies.
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
28 Mar 09
It is great if you have another spare computer somewhere else that you can use to help you figure out what the other one is doing or what is happening to it. There are so many resources online and forums that actually do give some great tips and solutions to a lot of problems and which means one can at least try to fix it at home sooner for free.
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
28 Mar 09
Yes I think when we first look at the problem we are so frustrated that we can not think straight so we tend not to want to fix it. But after one calms down one can begin to think more clearly and finally be able to attempt with a better head and usually has more success that way too.
1 person likes this
@Oscarchen (123)
• China
28 Mar 09
Hemmm....When your computer has some problems and you can't fix it, I will be frustrated....
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
28 Mar 09
Oh that is great if you have someone that can come in and check out the problem for free, it can be hard when the warranty just finishes and it can be costly to fix a problem because sometimes there can be more than one problem. I sometimes give up and wait for my partner to come home so he can take it to a place to get fixed if all my efforts fail.
@irenebelle (116)
• Philippines
28 Mar 09
Very frustrating as u have said. Makes my day ruin coz of the waste of time it brings to me since i love to work online. Having to think what had happend since just was using the unit, then suddenly been shutdown. Worst enough to have datas be corrupted and find a hard time to cope up with it. To be running out of time to meet deadlines would be hard... Is this a cause of virus too? or just the unit alone?
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
29 Mar 09
For me there was no virus, not that I am aware of anyway. I think it was just some corruption on the disk that I repaired using disk utility. I was so relieved, then after that I had to install the disks that came with it. I did that and everything was fine after that, I only lost a few photos that were on there, I guess that is why it pays to back up.
@FalseAlibi (24)
• Cyprus
28 Mar 09
Well i do think laptops are more sensitive in terms of hardware. I believe they heat up more easily and therefore have hardware failures more often. As for the internet problem , depends on the OS you're using. I've noticed that Vista tend to have a hard time connecting sometimes. At least in my experience so far
1 person likes this
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
28 Mar 09
Yes I did read somewhere on the internet that a few of them have had hard drive failures, I guess because they are carried around all the time and like you said they can overheat too especially if people keep them on charge all the time. However, they should consider a desktop instead if they are using in the same location.
