in which there is total secuity?

[chris_warrior]

last night the younger of my two brothers - after having had our elder brother (AKA The Competent One) work on his computer for two days - called and asked me if i knew how to get the Total Security virus off his computer.

due in no small part to the fact that i paid a bit of attention when cuphoenix cleaned stuff off my machine (and my boss' mom's machine) i was able to Google the malware, locate/print out excellent step-by-step instructions on how to remove it, go over to his house, and clean his computer... in about an hour. then, having recently switched over myself, i was able to set him up on Firefox without much fuss.

i came home and my mom asked me "So, how'd it go?"

i sighed and said "It seemed to work. He should be all set." she high-fived me. i sat down next to her and said "You know... I think if my brothers had any idea how intelligent, strong, and competent I actually am, it'd scare the beegeezuz out of them."

because yes - they normally only see the side of me that has left her car lights on, or needs someone with a vehicle larger than her Civic to pick up landscaping, or wants help ripping out wiring without being electrocuted. it was kind of nice to have it go the other way, once.

Comments

[swashbucklr]

I have a similar relationship with my brother. He's a contractor, and I often wonder if I'm short-changing myself by not knowing how to build and repair and move. I do like the idea of being able to Do It Myself. There's a lot that I buy, that I could probably make or do (if I took time away from many of the other things I do).

Yet, I'm damn good with a computer, a sword, and I'm the only one who has graduated college. :)

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

in my case, my eldest brother is good at everything: intelligent/college-educated, golf and bowling, building and repairing things, technology... it's slightly sickening. ;)

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

my work computer got nailed with that virus last week. IT decided it was easier to just scrap the computer since it was old, and the cleaning for that one is tricky.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

huh. i found awesome, detailed instructions here (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-total-security). they really chose to SCRAP the computer?

perhaps i should be in IT. *roll*

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

It was scheduled to be scrapped within the quarter, so only got moved up a month, but yeah, I had to wait a few hours with the virus on my computer, so I started some of the processes myself and got it somewhat working. Some poor temp will probably get the computer.

[sskipstress.livejournal.com]

But before the temp gets it, they'll reformat the hard drive and install everything fresh. It's always easier to build a machine from the ground up than it is to clean off a virus. And usually more successful, too. So the temp won't get a virus-ridden computer.

Most places I've worked computers have a 3-year life cycle. In part because after 3 years some of the parts start to show signs of wear and stop working, in part because in 3 years the software needs beefier hardware. Those computers older than 3 years which still work get used for something where it won't be a huge problem if they up and die and where the person using it doesn't need the speed and processing power of a newer machine. So they're used for public email stations, test labs, temps, and interns.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

yeah, and this one was working it's way on to it's 5th year. so it was time.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

i wonder what happens in an office that wears out machines so quickly: power being left on constantly, huge fluctuations in conditions? in the case of laptops, it's easy to factor in the travel (i mean, good grief, i've dropped mine a bunch of times already) but i've never had a PC/home machine last only three years.

i'm glad that it's probable the machine wasn't "scrapped" as in "tossed out", but recycled into another use. any waste like that makes me sad.

[sskipstress.livejournal.com]

Some of it is that work computers are used a lot. Most people in offices use their computers the entire work day, and many work more than 40 hours a week. Some computers don't get turned off at night (sometimes it's laziness, sometimes it's that maintenance and backups are scheduled to run at night so as not to interfere with work).

That means the moving parts work wear out faster, especially hard drives and fans. While a hard drive can be replaced, and often refurbished, a fan dying causes the machine to overheat and leave the motherboard useless.

My work hard drives tend to last almost 2 years before they need to be replaced.

Another thing that adds to that 3 year life cycle is that's the longest extended warranty available for desktop and laptop computers. Maintenance and repair is usually more expensive than new computers once that warranty has expired. Not because parts are expensive, but people with the skills to replace them are.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

my work experience has been a bit different than yours; i did data entry (near-constant computer use) for two years. but our company was pretty darn stingy with replacement hardware and our computers were all fairly old. they were slow, but functional.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

it's always been amusing to me how quickly computers get "old" in the business world. then again, sskiptress has a point about newer software needing newer components (usually more and more RAM).

still, i hope they do bomb it and refurbish it.

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

Isn't it nice when things suddenly go right with family? Enjoy it when it happens. =)

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

in my case, at least, it wasn't sudden by any means. we've been building to it so... damn... slowly, with them beginning to see what was going on with Dad, and then realizing why i'm still around... and what it would mean to them if i wasn't, given how much they're already doing that i can't do as easily (like blowing out the driveway). and what could happen if something happens to mom.

even in your case, it seems like you've done a ton of work on your relationship with your mom. it's just finally (especially, i think, with what has happened to her tenant) begun to bear fruit.

i think (or hope?) everyone wakes up eventually, and starts to appreciate what they already have.

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

I think that like with many changes, even if they happen slowly, there is a point when you suddenly realize that things aren't what they used to be. And that is a moment to savor.

I'm glad to hear that your brothers are coming around. It's about time.

[raidingparty.livejournal.com]

Epiphany?

[temperlj.livejournal.com]

I ma happy for you...progress proceeds!

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

heh. it doth. :)

at least... if his machine is still working. when i left for work today i told my mom: "If Joey stops by with lavish gifts, accept them for me graciously." she snorted, and i added "But if he comes over looking for me, yelling about his computer not working, you don't know where I am..."