I was once hired to fix a computer. I told them that the fix would just be a simple reformat, and asked if they wanted me to back up any files.
they said no, they had backed everything up already. I asked if they wanted to take one last look through the system to make sure. They got huffy and told me to just take care of it already.
So I did.
then they asked me to restore their files.
it was a CD-R of hundreds of desktop links to programs, and even photos. no actual data. just links.
They were not happy when I explained it to them.
i can totally believe the story in Op's picture to be one that actually happened.
Reminds me of my grandfather who thought the relative location of icons on the desktop would be reflected in the file manager. It was quite a struggle to explain to them that wasn't one of the sorting options.
Sounds sensible to be honest. If you can rearrange icons on the desktop, and then you open the desktop folder, surely they should be arranged the same way unless chosen otherwise.
I wasnt a professional, Just the "computer guy".. and its been like 25+ years, but if I recall correctly they didnt hire me to reformat it specifically, I believe it was windows 98, and memory serves it hadnt been reformatted in years, and i think they slapped some new PCI cards into it without removing the software for the old ones? I dont remember the details, but basically told them that a clean start would have a 98% chance of fixing their system, and if it didnt.. I'd still need the clean start to figure out what was wrong where.
They were over my shoulder the entire time, wouldnt have let me if i wanted to (Edit, and I wouldnt have wanted to, because I hate going through peoples stuff even with permission).. and quite frankly I just wanted to get out of there asap cause I didnt like the attitude i got for being there trying to help them.
I did run into them again at a later time, where they were sad to have lost their stuff, but said the computer was running faster than ever, not realizing how much the bullshit had been dragging them down.
"Why didn't you go against the customer's wishes and dig through their data after being told to proceed with the task you were told to do? You could have extorted them while showing you were willing to violate their privacy and steal a customer's data!"
Back up the files, then, when they discover the fuck up: "I can try to recover the files, but it's going to be a lengthy process. I'll have to charge you $x."
Yeah, desktop shortcuts is what they're saying. So yes. The joke is the fact that the kid copies all the games desktop shortcuts onto their USB stick thinking they just stole all these games.
This reminds me of how a buddy of mine used to rename his desktop files from like "Carmaggedon demo" to remove the "demo" because it made him feel rich.
53 Comments
Doodleschmit@lemmy.world · 150 pts · 1d
No one's commenting about how golden your post title is, so I wanted to.
The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world · 69 pts · 1d
Thank you, I was wondering if it would land.
blx@piefed.zip · 16 pts · 1d
Don't worry, some of us connected the dots
BooBees@fedinsfw.app · 5 pts · 1d
Wheels down confirmed, Chore Daddy, you are on deck
The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1d
Copy that.
ObscureOtter@piefed.ca · 13 pts · 1d
Title was GOLD
A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world · 87 pts · 1d
I was once hired to fix a computer. I told them that the fix would just be a simple reformat, and asked if they wanted me to back up any files.
they said no, they had backed everything up already. I asked if they wanted to take one last look through the system to make sure. They got huffy and told me to just take care of it already.
So I did.
then they asked me to restore their files.
it was a CD-R of hundreds of desktop links to programs, and even photos. no actual data. just links.
They were not happy when I explained it to them.
i can totally believe the story in Op's picture to be one that actually happened.
Zephyr@sh.itjust.works · 13 pts · 1d
Reminds me of my grandfather who thought the relative location of icons on the desktop would be reflected in the file manager. It was quite a struggle to explain to them that wasn't one of the sorting options.
blueduck@piefed.social · 13 pts · 1d
What do you mean? I can’t arrange by penis (SFW)
dev_null@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 1d
Sounds sensible to be honest. If you can rearrange icons on the desktop, and then you open the desktop folder, surely they should be arranged the same way unless chosen otherwise.
thethunderwolf@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 1d
macos does this
thats why .DS_Store is everywhere
modus@lemmy.world · -21 pts · 1d
Why would you assume someone who required professional help to reformat a PC would have properly backed everything up?
You should have backed it up for them and then ransomed it back to them.
mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca · 26 pts · 1d
because they double checked and the customer got huffy about it
customer did this to themselves, OP tried to help them and was punished for it
A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 1d
I wasnt a professional, Just the "computer guy".. and its been like 25+ years, but if I recall correctly they didnt hire me to reformat it specifically, I believe it was windows 98, and memory serves it hadnt been reformatted in years, and i think they slapped some new PCI cards into it without removing the software for the old ones? I dont remember the details, but basically told them that a clean start would have a 98% chance of fixing their system, and if it didnt.. I'd still need the clean start to figure out what was wrong where.
They were over my shoulder the entire time, wouldnt have let me if i wanted to (Edit, and I wouldnt have wanted to, because I hate going through peoples stuff even with permission).. and quite frankly I just wanted to get out of there asap cause I didnt like the attitude i got for being there trying to help them.
I did run into them again at a later time, where they were sad to have lost their stuff, but said the computer was running faster than ever, not realizing how much the bullshit had been dragging them down.
chunk6235@piefed.social · 11 pts · 1d
"Why didn't you go against the customer's wishes and dig through their data after being told to proceed with the task you were told to do? You could have extorted them while showing you were willing to violate their privacy and steal a customer's data!"
FTFY
modus@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1d
Exactly! And keep a copy for yourself while you're at it.
potpotato@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 1d
You could do it in a less criminal way…
Bongles@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 1d
But then they wouldn't learn /s
Cethin@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 1d
Back up the files, then, when they discover the fuck up: "I can try to recover the files, but it's going to be a lengthy process. I'll have to charge you $x."
Uberflussig@sh.itjust.works · 63 pts · 1d
Cybercrime isn't what it used to be.
renegadespork@lemmy.jelliefrontier.net · 60 pts · 1d
100 games and only 37KB? Jackpot!
wowwoweowza@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1d
Thank you… I was having trouble tracking here and this gave me everything I needed. Finally laughed at the original meme.
Your work here is done.
blackjam_alex@lemmy.world · 48 pts · 1d
jaybone@lemmy.zip · 35 pts · 1d
Game shortcuts? Like what windows calls symlinks, you copy them to your USB drive and then they don’t work when you get home?
West_of_West@piefed.social · 133 pts · 1d
Yup, that's the joke
titty_wizard@lemmy.world · 73 pts · 1d
testaccount789@sh.itjust.works · 19 pts · 1d
Didn't catch that.
samus12345@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 1d
That's me. I know what shortcuts are too well and didn't get that the joke was the OP didn't.
Pixel_Jock_17@piefed.ca · 32 pts · 1d
Yeah, desktop shortcuts is what they're saying. So yes. The joke is the fact that the kid copies all the games desktop shortcuts onto their USB stick thinking they just stole all these games.
calcopiritus@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 1d
Shortcuts and symlinks are 2 technically different things. Windows does have symlinks too.
bold_omi@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 1d
Yeah, they're more like .desktop files.
Saapas@piefed.zip · 7 pts · 1d
Kids be stupid
popekingjoe@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 1d
The perfect crime.
cholesterol@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 1d
Holy shit, I can still laugh!
20cello@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 1d
The birth of a super villain, I'm quite sure Elon musk started like this
WesternInfidels@feddit.online · 14 pts · 1d
What's a "cyber cafe," grandpa? Is it a sex thing?
idegenszavak@sh.itjust.works · 11 pts · 1d
Can we browse the intewwebz at the cybercafe?
Mom: no, we have internet at home
internet at home:
rustydrd@sh.itjust.works · 32 pts · 1d
motruck@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 1d
Mom was wise beyond words. She knew the internet would turn to trash and was trying to save humanity.
justme@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 9 pts · 1d
woooow, that nostalgia rush
MissingGhost@lemmy.ml · 12 pts · 1d
See the PC cases in the background? That's still the case I use to this day. It's my fifth PC in it. I don't know why I should change a case.
Funkt4st1c@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1d
Dont. Its a hunk of metal to pretect the internal, standardized parts. As long as ATX doesnt change, im keeping my case
PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 23h
You got a burner in it still?
grrgyle@slrpnk.net · 9 pts · 1d
This reminds me of how a buddy of mine used to rename his desktop files from like "Carmaggedon demo" to remove the "demo" because it made him feel rich.
Rokin@leminal.space · 8 pts · 1d
I used to do this with floppy disks!
gazter@aussie.zone · 4 pts · 1d
I used to do it with reams of dot matrix printed BASIC.
fleem@piefed.zeromedia.vip · 7 pts · 1d
i used to have this case on my computer!
it is still laying around somewhere
Aarrodri@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1d
🤣
mlg@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1d
Surely if copy paste didn't work, the "send to" button will lol
toxicbubble@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1d
we used to burn installers to CDs and pass them around computer class when the teacher wasn't looking
Axolotl_cpp@feddit.it · 3 pts · 1d
Must've been deaf too!
Grass@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 1d
omfg I remember laughing at classmates that did this way back in the era of knights and magic
MrDrProf@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 1d
God tier title OP
blx@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 1d