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Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless

by  | 04-24-08

Tags: off topic, geekend, end-user support, hardware, computer, bloopers, technically clueless

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Safest way to buy online by credit card

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Safest way to buy online by credit card
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VISA - It's just everywhere! Trying to buy something on-line, I suppose. No wonder it didn't work - note the card hasn't even been activated yet.

From 1994 to 2002 Rod Shelley worked as a PC technician at a major computer retail store in the US. After seeing all kinds of wacky, operator-induced computer issues, Shelley decided to start documenting them. He wanted to inject a little humor into the often-frustrating world of technology and hopefully educate a few of the technically clueless along the way.

In 2000, Rod published his collection of humorous photos online under the title "Stupid Computer Tricks". In 2002, his gallery turned into an overnight success. Unfortunately, due to bandwidth concerns and a series of hosting problems, Shelley was forced to take the gallery down.

Lucky for us, Rod has graciously allowed TechRepublic to republish his photos. I've added titles to most of the photos, but the captions come straight from Rod. You can learn more about Rod and read his musings about photography, technology, and computer repair on his Web site--Rod's Lair.

Credit: Reprinted with permission from Rod Shelley
                                                       

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Worst end-user mistake you've had to fix? Bill Detwiler - TechRepublicTechrepublic Moderator | 04/24/08
Unreasonable request jrosewicz@... | 04/24/08
This takes me back fishcad | 04/29/08
Myriad of funny repair stories... MetalFR0 | 10/29/08
Dust brian.mills@... | 04/25/08
Dust ... and other stuff doug.duke@... | 04/29/08
Anti-offset powder Murphy's_Brother | 04/29/08
I'm Glad... brian.mills@... | 04/29/08
Visitors come in and ask, "What's that smell?" Murphy's_Brother | 04/30/08
I'll second that ein@... | 05/13/08
breathing powder... mdiaz@... | 09/23/08
People with allergies RipVan | 09/23/08
happy NickNielsen | 09/23/08
Some old apps used backspaces SinisterSlay | 01/20/09
Dust Is Not So Bad bkimsey@... | 01/02/09
User couldn't understand why... Timbo Zimbabwe | 04/28/08
Favorite reason a computer would not turn on... polcz@... | 04/29/08
second favorite reason it won't turn on babznme@... | 02/20/09
Water fall Geekenstein | 04/30/08
Plant in the monitor Ray berry | 04/30/08
amazing NBailey@... | 09/12/08
The Oppsite of Water bkimsey@... | 01/02/09
Lotus 1-2-3 djelliott@... | 04/28/08
Lotus 1? mlf@... | 05/01/08
I taught Excel RipVan | 09/23/08
Memory frank.huminski@... | 04/28/08
Re: Memory brian.mills@... | 04/28/08
Hurts me to admit it, but drpruner@... | 04/29/08
yep rat.onul@... | 05/11/08
Worse still when a vendor tech does it DigitalFrog | 04/30/08
hah hah, similar... roslevichm@... | 01/02/09
Our Federal Government grouchyone | 04/28/08
That mysterious ?any key? WhyZeeGuy | 04/28/08
Mis-marked Keyboards Datacommguy | 09/23/08
Yep, no myth MavMin2 | 05/01/08
Oh I wish enchanter_of_dreams@... | 04/28/08
Handy Holder mwillis47@... | 04/28/08
Good story, especially since drpruner@... | 04/29/08
Handy Holder Geekenstein | 04/30/08
Perhaps a bit of housekeeping digital@... | 09/24/08
Mouse...no, not that kind hollingsworthp@... | 07/10/08
Mice eating computer parts lthoman@... | 09/17/08
bloopers kaveeshwars@... | 04/28/08
New printer won't work rayrich@... | 04/28/08
didn't have to repair this... m61 | 04/28/08
New computer DonG43 | 04/29/08
It's not just the end user! chris.babb@... | 04/29/08
Internet company tech Ganns1980@... | 04/29/08
Bad 5.25" disks! LouCed | 04/29/08
5.25" disks Bloopers redux.... b.kinney1@... | 05/03/08
Bad diskette info@... | 10/29/08
"There's a magnet in there?" babznme@... | 02/20/09
Duct tape hard drive holder... Murphy's_Brother | 04/29/08
It Does Not Turn ON!!! livealoha@... | 04/29/08
I've Been Around Awhile hforman@... | 04/29/08
importing woes DigitalFrog | 04/30/08
And I only took help desk calls library assistant | 04/30/08
Dumb A** Users... steven@... | 04/30/08
What if its your Boss thats the Dumb A** chris.babb@... | 05/01/08
5 years of computer store tech time qlueless@... | 04/30/08
Modems? laugh NickNielsen | 04/30/08
Floortops and full hard drives. favorunmerited | 05/02/08
RE: Full HD Ptero.4@... | 06/06/08
Not a problem on a Mac either geedavey@... | 06/27/08
Amazing wdewey@... | 09/24/08
Not quite a mistake, but... almostfm@... | 05/04/08
Tears are falling... jmk1024@... | 05/13/08
Docking Station - It's Alive mlf@... | 06/04/08
Oh THAT'S what the Recycle bin is for! walterclark@... | 06/27/08
PS2 mouse dan@... | 07/04/08
Then and Now sterghe@... | 08/13/08
Another Memory mistake mcornejo@... | 09/23/08
384 x 18-wheelers that could be seen from SPACE !!! OldER Mycroft | 01/01/09
Floppy Fun MikeRCol | 01/02/09
Crisp packet under the mobo! chris.green@... | 01/05/09
673 Shortcuts on a Win98 Desktop shocked NickNielsen | 04/24/08
There are two types zclayton2 | 04/28/08
What if we do both... Wolvenmoon | 04/28/08
No Icons on the desktop. JPRuiz | 07/05/08
Oh, I don't know ... drpruner@... | 04/29/08
I dunno library assistant | 04/30/08
No, no--that's TOYS! rblevitt1 | 10/07/08
The funniest shortcut that I have seen a few times Don't Read This | 04/29/08
Show Desktop a.southern@... | 04/29/08
Sorry about draging quick launch icons. mrtek2003@... | 04/30/08
RE: Show Desktop Ptero.4@... | 06/06/08
RE: RE Show Desktop incubuslncarnate@... | 07/09/08
My personal favorite RebelFlag | 10/14/08
Hold down the shift key loefvinc | 09/23/08
Show Desktop on Desktop - Hey - it works Thomas Moser | 04/29/08
Everyone needs to open their desktop as a window lucien86@... | 04/29/08
Icons eat screen display.... babznme@... | 02/20/09
PC repair Jedi drpruner@... | 04/29/08
Mousing coyt.watters@... | 04/29/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders lmassey@... | 04/29/08
The power of POWER. jerry.dyal@... | 04/29/08
Ah, yes... rblevitt1 | 10/07/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless) a.southern@... | 04/29/08
Who is General Failure? a.southern@... | 04/29/08
Major Confusion ozi Eagle | 04/29/08
Dishwasher Safe ? jverhei@... | 04/29/08
Favorite mzinsmei@... | 04/29/08
Backup Floppy on cabinet, CD Drive not working danlanier@... | 04/30/08
A little off topic, but a good trick to plsy mike@... | 04/30/08
Here's a good one to stump them... Summersond | 05/01/08
Another good trick ozi Eagle | 05/01/08
"water in the hard drive" that trick should still work. dryd@... | 05/28/08
Another batch file trick-prank file repurposed geedavey@... | 06/27/08
My two favorite issues of the past rwtodd2007@... | 06/06/08
Just a little dust - "Grampa Computer" appears to need a shave! ITSecurityGuy | 07/07/08
RE:Mysterious black spots NamelessFor Now | 07/16/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless) sierkahn@... | 08/05/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless) sierkahn@... | 08/05/08
Disappearing Floppy Disks toemoss71@... | 08/13/08
Common mistakes by Noobs... badben@... | 08/19/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless) xmechanic@... | 09/19/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless) dave@... | 09/23/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless) walther.grube@... | 09/23/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless) vtassone@... | 09/23/08
My best user question banzairunner@... | 09/24/08
Have heard this works wdewey@... | 09/24/08
You can also oven dry NickNielsen | 09/24/08
You can also oven dry?? ddomian@... | 11/17/08
Washing and Drying in the Sun garyb_z | 12/31/08
The trick with things like this is HAL 9000 | 01/01/09
Late night calls digital@... | 09/24/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless) guruconnector01 | 11/19/08
smokers computers lrdcemb@... | 12/31/08
RE: Safest way to buy online by credit card (Computer bloopers and blunders from the technically clueless) coop_mis_dept@... | 01/02/09
Cockroaches short circuiting PC brad@... | 01/06/09
drive D 1/2 wendygoerl@... | 01/20/09
Magnets 2rs | 03/18/09
Ha! seanferd | 03/19/09
At least it keeps the money rolling in HAL 9000 | 03/19/09
Can't happen that way NickNielsen | 03/19/09

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