Malware

Just to give a little more background on the situation. My mom came to me after repeatedly reporting the errors and problems to her IT person, but he was unable to fix anything, even telling her once after trying to fix it, "It will probably still have problems." I understand if something is beyond repair, but I was able to make the computer usable again in a few hours by reading some pc security forums.

Anyways, I have tried to play around with the BIOS but have had no luck, I really think Windows is corrupted and without the install disk there is really nothing more I can do.

At your mum's work should have install CDs. They can do it.

Where I work, there is a very strict policy that covers how you may use your company provided computer, and specifically forbids installing software that is not "approved" by the company.

Installing unauthorized software can result in HR action up to and including dismissal.

This is not specifically an IT policy but a company management directive. The goal of the policy is to protect the network and the company, along with protecting the companies intellectual property.

Even for a hardware device driver, the terms of the EULA must be acceptable to the company before the hardware can be used.

I heard a story from another division of the company. They said that the way they handle the need for new software is to convince themselves that they do not need the new tool rather than go through the approval process.

While the policy (and other policies) may seem a bit draconian, the company is a major target on multiple fronts. The policies help to limit the companies exposure to both mal-ware and legal actions.

Chas

You live in a very different world to the rest of us, then.
I give congratulations to you. That, and envy.

What I'm (and probably most other IT folk) used to is: "It's broken. Fix it by lunchtime."

Moreso in my last IT job than this one. Teachers are terrible Users.

What The Chas has described is fairly common particularly with Government Departments.

But if you think that Teachers are Bad you should try working with Doctors in the Specialist Fields. They are the Resident Experts and their word is not only LAW but has to be followed all of the time preferably before they speak so that they do not get upset.

I've lost count of the number of times that lesser people would have been terminated for what the Specialists have done to their computers only to watch the HR People bow down and apologies that whatever was wrongly installed by that Specialist didn't work or took the entire thing down. I remember one guy who just had to have Ghost on his system and he then cloned a Blank Unused HDD to the NB's HDD.

It was my fault for installing Ghost no matter that it was part of what he demanded he have. :^0

HR was very specific and demanded that I fix it now so that the guy could go away to a lecture in 20 minutes. They also demanded that i recover all of the lost data reload the system and get it back before he started needing to think about the lecture that he had to give to the residents. Needless to say it didn't happen.

Col

Other than proving my point that it doesn't matter who or what, the IT guys are at fault and should have it fixed yesterday, is incredibly funny -- as sad as the situation was.

It's much, much easier to laugh at the demanding and accusing nature of users (particularly your doctor, grand specimen, that!), and how the fault can never be their own.

A thought: In your situation above, would the doctor have adhered to processes put in place to prevent that kind of problem? Or would he simply have said "Just do it."?

When one of the Doctors asks me how to do something my standard response is RTFM

After all they wouldn't dream of attempting to use some new surgical device without reading the manual so why should they think that they can use something far more complicated?

The HR people faint when the Quacks ask me things and the quacks have figured out never to allow the HR types around when they want something. Most just come and ask or ring me and ask how they do something now apparently they don't like the fawning that HR gives them all that much when they have a real problem.

I have one guy who asked me how I became so smart as I know it all, in his words so he not only rings me with the smallest problem he gets his entire family to ring me when they have a problem. Like one day last week he was out of the country and his wife rang with a request could I come down and fix the Foxtel for her. Apparently they had a Power Spike and the VCR which had the Foxtel feed through it had turned itself off.

Easy fix and his 3 children all of who are surgeons continue to call me for everything. Bit of a double edged sword that I should say but at least it's never dull. :^0

Col