Korean Job Discussion Forums

[patongpanda]

For a family member who has never used a computer before.
I taught them how to start Internet Explorer and use Hotmail.
There are two problems though.

1. When starting up Windows (XP), there are sometimes unexpected update dialogs to contend with, Adobe, Quicktime, Virus Checker, IE and so on.

Each time this happens I get a phone call, and have to talk them through it.

2. She will click on anything, Bonzai Buddy, Viruses, Trojans, Spamware, you name it. The computer quickly get's so farked up it's unusable.
I can't fix it over the phone and there's no point taking it to the PC shop to get reinstalled, it'll just happen again and again.

Is there any solution?

[jackdaniels]

Make an account for the individual with no administrator privileges.

[Senior]

Tell her you will only be her computer go-to, helper, technician if she takes one of the hundreds of free computer courses that are available.

It's possible to set up a VPN server (I think that's what it's called) so that you can have access to her PC from anywhere. That way you can trouble shoot her infested PC from the comfort of your own home.

[eamo]

XP was a bad choice......there are more viruses and various malware written for Internet Explorer and XP than any other OS and browser combination.

I would consider a Mac for those who don't know much about computing. Get a used iMac or something.

[egrog1717]

[pkang0202]

[xpat]

Next time she calls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt9j80Jkc_A

She could also do what the character's shirt in the video says, and RTFM.

[cmr]

Are you and your relative both in Korea?

[wormholes101]

Something like http://www.rollbacksoftware.com/ would work. Or else you could use linux instead of windows.

[patongpanda]

Thanks for the replies, before I posted I had thought it would involve "Internet Kiosk" software like on computers in the library, but it looks like that's unnecessary.

1. Make an account with no administrator privileges.

I'm trying this out on my own computer. Do auto-upgrades need privileges to run? This would mean the software never gets upgraded, which might leave the computer vulnerable (IE update, Virus update, Windows security update).

2. Take a computer course

She's enrolled on a course now. I think this will reinforce the use of IE though

3. Remote Access the computer

I'll look into this, it would be great.
Like this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Desktop_Protocol

4. Get a Mac

This worked for my ageing parents, but they had Mac friends to help them.

5. Use a non IE browser

Yes, I think Chrome is actually much simpler than IE. For some reason though IE has some kind of magnetic attraction for vulnerable people.
Sometimes 3rd parties might use the computer (Setting IE as default browser, changing security settings, generally doing damage).

6. She's not in Korea

7. Roll-back software

I need to suss out the Remote Access thing to be able to use this.

[cassimira]

also a good idea: delete any software (bloatware) that came preloaded on the computer that she might not need.... will eliminate some confusing update requests from programs she never uses or accidental clicks that install the infectious AOL or other things. I did this with my parents netbook, and it really helped a lot.

Of course, I took it one step further and deleted adobe acrobat pdf reader and the microsoft office and installed free, open source, alternatives.

[NYC_Gal]

I'm somewhat of a fangirl, but my grandma doesn't have any problems on her mac, and if she does get lost (which isn't often now that she's switched) she can call anyone in my family (I converted them like the borg LOL)

It's been a while since she called asking how to send an email. We set everything up on her macbook, so it's click and go. We even talk on skype every Sunday.

[Senior]

[lost at sea]

Making a system that is unbreakable and easy to use? Better off setting up a Linux distribution that looks/works similar to Windows. Maybe a minimal Ubuntu install. It has no unexpected startup junk, no automatic updates, everything works the same way every time all the time. As long as they don't need special software/install games they will be more than happy and never have any virus problems.

[Yaitsaj]

There was something (i'm sure it's still out there) called freeze frame or ice freeze or something like that. Anyway, you set it and no matter what you do/download/how much you *beep* up your computer, everytime you restart your computer it goes back to when you set it. You could download like 50 virus/adware programs and just reset your computer and everything is fine.

If you need to update, once you're into windows you start the program and put in the password and the next time you restart you can save whatever. Then it resets. I think it's called freeze frame maybe. Ice attack. Icy hot.

something like that. Look for it.