Who do you call for computer help?

I call on my eldest daughter, she still lives here, and if it`s beyond her capabilities (rarely) I call in number one son, he works with computers.

My husband, he builds and repairs them for a living.

My son-in-law.

No one has mentioned a professional help line yet - does anyone actually use them?

I don't. Three cpmputer buffs in the family already.

Never use professionals as they are condesending and speak to you in geeky language,either call for service's of DGS1 or one of my virtual friends from GN who can always help with problems.

My son or a good friend of mine who used to work for M & S and deal with all their computer problems. I'm getting pretty good at sorting out my own pc problems though, I usually have a go at googling for the answers before I get hold of anyone else and I'm not afraid to have a go.

My friend's son! He's invaluable! He can also sort some problems 'remotely', which is so handy.

My lovely son-in-law, it is never too much trouble for him, and we have log-me-in, which is a bit wierd, because he takes control of the mouse, and it moves all over the screen, on it's own, just like a mouse. I do like to try to solve some problems myself but of course technical things are beyond me, (and my son in law sometimes,) that's when I call the professional who lives just round the corner, but does it for a living, so I have to pay him.
My husband, never reads the instructions on the screen (typical man?), and tries to do all sorts of things which are beyond his capabilities,so I do spend some time trying to sort out his problems. He has fingers like sausages on the keyboard. It is a great way to learn.

I post a query on one of my expat forums and somebody always has the answer, although I often have to ask them to repeat it in words I understand.
One man said 'Have you compacted your folders?' What??????
I also use Registry Reviver to 'clean' my computer - it tells me what 'errors' it finds and corrects them, but I have no idea what these errors are, or what mayhem they might cause if not corrected.
At the moment, I am having problems with ^ and < suddenly replacing letters and I have to use System Restore - somebody on one of my forums told me about that.
I use the end of the hose on my vacuum cleaner to suck out dust from the air intakes, but I am scared to take off the cover of my laptop to brush it out with a fine paint brush, as advised, in case I do some damage.

When I started using my first laptop I called a helpline. The person I spoke to was very polite but I couldn't understand him due to his foreign accent, so I had to end the call. Eventually sorted myself out using my several 'idiot guides"

PRINTMISS - that's it! 'Log me in'! That's what my computer 'saviour' does - instead of having to trail all the way here!

DH, but I always think twice or three times before asking. Since the time I suggested my comp would work better if he re-loaded windows. Took the whole weekend.

But this week the hinge on this middle aged macbook air has broken and they said Apple shop said they would fix it for free. But they will KEEP IT for a couple of days. Whimper whimper. How will i manage? have to make a plan to get through cold turkey.

After going ape (not a pretty sight) I 'ring a friend'

DS1. He is pretty knowledgeable though not a professional. Trouble is he is a Linux fan and not much help with any other system.

My DH , then one of my brothers and finally if no-one has any success, a gorgeous young man called Fergus who is in computers for a living, so I pay him,but he is lovely to look at

GoldenGran, would you like to specfy what you actually pay him for?

My son has a way of accessing my computer. From his house approximately 200 miles away. It's something you can sign up for, but I can't remember what it's called.

He assures me he can't see what I post on GN. (phew)

My nephew, who has a computer business. The only problem is, you have to fight to make him accept any money! I try not to let my otherwise wonderful son know I have a problem, because he insists on "looking at it" for me. Trouble is, he won't confine himself to "looking at it" and we usually end up in more trouble than we started!

Still nobody who uses a paid-for service - as I suspected!

But in my experience the real answer is giving someone you trust access to your computer. Logmein (as mentioned by other posters) is one of many services that allow this, and their free version is fine for most people.

I help an 87 year old lady this way - she can see what I am doing, and we are talking on the phone whilst I do it, even though we are hundreds of miles apart,

But just how keen are we all to give someone, anyone, this sort of access? Even if permission has to be given each time? Do we trust it?

I do occasionally!

If we are a little? ignorant of the facts, there are times when we have to trust someone to put us right, and if we have logmein with either a relative or a close friend, then we have to learn to trust them. I have come to the conclusion that there are so many people out there (according to the media) willing and able to steal my identity, the only thing to do is trust my instinct.

Greatnan his services of course

O2 broadband Assistant -the cd came with the router when I switched to them. This sorts out a lot of problems but on the few occasions I've had to use their remote help I have found them very helpful and courteous. This help is part of my monthly package.