Stupidest Tech Questions You've ever been asked

I managed a large network and hardware help desk for 23 years (until I retired). Some questions may seem dumb to a tech but to a non-techie they are not. If everyone were experts they wouldn't need help desks, support personnel, forums such as this, etc.

Just as I worked as a guitar amp tech at one time. If things didn't break they wouldn't need techs and in this case amplifier techs.

Hi
I'm in my daily work in the office serve all level of staffs that have various knowledge about things, including PC stuffs. Never ask why the questions is asked as I mostly know everyone of them. My best approach is always offer them a big smile to assure them if they are coming to the right person. Show them the problem, teach them according to their level of PC knowledge, and when they come back to me I find them never ask the same question again. Means that they've learned.
One simple response that I always bring into my conscience to avoid to abruptly say is a judging question: "How come you don't know how.....?

That's is what my side story. Everybody happy, free coffee from different people everyday.

Kevin

My take: "There ain't no such thing as a stupid question"

Rich

Can't think of any tech questions off hand but the other day we were driving our nitro rc cars and 2 different people asked if they were gas or electric. Had to ask them to repeat the question since the nitro motors are quite loud.

SYSFAN1 said:

Ok, so chances are you're on this Site a lot. If you're like me, you're the house's free tech service for everything that has a switch, cord or wire.

And we all know we've been asked some pretty stupid questions. So why not have a good laugh about it rather than strangle the person who did it?

After you're out of real ones, if you have to feel free to make them up. Just make sure they're in the field of realism.

For example: no "How do you plug the computer in?" to get the most attention. (unless of course someone actually did ask you that and by all means feel free to say it.)

I'll go first because, well no one else has a choice I'm going first.

Earlier this year my teacher asked if she could install Office over Windows 7

(yes I understand that doesn't really seem to be in the bounds of realism, but I'm serious! It happened!)

So go ahead, think you can beat me with a dumber family member or friend?

I agree with what the others have said, no one likes to be made a fool of and to them the question isn't stupid if it's something they know nothing about.

We learn by our mistakes but if we can ask someone a question that may help us not make a bigger mistake that is not stupid it is sensible.

New technology can be a little daunting to someone who's never had any experience of it and if they're made to feel stupid for asking questions they may never get the hang of it and that would be sad because it could stop them from a great wealth of knowledge that is out there.

OK I've had my say on it, which way is out.

Change one to my stupid question remark.

The only question that is stupid is to repeat the same question expecting a different answer than you want.

Rich

I built a simple PC for a neighbour, here in our Sheltered Housing complex. It was built from mostly pre-owned parts I had, with a sprinkling of new bits, such as KB and Mouse. I gave her a CRT monitor with it and charged just a few "Wine Vouchers" for my time. The lady had requested a machine just for playing games from discs she already had, so I installed a copy of XP Home. She asked if I could provide Internet capability at a later date and I said yes, as the board had 10/100 Ethernet. I found her a good pre-owned printer (AIO) for £10 and off she went.

Months later, she asked me to set up the Internet, so I went the few doors to her home and explained that she would want a simple Router, which I had - an old stock Asus USB one that I would give her. I looked around for the telephone connection point. (At this point, I should say that I had never had occasion to phone her house, we lived so close by that it was not necessary.)

"Oh, I don't have a phone," she said "Too expensive for my pension. I have a mobile." The mobile was a very old one, quite capable of sending and receiving calls, but no good for any of the modern stuff needed to access the Net.

I took a deep breath and tried to explain that a working phone line was necessary to access the Internet, which confused her. When I explained that I had found a phone socket, and asked if she had ever had a phone in the 7 years she had been resident, she said no. At the news that BT would make a charge for an Engineer visit to reconnect and possibly carry out more work, she grew angry. At me. Because I did not explain all this when I first supplied her with the kit she already had.

All attempts to placate the lady failed, until one day she spoke to another neighbour, whose laptop I had rescued from Malware oblivion. This lady, of a similar age but much more "connected" to the 21st century, put her right. Normal friendly realations were restored after an apology from the first lady.

This Topic reminded me of that incident and also set me thinking. Until my fifties, I had not even touched a computer. Now I am 67 and I build the things. The reason for that, was an injury, disability and a change of careers. I set out to gain qualifications and I changed my former career as a Motor engineer an workshop foreman, for something completely different.

But what if I had never had that accident? Would I now be retired and relying on someone like the person I am now, to build me a machine whose workings would be strange to me, in order to get me onto this here Internet that everyone says I need? And would my ignorance and different way of looking at technology, be as amusing to him as it might seem to someone posting on this topic?

I am reminded of 3 sayings from my dear old dad:
* Everyone is an individual
* Always remember, you are better than no one and no one is better than you.
* A little humility goes a long, long way.