Dealing with absent minded clients.

[Megahertz07]

Windows password is so weak (anyone can bypass it in 15 minutes).

I'll ask them why they want to have a password that is useless.
Only if they want to block access to someone that isn't in conditions to use a computer (In this case it seems to be the computer owner)

 

[Barman58]

Windows password is so weak (anyone can bypass it in 15 minutes).

I'll ask them why they want to have a password that is useless.
Only if they want to block access to someone that isn't in conditions to use a computer (In this case it seems to be the computer owner)

When you are a business your own personal opinion is basically irrelevant, there is an old adage "The customer is always right" and as a professional technician, you are best served to give the customer what they want or what makes them feel more secure.

Yes it's a simple matter to circumvent a password for an experience user with physical access to the system, but for a regular home or small business user they are safer with a password than without

 

[HAVOC]

I went to his house with a Windows DVD in hand. Only problem was that I grabbed the 32bit version instead of the 64bit version. So, back to his house with the correct DVD and I followed the directions (from the tutorial) to reset the password which worked. While I was there he wanted me to setup his new modem (Frontier), get his wireless working and also set up his printer so he can print to it from his phone.

I called Frontier because one light wasn't lit and it should be. They said the service doesn't start until Monday.

 

[HAVOC]

When you are a business your own personal opinion is basically irrelevant, there is an old adage "The customer is always right" and as a professional technician, you are best served to give the customer what they want or what makes them feel more secure.

Yes it's a simple matter to circumvent a password for an experience user with physical access to the system, but for a regular home or small business user they are safer with a password than without

The password was that so his kids couldn't download/install anything. He is self employed and needs his computer for work.

 

[RoWin7]

The password was that so his kids couldn't download/install anything. He is self employed and needs his computer for work.

If he needs it for work, he has to become more organized about saving important things. Maybe the kids took the paper off his file cabinet. Let him figure out what's kidproof.

 

[Lance1]

Make your own account through Super Admin. CMD Admin rights. Net user administrator /active:yes Chances are they have no idea how to access this account so there shouldn't be a password. Get in and set YOUR password.. Do what you need to do and your out! Net user administrator /active:no They'll never know it's there Or you were there. Your a tech.. You know what to do.

 

[Layback Bear]

Why in the would would anybody let kids have access to a work computer?

This person doesn't have a computer problem. This person has a parenting problem.

Jack

 

[margrave]

The PAYING customer is always right.

When you are a business your own personal opinion is basically irrelevant, there is an old adage "The customer is always right" and as a professional technician, you are best served to give the customer what they want or what makes them feel more secure.

If a customer pays me to fix his recurring lost-password problem, fine. But if he won't pay he's not a customer.

 

[HAVOC]

Why in the would would anybody let kids have access to a work computer?

This person doesn't have a computer problem. This person has a parenting problem.

Jack

Now that they are older, they have their own laptop/tablet so they don't use the computer anymore. I still made a password for the main user.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Why in the would would anybody let kids have access to a work computer?

This person doesn't have a computer problem. This person has a parenting problem.

Jack

Although I don't totally disagree with you, that's not HAVOC's concern. He needs only to meet his customers' needs which, in this case, is come up with a way to password protect the customer's computer that doesn't require frequent extra trips to the customer to reset forgotten passwords (unless he is willing to charge for those extra trips and the customer is willing to pay for them).

 

[MrWhoopee]

I have a client who owns an electrical contracting business with about 35 employees. He has a wife and four sons. He does a large portion of his work on his home computer, which is password protected. For the sake of domestic tranquility, he must give the password to his wife. Each of the sons has his own computer.

The cycle begins like this. Son completely trashes his own computer. Son MUST complete school assignment, but his computer is trashed. Mom gives son password to Dad's computer. Son trashes Dad's computer. Dad calls me. I clean up son's computer and Dad's computer, then change password on Dad's computer. Dad gives new password to Mom. The cycle repeats.

Fortunately, he's down to the last son in the home.

Moral: It's easier to crack the owner than the password.

 

[HAVOC]

I have a client who owns an electrical contracting business with about 35 employees. He has a wife and four sons. He does a large portion of his work on his home computer, which is password protected. For the sake of domestic tranquility, he must give the password to his wife. Each of the sons has his own computer.

The cycle begins like this. Son completely trashes his own computer. Son MUST complete school assignment, but his computer is trashed. Mom gives son password to Dad's computer. Son trashes Dad's computer. Dad calls me. I clean up son's computer and Dad's computer, then change password on Dad's computer. Dad gives new password to Mom. The cycle repeats.

Fortunately, he's down to the last son in the home.

Moral: It's easier to crack the owner than the password.

Sounds very similar to what I'm dealing with. The first time this happened, his son downloaded Minecraft (from the actual site, I was told) and locked the laptop. Had to use dads computer to do school work. Luckily nothing bad happened. I went there, cleaned the laptop and ran a couple scans on the main PC, nothing was found.

 

[Layback Bear]

From post #24

The password was that so his kids couldn't download/install anything. He is self employed and needs his computer for work.

Jack

 

[HAVOC]

Small update. Frontier messed things up more. Now the phones (business/home) don't even work and calls have to be routed to their cell phones. I haven't been there since to do anything. I can't setup anything until the service is fixed. He wants to switch from Comcast to Frontier because it's "cheaper". I guess you do get what you pay for.

 

[MrWhoopee]

Small update. Frontier messed things up more. Now the phones (business/home) don't even work and calls have to be routed to their cell phones. I haven't been there since to do anything. I can't setup anything until the service is fixed. He wants to switch from Comcast to Frontier because it's "cheaper". I guess you do get what you pay for.

I am a Frontier prisoner. I live in a small mountain community where they have a monopoly on phone/DSL and there are no cable providers. The only other option is satellite, if you can afford it and the trees don't block the signal. The service is terrible, on a good day I get 2 mbps. Tech "support" is worse, they run a few quick checks, then tell you the problem is with your computer (all 5 of them?). Their modems are always failing, every client I have has 3 or 4 lying around. They no longer close tech support calls with "Thank you for choosing Frontier", I always tell them "it's not a choice".

AVOID FRONTIER!!!!

 

[HAVOC]

NOT AGAIN!

Just got called by, guess who? They need to print something and forgot the password.

 

[HAVOC]

Not this again?!

Yes, AGAIN! Got the phone call asking if I knew their password. So another reset is in order. This time I won't be putting any passwords on it because the kids are old enough and are usually on their phone or tablet.

If he "really" wants a password, I'll save it to my LastPass account like I should've done last time.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

What?
Hasn't anyone heard of "Write it Down". (on a label stuck to the bottom of the keyboard, or on the bottom of the laptop)

I can fix a computer, but I ..... CAN'T FIX STUPID!

 

[HAVOC]

What?
Hasn't anyone heard of "Write it Down". (on a label stuck to the bottom of the keyboard, or on the bottom of the laptop)

I can fix a computer, but I ..... CAN'T FIX STUPID!

He had it written down on a Post-It, stuck to the side of a filing cabinet, and him and his wife still managed to lose it.

 

[Barman58]

Tattoo on forehead, Suitably reversed for reading in a mirror ?