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What Do Geek Squad Technicians Actually Do?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the are-they-worthy-of-the-name dept.

Zenitram asks: "I am a lead technician at a company that repairs computers for various vendors. Many of our systems are from Best Buy's Geek Squad. Based on the systems Geek Squad sends us, it makes me wonder what, if anything, do they actually do? We get systems that have issues that we simply shouldn't have to work on, like: installing device drivers, OS reloads, and reseting CRUs (Customer Removable Units). Additionally, we get systems that are misdiagnosed such as: bad hard drive when a system has faulty RAM; no POST when it simply won't boot into Windows; or no boot when it won't power on at all. So, what is the scope of technical repair that Geek Squad techs do?"

14 of 1,065 comments (clear)

  1. Hand holding. by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some people need that kind of support.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
    1. Re:Hand holding. by ericdano · · Score: 5, Funny

      Plus they have those really neato cars. I see them on the freeway sometimes.

      I think Apple should buy them, and then when they make a call, they replace the PC with a Mac. Simple, and then there would be no return call.

      --
      It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
      I moderate therefore I rule!
      --
    2. Re:Hand holding. by DarthMAD · · Score: 5, Funny

      I agree- when was the last time a door-stop or paperweight needed repair?

    3. Re:Hand holding. by admdrew · · Score: 5, Funny
      I don't know what kind of weird hardware you have hooked, up, but My linux box supports all the hardware I throw at it.

      I've yet to see either my windows machine or my linux box handle devices thrown at it. If they're small, like a pen or a cat, the item will bounce off the side and chances are the machine simply won't do anything at all. If they're largish, like a motherboard or possibly an xbox, the computer falls over and I immediately get a BSOD on the windows machine or a kernel panic on the linux box.

      My friend claims his mac can handle anything thrown at it, but I think he's only saying that because he doesn't actually own a mac, and therefore would be unable to actually hit it with any object.

      --
      LegendMUD
  2. Well... by bcat24 · · Score: 5, Funny

    We know they use Winternals software. :)

  3. Their Clothing by BobNET · · Score: 5, Funny

    Haven't you seen their ads? They wear ties. You know, 'cause all geeks wear ties! (Just look in the mirror, fellow /. readers!) And if they wear ties they have to be computer experts!

    1. Re:Their Clothing by QuantumG · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hey! I wear a tie and frankly I find it offensive that... nah, I can't pull that off. :)

      --
      How we know is more important than what we know.
    2. Re:Their Clothing by jkwscurvy · · Score: 5, Funny

      I used to work as a Geek Squad agent and dress code required it to be the company issue clip-on version.
      Though, not to prevent one from being caught in a printer but to keep people from hanging themselves.

  4. Have you ever looked at these guys? by two_socks · · Score: 5, Funny

    Honestly, I think they're a step up from "I roll my poo into balls".
    God help you if they ever make you speak to one to explain what's wrong with something purchased there.

    --
    I can't help it - I'm a 19D.
  5. Obligatory Office Space Reference by poobread · · Score: 5, Funny

    Geek Squad: Well, look, I already told you. I deal with the goddamn customers so the engineers don't have to!! I have people skills!! I am good at dealing with people!!! Can't you understand that?!? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!!!!!!!

  6. Re:Who cares! by eclectro · · Score: 5, Funny


    I care, because they might give geeks a bad name.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  7. Re:I just got a job there by Rob_Warwick · · Score: 5, Funny

    +1 Sympathy Karma

  8. Real nerds wear ties by totallygeek · · Score: 5, Funny
    When I worked professionally as a repair tech, I wore a tie for exactly one day.


    I agree with you completely. Although, I used to work for a company where a tie was mandatory. People would always buy me computer ties as gifts and I had about 100 of them. So, one day I am doing some service work at a company I had never visited when one of the owners strolled in. He gestured at me and I introduced myself. He then stated that he thought for the money paid he would have a more conservative, business-minded computer person building out his network and told me to never wear the tie I had on or even one like it in his building. So, I left. I told my boss about it and he told me I had to return and where a non-geeky computer tie (I think I had on a tie with a 3-D computer mouse). So, on the way over, I stopped at a thrift shop and bought a god-awful, really wide, nasty-colored tie. Needless to say, I always made sure I wore a crummy tie while at his office from then on out.

    --
    Click here or here.
  9. Excuse me? by Jesus_666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Doorstop? Paperweight?

    The MacBook is clearly a space heater.

    --
    USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)