Tech support at a distance

SteveDallas · 10-14-2002, 09:22 PM

I wonder if some of you who play PC games might give me some suggestions. My dad's computer is, as he puts it "freaking out", and of course he thinks I can fix it.

(The faith is touching, but just like with the folks at work, I have to explain to him that just because I do computer junk for a living doesn't mean I can fix everything. Now, if he needed me to figure out some TCP/IP subnetting or set up a web server... but no...)

The problem is, Dad and the PC are 500 miles away so I'm limited to telephone and remote control via NetMeeting.

There are two problems: a spate of boxes at random times complaining that there is a missing or damaged for Infinite Pindlebot, and another spate of boxes (according to Dad they just pop up everywhere) complaining about AutoIt. I did enough research on Google to determine that the likely culprit was Diablo 2, played by my 15yo nephew who is resident at the house now. So, I thought maybe some Diablo players here might have seen these and can give me a clue what to do about them before I dig in.

(And yes, I'm willing to consider de-installing Diablo altogether. I even toyed with offering to buy the kid an Xbox if he promised not to install any more games on the PC, but I decided not to. Besides, If I buy an Xbox it'll be so I can play DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Call me shallow.)

perth · 10-15-2002, 08:03 AM

uh, sounds like the kid has dII on autopilot. infinite pindlebot (i think) plays your char in the background, powerleveling and the like. not quite cheating, but not far from it either. uninstall it and tell him to cut it out. can you get a list of running processes when this occurs?

~james

SteveDallas · 10-15-2002, 02:12 PM

ahhh, thanks, that makes since.. the AutoIt thing is a keystroke macro recorder... that may give me enough to go on to clean it up.

perth · 10-15-2002, 02:15 PM

no problem

~james

mbpark · 10-16-2002, 08:50 PM

Run this first to get rid of the shite.

Thank you

10-14-2002, 09:22 PM	#1
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Tech support at a distance I wonder if some of you who play PC games might give me some suggestions. My dad's computer is, as he puts it "freaking out", and of course he thinks I can fix it. (The faith is touching, but just like with the folks at work, I have to explain to him that just because I do computer junk for a living doesn't mean I can fix everything. Now, if he needed me to figure out some TCP/IP subnetting or set up a web server... but no...) The problem is, Dad and the PC are 500 miles away so I'm limited to telephone and remote control via NetMeeting. There are two problems: a spate of boxes at random times complaining that there is a missing or damaged for Infinite Pindlebot, and another spate of boxes (according to Dad they just pop up everywhere) complaining about AutoIt. I did enough research on Google to determine that the likely culprit was Diablo 2, played by my 15yo nephew who is resident at the house now. So, I thought maybe some Diablo players here might have seen these and can give me a clue what to do about them before I dig in. (And yes, I'm willing to consider de-installing Diablo altogether. I even toyed with offering to buy the kid an Xbox if he promised not to install any more games on the PC, but I decided not to. Besides, If I buy an Xbox it'll be so I can play DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Call me shallow.)

10-16-2002, 08:50 PM	#5
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	www.ad-aware.com Run this first to get rid of the shite. Thank you

10-15-2002, 08:03 AM	#2
perth Strong Silent Type Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 1,949	uh, sounds like the kid has dII on autopilot. infinite pindlebot (i think) plays your char in the background, powerleveling and the like. not quite cheating, but not far from it either. uninstall it and tell him to cut it out. can you get a list of running processes when this occurs? ~james

10-15-2002, 02:12 PM	#3
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	ahhh, thanks, that makes since.. the AutoIt thing is a keystroke macro recorder... that may give me enough to go on to clean it up.

10-15-2002, 02:15 PM	#4
perth Strong Silent Type Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 1,949	no problem ~james

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