I Love My Sister

My sister, Peggy, is one of the smartest people I know–except when it comes to computers. My bestest friend, Lori, is also one of the smartest people I know. And I love them both dearly. Me–I am just a computer geek/nerd!

Peggy lives in Charleston and texted me at 4:30 a.m. to call her. She knew I would be awake. Yes, we are both early birds–what can i say!

Our conversation.

Peggy: Can you help me with Skype, please?

Robin: Sure. What is the problem?

Peggy: It is stuck and is just spinning. And it won’t let me open it.

Robin: Turn your computer off and then turn it back on.

Peggy: Robin, why are you telling me to turn my computer off?  (I noticed a little frustration in her voice) Just tell me how to “fix” it. (I love our southern slang–to “fix” something.)

Robin: Just turn it off and turn it back on. (surely, none of you have ever called a tech support person and they said “turn your computer off and then back on or uninstall and reinstall”)

Peggy: I don’t know how to turn it off. (seriously, you don’t know how to turn your computer off)

Robin: Are you using Windows 7 or Windows 8? (this was prior to Windows 10)

Peggy: I don’t know. How do I tell?

Robin: (hmmm, think I won’t go there) Just hold down on the power button for 10 or 15 seconds and then turn it back on.

Peggy: I did and the internet comes back up.

Robin: That is because you didn’t hold down on the power button long enough. All you did was put it to sleep. Hold down on the power button for 20 seconds until it turns off completely off or just take the battery out. (No, I do not get frustrated teaching people how to use their computer over the phone–just ask my bestest friend, Lori–she knows me better than anybody!)

Peggy: Okay, it is turned off now.

Robin: Turn it back on.

pause . . . . while the computer comes back on

Robin: I am calling you now on Skype. Just answer it.

Peggy: I hear it, but I don’t see it.

Robin: Do you see a blue icon with an “S” in it in your bottom tray or on your desktop?

Peggy: Yes.

Robin: Please click on it.

Peggy: Oh, okay. There it is.

Robin: Did turning the computer off and then back on fix your problem? Just say “Yes” or “No”!

Peggy: Yes.

The END. Tune in tomorrow and I will call my sister on SKYPE and teach her how to determine if she has Windows 7 or Windows 8.

Life is good. . . I love my sister!