Computer Rendered Useless after Technical Support Call

View Poll Results: Have you ever had a tech support issue like this?

Voters
8. You may not vote on this poll
  • Yes, I've posted about it.

    1 12.50%
  • Yes, but I've never posted about it.

    1 12.50%
  • Yes, but I never had one as bad as yours, but I've posted about it.

    0 0%
  • Yes, I've had one worse than yours, but never posted about it.

    0 0%
  • No, I've never had a support problem as bad as yours.

    2 25.00%
  • No, I've never had a support problem.

    4 50.00%
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 Technical Preview
       #1

    Computer Rendered Useless after Technical Support Call


    I can not find an emoticon to share my frustration right now.
    I recently called avast! Customer Support, and after the call, my computer has been rendered useless. The support guy was very controlling, and the support software was faulty! After we had hung up the call, about 10 seconds later, the chat log said "[Name redacted] issued command: Shutdown (Force)"
    After I restarted, it acted as usual. The boot screen, fine. The Windows logon screen... fine! I entered my password, and as I hit enter, the screen swiped away... nothing. Black screen and mouse. I've restarted multiple times (holding down power button, as the key did nothing (no Start Menu) and the +C Charms Bar wasn't there. I've left the computer running as long as five hours, nothing. I tried CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to open Task Manager... it couldn't open. Now I can't access the installation file and am pretty much done for. Ugh. I'm not asking for help, just posting to vent a little. I needed a new computer anyways, but I was going to just use it until the end...
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 470
    Windows 10 Pro For Workstations
       #2

    "They" have called me and started to tell me my machine was faulty and they are from Microsoft and I just either laugh and hang up or call them scammers depending on my mood. I have called Microsoft on activation issues with OS several times.
    One has to ask why are you calling Avast whose tech support is as far as I am aware a 3rd party company in India who are know to scam users.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 277
    Win 8.1 Update x64
       #3

    Here is a perfect news for this topic:Court shuts down alleged PC tech support scam | PCWorld
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #4

    Do you have a paid version of Avast :/
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 3,105
    W10 Pro + W10 Preview
       #5

    FletchTech90 said:
    I can not find an emoticon to share my frustration right now.
    I recently called avast! Customer Support, and after the call, my computer has been rendered useless. The support guy was very controlling, and the support software was faulty! After we had hung up the call, about 10 seconds later, the chat log said "[Name redacted] issued command: Shutdown (Force)"
    After I restarted, it acted as usual. The boot screen, fine. The Windows logon screen... fine! I entered my password, and as I hit enter, the screen swiped away... nothing. Black screen and mouse. I've restarted multiple times (holding down power button, as the key did nothing (no Start Menu) and the +C Charms Bar wasn't there. I've left the computer running as long as five hours, nothing. I tried CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to open Task Manager... it couldn't open. Now I can't access the installation file and am pretty much done for. Ugh. I'm not asking for help, just posting to vent a little. I needed a new computer anyways, but I was going to just use it until the end...
    Try this...Restart computer while holding Shift...this should bring up a Choose Option Menu....Troubleshoot will give more options....Hope this helps.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #6

    Hi there

    You don't need ANY 3rd party AV software on Windows 8/8.1 / W10 -- W10's security is even better than W8.1.

    For home users there's absolutely NO requirement to install any of these products.

    BTW I HATE these off shored call centres usually placed in cities like Bangalore in India -- If ANY service I use has these I switch to another one - I've already changed Banks, Credit Card providers and Internet service.

    When I'm in the UK though it's almost impossible --especially for mobile phone service and ISP's.

    However for an ISP a good UK based company is Kingston Communications (Karoo) based in E.Yorkshire (near Hull) - although that dialect isn't the easiest to understand either !!!. They aren't subject to a load of Court imposed site bans either so you can access some of those "In the wild" places without having to use any "get arounds" or VPN's.

    I'm stuck though with Mobile phone service when I'm in the UK as they all use Indian or Filipino Call centres - but everything else I've switched.

    If more people did this and TOLD the provider WHY they are switching - a lot of these service would be brought back "On Shore".

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 15,037
    Windows 10 IoT
       #7

    I'm guessing the OP didn't know it wasn't AVAST they contacted, when he or she posted this thread. I had a friend of mine fall for the very same hoax. She googled AVAST free and didn't realize the top link wasn't the real AVAST site. They coned her into installing the program from their site to give them access so they could "fix" it. They fixed it alright! She basically lost the use of her PC until she paid them money to release it. Eventually she did figure out what was up and shut the PC down. Then asked me what to do. She did a system restore to before this happened and got her PC back. I told her to call her bank too, to block any charges from this company. They did and refunded what they already charged. She also changed all her passwords etc on the PC and for online sites like her bank. lesson learned for her. She's running Microsoft Security Essentials now.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7,811
    Windows 10 Home
       #8

    Visruth M Kumar said:
    Here is a perfect news for this topic:Court shuts down alleged PC tech support scam | PCWorld
    Love it!

    I know so many people who have been scammed.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 220
    Windows 10
       #9

    Hi

    I know this is boring, and dorky, but this is the reason to push for people to make a System Image File!!!

    It only takes a half hour or so, less for my Windows 10 partition because the System Drive is so small.

    I use a free and very easy to use program called EaseUS TODO backup.
    It literally gets making a backup image a matter of 3 or 4 clicks.

    It creates it's own recovery DVD, CD and it's just as easy to recovery your system.

    And like I said it FREE.

    I made 8 backups for Windows 10 so far, and I've restored my computer 4 times to fix thing I messed up.

    If something like this happens you can have your whole system back up and running in minutes.
    It has never failed to work for me.

    Because it overwrites the whole disk it completely gets rid of viruses and hacks like the one the OP had.

    Best free backup software for PC/Laptop - EaseUS Todo Backup Free

    You can use whatever software you want, but everyone should have a System Image File!

    Mike
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7,811
    Windows 10 Home
       #10

    MikeHawthorne said:
    Hi

    I know this is boring, and dorky, but this is the reason to push for people to make a System Image File!!!

    It only takes a half hour or so, less for my Windows 10 partition because the System Drive is so small.

    I use a free and very easy to use program called EaseUS TODO backup.
    It literally gets making a backup image a matter of 3 or 4 clicks.

    It creates it's own recovery DVD, CD and it's just as easy to recovery your system.

    And like I said it FREE.

    I made 8 backups for Windows 10 so far, and I've restored my computer 4 times to fix thing I messed up.

    If something like this happens you can have your whole system back up and running in minutes.
    It has never failed to work for me.

    Best free backup software for PC/Laptop - EaseUS Todo Backup Free

    You can use whatever software you want, but everyone should have a System Image File!

    Mike
    I also use it and have only had to restore drives three times but what a savings in work and aggravation.

    Have it on 4 computers.

    I have the paid version -- don't ask me why.
      My Computer


 

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