Listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth!

[liakela.livejournal.com]

This is why I drink.

Me: Have you tried to delete the file?
Bint: It won't let me.
Me: Why not? (expecting her to give me, oh... I dunno... an error message. Something)
Bint: Well, I don't know! (laughs as though I'm an idiot for asking)
Me: Ok. When you right-click the file, what happens?
Bint: Nothing.
Me: (sigh) Ok. Shut the computer down all the way, and let me know when it's shut down.
Bint: Ok.
...Many seconds pass...
Me: Has it shut down yet?
Bint: Yes, it's almost at the log-in screen now.
Me: Ok. No. I need you to shut it down. Just shut it down.. and let me know when it's shut down.
Bint: Oh.. ok.
Me: Are you using the docking station?
Bint: Huh? Oh--no.
Me: Ok, can you take the battery out and unplug the power cord?
Bint: What do you mean?
Me: Well.. I'd like you to remove the battery.. and if you have it plugged up to the a/c adapter, please unplug it.
Bint: *huge long-suffering sigh* Alright.
...Many seconds pass, but I hear the telltale sounds of the laptop either being put on or taken off the docking station...
Bint: OK..it's on the docking station now.
Me: ??
Me: Um, ok. No.. I need you to take it off of the docking station. I need for you to have removed the battery, and for -no power to be going to the laptop-.
Bint: OH! Well, I thought it was weird when you were talking about the docking station! (once again, I'm the idiot here, apparently).
Me: Right. Now, I need you to hold the power button down, and tell me when you start.
Bint: Uh... ok.
...Many seconds pass...
Me: ...And I need you to tell me when you start...
Bint: *sighs again* Just a second.
Once -again- I hear the sounds of the computer being placed on the docking station
Bint: Ok, you want me to power it up on the docking station now??
Me: (death-grip on my phone) No.
Me: (taking a moment to breath)
Me: (pondering a career change)
Me: OK. Take it off of the docking station.
Bint: Jeeze. Ok.
Me: Ok. While it's off of the docking station, and with no battery in it, right?
Bint: Right.
Me: Right, and no a/c power going to it, right?
Bint: Right.
Me: I need you to press down on the power button now, with NO POWER GOING TO THE LAPTOP.
Bint: Oh. Ok. (apparently, I should have just said that in the first place, according to her tone)

after this lovely exercise, she was, of course, able to delete the file.

Sigh.

Comments

[grayhawkfh.livejournal.com]

::passes the bottle of Jack Daniels::

Feel free to chug a la Bluto from Animal House...

[fnordx.livejournal.com]

That user is why I drink as well.

[katyism.livejournal.com]

this type of user is why i get in trouble for taking too many smoke breaks.

[geekgrrl-ca.livejournal.com]

I think I have her on the phone right now.

[jjjiii]

Sooo... how'd powering on with no power help her delete the file?

[biffster.livejournal.com]

Wait.... why does powering down the laptop completely fix the "not being able to delete a file" problem?

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

On some models, it's the only way to guarantee a 'genuine' hard reboot, instead of some kind of funky hibernation mode which doesn't always clear any outstanding file locks.

[bekscilla.livejournal.com]

I thought it might be that, but it took me a minute to work it out :P