31 Tech Support Nightmares That'll Make You Want to Unplug the Universe

John Summers • Contributor

Dec 6, 2024 9:00 PM EST

I have always been the "Tech guy" in my family. Not because I actually know what I'm doing or have any professional IT experience—far from it. I just like computers, which is apparently enough to qualify me as the resident tech expert. Somehow, simply being able to switch the HDMI input and knowing how to restart a modem makes me a technological genius in my family's eyes.

Being the "Tech guy" means I've had to deal with some pretty hair-raising tech support nightmares. My aunt once called me to say that her "cup holder" was broken and asked if I could fix it—turns out she was using the CD tray as a coffee holder. And let's not forget my cousin, who accidentally deleted his entire hard drive because he thought the "Format Disk" prompt meant cleaning up his files to make more space.

So, in honor of all the reluctant tech support heroes out there, here are 31 examples of tech support nightmares that will either make you laugh, cry, or both. Trust me, you'll feel less alone.

01
You can fix it... Right?

via u/agapeRecycling
02
Pure Rage

via u/VVarrenBuffet
03
How a contractor wired the phone and Ethernet linking two buildings

via u/timberwolf0122
04
communications room at work

via u/Almost_an_Expert2
05
"My multi million dollar schools server rack"

via u/TechnicalAsk3488
06
"Found this adapter between my customer's router and the USB cable to their printer."

via u/prodias2

No, it didn't work
07
Hard drives “secured” into the side of the server.

via u/AdministrativeAd1517
08
Client replaced the thermal paste and the laptop stopped working

via u/bbo191
09
Just buy a new cable!!!

via u/Ok_Individual_8225
10
If it works it ain't stupid!

via u/spiceylizard
11
You’re supposed to release the latch first.

via u/mugoloo
12
*gag*

via u/braveduckgoose
13
Nah... It's fine...

via u/TheNetwokAdmin
14
Why? Why do that?

via u/ASKEROS
15
"The customer didn't have place for a server cabinet and bought a rack switch.."

via u/GrowthParty9399
16
Another customer that replaced his own thermal paste

via u/Dannymarr95
17
"I found out why the cameras weren't working"

via u/atomkrieg
18
"We promise everything is the same as before. We don't know why our internet is down."

via u/WhiteF1re
19
"they want me to use this cable to connect on their network..."

via u/tenebralupo
20
A Nice pile of Spaghetti

via u/ConglomerateGolem
21
For some reason it doesn't work

via u/braveduckgoose
22
I'm sorry, was in what?!

via u/HaggardMelon
23
"It overheats then turns off"

via u/SparkMyke
24
Why is our internet so slow?

via u/ArthurMSM
25
It's running a little hot

via u/ALE22222222
26
Thanks, I hate it

via u/dangerkali
27
Top Tear Cable Management

via u/MaxTheKing1
28
"Take pity - today's job is rebirthing a 1990's twin P3 server just to run Win95"

via u/KlutzyResponsibility
29
"The Laptop won't close properly"

via u/FreeVineyards
30
My friend made a "file server" - then asks me why he cannot access his files...

via u/Ryder17z
31
Chromebook returned end of year

via u/atombomb6673