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Question

Contract for independent IT support contractor?

May 1, 2014 3:11PM PDT

I am now 1-2 steps shy of having an independent IT support contractor (consultant) undertake work on both my desktop & my laptop.

As a independent myself, although in another field entirely, I usually work with contracts. These have been relatively simple documents, in mainly plain language.

Are there any here who are willing to provide an example of a contract that they have used with an independent IT support contractor (consultant)?

Or refer me to a site(s) where this might be found?

Or is such a waste of time with such contractors?

Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
The one thing you find with PCs is
May 1, 2014 3:21PM PDT

That no one will sign up for being responsible. Microsoft won't so why do you expect any contractor to do any more than Microsoft?

Let's hear a bit more what needs to be done. Sometimes I encounter a client that demands "root cause analysis" or that we remove a virus without losing their files. You know the first is costly (more than a new PC) and the second is never a sure thing.
Bob

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Am able to do this but...
May 1, 2014 4:02PM PDT

I would like to do this privately. There is always the distinct possibility that my contractor checks here, so...

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Sorry but then I must bit outright + vague at the same time
May 2, 2014 12:01AM PDT

No one I know signs or makes a contract that spells out the results without clauses like "best effort" or some other verbiage that relieves them when it all goes pear shaped.

Today it's worse than ever with malware that damages the OS in new and wondrous ways that only a full wipe may work. And then you have folk that will want more RAM than the board supports (for a hardware example) so they may try to get someone to agree to do that, put it in a contract and well, that won't end well.
Bob

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A bit more of an idea
May 4, 2014 1:17PM PDT

To give you a bit more an idea of what needs to be done/what we've agreed to have done:

Drivers backup
Installation OS, productivity suite, browsers, email client
Installation VPN, Video software, particular apps I work with, Backup, Remote access, File compression
Security-laptop, backup.

Post installation: remote support sessions + email support

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Item 1 would be a problem.
May 4, 2014 1:41PM PDT

I've yet to find anyone stand up to driver backup and warrant the result. Here we just find the drivers in their original form.

I can see why you may have trouble finding folk that will stand up and by such work. No one I know would sign up.
Bob

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I don't quite understand
May 4, 2014 2:54PM PDT

what the problem is?

Perhaps it is my necessity to be circumspect here that is at fault.

He proposed driver backup-I can't immediately recall why.

I have been informed that most drivers will be with W7, & that updating of these is usually automatic.Where this is not the case, are there not driver tools to enable updating of drivers?

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an addition
May 4, 2014 3:12PM PDT
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Good luck.
May 4, 2014 11:28PM PDT

The consensus of folk I work with is you don't update drivers unless there's a dammed good reason. To update them automatically is a good way to automatically create problems.

Now let's say we wanted to create clients that always need help. Tell them to keep drivers updated?

Got to love such techs out there.
Bob

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yes but...
May 5, 2014 2:39AM PDT

The material in the forum referenced in the link seems to carry some good advice. Given the overall differences, it makes it hard for someone like me to know how to assimilate all the different views.

I have undertaken considerable background work in effort to bring me up to speed as much as permissible within a short time. Also hopefully to try & avoid the very problem you have suggested.
I can't really go & tell him how to do his job? Which is problematic, considering that I am paying him for the work. This has me in a quandry. Then again...

The two points here-

are the drivers solution this tech has suggested the only problem you see given the very general outline I have provided?

is the solution offered by Toni H ok by you? If so, then perhaps I can suggest to my tech /discuss with him that is what I want done in this aspect...

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Remember I'm a bit seasoned.
May 5, 2014 3:02AM PDT

I designed and still do design electronics. I write code, I have many apps I maintain over the decades so my view is not only from that but having run service centers. This person would never be let near my PC for reasons I gave here.

While I have a dim view of driver backup since I can install them properly plus the item I focused on, you seem to have a CONTRACT with them so you can sue them if it all goes pear shaped.
Bob