Tech support at a distance

[SteveDallas]

I wonder if some of you who play PC games might give me some suggestions. My dad's computer is, as he puts it "freaking out", and of course he thinks I can fix it.

(The faith is touching, but just like with the folks at work, I have to explain to him that just because I do computer junk for a living doesn't mean I can fix everything. Now, if he needed me to figure out some TCP/IP subnetting or set up a web server... but no...)

The problem is, Dad and the PC are 500 miles away so I'm limited to telephone and remote control via NetMeeting.

There are two problems: a spate of boxes at random times complaining that there is a missing or damaged for Infinite Pindlebot, and another spate of boxes (according to Dad they just pop up everywhere) complaining about AutoIt. I did enough research on Google to determine that the likely culprit was Diablo 2, played by my 15yo nephew who is resident at the house now. So, I thought maybe some Diablo players here might have seen these and can give me a clue what to do about them before I dig in.

(And yes, I'm willing to consider de-installing Diablo altogether. I even toyed with offering to buy the kid an Xbox if he promised not to install any more games on the PC, but I decided not to. Besides, If I buy an Xbox it'll be so I can play DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball. Call me shallow.)