Grandma’s Going Wireless!

My grandmother asks for help setting up her Wi-Fi and computer. She bought a new computer months ago but can’t get the Internet to work. The Internet provider set up her system, but now it’s not working anymore.

I am not an expert, but I try my best. I spend several hours setting up the system and figuring out where all the cables go between the router and Wi-Fi enhancer and a mysterious “extra” box. I get the computer going, update her software, and show her how to connect and how to use the browser. My grandma is smart, but old, and I think she gets it.

The next day, she calls and says the Internet isn’t working. After some troubleshooting, this happens.

Grandma: “I turned it off for the night to save electricity.”

Me: “Turned it off? How?”

Grandma: “Well, I pulled out the cable.”

Me: “Which cable?”

I’m starting to get a really bad feeling.

Grandma: “All of them.”

Me: “All of them? Not just the one in the wall?”

Grandma: “Yes, all of them. It looks tidier now.”

Me: *Pauses* “I’ll see when I can come out again to look at it.”

Turns out she pulled every cable she could find, including her mouse and keyboard. At least it was easier to set it up the second time around.