… I wish I had a dollar for every conversation I’ve had that went like that one.
If your reflex reaction to anything going wrong with your computer is to call a “computer genus” friend, you are doing yourself a disservice.
If that friend that you called to fix your computer is trying to teach you how to fix the same problem if it happens again, and you ignore the lesson, you’re doing yourself an even bigger disservice.
I have been fixing computers since I was a kid. In that time, I have seen all manner of problem, and most of them are pretty simple.
My point isn’t to be condescending.
What I really want is for everyone to have a basic understanding of the machines that run our lives.
When your computer breaks, try and fix it yourself. If fiddling doesn’t work, restart it. Don’t call that “computer genus” friend until you have restarted your computer; it actually does work.
If you need to ask a friend, have that genius teach you what to do next time… Because believe it or not, most of us “computer geniuses” don’t derive pleasure from fixing your computer, and your life will be easier with some basic troubleshooting skills.
Practice safe computing.
The Geek Whisperer 
Very good advice David.
Ignore him! You only end up making the problem worth and us giving me more work to fix.
Says the IT guy who doesn’t want to be rendered obsolete by your new-found computer skills.
Seriously, Lisnak you and I both learned through a lot of trial and error. You can’t deny it because I was there for a lot of it.