Travelling home for Christmas almost always means that if you're the tech-savvy, computer literate one in the family, someone will ask you to look at their laptop, phone, or desktop. Head them off at the pass with this list of tips the next time you're home.

Back when I was a uni student, I used to do tech support on the side. And I saw things. I wasn't the only one. The people who work tech have heard every excuse and seen every horror your mind can conjure. Here are seven things you should never say to an IT staff member trying to fix your computer.

Yesterday was Pi Day, and what better way to celebrate everyone's favourite mathematical constant than by taking a look back at everyone's favourite cheap hobbyist computer, the Raspberry Pi. Since the launch of the Raspberry Pi, I've written an absurd number of guides, blogs and an already outdated book on the variety of projects you can do with it. I've learned a lot it that time.

Dear Lifehacker, My family is always calling me for tech support when I'm busy and keeps a list of the big problems for when I'm home to visit. I'm tired of fixing the same problems over and over again. They never seem to learn. What can I do?

Apple has launched a new Twitter account, @AppleSupport, so you can skip the Genius Bar queues - or make random complaints about all sorts of stuff based on what we've seen so far.

If you're the family tech support, you probably have to record the occasional screencast to show people how to troubleshoot. Chances are, you don't need special screencasting software just for that. Digital Inspiration shows a clever way to just use YouTube.

Duplicate files can cause all kinds of problems on your computer, taking up precious storage room, confusing your photo or media manager apps, and generally getting in the way of searches and other operations when you’d rather they didn’t. You don’t have to accept duplicate files as an inevitability of running a PC, though: Here’s how to get rid of them.

Working in IT is no picnic. You're overworked, over-stressed and overwhelmed by an onslaught of stupidity from Luddite customers and colleagues. We recently asked our readers to share their worst experiences from the front lines of IT. Your stories were so terrifying that we may need to wipe and reboot our brains to recover. Here are some of the worst.

We all know those people who run into technical trouble with their devices and just want them fixed. They're not interested in learning to help themselves, and you don't have time to help every time they get an error message. Luckily, there are ways to get them help they can turn to -- help that isn't you. Here's how.

IT support can be an incredibly rewarding job if you like people and solving complex problems. Equally, though, it can downright suck.

When you need help fixing your computer, the last thing you want is a communication problem. Before you call tech support or file a bug report, there are a few things you should do to make sure you get the best help possible.

Dear Lifehacker, I find I'm always fixing my friends' or relatives' computers. I don't mind helping, but I'm getting called out for the same problems over and over. How can I get people to learn how to fix their own problems?

It's no secret that turning your computer off and on again fixes a lot of problems. If you've ever wondered why though, How-To Geek explains how it works.

As the resident computer expert, many of you get asked to explain things all the time to your less tech-savvy friends and family. Redditor David722 recommends saving yourself the hassle by finding an applicable YouTube video and sending it over.

A lot of laptops come without DVD drives these days, including super-thin ultrabooks and Apple's new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. If you're worried about getting by, don't: with these tips, you'll never even realise it's gone.

Dear Lifehacker, My parents don't know much about computers. They're barely able to operate their PVR. I'm always the one they call for help. While I don't mind helping some of the time, I think it would be better if they learnt a few skills of their own. How can I bring my parents into the technical age without frying their brains?

If you're away from family, being able to video call using Skype or other free services is a great way to stay in touch. But can you teach them to use it if they've barely touched a computer before and shirk at the thought of a no-features mobile?

Dear Lifehacker, My mother just got a new computer. She's eager to learn, but we're starting from scratch. How can I give her some tools to learn on her own so I don't need to hover over her while she explores every menu and every option? Sadly, I don't have the time to really teach her, but I'd love to help her teach herself, and don't want her to not ask me if she has problems. Please help!

We've written on multiple occasions about the importance of ignoring scammers who ring claiming to be from Microsoft support and then try and con people into installing malware onto their machines and paying for fake "support". That tactic remains common, but there's a new local twist: some of the scammers are now claiming to be from Telstra or BigPond.