For most people, working in tech support is somewhere near dentistry on a list of fun things to do. Believe it or not, calling or chatting with tech support for a computer problem doesn’t have to ruin your day.

The ideas behind these tips also apply outside of the computer world, so remember them the next time your smartphone stops checking your email or your DVR gets stuck on one channel.

There's no guarantee that the experience will be a pleasant one, but there are a number of things you can do to make the conversation with tech support less painful than it may have been in the past.

Before you pick up the phone or start typing in that chat box, make sure you are prepared to explain your problem. The more prepared you are, the less time you will spend talking to tech support.