This brings back really bad memories...and this is why I refuse to help others when it comes to IT stuff. The last thing I wanted to read was what I used to do in the past to gain others approval, and how it never worked.
I used to think that helping my other dumb grad mates with installing Linux made me look cool and I would be accepted. On the contrary, I looked like an idiot, now that I think of it. i became that weirdo support tech kid for the idiot professors, who could not tell the difference between Java and Javascript.
I only help my "internet" friends now. At least they don't treat you like shit.