Difficulty to say 'No, It is impossible'...

This morning a user wanted to recover à file saved with problems on the networkyesterday at 7:30 PM. She thought having saved it... but the file was nowhere ! We both scanned file server, local drive, temp folders and trash bin... without result.

I had then to say : "No it is impossible to recover your file , you have to do it again"
She Answered : "I was almost sure it was a problem, thanks for helping"

This means I saved a lot of time by saying "NO , I can not"...and of course explaining this answer !

Not only on support, but also regarding projects, I'm only starting on this : being able to say "No".When it is impossible whatever the reason is : technical, out of time, unknow process for me, and then I save time.

What is your experience on this ? Are you able to say "No" ?

Of an Alternative to...

'Please as we have no more credit, find a free equivalent to this software as we won't pay licences anymore ?

'Please find this tool running under Linux as we have this IT team using only Linux from now ?

'What can I use instead of MS Office at home ?

We, IT Lovers, are facing these questions daily...I discovered today , (thanks to lifehacker) , an excellent and just starting fantastic website :

AlternativeTo

Despite the system (win,MacOs,Linux... and even online !) you will find there a solution for any replacement. Not only software, but also solution or application (I've done a test to replace Facebook and Twitter !!!)

The top : this is a 2.0 view website : we can all improve it for better results !

I'll now keep it in my bookmarks just in the same tab that filehippo.com ! Will you ?

My only suggestion : please do this website multilanguage ;-)