How to Choose Home Computer Repair

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It’s upsetting when a home computer breaks down: “My whole life is on there!” Then, you have to trust someone to take care of your device. It’s a lot to ask, and that’s why we’re sharing these five tips to help you feel better about your choice of repair person.

#1 Avoid the Big Brands

The big-box stores have name recognition, which may make you feel more secure, but the reason they advertise on TV and have big storefronts is to sell stuff. Their people are salespeople first, and their staff are not going to be as experienced with computer and device repair.

For tricky jobs, the big-box stores send your device to a remote, centralized location. That’s where the experienced staff are, so it’s good in that way. Yet you’ll now have to wait for your computer to ship to and from that location, which can mean a couple of weeks when you don’t know where your computer is or who is working on it.

#2 Consult Customer Reviews

You’ll probably start out by asking family, friends, and co-workers to suggest someone they’ve worked within the past. When you’re looking around for computer repair, read online reviews. Customer reviews can help you gauge whether you can trust the service promises.

You may also learn about any after-service support. It will help to have someone you can ask questions of in the future.

#3 Research Types of Support

It may help you to make your decision knowing that any work on your device is going to be done on-site. If they come to you, you’ll get to meet the person doing the work and keep an eye on them if you want.

Another option may be to have the IT tech remote into your computer to help solve your problem.

Then, there’s the option of drop-off and pickup from that repair shop’s own brick-and-mortar store. If you take this route, you might want to ask whether your device will remain on-site at all times.

You’ll also want to find out if that computer repair person has a particular area of expertise. Some companies specialize in working with certain brands, whereas others can handle all types of models or brands.

#4 Don’t Select by Price Alone

Who doesn’t love a bargain? But the cheapest computer repair may not actually be a better deal. Taking the budget approach, you could get an inexperienced tech with slightly more know-how than you. On the other hand, going for the most expensive repair company doesn’t guarantee the greatest service either. Ask the computer business what their experience is.

#5 Ask about Service Guarantee

Speaking of guaranteeing service, look for a service guarantee. A reputable repair company won’t charge you if they fail to fix your device.

They should also be able to cost out whether it makes more sense to make the fix or just replace the computer.

Our IT experts are here to help you repair any computer issues. We can work on-site, remote in, or you can bring your device to us for the professional attention it needs. Call us today at (515)422-1995!

DIY Computer Repair: Don’t Do It

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Most people like to take a shot at fixing things themselves. With some things that works out great, but when it comes to do-it-yourself computer repair, it’s probably not worth the effort. This article shares some of the things to consider before trying to do that repair solo.

#1 Computers are complicated

Computer developers put a lot of work into making it easy for you to use your computer. A good user experience is part of the appeal for one brand over another. But that doesn’t mean that what’s going on inside the actual device is simple to fix.

There are a lot of complicated connections “underneath the hood” of your laptop or desktop, and prying the device open to see if you can do a DIY repair could prove disastrous. It’s going to be safer to turn to a trained repair tech instead.

#2 You could make things worse

Maybe you’ve done this around the house when trying to be “handy.” That leaky faucet becomes a full-blown broken fixture thanks to your efforts.

You might think that you can watch a YouTube video and do an amateur fix, but know that just hitting the wrong key combination could create a different problem. Digging into the backend of your programs could change something for the worse.

Tip: If you do try to fix something solo, don’t erase your history. It could be important for the tech expert to retrace your steps to figure out where you went wrong.

#3 You risk being scammed

Bad guys are always finding ways to exploit people, and there are scams out there that appear to be repair assist programs. You may be looking for a fix but instead you click on a link that installs malware on your device. Now, you’ve got another problem to deal with!

#4 You could lose your valuable data

We store a lot of our lives on our computers or smartphones these days. If you attempt to fix your device without first backing up your files, media, and other data, you could lose it all.

#5 It may not be worth it

It’s not that difficult to find a reasonably priced computer today. You may end up paying for expensive repairs for an old computer when you could have bought new. Take your computer to a fix-it shop. You’ll get expert input into whether your device is worth the time, effort, and money to repair before you go too far down that road.

Choosing the right repair service

With age comes the wisdom to ask for help when we need it. Regrettably, not all repair services are as reliable. When looking for computer fix-it help, read reviews, and check credentials and service guarantees.

Don’t hesitate to contact our IT experts for your computer repair needs. You have your skills, we have ours. Let us do the hard work and keep your devices ship shape for you. Contact us now at (515)422-1995

Local Business v. Big Box Computer Repair

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Your computer is down for the count. You’ve tried the perennial favorite – turning it off and back on again – but somehow, your tech magic has not worked this time! You need help, and you want it fast. The question is whether to take it to a local computer business or big-box store for repair.

Many big-box stores offer depot computer repair. Why are we calling it depot repair? Because just like at a bus or train depot, that store is only one stop on your computer’s repair journey. Typically, the store does not have the facilities to repair your laptop or desktop on-site. Also, their employees lack the skills to do the work right there.

Instead, that computer, along with all your important files, is shipped on to another location. This presents some problems:

  • Computers can get damaged in shipping/handling.
  • Accountability is lost when the device is passing through a chain of people.
  • You don’t know where your computer is at any given time.
  • Its return to you slowed by shipping times.

That’s why we recommend getting your computers repaired at a local business with the skills and facilities to do the work on-site.

Benefits of Small Business Repair

When you take your device to a locally owned small business, you know at all times who is handling your computer. You often hand over your laptop or desktop to the person fixing it, or at least to someone who is in direct contact with the person doing the repair.

Fewer people are going to have their hands on your device. You’re not dropping it off at one location to travel to another location via a major shipping company’s trucks, which means there’s greater accountability.

Another advantage is that should something come up while your computer is in for repair, you could actually get to your device, because it’s not on a loading dock or in some pile of laptops in a manufacturer’s centralized computer repair shop. You can simply take your thumb drive down the road and ask to power the computer on and retrieve what you need, assuming that the device still turns on, that is.

Selecting the Small Business for Your Repair

When selecting a local computer business to do the repair, do your research first. It’s a good idea to ask about the following:

  • Qualifications. Do they have experience with devices like yours, and licenses and credentials?
  • Services. You don’t want to be looking to fix a cracked screen and go to someone who focuses on retrieving lost data.
  • Customer service record. Look for testimonials – you can also check this with business monitoring groups in your area and on community website boards.
  • Savings. If you don’t want to have to buy a new computer, work with a business that is in the habit of reviving old devices.
  • Flexibility. When you’re anxious to get your computer back, you’re going to want someone available right away. Don’t let this cloud your judgment, though.

Some local computer experts will be able to fix your problems without you needing to go to them. Depending on the issue, they may be able to resolve the situation using remote access software, or they could be willing to come to you.

If you’re looking for a partner with a proven track record of giving quality computer service, contact us today!

Why Computer Repair Is Best Left to Experts

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Many of us have one solution to try when something goes wrong with our computers: turn it off and back on again. When that doesn’t work, we panic: “How am I supposed to do anything?” People often turn to a friend or family member for help in the moment. But computer repair is better left to experts.

Calling tech support (if that’s an option) can be time-consuming and frustrating. So, people turn to the nearest teenager or that cousin with all the latest technological gadgets. Think of it this way, though: Driving a car doesn’t mean you can fix one. Having a lot of cars doesn’t show the owner knows what to do when one of those vehicles breaks down.

Consider the investment you’ve made in your computer. Now, ask yourself: when was the last time I backed up? Please, say recently! If not, think about the value of the content you might lose if the computer is not handled with care.

When a computer expert sets out to investigate the problem, they do so with utmost caution. Before doing anything, they’ll know to make a clone of your hard drive. Then, in identifying and solving the problem, they know what is safe to try. They also know what actions to avoid.

The Price of Amateur Fixes

Your family/friend tech support might turn to the internet for help. Sure, Google and YouTube will provide some answers, but context matters. Will your oh-so-helpful friend know which answers are relevant to your situation? Trying different things can be dangerous if the approach isn’t suited to the problem.

Ask any computer repair expert. They’ll have stories to tell about computers “fixed” by amateurs who made the problem worse. They may even have lost data along the way.

Just as you wouldn’t turn to the Web to diagnose cancer, don’t trust just anyone with the health of your computer. Computer repair may look simple, but expert decision-making determines the best solution.

As with most jobs, computer experts draw upon specialized training and hands-on experience. They’re also up on the latest threats, technologies, and solutions. This helps them to diagnose the problem more quickly. They can go in and fix the problem right away, because they’ve seen it before read about the problem. Or perhaps they have colleagues who have done something like this before, or they’ve researched the technology to identify different options. Can your Aunt Sue or friend Frank say the same thing?

Think also of your typical answer when someone asks you for help. You’re human. You want to help, even if you don’t actually know that much about the problem. So, when you ask a family member, they’re likely to say, “sure.” Even when they should be saying, “I don’t know how to fix that.”

When friends admit the repair is beyond them, you’ve already wasted time letting them take a crack at it. Worse, they may actually break your computer or lose important files. You have to go to the experts now for that new part or in the hope of retrieving the data. Meanwhile, you’re not feeling so friendly towards the person who created the new problem, are you? They may also feel annoyed that you didn’t pay them for their services.

Don’t jeopardize your relationships, and avoid doing more damage to your computer. Bypass the friend/family tech support solution and turn to the professionals first.

Fixing a computer isn’t always simple. Get expert help to preserve as much data as you can, and avoid expensive replacements as long as possible.

Have computer problems? We can help. We do computer repairs for a living! And our experts are friendly, too.

Call us at (515)422-1995.

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