Computer Repair – 8 Ideas For Picking The Best PC Repair Store
January 3, 2011 by Cortland Reese
Filed under Fix My Computer
If you live in a big city you probably have many computer repair stores to choose from when your system goes down which just might make the decision a little difficult. When your PC is broken you want it fixed fast, and you want it done right so it’s important to find a local computer repair service that’s going to do a good job.
It’s important to first look at what the most common reason is for computer crashes and failures. I will then give you eight important things to look for which will help you make the best decision when picking a PC repair company.
There’s nothing more frustrating, and even frightening, then having your computer breakdown and stop running. Not having the ability to use your computer is bad enough, but the possibility of losing all of your data is an even greater fear for most of us.
Modern computers contain some of the best hardware available so breakdowns are rarely due to faulty components. The biggest reason your system failed is most likely due to a virus of some sort.
Here are some tell tail signs that your computer is infected with a virus.
Slow running computer
Computer constantly locks up
Loading programs are slow
Pop ups will be an ongoing problem.
Computer reboots itself
You get the dreaded Blue screen of death
Error messages
No one ever thinks they will get a virus but believe me it can happen to you too. Back up your data as soon as possible so you won’t be devastated if you happen to lose all your data.
If for some reason you do end up getting a virus on your computer then you’ll need to run virus software. The best piece of anti virus software I’ve used is called SuperAntiSpyware. It’s the absolute best and you can get a free version online simply by searching Google.
In the event that you can’t fix your problem with software, or you do happen to have a severe hardware issue, you will then have to take your system in to a professional for servicing. So now the job of finding the best service center is the issue.
Deciding who gets to put their hands on your computer is important. We all want friendly and affordable service without unnecessary heart ache, so do your homework before handing your system over to just anyone.
Let’s look at eight things to consider when picking a PC repair shop.
The Location
How close is the facility? If you have no choice then by all means drive fifty miles but for the sake of convenience try to find a shop within a reasonable distance from your home.
Professional service
You know a professional when you see one. When you walk into a computer store you will know right away. Are you promptly greeted by someone with a smile? Is the store clean and organized? Do you get the sense the staff cares about you, or are you just another number?
Turnaround time
Same day service is best but you should never have to wait more than two days to get your computer fixed. The best shops will have you up and running right away so choose a shop which will guaranty a wait time of no more then two days, max.
How experienced are they?
Generally speaking, if a computer repair business has been around more then ten years it’s a fair assumption they’re well established and know what they’re doing.
Affordability
How much is the fix going to cost you? Your biggest expense is usually going to be on the cost of labor. Find out precisely what the repairs will be and how much it will cost. Doing this ahead of time is a plus because if the price seems over the top you can check it against a competing store. Don’t hesitate to walk if prices are too high.
Special offers and discounts
As a rule you should always look for a PC repair service that’s offering some type of discount or special. The best business owners understand the power of discounts so if you find a company offering one it’s a good indication they want you to have a pleasurable customer experience. If they’re not offering a discount then it’s up to you to ask for one nonetheless. You just might get it.
Get a warranty
A warranty or guarantee on work performed should be a given. Nowadays you’d be hard pressed not to find any business that doesn’t offer a warranty on their work but don’t take it for granted, ask. Usually it’s for 30 days, depending on the work, but a 90 warranty obviously is better. If you’re not offered a warranty, turn around and walk out.
Technician certification
You would be amazed to find out that a whole lot of computer repair shops employ people who have never been through school or certified in computer repair. A business owner that has hired, or put through school, people who have studied, taken and passed PC repair exams is a professional business owner. You really don’t want just anyone working on your system do you?
If you have been the victim of a computer virus or computer hardware malfunction and can’t get your computer to work, you’ve probably felt mad and helpless. Although it might feel like the end of the world it’s not. You can get your computer repaired from a qualified computer repair shop;just take your time, shop around and use these tips when choosing the best PC repair company.
Take some time to learn more about computers by visiting Computer Repair Albuquerque. And, get a few PC repair ideas and read all about computer viruses too. Find out how to keep your system safe from infection as well.
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I do not agree with what you say about time. I know way to many shops that rush through repairs, never doing a full diagnostics in the name of 24 hour turn around. The fact is, a full diagnostics (meaning everything) takes about a full work day, sometimes more. Then the issue must be troubleshooted then repaired. At best you are looking at next day turn around, but really, thats only if the shop has no business, and usually shops don’t have any business for a reason. Obviously shops that are busier, are busier because they have a loyal client base and great word of mouth reviews. Also, when shopping around, don’t go for the cheapest shop, find something that is in the middle. Don’t be afraid to pay for quality, after all, your computer is an investment, and like any investment, its only worth what you put into it.
I agree with Bob on time. I know this is an old article but I figured I put my two cents in. I work in a computer repair shop, we do full hardware diagnostics on every computer, this usually takes a half a business day at least. Then for virus removal you are talking another full business day usually and then finally to finish a cleaning up the OS takes another half day. So you are looking at two days MINIMUM for a quality virus removal. One that’s comprehensive and not rushed. That two day minimum is if it’s a straight forward virus removal (which 90% of virus removals are), but if it’s a nasty infection I usually spend an extra day trying to clean it up and if that can’t be done one more day to backup the data, re-install the OS and restore the data. So to say 2 days or less is the only acceptable is saying one of these steps should be skipped, which is not a professional way to do it. I also agree with paying a little more for good service, you truly do get what you pay for.