What do you do if your computer is past guarantee; throw it away?

1. the most important tips to
If your computer is out of warranty and it dies on you, is your basic tendency to pitch it and just
purchase a new PC? Or maybe, are you the type that looks at repairing it? For many of us, the
hassle and strain of fixing their pc is too much and they wind up ditching it rather promptly. This is
sad because the right computer technician would be able to repair the computer in a acceptable
and affordable way, saving you money from buying a new PC. Little do they realize that locating
the right computer technician could lead to a simple, cheap fix and a pc thats like new again.
It is simpler to come across a reputable computer service technician than you may think.
Actually, it would seem that there's a suitable IT expert in just about every family. I don't say this
to be facetious, I truly mean it. Still, what separates these experts from the ones you truly want
working on your computer are 3 important things: experience, support, and documentation. If you
know just what to ask, it's easy to single out appropriate pc support shop from the mass of
"experts" who can barely tell an intranet from ethernet.
Experience and Credentials
There are many qualifications these days that may look ideal on paper, but do not stack up in the
real world. One of the main dilemmas is that the formal certifications are distinct only to a given
vendor. The problem with certifications in the computer repair industry is that most of the highly
regarded certifications are vendor-specific. For example, Microsoft certifies specialists for all of its
goods, but out side of the Windows operating system, these certifications are no place to be
found. Its also gets obsolete quickly, as Microsoft products get upgraded. Oracle is one of the
major networking authorities that have extremely credible certifications. Dell, IBM, Cisco and a
good many others offer their own as well.
Certificates
CompTIA is one well-known firm that is one of the few vendor-neutral certification organizations.
While CompTIA is a legitimate certificate, the company is still in it to make money. They are
seeking to earn new participants and member fees, so there may just be a feeling that you are
just forking out for a certification that might or may not be up to the academic guidelines you'd find
at a college or university.
This doesn't mean that graduates from this system are not qualified, just that their education may
not be as substantial as someone with a 4 year IT degree. However, many people with 4 year IT
degrees are not usually running private computer repair companies. The point is, it should always
be asked if the specialist has a college degree in computers. If they don't, or if they just offer their
certifications, just document the certification and move on to the next question You could always
research the certification later.
Practical experience and References

2. The next question sought after is what relevant experience the technician has correlated to your
job. Ask them about their experience repairing computers, how many years have they been in the
business? Do they have any references from previous customers? Most technicians have
references already set aside; customers that they get along with perfectly and are more than
happy to give them glowing recommendations. The biggest factor to take away is how long they
have been in the computer repair business. This is important information.
It's important to check in on any references you were given. Ask what repairs were done to their
computer, and what kind of computer or software was repaired. It is also relevant to find out how
much they charged, to make certain that you will not pay too much for a comparable repair. Even
a radiant review from a favorite customer can let slip information that may expose some surprises
about how the person runs their business. Watch out for those things.
Keep in mind that this may seem a bit of a a bother. You'll only need to ask these points once,
when you first choose the tech.
Techs' Specialization
As previously stated, Microsoft features its fair share of certifications. Similarly, Apple offers its
own certifications too, in the form of Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC) or Apple
Certified Support Professional (ACSP). These would be the kind of individuals to call if you
needed help with your Mac. Similarly, CompTIA offers a Linux certification, or professionals can
get an LPI certification from the Linux Professional Institute.
Some repair technicians will just be more familiar with certain machines, while some have a
broader base from which to draw understanding. For individuals with that specific expertise,
problem solving can be a cinch. Case in point, a professional may have worked with Dell
computers for so many years that just from the explanation of the computer problem, the person
can immediately tell you that the most likely cause is a split capacitor on the motherboard.
Different manufacturers have consistently different quality issues, and technicians who worked
with them for a number of years are simply more familiar with those certain issues due to having
fixed them so many times. This is why they become so efficient at handling certain brands. Ask if
he or she has partnerships or other relations with certain vendors. It pays to try to find a
technician that has expertize in your brand especially, this can save you a major headache today
and in the future.
Ask for Costs and Insist on High Cost Limits
Remember that business is not always easy for a computer repair technician. It may be difficult to
break the ice, due to the fact technicians are often taken advantage of. Family members beg for
free computer support. Others will pay a fee for repair, and then expect the technician to work for
free for years after. So yes, computer technicians won't take kindly to low offers.

3. On the flip side, there are some dishonest PC repair folks that take advantage of the fact that
many people know zero about computers. Individuals may charge an hourly rate, and then coldly
claim that the issue took much longer than it did to fix. Not understanding any better, folks pay it.
Some will claim that a certain range of hourly charges is fair. Others in the industry believe that a
flat fee is the only thing that represents a fair compromise between the two people. Having done
plenty PC support jobs before, I can tell you this:
There are commonly only a few causes for troubles: hardware, software, or a bit of both. One to
two hours is usually sufficient enough for a expert to narrow it down.
One option is to ask the repair tech to report back to you after an hour of work to decide if you
want to proceed with the service. The hourly price could be anywhere from $20 to $50 or even
$70 in some circumstances, but a lot depends on location and local demand for the services.
Irregardless of cost, just ask the max diagnostic time, and if they don't answer, go to somebody
else.
How Data Safety is Addressed
These days, backing up crucial data is one of the first things any tech worth their salt should do
before attempting repairs. This is just a means for the specialist to restore your pc back to the
state was in when you last used it. It's not only a safe thing to do, it's a wise thing to do.
The procedure normally includes:
1. Backing up vital files, like financial records or precious family photos, onto a USB stick or
external hard drive.
2. The following step is to make a restore point in the operating system. This is a temporary
place to recover data.
3. Backing up Internet history or other important folders than handle your day-to-day business
So, a fantastic way to decide if the technician is worth anything is to just ask them what their
primary backup procedure is. If they can't reply, just walk away.
How Does The Professional Track Variations Made?
Another behavior that separates the experts from the novices is documentation. Unprofessional
computer repair technicians are usually very, very bad at keeping track of every modification they
attempt to make on a computer to mend it.
While the work may often lead to a repaired pc, there often a few dozen changes made in the
control panel that you'll be completely unaware of when you have your computer returned. It's
your computer, and you've set things up in a way that makes sense to you, and works for you; so
if a technician chooses to change things around, like increased security settings, allowing or
stopping Windows updates or the firewall, you really want to know. Alternatively, you may find

4. different behavior and will not know what's going on.
Consequently, the question to ask here is straight forward: how are modifications tracked? Do
they give a full report at the end of the repair that marks all changes made, hardware applied, or
any extra modifications?
If they are ready to give you detailed feedback about what modifications were made, and why
they were made, then that is a really good sign. This one detail is commonly a main characteristic
alone of an ideal technician. If they're adept at keeping documentation in an orderly and detailed
fashion of what they do, the odds are great that they know what they're doing.
Follow-up Assistance and Assurances
The last thing of notice is what kind of follow-up will your technician provide. You can reasonably
expect that the professional will be readily available for phone calls, or even follow-up visits, is
there any constant issues after the repair. If not, the issue wasn't really fixed, it only went away
briefly. So, ask the tech if they guarantee repairs for a certain amount of time. Ask what type of
follow-up assistance you can anticipate if the issue comes back within that time frame, is it ok to
call, or do you have to take the computer back into the shop again? Is the technician willing to do
in-home follow-up service instead?
These are the kind of questions you need to inquire before you have problems following a repair,
not after. Once you get a acceptable answer, make sure that any and all agreements discussed
be put down in writing before to the start of repairs.
Remember, you paid a fair sum for your computer, and you are entitled to know what to expect
when you give your hardware into another persons hands. Ultimately, you want to have
assurances that the repair won't end up being more than it would run to just go out and buy a new
computer.
If you got the right questions, a solid price quote, and all agreements in writing, you are able to
leave your computer with the tech without any worries. Your PC will be repaired, the tech will get
paid, and you can be safe that if the situation returns after a few days, you will not be left with the
same problem but with a lesser wallet.
Author: Contrive I.T. - New Orleans, Louisiana