Repair Rip-OffComputing Which? did a survey recently in which they introduced simple faults to PCs and took them to seven branches of PC World and 13 independents. The faults were either a loose cable or a simple software problem namely a missing file. The results were fairly astonishing:
The report says that PC World performed particularly badly. One store told the researchers to buy a new computer as the repair would cost £350. Oh yes, and they got the diagnosis wrong too. Some times PC World staff wouldn't even look at the PC because it wasn't presented with an installation or recovery disk - not necessary for fixing either fault. Many computers come without an installation or recovery disk now. Instead there is a hidden partition on the disk which can be used to reinstall everything to "as new" by using a special sequence of keys when the machine starts. Obviously this doesn't do one much good if the disk has failed. But usually there is a mechanism to create a DVD or some CDs to do the same job. Reinstalling windows should not really take much more than an hour. Adding Office and security updates pushes the time up a bit. Recovering files and emails can take a while depending on their size. But unless the disk has failed or is badly corrupted it ought to be possible to recover your data. The very reasonable advice that the article concludes with is:
I would add that if you are having a computer repaired you must think before what data you have on it of value. You must tell the repairer where the data is on the disk because it is not always obvious to someone who has not used the machine before. A child's collection of music tracks may not have any value to the owner of the PC but it makes for a quieter life if it can be saved. It is not uncommon to find that the owner hasn't remembered something important. So think hard. Write, down a list of things that you want save. Put them in priority order too. Trackback(0)
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 April 2008 ) |
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Asking a friend is a good idea but you may also find a county or area website that vets computer technicians, before suggesting them, as some do for builders, or plumbers.
Except for very obvious computer repairs, or upgrades, a fixed quote before inspection rarely makes sense. We often see ads such as "All computer repairs for sixty pounds". Which is the equivalent of a garage stating you need to spend exactly x amount on your car to pass an MOT, without looking at the vehicle first.
If an experienced technician does inspect the PC and is clear on the faults, they should be able to give an accurate quote in advance, or clearly explain why that is not possible.
On the vital subject of data preservation, any computer repair facility worth using, will create an exact, full copy of a functional hard drive before risking data loss. Make sure you ask if this will be happening.
On a wider note, as with all trades,there are excellent and poor PC repair facilities. Technical knowledge apart, your instincts often tell you if you are dealing with a reputable organisation. If you don't feel comfortable and confident with the advice they are giving, you may well be right.
Computer Repair In Surrey http://www.surreypcsupport.co.uk