Computer Repair and Trouble Shooting

If your computer is acting up Marshall Loeb of Market Watch, put together an article in Newsday, Sunday March 16, 2008 that may help you out. He sited the April Issue of Kiplinger’s Magazine, where associate editor Thomas Anderson identifies ways you can try to repair your PC before spending money on professional help. Here are some of his tips.

· Look for online help. Online forums such as http://annoyances.org/ for PCs and http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/ for Apple users.

· Call the manufacturer if you think the problem is hardware related to see if it is covered by a warranty. To avoid voice mail and reach a customer service rep you can go to http://www.gethuman.com/

· Windows Defender. If your system has slowed to a crawl, the cause may be spyware, stealth software that installs itself on your pc to track your internet usage. Windows Defender is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. Download the software at: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/

· Insure your laptop. Consumer Reports estimates that there’s a 43% chance your laptop will need repairs in the first three to four years. Laptop insurer Safeware www.safeware.com will insure a laptop for about $70 a year with no deductible. The most common problems, accidental damage and meltdown from a power surge, are not covered by most manufacturers extended warranties. Just repairing the screen on a MacBook can easily run over $400.

· If you need professional help get a recommendation from someone you trust. Training and credentials for this type of work vary so much that you cannot go by that. The vet the business using complaint records from your local Better Business Bureau online at www.bbb.org. You should get:
o Free price quote up front.
o Guarantee and for how long
o How much will a follow-up visit cost?
o Is price by the hour (average is $100) or by service ($200 to install or fix operating system software).
o How much extra for house calls.