| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/4/2009 6:08:23 PM |
Nice laundry list N3T_K1LLA, and that's why I'm sure most of my clients come back. The ability and willingness to explain technical issues to someone who's not technical is something clients value.
Might be a laundry list, but it works :)
Most of it is simple psychology which can be determined in seconds. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/4/2009 7:12:30 PM | Oops, does "laundry list" have a negative connotation? (will look it up now) I didn't mean it like that, I meant that was a great collection of thoughts, well laid out. I'm heading over to dictionary.com now. :)
*edit* - Oh, it is a negative. Sorry about that, my bad. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/5/2009 12:10:16 AM | thanks for the ongoing entertainment here.....
i'm enjoying reading all the suggestions and the stories you guys are relating on this thread.
mind you, i don't really know what you're talking about.....lol.
but i'm getting the gist of it.
it makes me want to learn more..... | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/6/2009 6:05:23 AM | I own a computer repair shop and the first thing I ask the customer is what is the problem. Most of the time they said it's loaded with virus, the computer has no power, it boots up and then reboots, I get a blue screen so I start dealing with the problem while talking to them do you have anything on here that's important, I'm going to put in a power supply to see if it comes and most of the time it comes on bang the power supply is bad 35.00 for supply and 20.00 to install it.
If the power comes on and it doesn't come on I start telling them I'm removing the memory here hold this, I'm putting in one of minds to see if it boots up, there's times when I take thier memory out and run my hand on the gold contacts and put it back in the computer comes back on again most of the time. Give me 10.00 and take it home.
If it comes on and the bio screen comes up I start heading for the hard listening for clicks, heat, checking to see if it shows up in the bio changing the cables, switching the cd rom cable with the hard drive cable. In this most of the time it's a bad hard drive.
As for virus I ask them to you download music, look at porno, fill out survey, download free stuff that makes you think it's going to fix your computer and most of the time it's music and porno and if the virus is to bad the only answer is that it has to be done over again then it has to stay in my shop and I'll call you when it's done.
virus programs like mcafee, norton, avg and other virus programs don't remove the virus all the way.
Having important docs, pictures or anything of importanced is stupid to keep on your hard drive. It's better to have an external hard drive, flash drive or put them on a cd or dvd but watch a dvd's one little scratch can be a lot of information.
If a computer repair shop doesn't take the time to look at it while your there then I wouldn't leave it with them.
I always had the bad part to the customer and tell you take this anywhere you want to confirm that it's bad. That's good pratice giving back the bad part or showing it to them most of the time they don't want and that's when I throw in right in the trash in front of them.
Sometimes I make them write thier names on the parts.
More and more people are learning how to put a disc in the computer and install windows and then they call themself a tech. I have these so called techs coming in my shop and asking me all kinds of questions once they can't make the disc work, so they only been getting lucky on the repairs. I try not to answer these questions because a lot are looking for the answer and I'm looking to make a living plus a lot of these guys will step on your toes once they know something which I had done to me a lot.
My answer now is I have to see it.
I'm a trouble shooter I've worked on commadore 64 with the big 5 1/4 external floppy drives very slow machine back then. My mother purchased one and they the commadore 128, then my brother in law give my mother an ibm 8086 with two big 5 1/4 floppies drives with a small hard drive she couldn't do anything with it, I told them give me that I'll take care of that, when I brought it back they all say wow were did you learn how to do that, don't worry about. I was a dos man(knew all the dos commands) back then using a program called power menus before windows 3.1 was start to become a house hold name.
My buddy started me out by trading me a police scanner for a 286 computer with one mag of ram. I just had to see what makes it tick just like anything else I get I'm the kid at christmas time that took my toys apart to see what was inside of. WHAT DID YOU DO YOU JUST GOT THAT mom would holler. The biggest thing I remember when they brought me a kids tool kit wow it had everything a saw, hammer etc. now what so I sawed off the coffee table's legs. They gave me a tool kit without any wood. I was going to build it back again.
Sorry I went a little over board with this but the answer to your question is you never know who going to be the one to rip you off until it happens. You have to take precauition measures by backing up your important information on a disc or do the other things I stated before. Like I tell my customers I don't want you money just today but all the time. When you have a computer or someone you know I want to be the first name that pops out of your month. Do you have a business card no you'll be my business card once you leave.
Your computer componets could crash anytime so you have to be ready. Here's something to think about if a hard drive goes back doesn't mean you lost your information. The needle or board that read the metal disc inside stop reading them so if you know how to take them apart and put them in another hard drive that works. I haven't tried this yet I read it somewhere but it does make sense since I took hard drive apart before.
I really have to run  but I can go on and on.. Sorry I don't answer computer questions online you have to bring it in so I can look at it. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/7/2009 10:29:32 AM | Put a photo on your desktop and give it a name that people will want to look at.
When you get your computer back, right click on the file and click properties.
Look at where it says "Last Accessed" and if it was accessed while at the repair shop then you know your tech cannot be trusted.
Be sure to let the management know that there technician was looking at data they had no right to be looking at. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/8/2009 8:26:58 PM | Geek Squad employees got their A+ cert out of a cracker jack box I swear.
I don't even have a damn A+ and I could run circles around some of those idiots. Not saying their all that way but from what some of them have told others about their comps you wonder how the hell they got involved in IT
gadgetman2160 , I can definitely tell you know what you're talking about!
I have the same opinions.
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/8/2009 11:15:27 PM |
Here's something to think about if a hard drive goes back doesn't mean you lost your information. The needle or board that read the metal disc inside stop reading them so if you know how to take them apart and put them in another hard drive that works. I haven't tried this yet I read it somewhere but it does make sense since I took hard drive apart before.
Yes while you can disasemble a HDD and reasemble it and it will work, the likelyhood of being able to do it on a regular basis is very small.
if even the slightest spec of dust gets between the read/write head and the disk it will scratch the living hell out of it and the data will be usless.
Most of the drive electrinics are outside, the circuit board can be repaced with a board off a replacement drive of the same model family, thats just a matter of connecting the board, the problem is when something mechanical goes wrong inside like the spindle motor.
Its easy to take it apart and put it back together having replaced the defective part, the hard part is making sure it is as clean inside when you have finnished as it was before you started.
I used to specialize in data recovery, made a good living at it too, but people started to get the feeling its not worth it, Ive got a partial backup, Ill put the loss down to experience and move on so I stopped doing it, now I believe the nearest data recovery specialist is on the mainland [I live on an island]...
Basically I know because Ive been there, and done it.
Yes it works, but if you havent got the facilities to do it in a 100% clean enviroment it might not work because the dust in the air will be attracted to the disk surfaces and the read head which is highly charged even when there is no power in it.
And dust is enough to kill the whole thing, then you left trying to explain how you a professional completely destroyed any chance of the owner getting his data back.
Leave mechanical defects such as dead/dying spindle motors to the specialists. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/10/2009 7:29:44 AM | Here's a real quick fix to getting back into your computer to get the files you want to save. Get yourself a copy of linuxmint 7 go to download go to http://www.linuxmint.com/ it's free or you can buy the copy for around 10.00 if you download it make sure you have a dvd burner the file is iso and you'll have to burn it to the dvd using nero.
Here's the sweet thing about it, it will boot in to an operating system within 10 minutes or faster working right from the cdrom in this case I believe it will have to be a dvd rom. There are linux operating systems that will boot from the cdrom. The operating system will load all the drivers that it needs to run your system. I'm using it right with firefox and like I said it's sweet. It's a must have when your in trouble.
If your hard drive is not bad than you can access your hard drive to get the files you need. The cdrom or dvd rom will not open while your running the op from it so make sure you have a flash drive to get your files out.
If you want to try takng your hard drive apart it's on you and it might work and it might not but it's crash and nobody does the data recovery then what do you have to lose.
If you really want to do you can build a box with a vaccum, plexiglass front with holes in it so you can put plastic gloves through so you can almost create a clean area to do the job. That's if you files are that important to save.
Your important files shouldn't be on your hard drive anyway you know there's hackers out there trying to get your information.
One more thing about how to you can trust your tech. Look him right in the face and ask him can I trust you with my computer? watch for his body language and his eyes. I look at you dead in the face. Well I have to run again see you.
Thanks for your comments.
Timothy J. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/10/2009 12:43:51 PM | What does one do when you don't trust anyone, don't know anyone and can't afford the cost of one .. answer; the good computer collects dust or is basically used as a dvd/music player as mine currently is.
I've got an Acer with Vista on it that one day suddenly wouldn't load Internet Explorer. I get a message saying www.msn.com is not set up on this computer.
I can use Msn messenger and that's it.
I pulled out of storage an old one with Windows Me and go online for advice that says to download Firefox. How?!!! if i can't even access the net on the new one and this old one won't load firefox? My guts tell me this won't solve the problem.
I do have an old windows XP disk to upgrade this old one but scared my computer illiterate self will screw this old thing up. I like Vista so I don't want to use it on the good computer either.
I actually considered seeking out an IT to date so i can get my problem solved
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/10/2009 1:34:13 PM | You can save firefox download and then put it on a disc or flash drive which can be installed with no problem. Once at the download site and it say open save click on the save one and put in your documents or on your desktop, burn it to your disc or copy it to your flash drive and your off. click on it and it will install.
http://www.downloadfirefoxbrowser.com/download.html
timothy j.  | |
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- don
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Joined: 4/23/2009
Msg: 62 | |
| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/10/2009 1:56:26 PM | If Windows Me is your only way onto the Internet, use it sparingly....It's only a matter of time before it won't work.
If you are willing to fly to San Diego for a date, I'm your guy...lol
On a friend's computer or your Windows Me, browse to the following links and download these programs & save them to a CD or a Flash Drive:
1. Avast
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
-or-
Avast Direct Download:
http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/setupeng.exe
(During the install it will ask you if you want to schedule a "boot scan"...say 'Yes')
2. Firefox
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/products/download.html?product=firefox-3.5.2&os=win<=en-US
-or-
Firefox Direct Download:
http://download.mozilla.org/?product=firefox-3.5.2&os=win<=en-US
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
After that you should be okay to get your windows updates
&
Download some Antimalware apps:
Malwarebytes
SuperAntiSpyware
Spybot
Whatever you like
&
remember to register your Avast with your email address for a free year subscription
&
Uninstall your previous antivirus (you should only use 1 antivirus....but multiple antispyware is okay
May the Force Be With You 
Oh...and I'll be waiting for your flight info 
-J/K...LOL- | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/10/2009 2:45:47 PM |
Put a photo on your desktop and give it a name that people will want to look at.
When you get your computer back, right click on the file and click properties.
Look at where it says "Last Accessed" and if it was accessed while at the repair shop then you know your tech cannot be trusted.
Be sure to let the management know that there technician was looking at data they had no right to be looking at.
That won't work depending on the services preformed.
Virus scanners will modify the last accessed section when they scan. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/10/2009 5:29:18 PM | A true computer repair shop doesn't have the time to look around your computer for information. I have to many computers coming into my shop and looking for info will take sometime to do. As soon as I know what the problem is I get right to work on fixing it so I can move on to the next computer.
I do know techs that will steal memory, hard drives and anything they can think of that a customer won't miss.
Now you can put a hiden folder on your desktop and here's a youtube link that will show you how. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9dgiLkpoo
If you have a computer problem and you don't know what your looking for on how to fix it sooner or later you'll have to take it somewhere to be fix so you'll have to trust somebody down the road.
I truely beleive that there is more trustworthy people then crooks.  | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/10/2009 8:30:52 PM | I've been considering PC repair on the side. I did Consumer and SMB workstations for a long time for Dell. Ive since moved to a managed IT services company, now I strictly deal with local SMB and enterprise clients, all aspects of their network. Much more rewarding and less hassle.
OP: You can't really trust anyone to be honest. Ive been in the industry a long time, seen a lot of things.
My only advice is try to stick with a service or ad that boasts flat rates and at home service so you can be present for the fix. IT is hard sometimes not to have to give your PC to the tech unless they carry a variety of parts on them, in most cases there is just too many types of ram, mobos, etc. to have a replacement on the spot. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/11/2009 5:48:47 AM | hi all.
bay, as you mentioned,
question time.....lol
how often should i do a new full backup
and what type of usb flash drive should i use for my lap top?
thanks guys..... | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/11/2009 9:05:42 AM | If you a business then you should back up your important files 3 to 4 times a day provide that they have change since your last back up. Not the whole computer just your important files.
If you use your computer at home for personal reason then you really don't have to back up your files all the time but if you do a lot of writing and picture taking then you should back up at the end of your session.
A flash drive works great for this purpose and it's a lot easier.
Personal I don't back up my files I just put them on the flash drive or I burn a cd or dvd and put it away. I do that for all my web site clients. I also archive them on my server for exact safe keepings.
With every internet provider verzion, aol, comcast etc. They give you free cyperspace. You can also get other free cyperspace on the interent.
Buy an 16gb flash drive the name doens't matter they all do the same thing.
That's a lot of space but you can fill them up very quickly so make folders and label them just like you in your doc folder when you fill the folder up dump them on a cd or dvd but keep in mind the size of a cd which is 700mb a dvd 4.7 gb and a double layer is 8gb.
well I have to get back to work hope that helps,
Timothy J. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/11/2009 9:28:39 AM | psychoholoic The geek squad is not there to fix your computer but to try and get you to buy another one. I think they charge 29.95 just to look at it and then they tell you it's not worth it to fix it.
I get a look of computers with best buy stickers on them and the first thing I ask them is what did best buy say and that's what they tell me it's not worth it and sometimes there not.
If the computer is white always tell them that's it's not worth it when it only has 128mgs of ram and a 20 gb hard drive but if thier money is tight then I do the best I can for them by putting in more memory to bring it up as high has I can.
They always tell me it's for the kids but has we talk they slip and with letting me know it's for them and the kids.
You really don't need a monster computer if your just going to search the internet you can use a 266 mhz if that's all your going to do but most of the time they come back to and tell we try to put this on it and it didn't work.
Why it didn't work they never read the system requirements. I told them the specs of thier computer when they leave you have a 900 mhz 256 ram and 20 gb hard drive but they never listen or they listen but they don't know what I'm talking about.
I really hate working on those old machines but when the money is tight then you have to what you can to help them out.
I do keep old software around for them to use.
I really have to get back to work not in my shop closed tuesday so I have to get the things done around the house before going back on wednesday.
Timothy J. | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/12/2009 9:37:22 AM | As a computer repair technicain I am understand.
I would trust your gut, and also try something small in way of work, and see what happens and if you're happy with results.
Also, having their A+ certification is a way they have a valid proof they know what they are talking about even though it doesn't account for character.
Andrea | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/12/2009 12:20:15 PM | Hi Daffie,
Lots of great advice here, but this subject is too near and dear to my heart since I've done both the hardware and software side for about 16 yrs. (I work in software development now), so I have to chime in.
I believe that 90+ % of PC problems are due to software issues (i.e., drivers, new software, incompatible software, poorly tested software, etc). If a tech tells you that you need a memory upgrade, question why. If the PC still operates, yet a tech is telling you that you need a new HDD or mainboard...QUESTION WHY. :) I lost count of how many PC's I've worked on where people were told to buy a bunch of new hardware, to only discover that it didn't resolve their issue (software!).
Any good tech will attempt to explain things in layman terms. Any good tech will let you stand there while they look at your PC. Any good tech/shop should be able to answer basic questions w/out charging you....
There is no absolute way to keep your data safe/private other than storing it on an external drive of some sort prior to taking it into a shop (which I would recommend even if it was your Mom working on it, anything can happen...back it up!).
I.T. chicks are awesome! ;) | |
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- don
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Joined: 4/23/2009
Msg: 72 | |
| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/12/2009 1:33:34 PM | what about malware related issues?
I'd say that malware makes up more than 90% of problems/issues on PCs running Windows.
I agree with you on the hardware issues, I rarely came across anything that wasn't software related.
& Yes...
I.T. chicks are awesome! | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/12/2009 1:53:51 PM | Malware *is* software, just designed with malicious intent. Mac users probably consider Windows to be malware... ;)
So, my initial software statement stands. :D | |
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- don
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Joined: 4/23/2009
Msg: 74 | |
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| how do i trust my computer technician?.....
Posted: 8/12/2009 4:30:47 PM | ok techies.... I finally sat down to download firefox on my old Windows Me computer then tried to copy it to a cd and this is popped up;
Cannot create or replace Firefox Setup 3.5.2 Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write- protected
and that the file is not currently in use
now what????
no date for you don til this computer issue is fixed .. at least!   | |
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