Hints and Tips on Computer
Servicing
Computer
repairs and upgrades are usually best done by professionals, however
many of us like to get involved. Always use static protection. If
improvising be safe..... have fun!
Computer Repair
Horror Stories. I was saddened to read the horror stories
your readers submitted about computer repair jobs on hints-n-tips
The best tip I can give computer technicians and customers alike is to
accurately diagnose the computer's problem before rushing into swapping
parts or reinstalling Windows. To that end, I created an interactive
version of the published book "Computer Repair with Diagnostic
Flowcharts" which features eight hardware failure flowcharts with
clickable decision symbols (diamonds) which bring the reader to text
expansions on the particular decision. The site also includes a freely
printable 30"x30" poster for boot failure diagnosis that I created for
classroom use:
http://www.fonerbooks.com/pcrepair.htm
Morris Rosenthal
Not often we plug someone else's Web site
for free - after you have had a read of some of the stories here check
out Morris's Web Site - it is a very useful resource if you have a
problem.
Another
Computer Horror Story Here is my story of my work
experience. I am 16 and i went for work experience for a week at a
computer repair shop. I have to say flat out, the disrespect they
showed for computers and their customers is absolutely astounding. I
never want to take my computer to a shop to get fixed ever again. They
were throwing RAM chips, swearing their heads off, leaving
customers' motherboards in direct sunlight (window sill) and just
generally being absolute pigs. Swearing was a major part of
the workplace that i worked in, and although i refrained from
engaging in such activity, it was simply how they talked
about the customers. When someone bought in a
computer that required more than 5 minutes attention, they
were called a 'dickhead' when they left, and they would laugh
at people who didn't know computer parts so well. It was just
such a display of immaturity, it has made me wonder if IT is the
industry that I *really* wanna work in. I dont want to end up being
like them.
I remember one
specific time, we went to an old mans house and his web browser had
stopped working. We uninstalled the firewall and then reinstalled it
and things seemed to be working. So we drove off to another house call.
About 20 minutes after we left his house, my supervisor got a call on
his mobile phone telling him that the man's internet had stopped
working again. The supervisor got in such a rage and slammed his mobile
shut and started swearing and saying 'That stupid old bastard. Now I've
gotta drive all the way back there to fix it again.' Let me tell you
something... I was in shock. This poor 80 year old man was
having troubles with his computer and obviously didn't know what
was doing too well, and all my boss could do was
curse about it instead of helping him. If that is
the way that IT professionals conduct themselves in
their work environment, then I am one person less that is
going to be in "their" industry. - Alan
Rhymer
13
Jun 2004
Why are so
many technicians sloppy or just dishonest. I am continually
getting customers who have been ripped off by poor quality upgrades and
repairs. Some have been done by major outlets and
organizations. Last week my wife's friend brought me her
machine which had been upgraded to a higher specification processor.
There was no silicone thermal compound on the micro, half the screws
were missing and her memory was half the value it had been
when she gave the computer in for the upgrade. The second memory DIMM
had was not, as I had suspected come loose in the socket but had
actually been stolen. The really bad people usually do go out of
business but crook repair outfits are giving the computer service
industry a bad name. -- Axel Klystron
Repairing
computers is best done by people who have the experience and do not
need to make big profits, chose someone who is recommended by a friend
or acquaintance. My repairs and upgrades are done by a guy who works
from home and has no expensive shop front to maintain, he is a retired
IBM mainframe engineer and I get his full and highly expert attention
for almost half the rate charged by the young poorly paid technicians
at my main street shop which has a big sign offering "low cost repairs
and upgrades" -- Wilson Carter
Prevent
damage to portable and notebook computers avoiding moving them while
the hard drive is running. This also applies - to a lesser degree - to
desktops -- Axel Klystron.
Screws
removed from equipment can be stored and retained in sequence by poking
them in to a piece of blue-tack or beeswax -- Robert
If you
have to keep using the computers SETUP command in the BIOS (when you
first switch on your computer) each time you switch it on, check the
date it gives you, if the current date is reset to the earliest date
(i.e. it says Tue, Jan 1, 1980, or something like that) then the
computer's internal battery has probably died and needs to be replaced.
- - GK Howard
Keep your
computer out of direct sunlight if possible. -- Bill Carlton
Security:
keep all of your computer gear away from prying eyes. Keep it all away
from the window to deter burglars. -- R Holson
Never
tackle a major computer repair job or upgrade if you are tired
-- Jimmy Stewart Stanmore, England
If
your hard drive is over four years old pay particular attention to
backing up your data. Life expectancy of drives made four
years ago means that around 50% of them should have started to
deteriorate - - Robin Edmunds