The Legend of Computer Zorro

Zorro (Spanish for Fox) is the secret identity of Dave Woolsey, a gringo and master computer swordsman living in the Baja Norte, Southern California region. He defends the people of the land against spyware, malware, trojans and other villains, and is not only much too cunning and fox-like for the bumbling bad guys & hackers, but delights in publicly humiliating those same foes by righting their wrongs, while riding on his trusty horse Exterra.

Archive for December, 2009

Three Computer Repair Facts

Go Casino
When it comes to computer repair, there is a lot that you may need to learn. Even if you have a solid knowledge of computers, the fact of the matter is that there are probably some repairs that are out of your realm of possibilities. It is always a good thing to have knowledge of computer repair in case something happens to your machine. A quick fix is always better than doing without your computer for days on end.

Here are three computer repair facts that you may not be aware of.

1. You do not always need to take your computer to a professional in order to have it repaired. There are many software programs that can do this for you from the comfort of your own home. As you can imagine, computer repair software programs can only do so much, but it is always a good idea to check into this before you pay somebody else to help.

2. To go along with number one, computer repair software is not going to cost hundreds of dollars. In fact, there are many well known programs that you can download online free of charge. Talk about a great way to make your computer as good as new!

3. If you have to hire a computer repairman, make sure that you do your homework. If you are going to spend the money on outside help, you want to make sure that the job gets done right. You should only let a qualified repairman work on your PC.

These three computer repair facts may or may not be able to help you. But if you own a computer, chances are that it will give you trouble at some point in time. Instead of buying a new unit, you should consider fixing your current one with some of the tips from above.

Related Blogs

When people are looking for cheap computer repair they need to consider a few important things. The first is you get what you pay for. This does not mean you can’t find a great cheap computer repair company. I say this because many times the cheaper person is not insured and does not offer a guarantee. A perfect example of this is just last week. I had a customer who gave me call and said they needed their computer repaired. They took it to a guy they found on craigslist and yes he was cheap but the guy also had their computer for a full week and the issue was not resolved. He did say he had 20 years of computer repair experience but they still got burned.

When choosing a cheap computer repair company always ask how long the company has been in business. If they have only been open a few months consider going some were else. 85% of all companies do not make it to the one year mark.

Another great question to ask is if they have any computer certifications. At the very least they should have an A+ certification. This is the most basic cert in the industry.

When you find someone who offers a great price ask about any guarantees and if the price includes the full cost of the repair. Some places charge by the hour. I never go this route for computer repair. The tech might quote you $25 dollars an hour and say it will only take 2 hours to repair. Then 5 hours later you paid double what you wanted. The guarantee matters as well. Being in the business I can tell you that yes 90% of the time I am able to remove the virus the first time. However you really do not fully know if the virus is gone until a few days later. If you missed one trace the thing can reactivate and that is were the guarantee comes into place.

Having you computer repaired online for software issues and viruses is the cheapest way to go hands down. Be sure to find one that has a “No Fix No Fee” policy and that charges by the service and not the hour. This way you know ahead of time if the issue is not fixed you do not pay and you know exactly how much the repair will cost ahead of time. Be sure and ask what kinds of guarantees the company offers as well. If your issue comes back you want to know it will be taken care of with out any further costs to you.

Computer Repair Chapel Hill, Computer Repair Cary, Computer Repair Raleigh

Are computer problems such as Slow Network or System Performance, Hardware Conflicts, Internet Connectivity Issues, Windows Freezing up, Data Backup Snags, Security and Virus Issues bugging you? Why don’t you get them corrected? Thinking…… Where to go? Onsite technical support makes hole in your pocket? Get Online Technical Support for Computer Repair with iYogi, the best computer support organization offering outstanding global tech support.

Let us get acquainted with the system of iYogi’s Online Technical Support. A squad of specialized and Microsoft certified technicians offer their expert consultation on diverse technical issues. All happens over the phone. You just need to contact our customer care executive. Choose from available three packages viz. Annual Plan, Pay As You Go and Quick Fixes. We will instantly get back to you with our customized online toolkit for your assistance.

You just need to relax. As your problem will be resolved online remotely by the tech savvy Microsoft certified staff appointed at our office to work (24/7/365). Online PC Solutions saves time and extra costs. It takes a few seconds to make a call. All packages are exhibited on our website, so there is no hidden cost. You won’t require hunting for engineers as happens in case of onsite technical support. You can rely on iYogi for secure and high-quality Online Technical Support.

Computer Repair Jobs Market Turning Ugly!

Computer repair jobs in large companies are one of the first areas that the pencil pushers attack when the economy goes south. It’s an easy slow moving target that is pure cost, with no direct line to profits.

New projects, software and hardware upgrades, and ongoing service take a back seat to sales and marketing efforts. This is never a good thing for both the users, who don’t get the support they need, and the computer technicians who need a job.

Most IT departments represent a big cost. And the payroll is usually well above many of the other business units. To find and keep good technicians, you have to pay a good price. Which is good during an economic boom but when money gets tight, it’s one of the first targets of opportunity for cutbacks.

A downturn in the economy is a good time to take the entrepreneurial spirit out of the closet and put it to work for enterprising computer technicians. A good computer technician can make a decent living doing onsite computer repair and service.

Most small companies have no IT staff and need to use a freelance computer repair guy or gal to do the miscellaneous software and hardware chores. Companies that have just enough employees, say over 7 but fewer than 20, are a perfect market for the independent computer repair and service entrepreneur.

Many don’t realize it but small companies make up the bulk of employees in our economy. The number of small businesses is huge and it’s a large and lucrative market for many service companies of all types. Since many companies rely on computers and software to run their business, it’s a top priority.

The biggest problem for the transition to freelance computer repair is finding the clients and running the basic business aspects. Most technicians are already technically qualified but lack basic marketing and day-to-day operational skills for running a computer repair business.

After 30 years in the business I can tell you that it’s not brain surgery but there are a few tricks to making it work. The number one thing to keep in mind at all times is that you are in a service business. That means you make sure the customer is satisfied.

You also have to adhere to any local laws and licensing. All you really need to get started is a DBA (go to your local county offices and register a business name for doing business as), a bank account that recognizes the DBA (for paying bills and making deposits). Most states require that you collect sales tax so the next task is to apply for a sales tax permit.

Most states allow you to do this online and you can do a search for sales tax permit and state name to find the website. It will have all the basic rules and information you will need to register and get your permit. By the way, do not fail to file your sales tax reports or you will be fined in most states, even if you had no activity.

One of the easiest ways to make sure you do all the basic accounting for tax purposes is to buy one of the several small business accounting packages. They take you step by step through the setup and can teach you a lot about what transactions need to be tracked and why. You can also look for a local accountant that deals with small businesses in your area that can help you get started.

One of the first questions I get asked by potential clients or even people who are thinking about doing computer repair is what do I charge. This is dependent on a couple of things. One is the market area, large metro areas like Los Angles or Houston mean higher hourly rates. Small rural areas will have lower rates.

Scope of work and client have a bearing on your compensation. If you deal with high-end services and difficult technical issues, you can command a higher rate. If you are setting up a 3 user home network, probably a lesser rate.

The whole compensation side is dictated by competition, market area and size, and often complexity of the service. So just call around and see what the going rates are and charge accordingly. Always remember you can go down with little resistance but going up is a much tougher scenario.

The primary area of confusion for the new computer repair business owner is marketing your services. Obviously business cards to hand out with contact information and type of services you plan to offer is the cheapest and quickest way to start.

Handing out flyers with more detailed information, talking to friends and business associates, advertising in local papers or publications are all good marketing techniques. But one often overlooked marketing method is recommendations by satisfied customers.

Good people skills are a must. You want every client to be happy when you leave and recommend you to others. This means that you need to communicate well with any and all levels of users.

Never talk down to an inexperienced user, be careful to explain any issues in plain English and don’t go computerese on them. Keep it simple and easy to understand.

Many of the most common repairs are working with the users, not hardware or software problems.

When you have your own business, time management is critical. Don’t under estimate what it will take when giving quotes. In the field anything can happen and it’s better to be a hero and finish early than to have to explain why it took longer.

So if you find yourself a victim of our slowing economy, have some computer skills, you do have the option of starting your own computer repair business. There will always be a need for computer repair services, as long as there are computers.

If you want to learn more about starting a computer repair business, check out the links below in our signature. The more you know the better decision you can make.

About computer repair fraud – Part 7

How many times you went to a computer store and you were ripped off?

Most people that know nothing about computers are always ripped off when they go to a store. This is because the owners think they know more about computers than anyone else so they play some tricks on you to make a profit. They can say for example that you need some kind of hardware that you do not really need. They also can tell you that you have one piece of equipment and you have another. They can do a lot of things.

One thing I saw them seeing as changing the date of the delivery so the warranty would last less longer and they could not repair it for free in case something happened. The next time you go to a store just take a look at the owner face for it can tell youa lot about him, or should I say it.

The store manager usually is an expert at playing such tricks. For exmample, how many times you came home thinking that you had a new hardware inside your coputer, they charged you for it, when in reality you have nothing new under the hood?

How many times you went to the store and you saw smaller prices and you were charged much more because of instalation fee?

That’s some of the tricks they use to drain extra money out of your bank account.

Now here it comes the worst part of all.

What happens when your hard disk is not encrypted and you need to give them the computer.

They go to your hard disk and they make a full copy os everything you have inside. Such computer usually has all your passwords and all your confidential documents and much more.

Imagine what if they pick your intimate photos and videos and then they publish it all on the internet. You be easily seen nude on the internet wihout even knowing who did it.

Some people already went ti the police because of this issue.

Some times you can see your bank account empty.

Other times you see your videos on youtube.

And sometimes you can send emails for people you don’t even know.

This is all that can happen to you.

If you want to prevent such situation you really do need to delete all the files with a special program before going to the store, plus you need to encrypt everything you cannot remove from the computer.

This is the only way to know that your information is truly safe from the stupid eyes they got.

Be also careful when sending the computer by mail to a faw away store, you might never see it again.

Good luck