Guide to Training for Computer Repair

Arm yourself with the knowledge to do your own PC repairs

By Jamie Belanger, Computer Technician & Marketing, 1-800-905-GEEK (Geeks on Call)

1. Train for and acquire an A+ certification so you can perform your own computer repairs.
2. Watch video tutorials, an affordable means of training for computer repair.
3. Read informative articles about computer repair and maintenance.

Action Steps to Finding the Right Computer Repair Service
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Acquire your CompTIA A+ certification so you can confidently perform your own PC repairs

Computer repair technicians are usually required to at the very least hold a CompTIA A+ certification. This certification is meant to confirm your ability to perform tasks such as installation, configuration, diagnosis, preventive maintenance and basic networking. Training for and acquiring this certification will ensure that you can handle most of the computer repairs that your small business will require.

I recommend: You can find a training center and sign up to take the A+ certification test at the Computing Technology Industry Association. Purchase a video training course for the A+ certification at CBT Planet.

Watch video tutorials so that you can perform your own PC repairs

If getting your A+ certification is far more technical than your needs require, you can learn how to perform a large variety of computer repairs by watching video tutorials. This is a very cost-effective method for expanding your computer knowledge.

I recommend: At Ultimate PC Repair, order a set of PC repair DVDs to learn how to do your own repairs. Watch free videos to learn how to do various tasks on your office computer at BeYourOwnIT.

Learn how to perform your computer repairs absolutely free with online articles and tutorials

With the Internet readily available, there is a wealth of free information at your fingertips. There are many sites with constantly updated articles and tutorials describing how to perform various PC repairs and maintenance.

I recommend: PCTechBytes has an extensive online computer repair knowledge base. Grovetech.com has a great tutorial on PC maintenance and repair.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As a small business owner, you should never underestimate the potential of service swapping. Check with other small businesses and computer repair companies in your area and see if they would be willing to offer you training in return for a service they may need from your company.

Guide to Computer Repair

Where to find help anywhere, anytime for desktop and laptop repairs

By Sheila Callahan, Freelance Journalist

1. Know where to go to find computer repair services
2. Know when to to call a computer repair business
3. Know why sometimes computer repair jobs require new hardware or upgraded memory.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get hassle-free computer repairs online

Have a high-speed Internet connection? You can find PC repair solutions online.

I recommend: PC Remote Rescue.com offers computer repair services priced by the minute or the month for an unlimited number of computers.

For flexibility, try a computer repair business with multiple solutions

Depending on the circumstance, you may need computer repair jobs done at your office or, if you have backup, you may want to drop your unit off for repair or get help online.

I recommend: GeekSquad.com offers PC repair online, in office, or offsite. Geek Squad provides 24-hour support and will dispatch a computer repair technician whenever needed. Gurus2Go.com offers nationwide service. So even if you're on the road with your laptop, Gurus2Go will come to your aid for any laptop repairs. Online computer repair jobs require no contracts or unused blocks of time. The clock starts running after, not while, you explain the problem. GeeksbyMinute.com provides 24-hour support by certified PC and Mac technicians. Billing begins when you start speaking to a technician. provides 24-hour support by certified PC and Mac technicians. Billing begins when you start speaking to a computer repair technician. Locate a computer repair business near you or get help with data recovery computer repairs from the directories at Business.com.

Perform routine key maintenance and avoid unnecessary computer repairs

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can avoid costly computer repair jobs by using computer repair software for routine maintenance like daily back-ups, weekly disk cleanups, scans, and defrags along with monthly purging of browser cache files.

I recommend: GeeksOnTime.com offers helpful maintenance tips in addition to both onsite and remote desktop and laptop repairs. If you’re interested in learning to do your own computer repairs, check the training opportunties in the computer repair jobs directory at Business.com.

Find free PC repair help on user Web sites

For computers repairs such as fixing a hard-drive, replacing an LCD, backlight or battery, or resolving an operating system glitch, consult a site offering help from fellow users or experts.

I recommend: PC Troubleshooting and Laptop Repair offers an illustrated guide to laptop repairs and upgrades. ComputerHope.com lists common errors and computer repairs along with basic hardware troubleshooting tips. Mac Users' Forum, Dell Support Forums, and Sony Vaio Support number among many users' forums.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talking to a U.S.-based computer repair technician avoids the occasional pitfall of awkward communication with overseas outsourcing firms.

Guide to Pricing and Costs of Computer Repair

Find computer repair and maintenance for your small businesses

By Jamie Belanger, Computer Technician & Marketing, 1-800-905-GEEK (Geeks on Call)

1. Purchase an annual service agreement from one of many computer repair companies.
2. Pay $50 to $500 per incident for on site or in store PC repairs.
3. Spend between $30 and $45 per incident or get a prepaid service agreements using remote assistance.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire a computer repair company to provide annual services for less than $10,000 yearly

The actual cost of a service agreement varies based on the number of computers in your office, how often you wish to have computer repair and maintenance services and if you want to include extra perks like emergency services or telephone tech support. An office can get small business computer repair services for a full year for under $10,000.

I recommend: Geeks on Call America is franchise owned and operated, so prices may vary slightly depending on your area. You can purchase service agreements from them on a per incident basis, or an hourly basis. There is also a format for working in regular preventative maintenance visits, so that you don't have to have as many "fire-fighting" hours included in your service agreement cost. Geeks on Call will always come to you. Geek Squad also has a premium plan that is in-store only. It covers everything from virus removal to annual maintenance. You can arrange for in-office visits, but the cost increases by almost $100 per hour.

Purchase computer repairs and maintenance per incident for between $100 and $500

If you don't have enough computers in your office to warrant spending a few thousand dollars per year on a service agreement, it may be worth your while to just pay per incident. You can get one-time computer maintenance services like a tune-up or data backup for between $100 and $200. Computers repairs tend to be more expensive, anywhere between $100 and $500 depending on the problem.

I recommend: Firedog is very reasonably priced. You can purchase services such as wireless network setup or a Windows OS installation for under $300 directly on their website. RESCUECOM isn't as prolific as firedog throughout the US, but they perform in-office per incident repairs and maintenance as well. Unlike firedog, they are not associated with a retail store.

Pay between $30 and $45 an incident for remote PC repairs

Remote assistance is one of the newer options for computer repair and maintenance services. As long as your computer is connected to the Internet, you can available yourself of these services and save money in the process.

I recommend: PC WATCHDOGS.com is extremely competitively priced. No, you won't get a technician in your store, but what you trade for on-site presence you get back in price. They also offer guarantee their work. If your problem isn't fixed, you pay nothing. PC Pinpoint has an annual remote "Fix it For Me" agreement for a single computer for under $200. You can also pay per incident.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most computer repair services will have you sign some sort of limited liability statement saying that any data lost during repair or maintenance is your responsibility. This means that you will have no recourse if you haven't backed up your valuable data ahead of time. Ontrack Data Recovery services can charge thousands of dollars to recover data from a dead hard drive. Always, always, always back up your data regularly.

Guide to Computer Repair Key Terms

Know your computer repair options

By Jamie Belanger, Computer Technician & Marketing, 1-800-905-GEEK (Geeks on Call)

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Service or maintenance agreement

A service agreement is a way to secure long-term computer support at a discount. If you are a small business owner that is unable to keep a permanent IT person on-staff, sign up for a six month or year long maintenance agreement. Rather than paying per hour for support, you can arrange to make scheduled payments or pay one large lump sum. Such plans usually include phone support, regularly scheduled preventative maintenance and an agreed upon amount of emergency hours.

I recommend: Read tips about making computer maintenance agreements at Buzzle.com.

Remote computer repair services

Remote computer repair services are a relatively new trend in the IT support world. As long as your computers still have internet connectivity, you can hire a remote computer repair provider to dial-in to your computer and deal with any issues you might be experiencing. This is usually cheaper than a traditional onsite computer repair service.

I recommend: iYogi is a great example of a remote computer repair service.

Onsite computer repair services

Onsite computer repair services will come to your place of business to do computer repairs. This does away with the conundrum of unplugging the problem computer, dragging it off to a remote location, leaving it there for a week and then bringing it back and trying to remember where all the cords go.

I recommend: Geeks on Call America is a nationwide provider of onsite computer repair services.

Manufacturer's warranty and extended warranty

The computer manufacturer's warranty guarantees your computer hardware for a year after the purchase date. Anything shorter than that and an extended warranty is recommended. An extended warranty can either be purchased from the manufacturer or a third-party company. Make sure that parts and service are covered by any warranty, so that any repairs can be completed at no cost to you.

I recommend: Read about standard and extended warranties at Computer Hope.

Data recovery services

If your computer has been irreparably damaged, your data is often still recoverable. An electrically fried power supply or motherboard has nothing to do with the integrity of your hard drive. Even if your hard drive has suffered a mechanical failure, you can still hire one of many data recovery services to rescue your data.

I recommend: Kroll Ontrack is one of the most well-known data recovery services.

DIY, or do it yourself

DIY, or do it yourself, computer repair is becoming increasingly popular. Any enterprising businessman with even a modicum of technical aptitude can access the wealth of do it yourself resources on the internet, from technical guides to YouTube videos.

I recommend: Browse the extensive DIY resources at Do It Yourself Computer Repair.