The PC Guild » PC Repair Guy

For some clients, just install Ubuntu

Editor — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:04:30 +0000

Unofficial statistic: 85% of people who use computers, use it for 2 reasons, and 2 reasons alone: email/internet & office.

The last time someone came to me and said he needed to reinstall Windows due to the overwhelming junk and sluggish crap, I asked him what he used his computer for. When he said that he only used it for email and internet, I thought, why bother reinstalling Vista? I installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix on his laptop, and boy, was he happy. The simple, easy-to-use interface, with none of the clunk of an OEM version of Vista and all it’s crap….all for free sounded good to him. He’s been using it for a good 6 months now, and has had NO complaints.

FANBOY ALERT: I am not a linux fanboy, nor a Windows fanatic. Personally I believe every OS has it’s different uses…my laptop and servers would all have some linux distro or another, and the rest of my 4 computers have Windows 7. And yeah, I wouldn’t mind an iPhone, either.

Now the above story comes from a person who never even heard of Ubuntu before I installed it on his laptop. He’s just glad he has a simple OS to get online, and I’m glad I didn’t have to go through the lengthy process of reinstalling vista without activation.

I’ve heard a story from a fellow pc repair guy, about his aunt being a Microsoft die-hard, and would not accept anything except Windows on her machine. He went ahead and installed Ubuntu on her machine anyway, and told her it was the beta version of Windows 7 (which hadn’t come out yet), and she was totally happy with it. I don’t know what she did when she found out it wasn’t Windows though (if she ever found out).

That’ll be my standard protocol from now on. Whenever anyone comes to me for a re-installation of Windows, I’m going to find out what programs they use on a daily basis. And if it’s your typical email/internet/office user, I will suggest Ubuntu. So far none have been disappointed. Saves me time and hassle as well.

Now this won’t work all the time, there are a quite a few users who need to use Windows-specific applications, and Windows is simply the only solution for that. You either love it or you hate it, but you can’t do without it.

Share your thoughts in the comments.

If you liked this, you might find this interesting:

Reinstalling Windows Checklist

Editor — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:12:51 +0000

One of the most common operations a PC repair guy carries out is reinstalling Windows. I decided to create a checklist for myself and others so we don’t forget anything critical during the process. Check out my other posts dedicated to PC repair professionals…

Quick checklist

For those of you who just need a quick checklist without all the details and blabber, here it is:

Backup all your files/documents/pics (obviously)
Make a note of all registered software
Backup the drivers!
Save your license key, make sure you have the right CD’s
Reinstall away
Restore your drivers
Restore your software (and use Ninite)
Restore your files

Detailed checklist

Step 1: Backup all your files/documents/pics/etc. (obviously)

This goes without saying…Another optional step here would be to create a GHOST backup image just in case anything goes wrong or you forgot something. This is especially important for PC repair guys who are working with other’s computers.

If you don’t have a secondary drive big enough to store all your data, consider creating a new partition and copying all of your data over with Unstoppable Copier.

Files to remember to backup:

Email program files and settings
Your browser’s settings/history/bookmarks
The Windows Fonts folder (especially if you’re a designer)
Any other program’s settings that you want to preserve

Step 2: Make a note of all registered software

Here’s a good time to take stock of all the software on the PC. Taking a quick screenshot of the Add or Remove Programs window can help you remember which software you need to reinstall afterwords. You should deactivate all licensed software, or if that’s not possible, save the serial/key and call up their customer support later.

Step 3: Backup the drivers!

This is a critical step which many people forget, much to their dismay later on. I recommend using Driver Max, found here at http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/

Warning: Some jerks have set up a website at drivermax.com which comes up as the first google search result, but this is NOT the correct free driver backup software I am referring to. It is located at http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/

Step 4: Save your license key, make sure you have the right CD’s

Generally if you have the CD’s that came with your manufacturer/vendor, as well as the product key (which you can get with Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder), you’re good to go. You may have to call up Microsoft to activate again, but that may not be a big deal. You also may want to try reinstalling windows without activation, but this may not work, so ALWAYS have a Plan B.

Reinstall XP without activation

AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE IS NO WAY TO REINSTALL XP WITHOUT ACTIVATION! I have tried the method of saving the “wpa.dbl” file, but it did NOT work numerous times. If you guys ever had any luck with any other method for reinstalling xp without activation, tell us in the comments.

Reinstall Vista without activation

Someone over at this forum has posted an excellent guide to reinstalling Vista without activation. I’ve heard it works. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=120228

Reinstall Windows 7 without activation

My Digital Life, a crappy tech blog (which has some useful stuff sometimes) famous for ever-trying to hijack search engine results with ad-filled pages, has a guide to reinstalling Windows 7 without activation. http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/09/24/how-to-backup-and-restore-windows-7-and-server-2008-r2-activation-status-activate-offline-on-reinstall/ . Beware, I haven’t actually tried it out, if any of you had any luck, give us a shout in the comments.

Step 5: Reinstall away

Go ahead and pop in the CD and follow the prompts. Enter your key (unless you used one of the “re-installation without activation” methods above). You may have to call Microsoft to activate.

Step 6: Restore your drivers

Using driver max, you can restore all your drivers from the previously created backup. If you are unable to do so, you may have to restore SOME of the drivers manually with Device Manager.

On the other hand, here is some insightful commentary from stillaftermath on reddit:

If possible, I highly recommend downloading new drivers, as opposed to reinstalling the old ones, if you can be spared the time to do so. Backing up and restoring has three problems – One, you may be restoring the very problem you’re trying to get away from. If a machine is blue screening, lagging, or wonky, it’s just as possible for it to be from a driver issue as it is to be from crapware or whatever you’re trying to escape. Two, if upgrading from an older version of Windows, you may need newer drivers, or there may be a different set specifically optimized for the new OS. Three, Vista, and particularly Windows 7, are quite good about downloading new drivers at the first update check, which happens automatically at first boot. You might very well update to the newest ones and then downgrade them by restoring your backup copy when you get back from the Wii, coffee, or impromptu sexual encounter that distracted you when you got tired of watching the file copy bar during installation.

Thanks, stillaftermath. You’re right. Always look for driver upgrades as well. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still backup your drivers, as it may turn out that those are not available on the web, or are a pain to look for & download, so backing up is still important.

Step 7: Restore your software

I highly recommend using Ninite to quickly reinstall commonly used software like Adobe Flash, Microsoft Security Essentials, VLC, etc.

Here are the software you need to remember to reinstall:

Anti virus (such as Avira or Microsoft Security Essentials)
Anti spyware (may not be necessary, consider Spyware Terminator)
MS Office and other mission critical programs
IM software
Firewall (I recommend Comodo Firewall)

Step 8: Restore your files

That’s it!

If you liked this, you might find this interesting:

Computer Terminology Misuse

Editor — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:15:30 +0000

If I had a nickel every time someone called a computer a “hard drive”, I’d be a millionaire. Seriously, is computer terminology THAT hard? The amount of misused terminology that I hear every week would be enough to make a dictionary author commit suicide. Computer parts are impossible to define to the masses due to the complete mess of terminology.

REBOOTING A COMPUTER MEANS RESTARTING THE DAMN THING! It’s not the same as reformatting, which is not the same as reinstalling an OS! Every time someone’s asked to me to reinstall Windows on their computer, these are the ways I’ve heard it being said:

Can you reformat my computer? [This means to "format" a hard drive, which is to essentially to delete everything]
Can you reboot my computer? [This means to restart the computer.]
Can you wipe out my computer? [This means to take a cloth and use some elbow grease. Or the same as #1)
Can you erase my computer? [Same as #1]
Can you restart everything on my computer? [This means to..ahh I quit]
Can you make my computer new again? [This is not possible]
Can you format and then reinstall the operating system on my computer? [THIS is the way to say it. Which means to do exactly what you want.]

I’m tempted to do exactly as told next time someone misuses computer terminology. Really, the next time someone asks me to “reboot” his computer, I’ll specify that on the agreement, plug his computer in, turn it on, and then restart it, and then give it back to him. Or if I get asked to reinstall his hard drive, I’ll open up the computer, take out the hard drive, put it back in, and then give it back. And then charge him the money we agreed on.

This is called a computer.

You see that tall, black, shiny thing up there? It’s called a tower, a computer, a “rig“, or a PC. It is not called a “hard drive“, “CPU“, “motherboard“, “thingamajiggy“, “fat heavy something“, “magic box” or any other word that people make up on the spot. It’s so bad that when I search for a “CPU” using Google Images, I get a picture of a stupid computer as the first result.

It's so bad that when I search for "CPU", look at what I get as my first result.

See, that is exactly what I feared. That misusing computer terminology would become so common that it would be impossible to know what is what.

Anyway, THESE are the respective components found in computers, and their names cannot be used to refer to the whole computer.

Yes, this is EXACTLY what a CPU is. A little chip found deep in your computer.

This thing is a hard drive. It is found in your computer. It stores your files. It is not the same as saying "memory". Got it?

This is "memory" or RAM. It is NOT the same as the thing above. Memory IS RAM.

This is a motherboard. Pretty much everything in your computer is connected to it somehow.

Again, I repeat. THIS thing is not a CPU, nor a motherboard, nor a hard drive. It is a computer. The stuff above is found inside this thing.

Please, I beg of you all, learn something, and don’t misuse computer terminology again, atleast for these few terms. This is not meant to be a detailed computer lesson, so if you are looking for that…

And, by the way, this old internet gem is somewhat relevant. The IT Crowd, this episode is one of the funniest computer comedy videos I’ve ever watched.

Share with us in the comments some of the other ways you’ve heard computer terminology misused.

More stuff for you:

5 Types of PC Repair Clients

Editor — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:29:04 +0000

When it comes to computer repair (see my guide to it), you can expect a wide array of customers. Knowing them, identifying them, and then dealing with them can save you a whole lot of time and money, and will let you build a client base which will provide you value for years to come.

Identify and ditch these customers at an early stage. These are the people who will cost you in the long term.
Show them this video.
Start invoicing their calls. This will likely scare them away…
If they are unsatisfied with the repair job, blaming every error on you, offer to restore their computer to the previous state with your GHOST image and refund the money and cut the deal right there. This will likely make them think.

Any client horror/success stories and tips on how to deal with them? Share in the comments!

If you liked this, you might find this interesting:

How To De-Crapify A PC Efficiently

Editor — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:19:18 +0000

As I’ve been doing PC repair for quite a while now (see my guide to doing local pc repair), the most common repetitive action I do is cleaning up someone’s PC. Over the years, I’ve found the most efficient way is to do a complete re-install (obviously). However there are times when you can’t or don’t want to do a complete reinstall. I’ve found that with 6 quick easy steps you can effectively de-crapify a computer, leaving it running much faster overall. I have literally tried this on uncountable machines, so you can be sure that this method works.

Whether you are a computer newbie, or just need a checklist for cleaning up a PC, this might help.

Step 1: Uninstall all unnecessary programs

Uninstall all trialware
Uninstall any trial anti-virus or Norton Anti-Virus and replace it with a non-intrusive or free anti virus software
Uninstall unneeded programs
Replace large, resource consuming programs with lighter alternative (e.x. IE for Chrome, Azureus for uTorrent, Avira for Norton, etc.)

Use Revo Uninstaller. It gets rid of unnecessary stuff left over from removed programs, along with uninstalling normally.

Step 2: Make sure there is nothing unnecessary starting up with your account login or windows startup

This, by far, is the greatest cause of slow PC’s, in my opinion. Totally unnecessary crap from Nero to Adobe Acrobat have startup programs which do nothing useful.

Here’s how you disable them in various operating systems:

Vista or Windows 7
XP
An more advanced software for doing just this is Autoruns from Sysinternals

Another tip from GerryK:

There are many unnecessary services that can be disabled or changed to manual start. As an example, I rarely print things so I set my print spooler to manual start. I also manually start my IPOD/Bonjour/Apple services when I need to update my apple devices. You can google “Unnecessary windows services” for more information.

Step 3: Delete all unnecessary files

An extremely handy software that will help you with tis is CCleaner - an accredited software endorsed by many reputable sources.

Step 4: Do a virus scan

Step 5: Update your drivers

Consider using this free driver updater.

Step 6: Do a defrag

You could do this in either one of these ways:

Use the standard Windows defragger
Use defraggler (recommended)
Another tip from a commenter is to use MyDefrag - it has some intelligent defragging capabilities

Tell me in the comments if I missed anything or if you have a good tip…

If you liked this, you might find this interesting:

A Guide To Being The Local PC Repair Dude

Editor — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:35:19 +0000

So you’ve turned your head in the direction of the dreams of every technology-savvy person – the idea of converting your computer skills into cash. You want to be the local computer repair guy. It’s not like it’s anything new to you – your uncles/nephews/parents/cousins/friends/coworkers/relatives/random people are always dumping their PC problems on your head anyway. So why not make a business our of your skills to give an excuse to charge them, and also make a little dough while you’re at it? Everybody who knows how to work with a computer inside and out, and has some spare time, has at some time or another considered this idea. To be honest, it is a great idea to make some cash, provided you are lucky, know your stuff, and are able to use your wits under stressful situations. There are people out there who make a living out of casual computer repair and sales, and also a lot of those who make significant bonuses in their part time. So why not give it a try!

What to expect

Expect to be riddled with calls and requests for fixing computers for the rest of your natural life.
You will get all types of customers – from friendly rich little old ladies who pay well, give you cookies and pizza, and don’t have a clue about computers, to “village customers” who will try the best to squeeze the most out of you for the least possible amount of money.
You will get customers who blame you for the remotest computer problem they get even months after you repaired their machines. These are also usually the type of customers who refuse/delay/reduce payment on trumped up excuses. Best advice is to ditch these type of customers immediately – they don’t do well for your pocket and will give you a headache. Protect yourself with a limited warranty in your terms.
90% of the problems you fix will be one of these 3:
- My computer is too slow. Please clean it up.
- Help! I got viruses invading my PC!
- I got blue screens or other funny error message. Fix it or please reinstall Windows.

Success/Failure stories

Localtechguy on reddit.com makes $80,000 US a year doing local computer repair. Here’s his story:

I bill for about 4 hours a day on average, and I charge $70 an hour. I mainly fix computer problems related to corrupt hard drives, RAM installation, CD/DVD ROM repair, internet connectivity issues, printer problems, audio problems, and the like.

I charge $20 just to take a look at your computer. If you decided that you want me to fix it, (after I tell you how long it will probably take) I apply that $20 to your “balance.” Most jobs take about an hour and I bill in 20 minute increments, rounding up. If I have to come to you, there is an additional $30 charge. After hours, holidays, and emergencies have an additional charge of $20 an hour.

Here’s his advice for a newbie:

Get business cards made.

Pass them out where ever you go.

Don’t rent a storefront yet.

Go to people’s businesses/homes and do the repairs there.

Ask local businesses if you can post a flyer in their window or on their cash wrap.

Initially, charge a nominal fee…maybe something like $30/hour just to build up a client base and get some referalls.

Put up a Web site describing your services. It makes you look more legit when you print it on your business cards.

Hit up local colleges and post flyers there.

If you’re going to market to college students, learn how to troubleshoot Macs and iPods.

Develop a protocol for troubleshooting common problems It’ll save you time.

Underpromise and overdeliver.

We’ve all heard those horror stories of people dealing with horrible customers and getting ripped off continuously – not to mention spending an insane amount of time fixing simple issues.

Avoiding disaster – habits you must not forget

Never start to do anything (not even a diagnosis) until you have agreements and terms signed. (See below for templates on EULA’s agreements, etc.). These agreements and terms should make it clear that it is the customer’s duty to back up their data, you are not liable for any damage caused to the machine or data except upto the cost of the repair, and other minor things.
Speaking of backup, although you protect yourself from liability with fine print, you should always backup the customer’s data anyway. Always, always, always, before you even attempt to fix an issue, make a backup image of the computer with a software such as Norton Ghost. That way if you screw up anything, or the deal doesn’t work out, or you just can’t fix it, you can simply restore the computer to the state in which you received it. Store this data in an external hard drive or something, and keep it for how long your warranty extends, or longer if you wish.
Accounting is a MUST. You absolutely must document every one of your sales, expenses, etc.. Even if it is a simple Access database or Excel spreadsheet, it’s fine. For hardpaper documents, store them in a folder of some sort. This data is very useful for keeping track of how much you make/lose each month, and also for dealing with recurring customers.

Dealing with customers

Remember that you need to be very organized, systematic and professional for you to maintain your sanity under stressful and abnormal conditions, and to avoid disaster. Professionalism also means that customers will be willing to pay more because they feel that they are getting high quality, professional services.
Focus on building a higher quality client base, rather than larger quantity. Good customers are understanding, pay decently and on time, and refer you to others. Bad customers will often make you lose more than you’ll ever gain with them – starting with your sanity.
If you are really into it, consider having a mailing list for all customers. Send out an email every once in a while with free computer tips, goodies, or advice. This will help keep connections and build relationships with clients – which is key to getting high quality business.
If a customer tries to bargain with you claiming that their nephew/son/relative can fix their computer for free, tell them to have a nice day and go to whoever they want to. Do not undersell yourself unless you are really desperate.
Never be forced to give free or discounted services except for two reasons: 1. You messed up something. 2. The customer has a close relationship with you which you value.

How to structure your business

There are several ways to structure your business workflow, and undoubtedly you will develop your own as your business matures. Here are a few structure models for you to get some ideas and modify to your circumstances. It is very important to have a standard “protocol” or workflow which will streamline your repair process and make you efficient and organized. Start developing a protocol for common problems right away.

KVM Switch

Things to note

Have a “fixing” workstation at your home/office which includes a KVM switch where you can repair 3-4 computers at a time. This is where all your tools, software, spare parts, etc, organized nicely in one place, and you also have access to an internet connection line and power (of course). This is the most efficient, cheap, and profitable way to run a repair at your own location.
Get some large storage gear (such as an external hardrive) to store backups, GHOSTS, drivers, files, and other software related to each client’s computer, neatly organized in folders on the drive. You should keep the customer’s data for atleast as long as your warranty extends. This can be a real lifesaver if the client comes later again with problems.
Carry some extra RAM wherever you go (see the “Money Making tips” below).

What to charge, how to get paid

This is the most debatable and variable part of repairing computers. It largely depends on your location, the amount of competition you have, and your experience/connections. Start off low to get a foothold in the market, and then move up gradually. Charging by the hour is always smarter, because a simple ten minute fix can turn into a 48 hour nightmare. However for services like re-installing windows or installing hardware it might be a good idea to charge a flat price.

Teenagers working part time or during the summer – $20 – $35/hour or flat prices

Part-timers – $35 – $50/hour

Full timers, and those with a large client base and full dedication – $60 – $120/hour

These prices may seem a little high or low, but remember that it’s simply not worth to undersell yourself. Better to get paid decently, or not do the work at all. That time which you lose could be spent in better avenues.

Money making tips:

Keep all the old parts you get, unless the customer wants them.
Use those parts and old computers to sell refurbished computers – this can be a huge addition to your income. In addition, if you ever screw up really bad, you can simply give your clients another computer.
Have some RAM on you wherever you go. This will serve you in two ways. Firstly it will help speed up the repair process on those slow, clogged up PC’s. Secondly, when your customer sees the improved speed with their own eyes, you can sell the RAM to them for a profit, adding a significant boost to your revenue.
(Tip from Ben):

I always had work order forms in duplicate. Right above the signature line was a BIG BOLD WARNING ABOUT LOSS OF DATA and “Check this box to have your data backed up for $75″.

I always asked if the computer contained any important information, and if the customer said “yes” then I backed up the data anyway. If things didn’t work out, I’d pull out the contract that they signed and point out the bold lettering next to their name, and the empty box.

Then, I’d charge them $150 for “forensic data recovery” with “no guarantees” – while recovering from the backup I’d made silently. I guess it’s part of the “underpromise/overdeliver” thing… but several customers were intensely relieved when I was able to “work my magic” and save their business/thesis/whatever.

How/where to advertise

1. Word of mouth

The “People’s guy” is key to everything. Your customers will judge your expertise based on how nice of a guy you are, because they can’t judge any other way. If you give your customers a good experience, they are much more likely to call you again, and refer you to others. Word of mouth is king – no other advertising medium can beat the quality and number of customers you get with a simple referral.

2. Craigslist/Kijiji

This is a low quality source which generally brings in few customers of low quality – but still worth a try.

3. Yellow Pages

4. Local Business directories

5. Local newspapers

6. Local colleges/universities

If you do this you should get some experience on troubleshooting Mac’s and iPods.

7. Local community organizations and buildings

8. Google Adsense/Online targeted ads

Do this if you really want to go big. Make sure you accurately target the ads for people in your area.

Resources

Terms, Documents, EULA Templates

Here are some templates to help you with your official paperwork. I personally created these documents. Disclaimer: These documents are provided AS-IS with any guaranty of any sort. These are meant to be used as a guideline only. Consult your lawyer before using any of these documents.

Service Agreement Template (replace my name “Isa Hassen” with your business or personal name)

This is a template for a service agreement which includes a disclaimer and a form for customers to provide information.

Download (from Drop.io)

Computer Repair Invoice Template (again replace my name with yours)

A template for an invoice you may use. I included the “hours” column even though it is not part of a standard service invoice so you could demonstrate to your customers how much time you spent on their computer.

Download (from Drop.io)

Freshbooks Invoicing Application

An extremely useful online invoice application which is free to start off with.

Software

LiberKey - this is the ultimate portable USB toolkit. It comes preinstalled with over a hundred portable utilities which can definitely come in handy. The software is launched through a simple interface which also manages, organizes and updates your portable software. You can also add your favourite portable software to the list.

Boot CD’s

UBCD4WIN

The “ultimate boot cd for Windows” is exactly what it claims to be. It comes with plenty of utilities which be run at boot-time from memory testers to disk erasers.

Hiren’s Boot CD

(Tip provided by Rob): Hiren’s Boot CD is another excellent cd with many utilites including: Hard drive recovery, Hard Drive Partition, Hard Drive Backup, Hard Drive Testing, RAM (Memory) Testing, System Information, MBR (Master BootRecord), BIOS, MultiMedia, Password, NTFS (FileSystems), Antivirus, AntiSpy, Process, Windows Startup, Registry tools, Windows Cleaners, Optimizers, Tweakers,and many others.

BartPE

Sort of like a bootable live CD for Windows XP. One the most valuable software it has as a plugin is Norton Ghost (which you must buy and add as a plugin).

Windows Recovery Discs

NeoSmart has done us a huge favour by releasing Windows Vista and Windows 7 bootable recovery discs.

ERD Commander

(Now part of Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack with Windows). An extremely handy proprietary CD, ERD Commander is not free, but can do everything from password resets to system restores from boot.

Linux Boot Discs

OPHCRACK is a must for resetting passwords. Its available both as a runtime software and a live cd.

Tools (actual hardware tools)

As part of your basic diagnosis and repair tools, you must have atleast these items:

Screwdriver (with all types of bits, including hex or star bits)
Spare screws and jumpers (you can get plenty of these from old computers)
Anti-static wrist strap (ALWAYS wear this when working with hardware)
Duster (for example a portable vacuum or compressed air can)
Tweezers – preferably magnetic (can really come to your rescue when you drop a tiny part somewhere)