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| − | What is your primary response when your computer fails on you and your assurance has expired? For many, substitution is the simplest choice, but some may try to deal with it themselves. Many don't want to have to deal with the strain and just end up tossing it out. Little do they comprehend that finding the right computer tech could lead to a easy, inexpensive fix and a pc thats like new again.
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| − | Nowadays, finding a high quality computer repair person is rather simple. Any family's rolodex of numbers is loaded with plenty of capable PC repair specialists who are more than sufficient to fix most computer issues that you may bump into. This might sound foolish but it's very real. While these experts have adequate repairing skills, there are several qualities that divide them from the individual that you in fact want working on your computer. The most important of these characteristics being skills, documentation, and support. Understanding the right questions is a very important part of finding the right [http://www28.zippyshare.com/v/mcKVafWO/file.html tech support] . This allows you to split the cream from the crop, guaranteeing that only the best providers work on your computer.
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| − | <h2>Qualifications and Requirements</h2>
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| − | There are many qualifications in existence that may look good on paper, but do not stack up in the real world. One of the main dilemmas is that the formal certifications are specific only to a given vendor. Take heed that a lot of them are very vendor specific. For example, Microsoft certifies experts for all of its products, but out side of the Windows operating system, these certifications are no place to be found. Its additionally gets obsolete quickly, as Microsoft products get upgraded. The company Oracle has some solid certifications. Dell, IBM, Cisco and many others provide their own also.
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| − | <h2>Certificates</h2>
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| − | CompTIA is one famous organization that is one of the few vendor-neutral certification companies. However, other certificates are completely legitimate, they are still a business looking to make a return. They are seeking to earn new members and member fees, so there may just be a feeling that you are just forking out for a certification that may or may not be up to the educational guidelines you'd find at a college or university.
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| − | This doesn't mean that CompTIA certifications are disable, they just may not be on par with a four-year IT degree. Then again, people of these degrees aren't often running computer repair companies. The point is, it should regularly be asked if the expert has a college degree in computers. If they do not or if they reply that they have some sort of "certification" that's ok, just make a notice of what the certification is and progress to the next question. You could always explore the certification later.
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| − | <h2>Skills and References</h2>
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| − | The next question asked is what pertinent experience the technician has correlated to your job. The question could be framed along the lines of how much time they've been repairing computers for a living, and also if they can provide customer referrals. Most technicians have references already set aside; customers that they get along with perfectly and are more than delighted to give them glowing recommendations. Ideally, you'll find out how much time they been doing their job, and a couple of their clients' names.
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| − | It's essential to follow through on any referrals you were given. Absolutely call those referrals and ask them what type of repairs the tech has done for them, how long it usually takes the technician to do repairs, and if the individual feels that their rates are practical. Even a glowing rating from a favorite customer can let slip information that may reveal some shocks about how the person runs their company. Be careful for those details.
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| − | Don't be overcome by this procedure though; you generally only need to do this one time. After that, you'll therefore have worked with the specialist, and will understand what they're like.
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| − | <h2>Techs' Specialty</h2>
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| − | As I mentioned earlier, Microsoft provides their own collection of certifications. Well, in very much the same way, so does Apple by means of Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP) or Apple Certified Technical Coordinator (ACTC). These indicates the individual has basic support skills to help you out with a Mac. Similarly, CompTIA offers a Linux certification, or technicians can get an LPI certification from the Linux Professional Institute.
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| − | Beyond OS, you'll also find technicians that are just better equipped and more experienced to deal with certain brand names of computers, even though they are focused on Windows machines. Case in point, a technician may have worked with Dell computer systems for so many years that simply from the explanation of the computer problem, the person can instantly tell you that the most probable cause is a bust capacitor on the motherboard.
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| − | There are also commonalities that occur with certain brands of computers, so technicians do get accustomed to going through the same problems over and over again. You just have to ask if they focus in particular computer brands. Ask if he or she has partnerships or other relations with certain companies. Just state you're shopping around for a PC service person you can return to regularly for computer help.
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| − | <h2>Ask for Costs and Demand Maximum Cost Limits</h2>
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| − | Once it has been established that the tech has right credentials and training, the next step in the discussions is to negotiate cost. Friends and relatives are continually coming to them for help with their computers, and expecting a free handout. Their relatives may often expect computer assistance for free. Even those whom they are close to will frequently ask for free support. People pay a fixed fee for a repair, and then count on a lifetime of free tech support afterwards. So yes, PC technicians can be offended if low balled.
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| − | Nevertheless, there always will be some shadier technicians to take advantage of the tech-illiterate. They may impose an hourly rate, and then coldly claim that the issue took much longer than it did to solve. People who lack computer knowledge are not able to see these cons for what they are.
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| − | There are services out there that state a particular hourly range is fair. Many in the industry feel that only flat fees are acceptable. My experience, having dabbled in being a PC support technician for a quite a few clients, is this:
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| − | Any PC issue has signs that hint at a potential cause whether thats a hard disk, mother board, screen, power supply, or whichever. It usually doesn't take much longer than an hour to figure that out.
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| − | So, since most places require a one-hour minimal charge, you can simply ask the PC technician if they can spend no more than one hour problem solving before reporting back to you as to whether it'll take more time and cost more bucks. Hourly rates fluctuate, but can range anywhere from $20 to $70 or more. This all is dependent on the demand for the services. It pays to obtain the maximum amount of time spent on the diagnostics. If they deny the request, it may be time to find a new technician.
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| − | <h2>How Data Security is Taken Care Of</h2>
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| − | Now, backing up important data should be one of the first things any decent technician will do before attempting repairs. This process is a way for the technician to get your pc back to the state it was in when you last used it. This should be one of the very first things that they attempt to do.
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| − | The procedure normally consists of:
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| − | <ul><li>1. Storing needed documents, such as financial records or un-replaceable pics, onto a USB drive or portable hard drive.</li>
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| − | <li>2. Creating a restore point using the tools available in the operating systems.</li>
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| − | <li>3. Duplicating profile folders, including documents, internet history and bookmarks and other personalized settings onto the USB stick or portable drive.</li></ul>
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| − | So, an ideal way to judge whether this technician is one that you ought to allow to mess with your pc is to ask a simple question: What is their preliminary backup procedure? If they look at you with a blank stare, leave.
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| − | <h2>How Does The Tech Track Changes Made?</h2>
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| − | One of the surest signs of a professional is the documentation that she or he keeps through the course of the repair. Unprofessional computer repair technicians are often very, very bad at keeping track of every change they aim to make on a computer to fix it.
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| − | While the work may commonly lead to a repaired pc, there often a few dozen variations made in the control panel that you'll be totally unaware of when you have your computer back. It's your computer, and you've set it up to be easiest to use for you; so if the technician changes things, like increased security configurations, you need to know. Weird things may start happening afterward and you will be confused as to what the cause is.
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| − | So, the question you should ask is simple: how are the changes tracked? Do they provide a full record at the end of the repair that highlights all of the modifications made, hardware mounted or any other alterations to the system?
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| − | The reply here should be an immediate yes, and they could even show you a sample report (or a format) that they've printed for previous clients, so that you know what to look forward to at the end. This one issue alone is a main characteristic of an exceptional tech. If they're good at keeping documentation in an orderly and detailed fashion of what they do, the odds are great that they know what they're doing.
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| − | <h2>Follow-up Assistance and Assurances</h2>
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| − | The final thing of notice is what kind of follow-up will your specialist provide. You can reasonably expect that the technician will be obtainable for phone calls, or even follow-up visits, is there any lingering problems after the repair. If not, the problem wasn't really fixed, it only went away temporarily. So, ask the tech if they guarantee repairs for a particular number of days. Ask what range of follow-up support they give during that time, and is it acceptable to give them a call, or do you have to bring the computer back in the shop again? Is the technician willing to do in-home follow-up service instead?
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| − | These are the kind of questions you need to ask before you have trouble following a repair, not after. Once you get an adequate answer, ask that all deals you discussed should be put down in writing prior to the start of repairs.
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| − | Keep in mind, you paid a fair amount for your computer, and you deserve to know what to expect when you leave your hardware into some other persons hands. In any case, it's most essential to weigh whether or not the repair is going to cost more than what the computer is valued at or the price of a new one.
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| − | If you've asked the best questions, you have a solid rate quote and all arrangements and guarantees in writing, you can leave your computer with the technician without any worries. Your computer will be repaired, the tech will get paid, and you can be safe that if the issue returns after a few days, you won't be left with the same problem but with a smaller wallet.
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| − | Author: [http://www.contrive-it.net Contrive I.T.] in Metairie, LA.
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