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i want to open a small computer repair shop what will i need to get started like do i need a license or certificate how much will it cost do i need paid experience or do i just need to be good at it

Go to score.org and arrange for a free meeting with a volunteer SCORE counselor. They will guide you through the process.

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small business start, grow and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

I need to send my computer in, but how do I know if I can trust these people at the Computer Repair shops?

Isn’t it possible for them to get my social security, driver’s license, etc?
I’ve had to fill out forms where I had to put in my social security, and other important information.

If they are licensed and insured and there paperwork is legit then do not worry they are 100 percent legal get copies of everything they give you or ask you to fill out and then keep it on file until you receive your computer back. If they hack your identity or anything like that take them to court and take those documents and all of the information you have found out about the company and share it with the court and get a free computer or money to repair your computer for free. Thank you for asking and most likely they are not going to hack you.

Okay, im missing two keys on my laptop (the little covers fell off)
the letter still work though.
If i take it somewhere like the geek squad at best buy can they replace it?

Yep they can. However, it all depends on whether or not they just came off, or they BROKE off… because the X-hinge the key sits on could have one or more tabs broken off it, or the X-Hinge itself could be broken.

So, it is POSSIBLE… for a repair shop to just put them on… sure.

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We’re in Anne Arundle County, with some serious computer issues, and we’ve already had one bad experience with a local computer place. Does anyone know a really great place to call?

Geek Squad are the best: http://www.geeksquad.com/

You seem them sometimes with their black and white beetle cars

I went into a computer repair shop to find out how much it would cost to upgrade the hard drive on my computer from 160gb to 320gb. I lost my temper and walked out as she was asking me questions about computers that I know nothing about. I said to her before I left " I am just a computer novice if I knew that I would just buy the hard drive and put it in myself" example "Is it DDR1 or DDR2" WHAT?????
I would just buy the 320gb hard drive from a computer mag and put it in myself if I was a "Computer geek" THATS WHY I WAS IN THE COMPUTER REPAIR SHOP!!!!

I’m sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. I used to be in the same boat as you are now. I did a lot of research on the web to educate myself so I could repair my own computer.
Start asking around your circle of friends and you will probably find someone who knows or knows someone who knows how to do what you want do do and not make you feel like a nincompoop about computers. Changing out a hard drive is not difficult. If you have a second hard drive in your computer case it makes this a lot easier. Transfer all of your personal data to another location because you will need to install the operating system (Windows) and all your programs (MS Office) again on the new hard drive. Unplug the power cord from your computer case, open the case, unplug the cable from the back of the hard drive, remove the screws from the side of the case structure enclosing the hard drive (2 per side) and slide the hard drive out of it’s location. Install your new hard drive where the old one was and reverse the steps. Plug the power cord in and turn on your computer. This is where you start to install the operating system (Windows Vista or 7). If this is too much for you, find a reliable friend to help (back to ‘circle of friends’ above). Good luck. BTW-FYI, DDR1 and DDR2 are different memory card (RAM) blade configurations that correspond the the connector plug they fit in on the Mother Board. Increasing your RAM is not necessary when swapping out a hard drive, but … 2gb is good, 4gb is great …

I apologise in advance as this may be a long story.

On 13th October, I took my laptop to a computer repair shop advertising "no fix, no fee" as I was having problems getting the laptop to boot. They were supposed to provide me with a free estimate as to what was causing the problem.

Several weeks passed and I hadn’t heard from them, so decided to try and chase the matter up. I took some time getting a response, due to them ignoring my phonecalls and failing to return any messages I left, and eventually I was told that it was a faulty motherboard, which they were going to replace at a cost of around £90. I agreed that this would be okay and called them (again another couple of weeks later) to see if it was repaired, and if it would be ok for me to collect it.

At this stage, I was told that it had been fixed, and that there was no need for me to collect it - they would deliver it to me that weekend (I received this phonecall on a Thursday/Friday).

I then waited until the Tuesday… still no laptop, and still no phonecall, so again, it took me a considerable amount of time to get a hold of them and when I eventually did, I was told that although the laptop had been repaired, it still wasn’t working, and they would have to contact the manufacturer for a BIOS upgrade. It was then December, and my dad visited the shop on my behalf, and was then told after further ado (they didn’t seem to know which laptop was mine) that it was in London as they had to send it off to a specialist). More time passed, and I became increasingly annoyed so decided to seek further advice from Trading Standards, who advised me to send a registered letter asking for the laptop back - repaired or not, and still I did not get a reply, so they then steppin in for me.

They had trouble initially getting in contact, however then returned to me, saying that the laptop could not be repaired, and I was to contact the people concerned to arrange getting my laptop back.

Eventually, on the 20th Jan (bearing in mind they had my laptop from 13th October) I received a phonecall to say that they were going to drop my laptop off, but there would be a £25 charge - for shipping to the specialist. I wasn’t entirely comfortable with this, so I had written them out a cheque, and my laptop was returned.

I tried to switch it on, and it is now in a worse state of repair than when I had given it to them, and after talking to my dad, he said I should cancel the cheque due to the advert on their website - no fix, no free, and also, their failure to communicate - i.e. they did not even ask my permission/mention anything about charges to send it to a specialist.

I since cancelled the cheque, and have just had the man appear back at my door in what I would deem to be a fairly threatening manner. He asked me for the money and I said I didn’t have it, and he said I could take the easy way or the hard way??!! What he meant by this I don’t know.

He said I have been fraudulent in writing a cheque and then cancelling it, but I do not consider this to be so, and think I have every right to cancel it, due to the trouble I have had with the company.

Is there any sort of action they can take against me? I am so annoyed that they had the audacity to ask me for money after 3 months of me trying to track the laptop down, and eventually getting it back in a worse condition that I had given it to them.
Also, they claim to have tried to contact me, but despite providing them with 3 telephone numbers (2 of which have voicemail), I have never received any of these alleged calls they claim to have made.

The man who dropped off the laptop said that he had been to my house twice before - again, I had asked them to phone prior to visiting so that I could ensure that someone was home.
They claim the laptop is unrepairable due to a faulty motherboard, yet they advertise on their website:

"we install processors, memory, motherboards…. can supply replacements or upgrade components"

"No fix No Fee"
"Free Quotes"
"Not Happy? No Charge"

Also, I was not told about the charge until 15 mins before they were going to drop it off to me - again, after someone else was supposed to have contacted me to tell me this.
I also find it a bit strange that it took me 3 months to get an answer from them, and get my laptop back, yet they seem to be able to reach me fine when it suits them.

I’m more concerned that someone knocked on your door. Did this man mention that he was calling from this computer shop? Get back to trading standards and report this immediately. Nobody should be visiting you at your premises and demanding money at your doorstep.

They are allowed to charge you, because there’s an element of service involved in doing anything from tightening a screw to rebuilding the machine from scratch. These "no fix, no fee" offers are nothing more than a gimmick. If you read the small print, there are bound to be some conditions attached to this.

Please anybody help me, do a need a DBA? I want to put a website promoting my business, it will only be part time. Do I need to report to the IRS, what form do I use? Thanks for Your help!!!
What form do I use? Do i still have to declare even if a don’t make more than $400.00? I want to put a web site too.
Do I need a DBA to put up a web site? For Computer Repair? I’m only doing this part time. at nights and week ends. I live in Houston, TX..

If your repair shop is going to have a name other than your name then yes you will be DBA. The main reason is you will get checks from customer made out to "The Computer Doc" and the bank will give you a hard time if you don’t have an account under John Brown DBA The Computer Doc.

There are advantages to being formally organized and incorporated even if you are just an LLC. Talk with the person you intend to use to do your taxes.

And yes the IRS will want a piece of everything you make regardless what you call yourself or how your are organized.

I am opening a computer repair shop, and need a good free software to keep track of client’s information, previous repairs and service orders. Please Help!

Quicken for Business does that.

I just got an HP G71 Notebook PC for Christmas and a couple of weeks ago, my friend accidentally spilled tea on my laptop. Now, my keyboard doesn’t work anymore. Can they fix it for me? If not, I need help finding an HP G71 notebook PC keyboard online.

yes the keyboard can be replaced >but if the tea got on the motherboard and shorted it out a keyboard will be no good>have your laptop checked out before you but a keyboard

Okay I am 18 years old and I live in Connecticut. I have 2 more months before i graduate high school. I am good at fixing computers. I want to fix peoples computers in my house. I cant have a huge banner made to advertise my Business and have loads of Business cards made. Can I just put the banner up, give out business cards and have people drop there computers off to my house and fix it dirt cheap? Is it that easy?

Easy there slick rick. Are you wanting to do this part time? Are you going to carry insurance? Are you that you "know" what you are doing.
It takes a little more than knowing how to install windows to make you able to fix a computer. Have you tried any test to measure your knowledge?
You may be really good at fixing your pc. However what do you do when a customer has a problem that you cannot fix. Worse yet what if they say that you broke their machine when you know that you didn’t. This is where insurance comes in. Look into these things.
Knowing about a PC is not the same has being able to fix one. I have been in IT for about 5 years now and still have issues that are demanding. You will never know all the answers. Join newsgroups that will help you stay on top of your game and get into the forums. They will be vital at times. Never be afraid to call a vendor’s help desk line.
Consider what you are doing here my friend. Be careful.