Do you fix PC's at my house or take them away?
This all depends on the requirement. A simple solution can be carried out at your home, troubleshooting a serious problem may require more time and is often best carried out away from your home. We are happy to work the way that suits you best.
Please note - virus removal takes anywhere from 5-10 hours, we take away the PC or laptop to do this. A fixed rate charge is applied for this service.
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If you need to take my PC away, how long will it take before I get it back?
Where possible we will fix the problem within 24 hours. If parts are needed this can take longer. It is often cheaper to buy replacement parts off the internet; however there will usually be a 2-3 day delivery time.
If you are in a hurry we can often find the items locally (not as cheap though).
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Which areas do you cover?
We usually travel up to a radius of 25 miles from Bournemouth town centre, although we have been seen servicing past Swanage.
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Are you on call 24/7?
Yes, and we don't charge extra for the call outs - even at 3am in the morning either (although this may require a coffee :).
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What kind of customers do you do work for?
We work for everyone; most of our clients are home or small business users; however we do have a few large companies to look after too.
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Is your work guaranteed?
Yes, there are some exceptions. I.e. if you have been advised to install anti-virus software and you don't. You won't be covered for virus issues.
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Do you service/repair Apple Macs?
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer this service.
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How long will it take for a technician to come out?
It will be the same day, usually within an hour or two. A lot of our customers prefer the evening. (There is no extra charge for evening call outs).
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Do you offer a pick-up and delivery service?
Yip, and at no extra charge either.
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What if you can't fix my computer?
If we can't fix your computer you don't pay a penny. We still currently boast a 100% success rate so the chance of us not being able to fix your computer is slim.
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How would I know if I need a new computer?
Your computer has a limit to its upgrade capabilities; once your software requires more performance than your computer can deliver (when it takes forever to do something) the only option is to get a new computer.
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How would I know if my computer needs an upgrade?
Do you find yourself fidgeting while your computer is thinking, or goes on and on and on doing something?
Are you running out of space for your picture and music collection?
Do you want something for your computer you don’t have, like watch movies on your TV from your computer.
If you can answer yes to any one of these questions, you might want to give us a call to see what we can do for you.
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What type of computer do I need?
This depends on what you will be using the computer for. Some users buy a computer strictly to play games on, others will edit videos, and some will just want to surf the web and write e-mails. Depending on your needs, we can build a new system for you at a reasonable cost or source the best computer at the best price and come and install it for you.
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Is it cheaper to upgrade my computer or buy a new one?
It is usually almost always cheaper to upgrade an existing system instead of purchasing a new one. However, sometimes it may not be cost effective to upgrade because the computer you are upgrading is too old.
There are many pro's and con's with this scenario, it is probably best if you get in touch and we can weigh-up the pro's and con's for you. This advice is free even if you request a call back.
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Is a wireless network safe?
Yes, but the network and the computers that are on the network have to be configured correctly for it to be safe. On the wireless router, WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) can be used to encrypt the signal that is being sent and received. On the network computers, passwords and permissions should be setup.
If you are not sure we can usually tell if you are protected over the phone by asking you a few questions. If you are still unsure we can pop round and this will only take just a few minutes to resolve.
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Can I share my printer with my other computers?
Yes. This can be done many different ways. You can share the printer from within windows, purchase a network compatible printer, or purchase a router with a print server.
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Can I share my internet connection?
Yes. by connecting your incoming internet connection up to a router, you will be able to access the internet from any computer that is on the network. You can use a wireless router and even get internet in your garden.
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Can I transfer files between computers on my network?
Yes, you will need to set-up a network with all the computers on the same network and all configured to file share. This can be a bit tricky especially when using different operating systems. It would usually take us about an hour depending on how many computers you have.
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How often should I run the Disk Clean-up feature?
The more often the better, imagine your computer was your office, performing a disk clean-up would be like cleaning your desk, taking out the trash and throwing away any files and paperwork that you don't need. It would make you feel better, lighter and able to work in a less cluttered area. It is the same principle for your computer.
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What does the Disk Defragmenter do?
Imagine you have a filing cabinet with every file on your computer in this filing cabinet. If you have thousands of pictures, music and video's it would be quite a big filing cabinet. One day you decide to sort out everything, making it easier and quicker for you to find things. Well this is what your computer does when it performs a "Disk Defrag", it's just putting everything in the right place making it easier and quicker to find files.
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How do I contact you?
You can contact us via our contact page; this has our phone number and our e-mail address. You can even get us to call you back for free. If you have submitted a call back, it could sometimes take a couple of hours if we are all out in the field. If you have called and got to our voice mail, please leave your name and number so we can get back to you as soon as possible.
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How much will it cost?
Our prices are guaranteed to be fair and accurate in our industry market. We take great pride in being extremely competitive.
We try to run our company with as little overheads as possible; therefore we can pass the best prices on to our customers.
Repairs - we never charge more than the machine is worth without consulting with you, sometimes it is cheaper to buy a new machine and have your data and settings moved to your new machine.
We rarely charge for more than two hours work
If we don't fix it, you don't pay a penny.
Design - We will agree on a price before we start designing your project. We won't ask you to hand over any money until you are completely satisfied with your new design. If you simply don't like it, you don't need to pay anything.
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Why are call outs free?
We go the extra mile for our customers. Sometimes we do lose a bit of money but this means our customers save a little too, and it is important to us that our customers are happy.
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What if I'm not happy?
We take extreme pride in our customer service, for us it's our number one priority. Without happy customers we wouldn't have a roof over our head and bread on the table. If for any reason you are not happy with any part of our service, please let us know and we will be glad to help.
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I need a copy of my receipt/invoice
If you need a copy of your receipt or invoice, please contact us and we'll send one straight away.
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How can I pay?
Cash is our preferred method, most of our clients pay in cash after job completion.
The second preferred method is PayPal, you can pay online directly from your PayPal account to our PayPal account.
Thirdly we do accept cheques as long as you have a guarantee card with you.
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Desktop or a Laptop?
Desktop computers provide the most cost-effective computing power. Laptops provide convenient mobile computing - you can sit on the couch and watch TV whilst surfing the net or use it on the train during those boring journeys.
If you have the desk space and you don’t need to be computing on the move, a similarly priced desktop PC will usually pack more bang for your buck - ideal if you need a bit of extra computing power for playing games or editing videos. Desktop PCs are also more comfortable to use for long periods of time. You can pick a keyboard that suits you and a large clear monitor that’s easy on the eyes - and you can set it all up on a desk that gives you a comfortable working position.
Desktops generally have a wider range of available upgrade parts and tend to be easier and cheaper to upgrade than laptops.
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What type of desktop should I buy?
When buying a new PC, you’ll find models to suit all tastes and budgets. Whether you want a cutting-edge powerhouse that’ll play all the latest games and use the most demanding software or a simple budget model for checking emails and typing letters, there’s a PC for you. Designs are very flexible, and there are a lot of options when choosing the best desktop PC for you. A simple way to start is by thinking of what you want to do with a PC.
The Basic PC - If you’re on a limited budget, you’ll be able to pick up a basic PC for just a few hundred pounds. If you only need to check email, surf the web and do the occasional bit of word-processing, buying a new PC of this level is a sensible and economic choice. Don’t be convinced to part with thousands of pounds for a computer that you don’t really need, but don’t expect a low-budget computer to handle all the latest 3D games.
The Mid Range PC - for demanding tasks, including viewing and editing movies, and playing the odd game , consider spending between £400 and £800 on a typical home user desktop PC. You’ll get a PC that will handle a wider range of tasks, but without the price tag of a high-performing gaming PC.
The High End PC - If you’re keen on playing the latest 3D games in all their glory, you’ll need to pay for the privilege. The latest hardware – in particular the graphics cards that handle the display can be very expensive - some machines have 2-3 of these cards. Still, if you spend £1,000 or more on a gaming PC, the results can be mind blowing – but don’t forget how quickly technology moves.
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What shape of desktop PC?
This may seem like a strange question, but there are plenty of options so you can find a new PC to best suit you and your desk space.
The traditional tower-style case that sits under the desk is a tried-and-tested option, and is a good choice for those who may want to upgrade their PC in the future.
You’ll also find slimline desktop computers that’ll sit happily on your desk, big server style desktops that house multiple optical devices and also small format PCs, these tiny machines are ideal if you need to put a PC in a living room or under the stairs.
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What does "CPU" mean?
The CPU is the central processing unit "the brains or processor" of your computer. The more powerful your CPU, the faster your PC will run. The speed or power is measured in gigahertz (GHz). Today's CPU's have multi core systems (2 or 4 cores) allowing the unit to operate different tasks simultaneously at high speeds. Each core is like a CPU, so in effect its like having multiple CPU's in one computer. 
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What is RAM and what does it do?
Random access memory "RAM" is your computers short term memory and comes in the form of "chips" or "sticks" which slot into the motherboard of your computer. When you use your computer these memory chips store information and allow your computer to access it quickly, in turn giving you a faster response.
The size and type of memory in your computer is one of the main contributing factors on how fast your computer responds and executes tasks. Upgrading the memory in your PC is one of the easiest, cheapest and most effective ways of getting more performance out of your computer.
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How do I know what operating system I need?
The operating system is the main user interface on your computer. There are several different systems available. The main factors to consider when choosing the right operating system are cost, programs you want to run and how your computer will perform. It is probably a good idea to ask your technician which one would suit you best.
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What is the difference between 32bit and 64bit?
The mother board has components mounted on it that need to get information back and forth. In order to do this the information uses a system called a bus. This bus kind of works in the same way as the bus that you would catch to get to work, instead of seats it has bandwidth. This bandwidth comes in either 32bits or 64bits. Imagine a bus that has either 32 seats or 64 seats, the 64 seater would be able to take twice as many people to work than the 32 seat bus, the same way as 64bits can move twice as much data as 32bits between the components on the motherboard.
However where there is a pro there is usually a con and in this case 64bit computers are generally more unstable than 32bit computers. Unless you are a very demanding user (gamer, video editor, programmer or graphic designer) a 32bit system will be more than enough.
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What are all the ports for?
The main and most important ports are the video out (vga, dvi, hdmi), keyboard and mouse (PS/2 or usb) and power (psu). Without one of these ports your computer would not be able to operate.
There are many other standard ports that your computer might have, such as
- LAN "local area network" (RJ45) used for networking
- Modem (RJ11) used for dial-up connection to the internet
- USB "universal serial bus" ports commonly used for human interface devices
- Mini Stereo Jacks (3.5mm) usually three of these, used for headphones, speakers and microphones.
There are many different types of ports that might not be available on every computer, such as
- Firewire "IEEE1394" comes in 4 or 6 pin generally used for connecting high speed devices like camcorders and hard drives
- S-Video (RCA) separate video connection
- HDMI "high definition multimedia interface" transfers video and sound
- DVI "digital video interface" high quality video connection
- S/PDIF "Sony/Phillips digital inter face" used for audio signal
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What is a PCI slot?
PCI "peripheral component interconnect" slots are for upgrading the peripheral interface of your computer, you might want to add things like TV cards, Firewire ports, Wi-Fi cards, more USB ports or even a better Graphics card. You would usually do this by inserting your chosen peripheral into a PCI slot. Most computers have at least 3 PCI slots.
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Onboard graphics or Graphic cards?
Onboard "integrated" graphics are built into the motherboard of your computer. Graphic cards are cards that slot into the motheroard allowing the computers video processing and output to be upgraded. In many cases a computer will have both options.
There are two types of users, people that need graphic cards (gamers, graphic designers or video editors, programmers and multimedia pc users) and people who don't (emailing, internet and office documents etc).
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What is a Hard Drive "HDD"?
The hard disk drive "HDD" provides long term storage for your computer. This is where you store your information such as pictures, videos, music and other documents.
There are two different types of hard disk drives.
Internal hard drives - these are housed inside your computer. At least one drive will contain your operating system also known as the c:\ drive.
External hard drives - these are usually portable, allowing the user to take their information with them and access it on any computer, TV or multimedia device.
Hard disk drives are measured in Gigabytes (GB) and Terabytes (TB). The higher the number of bytes the more space you have to store information.
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