Home Computer Repair - Do It Yourself?

Home computer repair is not brain surgery! Mostliterally dies, if any of these events start occurring,
computer repairs can be broken down into twogo to the proactive mode and replace the power
specific areas, software and hardware. Now I dosupply, hard drive, or ram. Which one? That's a
admit that in some people's hand, a screwdriver canchallenge, I've found that some diagnostic programs
be a dangerous object. But if you can change a lightcan be helpful, but a lot of the time it's experience.
bulb without shocking yourself, I'd bet you couldBasic rules of thumb; Freezing, rebooting can be both
swap out a computer part. Software gets a littleflaky power supply and RAM going bad. Power
trickier but is still within the grasp of most computersupplies slowly loose ability to supply enough
users.wattage, so if you run fine for the first 30 minutes
I've been involved in computer repair in one way orthat's another tip it could be the power supply. RAM
another for over 25 years. The three major repairs Ijust gets flaky due to constant heating and cooling. It
get called for on a weekly basis are:will usually start dying slowly too. Both are cheap to
Spyware/Malware Issuesreplace but the power supply has anywhere from 8
Hardware failure (power supplies, hard drives, andto 10 plugs you get to keep an eye on when
ram usually)changing out. Any power supply above 250 watt will
Computer boot problems (lost password, toastedbe fine for most computers, 300 watt is better.
OS, hardware failure)Match the power supply or RAM exactly or look up
All of these can be quite a challenge depending onthe motherboard requirements if you want to jump
the value and risk of losing important data, which canup in speed or wattage.
be anything from tax records to photos. AnyOn hard drives, boot failure with the message "no
computer can be repaired; it just depends on timeoperating system" or similar is almost always a
and budget. But not all data can be rescued. If a hardcontroller or hard drive (some hard drives have
drive suffers a catastrophic hardware failure, datacontrollers on them that go south too). When you go
recovery is doubtful (unless you want spend 100's ifto save or copy files and get an error can also
not 1000's of dollars for special services).indicate a hard drive issue. Noises of any kind coming
So the best scenario in any home computer repairfrom your computer can only be the power supply
solution is have a good backup of your importantfan or hard drive. Sometimes you can low level
data before you start any repair. I never work onformat a drive and bring it back but with the cost
anything for over an hour without immediatelybeing so low on new hard drives, why take a chance.
backing it up on another media (USB thumb drivesBoot Up Problems - Number one offender is
are only about $30 for up to 5 gigs of storage andWindows of any flavor. All versions use a "registry"
CD or DVD prices are under a buck). I learned theto manage all software, user, and hardware settings.
hard way very early in my computer usingThis is just a fancy database of settings but can
experience. It's much easier to deal with any homeeasily destroy itself. Open files don't close properly
computer repair if you don't have to worry aboutwhen there's a software problem and there goes the
important data. *Please, backup your data right afterdatabase integrity. When you go to reboot, the
you finish this article and start doing it on regularregistry is not readable or flat gone. In Windows XP,
basis.there are several files involved in the "hive" (5 to be
When you have a secure backup, the homeexact). Any one of these can toast itself, but I
computer repair is a matter of a little investigativealways replace all five since they are so
work (to determine the real issue - sometimesinterdependent on settings.
Windows will point you in the wrong direction) andThe easiest fix, if you can access the Recovery
coming up with a good solution. Let's look at the bestConsole, is to find a usable set of back up files and
way to prevent each of the three most commoncopy them to the current area of access. This
computer repairs and if you already have thesounds pretty simple but the directory structure is
problem, some possible solutions.fairly long and you have to unhide the backup
Spyware/Malware - Two good preventive measureslocations. If you go to Microsoft's knowledge base
to eliminate Spyware and Malware is to keep yourhere you can read all about the Recovery Console
OS (normally Windows) up to date on securityand how to replace registry files: .
patches from your friends at Microsoft. This is prettyYou can run the Recovery Console from Windows
easy to do if you turn on Automatic Updating in yourXP if it is installed or from your install CD if not. But
Security Center (go to Control Panel, click on Securitywhat if you don't have an install CD (many
Center, then check that Automatic Updates is turnedcomputers manufacturers don't provide one
on). The other is to make sure you have a goodanymore)? You can always use a bootable CD with
Anti-Virus software installed and it gets updatedan NTFS write enabled OS (like Linux) and do the
automatically. These two programs give you about asame copying of files recommended in the Recover
93% solution.Console information. If that sounds too scary, you
Another 5% can be addressed with Anti-Spywarecan always borrow some friends Windows XP install
software such as Windows Defender (free fromCD of the same flavor (Home or Pro) to use
Microsoft, just do a search for it on your choice ofRecovery Console. OK, no friends have an install CD
Search Engine) or Spybot, a free program from thatand no access or desire to Linux CD, now what?
does a good job too. Where's the last 2%, well thereWell, plan B is to take your hard drive out of the
is no 100% solution I'm sorry to say. Althoughcomputer, change the little connector on the back of
common sense on where you surf, what email youthe hard drive to slave (most hard drives have
open, and where you click can generally keep youinstructions right on the case to show how), and
safe.connect it to a working Windows XP computer. Now
What if you are already infected? Well, there areyou have access to the drive with an NTFS write
manual ways of removing Spyware/Malwareenabled OS. Go back to the instructions on Recovery
programs but they aren't pretty and involve a wholeConsole fix and get after it.
lot of searching around and rebooting in safe mode.If the hard drive won't even light up or spin, well
If you search on the offender (normally most have athen you get to install a new one. Most of the new
common problem) you can find a manual solution. Ifunits have a CD that will handle all the details of
you would rather skip all that hassle, the mostadding the new hard drive. Then you get to use your
effective commercial program I've seen isRecovery CDs from the manufacturer to install the all
SpySweeper. Last time I looked it was only $30 perthe original software on the new hard drive. Don't
year and could save you a lot of time and pain. Youhave the restore disks? Check with the computer
can find it here:manufacturer and they'll sell you a set for under $20
Hardware Failure - OK, not a lot of preventionusually. Make sure you give the exact model number
available for this home computer repair. Keep in mindto get the right software for your unit. Whenever I
that most modern computer components have a 3-5buy a new computer, if I don't get a set of recovery
year mean failure rate. Depending on how much youCDs, I order them right then and there. That way I'm
use or leave your computer on each day, this timeready for what ever happens.
period can expand. I have several testing computersSo, now you have the basics on home computer
that are very old (plus 7 years) that don't get usedrepair for the three most common problems. It's not
often.that hard for most people, just take it slow and read
But one point I do want to make is that almostthe instructions. Push comes to shove, find a friend
every customer I call on for a hardware failure issueswho may have a little more experience to help. You
had warning signs before the final crash. Strangebuy the pizza and they provide a little experience and
noises, computer freezing up, frequent re-starts, etc.moral support.
are causes for alarm. Don't wait until the computer