Computer repairs. Why choose a professional?

This is a common question and undoubtedly you have happened upon this article and are probably asking yourself the same question. If you are handy at computers you may even have tried a repair or two yourself. Maybe you have performed the old fix-all of reinstalling the operating system to restore the computer to its factory settings.

More often than not the motivation to repair your computer is one of cost savings. If you have prepared yourself adequately and have confidence in your abilities then you may be well able to attempt your own computer repairs. However, you should be sure to make a complete backup of your files and information before you begin. This is especially true as it is the information on your hard drive that will prove the most valuable component of your computer over time. You can always get a new computer but if you lose those photos of your first born there may be no retrieving them.

The second option is to go for the professional service. The advantage of choosing the repair service is the added piece of mind and the guarantees it provides. If you would prefer to relax knowing that your data is safe, your photos are protected and all your iTunes purchases won't end up in the computer recycling bin then hiring a professional may be the option for you. When you hire a professional to perform your repairs you get a number of guarantees you don't benefit from by doing the work yourself:

• Backups. Professional computer repair technicians should always know how to back up your data and should do so before any repair so that no matter what happens you can always get your data back.
• Insurance. Should your data inadvertedly become leaked as a result of malpractice good technicians will have the necessary insurance to rectify any problems.
• Tools and training. A professional will have the knowledge and experience to solve your exact problem with the minimum of fuss and as quickly as possible.
• Clear pricing and guaranteed costs. In my own practice we have a variety of computer repair options to deal with problems of varying difficulty the more difficult the problem the greater the cost. However, as you can read on my page, small jobs which demand less time will cost less thus resulting in less cost for the customer. We also provide a quotation for the job before we start and stick to it. This means that the customer has a set cost to contend with. Although pricing will vary between different practices when you get a set price it can bring a sense of relief. Which brings me on to my next point.
• Guarantees. When you give your computer to a repair service, if they break it they have to repair or replace it at their cost. If you break it , it could end up costing you a lot more than the repair cost.
• Support. Many outfits also operate IT support and Tech Support offerings. This is the case with our business so we are well used to supporting users well after they have availed of our repairs.
  
• Warranty. Most shops will guarantee their work for a set period so it the problem recurs then they will examine it for you again at no extra cost.

Cathal O'Brien PhD is a qualified computer repair technician and runs a computer repair business in Dublin Ireland.