Repairing the Stuff That Doesn't Work

Computer won't boot.

 The cause is most likely the hard drive. Either a file got corrupted (usually indicating the drive is starting to malfunction) or it has physically stopped working. We recover data if we can, replace the drive, reinstall the operating system and replace what data we were able to recover.

Screen Broken.

What usually breaks on a touch screen is the digitizer. This is the glass over the actual display that translates your touch into something the computer can recognize. The display is underneath and sometimes breaks at the same time as the digitizer but not always. Tech Support will replace the digitizer or the display (or both) in tablets, laptops or phones and get your device working again. The cost depends on the cost of the parts. Most phones and tablets cost around $100.00 to $150. Laptops are about $150.00 to $200.00 give or take a few bucks.

Laptop Screen Doesn't Show Anything

Sometimes a laptop or screen just doesn't want to show you what's going on inside. If you've got an extra video output (might be blue or maybe white or HDMI) then try plugging in an external monitor. If you can't, or you suspect the display is bad, bring it on in and we'll take a look.

Replacing Phone or Tablet Batteries

If you are not getting a run time between charges like you used to on your phone or tablet, it's time for a battery replacement. Depending on the parts cost, Tech Support can replace the battery for a reasonable cost.

Accessorizing Made Easy

We guess you could say that a computer repair business just fixes broken computers. But that's not the limit of what we do at Tech Support. You pay good money for your computer, and you want it to make your work faster, less tedious, more secure, productive, reliable and comfortable.

Tech Support helps. Not only do we get a broken machine up and running again quickly and economically, but we also make it sit up, roll over, and beg. A computer can be a very functional tool, if you want it to be.

We buy quality parts. We know which brands have the best reputation, and which brands are also-rans. We know how to sort through the reviews and figure out which ones are manufacturer's shills, which are overblown (positive or negative) and which are genuine. We also have long experience with many different companies for warranties, rebates and technical support. All these things go into your hardware enhancement project when you bring your machine to us.

There are drawers we can add to the tower for small item storage. Before you say, "Why?" we remind you that a drawer is a good place to put system or program CD's and DVD's or documentation for your computer. It can also hold some flash drives or things like camera and MP3 player cables. These are so handy there should be a law making them standard on every tower. It can be installed when you bring in your machine for other services, such as when you want to add a hard drive for back ups. They only cost about $20.00 when they're installed at the same time as other work is done.

There are also many possibilities for improving the data processing or functionality. Extra RAM is always a good idea, or maybe you need some extra USB ports. You don't even have to hide it under a table or in a desk. There are decorative boxes to express your personality and give an otherwise bland tower some sparkle. Make it easier to transfer pictures from different devices with a multi-card reader.

Improve Productivity

All the hardware we discuss here will help with productivity. But for a real big improvement in function, consider multiple monitors. Some people disagree with multiple monitors and point to one large monitor with multiple windows as the cat's meow. Big monitors or TV's were really expensive not that long ago so it was less expensive to use multiple small ones. There are pros and cons to both methods, but we can help you decide.

Extra monitors (or windows) are not just for looks. If you have a number of windows open at a time, working back and forth between different projects, multiple monitors helps reduce keyboard work and keeps everything in front of you. Properly installed and adjusted, the extra monitors also really improve your comfort and add pleasance to your work. For gamers, the extra screen space enhances the experience of the game, giving it a panorama and a feeling of being immersed in the action.

If you have a large spreadsheet you can stretch it over all three monitors and see what's going all the time when you change numbers. In the picture on the left we have a Firefox browser open on the left, Quickbooks in the middle, and a Bible software package on the right. Bruce writes books in his spare time, and it's very productive to have the Word doc for the book in the middle and the Bible on the right, with the ability to search the web on the remaining monitor. This saves a lot of alt-tab switching and allows you to reduce frustration. Another idea is to have your email program open on one monitor while your internet browser is opened on a different monitor. That way you can click on links in the email and see them in the browser without having the browser pop up constantly over the email.

Two monitors is fairly easy. Three is better, but a little harder to adapt. Including the price of three new monitors (depends on size and type), a new stand for them (depends on type), a control box or a new video card that can handle multiple monitors, and some software it can cost about $600.00 or more on the low end. Six isn't that hard to do but can get into some money (six 21.5" monitors by themselves cost about $620.00 right now - 11/17).

If you need more than six it starts getting up there in the money department, but it is still worth it for the productivity gains. If you need that many monitors, that is.

But it doesn't have to cost a lot to add monitors. If you want to get a new LCD flat screen, you could use your old CRT monitor as a second screen. Or maybe you still have the CRT around but you are using a newer display already. We can get you all new screens if you want. Tech Support can also put a whole wall of screens in if the budget allows for it and you need them.

970-260-7122

Add Space for Pictures or Music and Backups

The first rule for computers is 'Back it up.' It's not IF your hard drive fails, it's WHEN. All hard drives fail sooner or later. So you should have additional storage devices for your precious data. You can buy a flash drive, or make a DVD (usually a long series of DVD's). You can get an external drive, which is nice because you can unplug it and put it in a fire resistant storage container if you want. There are external drives that come complete with their own case and cord, and there are external enclosures where you can switch the drive for another. Externals work well for laptops, or for switching back and forth between a desktop and a laptop (they are faster than flash drives or DVD's). Or you can have Tech Support install another internal hard drive. If you have room in your tower, another drive or two will be neater and cleaner than using removable drives.

Tech Support also recommends Network Attached Storage for any network, even home networks. An NAS is basically a holder for big hard drives (usually two or four). It plugs into your network like a separate printer or computer, and you set it to back up your files automatically. Not only is it a destination for backing up your files, but if the drives are set up correctly (we prefer RAID 1) they also make copies of the copies (you end up with a back up and a copy of the back up on the second drive). With some of them you can even access your files over the internet.

Do You Feel the Need, the Need for Speed?

The three biggest hardware factors affecting speed are the motherboard, processor and RAM. Of these, RAM is usually easiest and least expensive to replace or upgrade for improving speed. If the motherboard can take a different processor (mostly newer computers) that would be the next most economical speed enhancement. Tech Support has the know-how to determine what you can do and what is the most cost-effective hardware option for the biggest speed bang for the buck.

Don't fall for those 'increase my speed' ads on TV or online. Most of them are simply trying to get you to buy more software, made by them. Frequently, they can cause more problems than they solve.

CLICK OR TAP HERE for more information on increasing your computer's speed.