Computer Repair Shop

[Zack Magee]

I feel like a real geek. I turned my mom's basement into a computer repair shop. (which is OK I guess if you're 15 :P)

I have my first client lined up. RAM upgrade and Windows 7 Install.

Oh, and in September I got a new case for my desktop. I put on the heatsink, and it wasn't until a couple days ago that I realized I never used thermal gel! So I picked up some today, and I had a successful first thermal gel-ing. I felt like Abby from NCIS. While doing it, I had death metal blasting.

I will post pictures of my workstation after I'm finished setting up.

[TimW]

Funny.....you kind of look like her too!!!

[Zack Magee]

Lol. Thanks I guess?

[TimW]

Don't make me slap you upside the back of your head!!

Good luck on the repair business. Word of mouth is your best form of advertising!!

[DavidGP]

Originally Posted by Zack Magee

I felt like Abby from NCIS.

Well..... she is a hell of alot sexier than you I'm afraid

I wish you well with the PC business and and TimW says word of mouth is a great advertisement, plus also produce yourself some flyers and business cards as it shows a level of professionalism, can be a flyer with basic services and prices but they work in my mind.

I'm in the process of logo, SOP and brand awareness in work as we have decided to go that route to gain medical research work from pharma companies. I was trained in art school for graphic design but ended up in imaging, but still design logos when the mood takes.

[Rikky]

Originally Posted by Zack Magee

Oh, and in September I got a new case for my desktop. I put on the heatsink, and it wasn't until a couple days ago that I realized I never used thermal gel! So I picked up some today, and I had a successful first thermal gel-ing. I felt like Abby from NCIS. While doing it, I had death metal blasting.

I like listening to music while building comps and electronics,prodigy really go well with stuff like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fz85FE0KtQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmin5WkOuPw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voBNpdXkLnU

I've been pretty busy lately too,changing an LCD panel on a laptop ATM its in bits in front of me.

Easy enough,the hard part is finding a used b154ew02 compatible panel.

[DavidGP]

Great last video from The Prodigy - Rikky.

[Zack Magee]

I am so much sexier than her.

And I love the prodigy. The Fat Of The Land has been my favorite album since I was little. Christmas '09 I got t-shirts, a wallet chain, a beanie, and the IMD album.

[TimW]

Originally Posted by Zack Magee

I am so much sexier than her.

Ummm.....NO!!

[Zack Magee]

Originally Posted by TimW

Ummm.....NO!!

Just look! I win!




(that's not really me)

[TimW]

Thanks for that portrait of you, Zack. Now I have to live with it the rest of the day.

[Colemanguy]

Hope you have a good lawyer, theres a ton of legal issues with repairing computers for people, espically if you start working on machines for people you dont know. Ie how to report occurances of child porn, people claiming they didn't request that particular job be it a memory upgrade, people who decided after writing you a check that they dont have the money after all. I hope it works out, but hope you have access to good legal counsel. Good luck zac mageek

[Rikky]

Originally Posted by Colemanguy

Hope you have a good lawyer, theres a ton of legal issues with repairing computers for people, espically if you start working on machines for people you dont know. Ie how to report occurances of child porn, people claiming they didn't request that particular job be it a memory upgrade, people who decided after writing you a check that they dont have the money after all. I hope it works out, but hope you have access to good legal counsel. Good luck zac mageek

For these reasons I still don't charge,I make it clear from the outset I'm doing a friend a favour,I buy the parts and charge them cost and that's it for the total job.If they give me anything extra I keep it.

If anything bad happens you end up losing a friend or aquaintance,or even splitting group of friends or even family.

If I were to open a shop I would run everything to the book with fixed prices,strict rules all done professionally.I find when you start mixing the two, business and friend or dancing on the line in between you end up with more problems than its worth.

EDIT the biggest problem with my approach is obviously what happens if I'm cleaning spyware from a laptop and I drop it and have to fork out for a new screen?Just for doing someone a favour.Its not happened yet and I hope it doesn't.

[Colemanguy]

I just mention that, cause the shop i used to work for, we had 3 incidents that cops became involved, and in one of which i ended up in court under subpoena, which was really no fun.

[locodave]

Originally Posted by TimW

Thanks for that portrait of you, Zack. Now I have to live with it the rest of the day.

Hows the saying go? Beauty is skin deep. But, ugly goes to the bone? Just joking with you Zack. May your biz bring you joy.

[motc7]

Originally Posted by DavidGP

Well..... she is a hell of alot sexier than you I'm afraid

You're kidding right? She looks like a gothasaurus rex.

[Triaxx2]

Ha, I only do software work at their place. Hardware, I make them keep the Hard Drive. Ninety percent of the computers I get asked to work on, I can strip the drives out in under five minutes. The other ten percent I charge a fee to remove the thing.

@Rikky: I hope you're not having as much fun as I did changing the LCD. It had little rails on either side of the screen, with TINY little screws to come out. I had to lean on the screwdriver to get proper grip, and hold the screen so it didn't flex and break, and turn the screw driver. Not a fun job. Seriously, I was sweating through my shirt when I was done. Or perhaps half-done, because then I had to put it back on.

[Kestrel13!]

You're kidding right? She looks like a gothasaurus rex.

Hey! There's nowt wrong with a bit of goth ya know *Growls*

[Rikky]

Originally Posted by Triaxx2

Ha, I only do software work at their place. Hardware, I make them keep the Hard Drive. Ninety percent of the computers I get asked to work on, I can strip the drives out in under five minutes. The other ten percent I charge a fee to remove the thing.

@Rikky: I hope you're not having as much fun as I did changing the LCD. It had little rails on either side of the screen, with TINY little screws to come out. I had to lean on the screwdriver to get proper grip, and hold the screen so it didn't flex and break, and turn the screw driver. Not a fun job. Seriously, I was sweating through my shirt when I was done. Or perhaps half-done, because then I had to put it back on.

I know exactly what you mean I had the same problem first first time I did one,it looks like you can almost get at the screws and you can but you have to bend the bezel

The trick is when you removed all the screws the rear bezel of the screen 'the part you have to pry to get at the screws' slides up,yes UP! And pops off.No amount of prying will remove it you'll just snap it or mark it with the screwdriver,you have to slide it up with the palms of your hands.

They usually all come off like this.

Laptop screen tip of the day,learned through hard experience

[TimW]

Originally Posted by Rikky

...you have to pry to get at the screws' slides up,yes UP! And pops off.

Aw Rikky, I love it when you talk all sexy!!!!