My Computer is running slowly. What causes this? +/ - 

• There could be many reasons why your computer is running slow, including some of the following:
  Spyware and/or Viruses

• Hard disk drive is short on available disk space

• Corrupt software files

• Computer is overheating

• Bad Hardware
  
  A good thing to try yourself would be to run virus and spyware scans. If you do not have any anti-spyware or anti-virus software, then you should purchase and install some. It is very important nowadays to have this type of software on a computer system. If you are unsure about what you have or are uncomfortable dealing with the problem yourself, bring it in for our free diagnostics.

 My computer will not power on after a storm +/- 

• Hopefully this is just a damaged power supply, which is easy and fairly inexpensive to replace. Worse case scenario the surge went through other system components which are a little more expensive to replace. We have the ability to test each hardware component to find each damaged part. If the damage is extensive, we'll let you know if it is worth fixing or whether you should think about making an insurance claim or purchasing a new system. To avoid power surges, make sure you have a decent surge protector (look for UL 1449 specs) and preferably a battery backup device (this will prevent sudden power outages from damaging your computer). Your surge protector should have inputs for either phone lines or ethernet cable, depending on what is connected to your PC. A lot of computers are damaged during storms from surges that come through the phone or ethernet cables.

My Hard Drive is making a "clicking" noise. Has it crashed? +/- 

• Shut down your computer right away. That "clicking" noise is most likely the read/write head smacking the platter. If you scratch the platters too much your data could become unrecoverable. Your drive needs to be looked at by a data recovery specialist.

When I turn my computer on I get the message 
NTLDR is missing. What should I do? +/- 

• There are a number of causes for this message. We can fix this problem in our shop, or you can try some of the suggestions at Computer Hope.

Do I need "on site" or "in shop" service? +/- 

• This depends on your problem. If the problem is isolated to the computer, then your best bet is "in shop" service. Since we offer free diagnostics here at our shop, you won't be paying a fee for us figure out what is wrong with your system (All "on site" work is billable). It is also generally cheaper to repair the computer in the shop since we only bill for "face time". At times it may not be possible to fix your computer "on site" due to time constraints, or other issues. If this happens, then we would typically bring your computer back to our shop to complete the repairs.  If you are having network problems, or feel the you would be better served with onsite service, call and check our schedule. We typically provide residential service calls 2 or 3 days a week and business service calls 5 days a week.