Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This page covers some of the frequently asked questions.
If you have any specific question please contact us via email or phone
Q - I want to upgrade my PC with additional memory / a new graphics card / larger hard drive / DVD RW / Printer (etc.). What do I need?
A - We would need to understand what your current PC make, model and configuration is in order to advise you correctly. The quickest way for this is often a home visit.
If you are confident you can supply this information in detail - you can email this to us and we can advise from your description.
We will also happily install and configure anything you have bought as long as it is compatible with your system.
Q - I have bought a new computer - can you install it and transfer the data from my old PC
A - Yes this is no problem. Installing a new PC, patching and configuring it to work in your environment usually takes between 1-2 hours. Transferring data from your old PC is also possible - if the PC is working we can often copy everything over as it was before (please note - we can not copy over programs - these need to be re-installed and must be compatible with the new PC) If the PC is not in a good state, we can take away the disks, transfer the data on to a portable HD or DVD and transfer this to your new PC.
Q - I do not know anything about PCs - how can I tell you what the problem is? 
A - No problem, we can visit your home and check your PC with you. If you can show us the problem, we can fix it.
Q - Do you fix PCs at my home or take the PC away?
A - A simple installation can be carried out at your home, troubleshooting a serious problem may require more time and is often best carried out away from your home.
We are happy to work the way that suits you best.
Please note - virus removal takes anywhere from 5-10 hours, we take away the PC or laptop to do this. A fixed rate charge is applied for this service.
Q - If you need to take away my PC or Laptop - how long will it take before I get it back.
A - Most times we are able to fix your PC or laptop within 24-36 hours.
If parts are needed this can take longer. It is often cheaper to buy replacement parts off the internet, however there will usually be a 3-5 day delivery time.
If you are in a hurry - we can often find the items locally (not as cheaply though)
Q - My PC has a blue screen. When I reboot Windows it does not work. What do I do?
A - Take a note of the details on the'blue screen'. This will often give a code just after the word *** STOP....... Make a note of these details - they will help us find and resolve the problem.
I am specially interested in the following 10 characters - usually in the format of 0X0000007B
Q - Can I buy my own hardware for you to install?
A - Absolutely. We encourage you to buy your own hardware. We are happy to advise on what you need and direct you to the cheaper places to purchase your hardware. We can also supply the hardware or upgrade you require, however, we will require payment for the items up front.
Q - Do you offer maintenance to keep things running smoothly?
A - Yes, in fact we encourage it.
Depending on your usage of your PC, a monthly, quarterly or half-yearly visit can help avoid major problems, deal with issues you are unaware of and can keep your PC running at optimal performance.
Q - I am worried about internet security and the chance that someone may get my bank / credit card details. What can I do to protect against this?
A - There are several products on the market that can protect your PC, however nothing is 100% secure. We can offer advice and guidance regarding how best to protect yourself.
Q - I have a wireless router - is this secure? Can anyone else use my internet or see my PC?
A - A wireless router can be secure, but you need to turn on and configure security. We are able to offer this service. Usually this can be done quickly.
Q - I already have broadband, I want to go wireless. Which router do I need?
A - There are 2 very different types of routers available. A Cable Router (if you are using Virgin you will most likely need a Cable Router) or an ADSL Router.
In most cases your ISP (Internet Service Provider) will supply a router to you - this will usually cost around £40-£50.
You can purchase a router yourself, please make sure you purchase the correct one for your system.
Q - My PC is running very slowly. I have Anti Virus software on here but it does not find anything. Do I have a virus?
A - It is very possible you have a virus, Spyware, Malware or Adware on your PC. These are often picked up while doing internet searches without you realizing.
Your Anti Virus software must be kept up to date in order to help prevent these types of infections. Some infections are capable of disabling Anti Virus software if they can get on to your system.
We are often able to remove these. When this is not possible, we sometimes have to format the hard drive. A backup of your data will be very useful then. We are often able to retrieve data from an infected disk - however programs need to be re-installed.
On the other hand - it might be that your PC or laptop is getting old (over 3-4 years) or could do with some upgrades - additional memory is often a way to improve performance
Q - I do not have a backup of my system how do I do it and will it take long? 
A - There are several different ways to backup your system.
This can be on a CD or DVD drive, online, a tape or separate / external hard drive. We are happy to discuss the best solution for you.
The time it takes to backup your data all depends on how much data you have and the media you are sending your backup to.
In most cases buying an external hard drive and connecting this to a USB port is the easiest way.
Vista and Windows 7 come with automatic backup facilities installed. If you do not feel 'techie' enough to install and configure this, we can do this for you.
Q - I want to buy a PC or laptop, there are several offers in the shops - what do I need?
A - You can overspend very easily when buying a PC or laptop. We are happy to discuss your requirements with you and advise what you need. We will not earn any commission from this. You will get an unbiased opinion and could save £100s of pounds.
Q - Do you repair printers / faxes?
A - In most cases it is cheaper to replace the printer / fax. We are happy to take a look to see if there is anything that can be done in order to repair. This is often not cost effective though.
However PLEASE THINK GREEN - if your Printer has stopped working, do not throw it away - try giving the printer and / or cartridges to a local Printer Ink refill centre.
They will possibly be able to re-use your ink cartridges and may be able to make use of the spare parts from the printer.
Q - I have an OLD PC I no longer want - how do I dispose of it?
A - One of the worst things you can do is to throw it out with your rubbish, or take it to the 'dump'.
The data on your hard drive is very useful to fraudsters. You need to make sure the data on the hard drive is destroyed - simply deleting the data is not always enough.
It is possible to have the parts recycled from the PC.
We can take your OLD PC away and destroy the data / recycle the parts.
Q - Do you service / repair Mac PCs?
A - Unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer this service. If this changes we will announce the change.