The first personal computers were
made available in the 1970s and were so simplistic that they were sold in kits,
which could easily be put together by the consumer. The famous Apple-1 was the
first personal computer to come with a fully assembled circuit board. However,
one still had to provide a case, power supply, keyboard, and display for their
Apple-1. When comparing today's personal computers to the first models, one can
see how advanced computer technology has become over a short period of time.
For instance, gigabytes, MP3's, AVI's, USB's, UPS's and dual cores are terms
that never existed in the 1970s, but are all common terms today when discussing
computer technology. When today's computers become damaged, a computer repair
firm that specializes in PC repair and IT consulting in Cleveland, Ohio can
help one understand what went wrong with their complex machine, how it will be
fixed and maintenance tips.
Computer manufacturers do not work
with consumers on a personal level when it comes to computer repair. When one
sends their damaged computer to its manufacturer, it requires a mailing fee.
Then the usual repair time is a couple of weeks to a month. After the repair is
made, the consumer then has to wait at least a week before they receive their
computer. The computer manufacturer may only disclose what was repaired in the
consumer's copy of the work order or receipt, but will not tell the consumer
how the computer failed or how it was repaired. If the consumer calls the
manufacturer with questions, they have to go through a hierarchy of employees
starting from the bottom.
One blogger on Askville.Amazon.com,
said when he contacted HP to troubleshoot one of its computers it took them two
hours and then another hour to authorize the return. The blogger said it took
two weeks before HP sent the repaired computer back to him. He also said when
he contacted Dell to troubleshoot one of its latest computer models, he was put
on hold excessively before he was able to authorize the return. He said it took
Dell three weeks to send him back the repaired computer.
A computer repair company that
specializes in PC repair and IT consulting in Cleveland, Ohio can offer
certified computer technicians who will work with the PC owner one on one at
their home or office. This not only allows quicker repairs, but also gives the
PC owner the opportunity to establish rapport with the computer repair firm,
allowing an opportunity for discounts and other deals on services. A PC owner
has the chance to ask questions about how their computer failed to understand
how to avoid it from happening again. For example, a computer technician from a
computer repair company that specializes in PC repair in Cleveland, Ohio can
inform the PC owner what Web sites to avoid to prevent the downloading of
adware, spyware and viruses to keep their computer performance at optimal level
after the repair is made. A computer technician from this type of firm can
inform a PC owner to use surge protectors to prevent electrical damage after
replacement of the damaged part.
Since computers are complex machines
a lot more can go wrong with them other than virus infection and electrical
damage. A computer repair company specializing in PC repair and IT consulting
in Cleveland, Ohio can get to know the PC owner and their computer habits,
since its computer technicians are able to work with the consumer on a personal
level. This means the firm will know what maintenance tips to tell the consumer
to keep their computer running for a long time and to save them money. Here are
a couple of examples:
Never turn the computer off with the
power switch until Windows has shut down
This will prevent permanent hard
drive defects and Window problems from occurring. Use the Ctrl + Alt + Delete
keys to restart the computer if it crashes.
Use an USP, uninterruptible power
supply for the computer
This prevents the computer from
crashing during power outages and protects it from low and high voltage
shortages (some say a USP is more superior than a surge protector)
Back up important data on at least
two separate physical drives
-Hard drive failure is a common
occurrence
Run Scandisk and Defragment at least
once a month
This can prevent crashes
Never unplug peripherals from the
computer when it is powered up
This can short out the motherboard
Keep at least 600 MBs of C: drive
free
This can keep the computer from
running slow. Windows XP and Vista requires 400-600 MBs.
Use a firewall program
A firewall program prevents hackers
from gaining access to the computer system
Keep every software disk
Disks can contain important drivers
that need to be reloaded
Computers are complex machines that
require certified experts to fix them the right way. When a computer needs repair,
a computer repair firm that specializes in PC repair and IT consulting in
Cleveland, Ohio can offer more than a computer manufacturer. The firm can offer
the right expertise at one's home or office to make the repair faster, offer
better deals, and gives maintenance tips to save PC owners money.