Where do I find an inexpensive expert?

Question

My 4 year old pc is starting to slow down. I am capable of de-fragmenting, disc clean-up and scanning for viruses and spyware but thats where it ends. Where's the best place to find someone who will service my pc at home and not charge the earth or rip me off. I am still at the 'thinking about it' stage so havent rung around yet as I would like to know what I should be prepared to pay. How do I know the guy is genuine...I know, I know, I dont want much do I? If its any help, I live in south Herts near Barnet.

Answer 1

Go to www.pcstats.com and go to beginners guide. Scroll down to the relevant links. It would help if you have a printer so that you can print all relevant information for future use.

Answer 2

YOU, are the best candidate for this position. The experience will also add much to your computer proficiency. Go to the URL I'm providing below, register for free, then run the FULL TESTS.

Read the results slowly (please do not be discouraged if some words are initially unfamiliar).

Study and follow the tips and tricks they teach you CAREFULLY. Also, maximize the available Help ^ Support provided by Windows.

Depending on the configuration and utilization of your PC - your thorough analysis will open up many options (not necessarily expensive).

As a tentative benchmark: my own system is aabout that age Pentium3 1GHz CPU, (<512)MB memory, 80GB hard disk but able to run IE7, WinXP Pro SP2 and passes each full test at the PitStop with all checkered flags. The system is made up of 75% 2nd hand hardware.

You can do it! It's not the "box" - it's the person who sits in front of it. In closing, here's a computer acronym that may have gone out of date already but is a helpful reminder. GIGO, Garbage In, Garbage Out.

Answer 3

that is da problem when you have someone in to check up ur pc . you dont know if there genuine. ot not the best thing to do is fix up any problems urself the way to do that is 1 have a good antivirus to have verry good antispyware keep them upto date .dfrag ur pc every week if it needs to be clean out cookies and histroy and temp files . never disable ur firewall or antivirus . dont have so many things startup with windows when uninstalling software you dont use anymore dont just uninstall from >>add-remove check where the sfotware was installed make sure all the files from that software have gone also clean up ur registry with a registry cleaner stop away from p2p network that will really mess up ur pc keep ur pc running good and safe and free from spyware.adware.trojans. virus .malware

Answer 4

.

You don't need a service guy. The things I tell you is what he'll do, and charge you too much for things you can do easily for yourself.
Many of your computer savvy friends can help you, if you need.

As long as your pc is not infected with any virus'
then it should NOT slow down remarkably
unless your hard drive is really full.

You WILL notice a difference in speed with at least 2 GB of free rom/ hard drive space. The virtual ram needs this to function faster.

If you have a CD burner, you can clear lots of files off, by burning them to a CD, then just leave the CD in for access to those files, and they won't be bogging down your hard drive.

REMOVE all programs you don't use...
especially if you have them on CD
you can reinstall them later if you need.
You delete them in Control Panel > Add & Remove Programs.
KEEP the Micro soft hot fixes...they are essential !

Add some ram...always a winner..but go to CRUCIAL.COM.
..in "ram" you get what you pay for. It is electrical hardware. They have a program to tell what your system will operate best. Take out the old ram, and install new.
YOU are worth it...treat yourself.
My son bought some cheap ram elsewhere only for it to burn up 12 months later...so it was NO bargain.
Good ram will last for years.

Below, I'll give you the method to make your
virtual memory work better for you, AFTER you make some free rom (hard drive space).
Also, you need to run anti-virus, and mal-ware programs to make sure you are being slowed down by any infections.


You do want a good anti-virus and anti-malware programs.
The solution:
Download 3 excellent programs
A. For removing and stopping virus attacks.
B. For removing mal-ware and adware that act as trojans to retrieve information from your computer and your computer habits.
C. Anti-hijacking tool to remove attempts to hijack your home page and other.

A. Get AVAST
1. Remove what you have now. It didn't do right did it? Dump it
2. Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and delete the anti-virus program you have now,
if you have one;
then use your Search feature, type in the name of your current anti-virus program
if you have one > right click and delete any instance it finds.

3. Get this neat free program
Get FREE Home version of an excellent anti-virus software = AVAST
http://avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html....
Install > run > do a thorough scan
and allow it to run on your computer all the time.
Whatever it finds > select DELETE

The annual registration and frequent updates are free too.

B. Get Ad-AWARE spy-removal tool from Lavasoft
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php
1. Download, install and run this program weekly or more.


C. Get anti-hijacking tool
called HiJack This
for any hijack problems you might encounter Get this FREE anti-Hijack software
1. The program is called HiJackThis 1.99


As promised above instructions to make your computer perform faster (after you do all else above).
D. VIRTUAL MEMORY CHANGE

1. Start> RIGHT click MyComputer > Properties >
2. tab for Advanced > frame for Performance > click button Settings
3. window Performance Options > Frame for Virtual memory > click button Change >
4. window Virtual Memory > Frame Paging File >
Before changing the paging file size note the Registry size frame amount, and subtract the amount you've set aside for Maximum registry size, from the free Drive space amount.
You can set your paging file up to the difference.
Example:
Minimum 1000
Maximum 4000
5. click OK
6. Restart your pc

Do one thing above a day, and you'll by much improved by the end of the week...Or take a couple hours today !!!


h2h

Answer 5

Get someone who's Microsoft Certified. It means they're insured for the work they do.
Try running Ccleaner. Use the Issues tool and the Cleaner. In future use it to uninstall software.
http://www.ccleaner.com

Try dusting the inside of the case. Google for instructions. Use an air canister with care and hoover it out.

Answer 6

Living in Yorkshire, I do not know of anybody in your area.

However, it is very difficult to get genuine help, when you are not sure about your subject.

My old computer was getting past it, but I had a new hard drive installed. including a genuine Windows XP install, virus protection, and a new Epsom printer, it cost me £250.

Far less than a new computer, and everything is now working fine.

Hope this goes someway to helping you. Good luck.

Answer 7

Working with a slow computer can be time consuming as programs/ applications take a long time to start. This problem is more pronounced in computers which have been used for 6 or more months. More information at http://fixit.in/slowcomputer.html

Answer 8

1 empty your temporary Internet files
2 empty your temp files
3 turn off automatic backup (pre installed on windows xp).
4 go to add/remove software and remove all old/unwanted files.
5 if you have any mp3 download on to CD and delete
6 backup all old office files on CD and delete
7 empty your recycle bin
8 empty your history files
9 empty your download files
10 defrag
11 scandisk
12 unplug the computer open it up and clean the fan on your CPU and graphics card with compressed air (buy this from a computer or camera shop.
if the fan is noisy buy a new one.your fan working properly speeds up the computer so it is worth buying a new one.you will need to take the number off your CPU socket to the shop.measure the space inside your computer as you don't want to buy one which is too large to fit.
hope this helps

Answer 9

I assume that you don't know anyone who works on computers, they would be the first to ask, other than that you can go to any Circuit City, electronics place and ask them what they charge some are pricey but some are pretty cheap, you are pretty much just crossing your fingers if they are good though. Ask around to friends and family and see if they would recommend any good places.

Answer 10

craiglist.org. Great place to find PC experts and many other things. There is also a really cool barter system at times.