With the ever-falling price of desktop and laptop computers, the decision to repair or replace can be tricky. To help you decide, get several good estimates on repair costs.
- Call several shops to ask about their diagnostic and repair fees. Get an estimate of what repairs will cost before you authorize any work done. Get all guarantees in writing.
- Before you hire a computer repair service, back up your data and delete any sensitive information.
- Update all of your virus and spyware software and install all other necessary updates. It’s not always the best choice to buy spyware and antivirus software from where you bought your computer. Usually those programs can be very expensive while free programs are available online.
- Back to school season is a peak time for computer repairs. If your computer needs service or repair work, call late July or early August at the latest. It’s better to find out before the homework starts that computer problems could derail your straight “A” student.
If you decide to replace your computer, take into consideration your and your family’s needs.
- If it's for school, don’t wait until the last minute to buy. Give yourself at least a month before school starts, if possible, so you can install everything that you need, download old files and get comfortable with the new computer.
- Desktop or laptop? It really depends on who will be using it and under what conditions. While a laptop is more convenient than a desktop, laptops are also more expensive and fragile.
- Back up, back up, back up. An external hard drive is relatively inexpensive considering your child won’t be scrambling to rewrite that 20 page term paper when the computer crashes.