| Problem |
Explanation
|
£ inc vat |
| Hourly rate |
Work charged per hour. |
£47 |
DIY
|
Before taking your laptop
to a repair shop it is best to carryout a couple of simple tasks:-
1) If possible back-up your important data. Use a memory stick or write
to CD/DVD or external hdd. If this is not possible take a little time
to write down exactly where your important data is filed (this helps a
technician to retrieve the data).
2) If you are powering your laptop via a UK/Foreign three pin plug
adapter - don't - try to buy a UK lead that avoids the use
of any plug adapters. Some adapters are poor quality and do not
work properly.
3) Sometimes a laptop will not start not because there is anything
inherently wrong but simple because its "flux capacitors" aren't
in tune (or whatever!!). Remove the battery and then replace it. Try
switching the machine on. By resetting the machine it sometimes starts
working.
4) If your laptop appears to work - all the lights flash on and things
buzz along- but there is no display - It is sometimes possible to get
the laptop to display on an external monitor. Simply plug the monitor
into the laptop's VGA connection and turn both on - (sometimes you will
have to toggle the laptop's FN keyboard button simultaneously with the
laptops's monitor keyboard button). This will at least allow you to use
the machine.
|
|
| Initial Booking in fee |
To try and ascertain
what is wrong. Not charged if work carried out
|
£30 |
| EXPRESS SERVICE |
When a laptop is booked
in for repair it goes into a queue to await the services of a
technician - usually within 48 hours. However, if you are in a hurry we
can start work on your laptop immediately provided you agree to pay an
extra charge over and above what we would normally charge
|
£47
additional express service charge |
| Overheating |
Laptop crashes soon
after start up. This could be because the inside is clogged with dust
and fluff, overheats and crashes. We dismantle the laptop and
clean the inside.
Another factor maybe
poor design. Some laptops run hot. Changing to a slower processor
can help. Buying a fan cooler to sit the laptop on and which is
specifically designed to cool laptops can also help.
|
cleaning from £47+ |
| File system error |
Blue screen error which
can indicate the file system within windows has become corrupted and
requires fixing. Usually a relatively simple fix, however, the fault
could also indicate a possible problem with the hard drive which caused
the files to become corrupted in the first place.
If the hard
drive has become damaged with a few bad sectors it is sometimes
possible to fix (re-magnetise) these sectors using special software.
The fix is only a temporary measure to allow the customer to backup
important data. The hard drive may continue to operate for months but
it also may fail within hours. Such repairs carry no guarantee beyond
the fact that the hard drive should operate long enough to effect data
backup.
|
£30
or
£47 |
| Windows reinstall |
Software problems may
require Windows to be reinstalled. Provided your laptop has the correct
licence (usually stuck to the underneath) we can reinstall Windows. We
do not require the discs. If you have the original recovery discs you
can usually install windows yourself. However, you will need to then go
to Microsoft's website and install all the missing security
updates. We CANNOT install other programmes such as MS Office
without the appropriate legal software. |
£59 |
| Hard drive failure |
Can usually be diagnosed
by the sound of constant ticking (death rattle) as the hard drive
"head" crashes against the revolving discs. The problem with this tale
is that not only does the drive have to be replaced but so does
Windows. There is also the labour charge in removing and replacing the
hard drive. |
needs a diagnosis for a
quote |
Nvidia Graphics
Failure
|
Huge numbers of laptops
(and desktops) are abruptly dying due to the failure
of the Nvidia graphics chip soldered on the computer's motherboard. In such cases the laptop, desktop or Macbook suddenly
stops working. Subsequent attempts to power back on result in a failure
to
boot or a failure to display video or both.
Apple has extended their usual 1
year warranty to 4 years
to cover this issue. Sadly nearly all other manufacturers have
tried to avoid their Nvidia problems, with HP seemingly the worst (see www.hplies.com). If your
laptop has failed and has an Nvidia graphics chip (usually indicated by
an Nvidia sticker next to the mouse pad), we suggest you check
with the laptop's
manufacturer whether they can help for free. If not, we may be able to
repair the laptop. Unfortunately, experience has shown that such
repairs only last a limited period of a few months. You will need to
decide whether its worth spending this money or buying a new laptop.
|
£85
|
| Power to Motherboard |
Battery fails to charge
and then laptop stops working even when plugged into the mains. Usually
caused by the power socket on the motherboard becoming damaged/detached
from the motherboard . Repair of the power socket requires
completely dismantling the laptop and replacing the power plug on the
motherboard. Please note: Sometimes not only has the power socket
failed but because of the erratic power issues leading up to the
failure, other components have failed and fixing the socket resolves
only part of the problem. We have a great deal of experience with is
type of repair and our success rate is high but there are times when
the repair, to an already stressed old motherboard, may not work.
Moreover, such work can lead to another part of the board's circuitry
to fail and for an intermittent problem to become a permanent failure.
This is a risk that the customer will need to evaluate and agree to
before we accept the repair.
|
from
£79 |
| Broken USB sockets -
broken audio sockets |
Similar story to above
-same conditions. The USB sockets become detached from the motherboard.
Very labour intensive repair, although in this case its much cheaper to
simply buy a PCMCIA USB card adapter (around £20 or less) and use the
USB sockets on the PCMCIA card adapter. Same applies to audio sockets -
buy a USB audio "pocket/card" = £20+- |
£79 |
| A/c adapter broken tip
end socket |
Instead of replacing the
adapter - the adapter's tip can sometimes be replaced.
Unfortunately, the quality of tips (manufactured from far away)
is such that they are likely to break if not used carefully and as a
consequence we are reluctant to carry out this repair unless it is the
only solution. We have tried to find better tips but have been
unsuccessful and as a consequence only give a 30 day warranty to
tip replacements. |
£30 to replace tip |
| A/c adapter not working |
We can usually source a
replacement AC adapter from £35-£40 depending on type |
usually £35-£40 |
| Broken screen |
We can usually replace
broken screens. The cost will depend on the size but is usually around
£130 (inc vat and all labour costs) for a 14" screen
|
<<< |
| Backlight |
This is when the screen
fails to illuminate. The laptop continues to work and the images on the
screen can just be seen but its extremely dark. We can usually replace
the backlight. In many cases the backlight does not illuminate, not
because the backlight itself has failed, but because the power
inverter is defective.
|
from
£85
|
| Inverter |
Power inverter repair
(symptoms as above). Price can vary according to the cost of
the inverter
|
up to £85 |
Back up
|
Obviously its best that
you back up your work before bringing in a PC/Laptop/mac for
repair. If you wish us to backup we will but we will charge
|
usually
£40 but could be less if its small
|
| Data Recovery |
If your hard drive
fails, the data can be retrieved but in some cases this involves
specialist equipment and can cost several hundreds of pounds. We do not
carryout such work However, in many cases although the drive is
inoperable, data can be retrieved relatively easily and we can help
|
from £47+
|
| Virus/Spyware |
If your laptop has
problems due to a virus or spyware we do not recommend wasting time and
money trying to remove the offending programmes. Its far more effective
and usually simpler and cheaper to wipe the hard drive and reinstall
Windows. We can do this, provided the machine has the correct
Windows licence. If you wish us to backup your data there will be an
extra charge (see above).
No money? Try AVG free anti virus
|
£59 For a windows
reinstall
|
| U-buy-we fit |
We don't have any
problem with customers sourcing the part - such as a screen from the
likes of eBay and asking us to fit the item. Please be advised that it
is you that is making the diagnosis and we only act as your agent in
fitting. Payment maybe asked for before we commence work We do not
warranty parts you buy elsewhere. You will still be required to pay our
charges even if the part you supply us does not work.
| description |
time/£ |
| Fit a replacement
screen |
1 hour |
| Fit an identical
replacement motherboard. This is just fitting and ensuring the
laptop turns on. It doesn't include resolving software issues. |
2 hours |
| Fit a replacement
keyboard |
£30 |
|
£47 per hour |
| Liquid damage |
Very common. If it
happens to you; Turn the machine off immediately - mop up excess liquid
- remove battery and DO NOT turn the laptop on. Have a technician (or
someone who knows how) open the machine up and clean and dry the
inside. Even by taking these precautions the laptop's motherboard, hard
drive and or keyboard could have been damaged by the spill and as
a consequence one or more of these devices may need replacing.
We are frequently asked to give an
advance quote for such work. Unfortunately, it is not possible to say
how much it will cost without dismantling the laptop and working on it.
Simple put, we try out best to help our customers. However, some
people insist being given a definitive quote before agreeing to book
the laptop for repair, unfortunately by the very nature of the type of
accident, we are unable to do this. If you cannot bring yourself to
trust us then its perhaps best not to ask us to carryout the work
|
£47+ depends on liquid
& how long it takes to clean |
| Insurance report |
Many people have
home contents insurance that cover mishaps such as accidental damage.
Sadly, the system is often abused and as a consequence we no
longer write reports. |
not available |
| Storage Charges |
We have limited space and cannot be
expected to store items for longer than 3 months. When booking in an
item for repair customers will be asked to sign a "Booking
In" form which states that any
equipment left with us for longer than 3 months will be recycled. When
we have completed our work we will advise you. At this point,
customers are requested to promptly collect their equipment - remember
- after 3 months your equipment will be recycled and you will not be
able to reclaim it. |
Free for the first 3 months, thereafter £1
per day until it is recycled |
