wilkes

I agree "I think that people seriously underestimate the time and effort that goes into working on computers when you do it RIGHT."

But...being a 20 year technical veteran... and having repaired and "fixed" too many pc's to count... and being called constantly by friends and family when they screw up their machines... I'll chip in the following:

If you earn your living by fixing PC's, your prices will be higher than someone like me who does it on the side as a hobby because he likes tinkering with PC's. That said....

While I agree that people generally don't know the time it takes to fix a PC when something is wrong, they also take advantage of the general public's ignorance when it comes to fixing a PC.

Allow me to dispel some myths:

1) Once you fix any hardware problems, including upgrading to decent RAM and whatnot, installing the OS is easy.

2) For most users, Win XP is just fine. You don't need PRO. Why pay for something you don't need? Maybe the media edition of XP, but not PRO.

3) Searching for drivers? That's absurd. Windows does it for you, and if there is a driver it cannot find, a little bit of research (crack open the box and get the hardware S/N) and you'll find it quickly. If not, then find a replacement (parts are CHEAP). Most of the time, Windows will find the driver.

4) It does take hours to update things, yes, BUT you are not glued to your chair. The last PC I fixed, wiped, and re-installed... during the updates I went and did SOMETHING ELSE and checked back now and then. So all this means is you need to wait a few days if someone is fixing your PC for you-- unless you pay for them to sit and watch the update progress that is.

5) Software setup such as antivirus, spyware, and firewall are quick and easy to do. If you have a new (within 5 years) router, you don't even need a firewall on your PC or any devices in your home network.

6) Wallyworld's computers are reliable, though they are way overpriced. For 3-400 TOPS you can get awesome machines with massive hard drives, dual-core or core-2-duo processing, great memory, good video cards, and tons of bang for your buck. but you have to know where to find them.... or be willing to look for them longer than 5 minutes. In that regard, I find it unbelievable that they can actually sell computers in wallyworld or staples. Or "worst-buy". For the prices they charge... you could get A LOT MORE! These places stay in business because of how much money they really make on these high-ticket items.

With that, if you know it's your power supply, it's simple to fix. Find a replacement part (same wattage or higher), unplug everything, and put the new unit in. Still issue? Probably the motherboard :( definitely use a tech service to verify that.

If your PC is over 4 years old... maybe think about a new one anyway, and donating the old one for the write-off to charity.

If your PC works, but otherwise needs a complete update or just isn't working the way you want or need, I'll get it to the best state it can be in, for about $100. If you need a complete re-install of XP and don't have the disks, I think I can find genuine XP discs for about $100 now (or less if we're lucky).

$170 sounds about normal for retail, the $240 on the link was a bit high.

Not that it is any of my business, but!

I think that people seriously underestimate the time and effort that goes into working on computers when you do it RIGHT.

What NaturalMan is proposing to do labor wise can take upwards of 8 hours in front of the machine. Particularly if the PC has low levels of RAM or a slow (older) CPU.

Even OEM versions of Windows XP are still pretty high in cost (without any markup). Then add the fact that unless you have the original device drivers for the particular machine, He will have to spend possibly hours hunting them down and getting them to work properly.

Then on top of that, even with a 20Mb internet line (like mine), the updates, upgrades (up to IE8 and Media Player 11 for example) to software can take hours in and of themselves (not to mention the downloading and installing of the most basics of software that we all take for granted like Java Runtime Environment, Macromedia Flash, Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, 7-zip, or WinRAR, etc....that are just magically already there on the computer when you first buy it). And, most times you have to reboot between installing software and updates/upgrades, again depending on speed of computer for each of DOZENS of reboots.

Not to mention the custom settings and setup of Anti-Virus and Spyware software, as well as Firewall configuration. These combined with any data backup/restoration, you are looking at another possible couple hours.

All in all, I realize that people don't want to pay much, particularly in these hard economic times, but, you get what you pay for. And, even if he was "profiting" as much as $100, he is going to be putting upwards of 8 hours of work (or more if problems present themselves) into the machine, thus making for only $12.50 per hour (which he has to pay FULL taxes on, and cover his business overhead). Not to mention the ever present danger of some type of catastrophic failure which he may have to recover the costs of due to Technician error.

So, not to be on a soap box, but, people don't realize that the token $350 Wally World computers you buy actually have extreme upkeep measures if you want them to remain "top of the line". And, if you are not willing to pay the price for quality service and upkeep, then simply go to Wally World and purchase a new one for a little money more than the proposed repair prices.

Please don't think that I am being rude, I am simply trying to educate that there is a lot more behind the scenes of the IT industry than people may realize. And, when DELL or HP spit out these machines with prefabricated "ghost image" drives and low cost laborers with automated production lines, they can keep costs to a minimal. While those of us technicians here in the real world have to pay our bills and feed our families that we are not getting to spend time with while we are working on those computers. So, sorry if I offend anyone, but please consider the realities of it all before you complain about pricing....PLEASE.

Babygirl2009, I think you are exaggerating on the price from Express Computer Clinic. The price was quoted as $170.00 for the XP Pro and if you wanted me to install it was another $65.00. That included finding all device drivers and update windows and install 4 different spyware tools, and included an antivirus for one year.
Do you really think that is too expensive?

ouch. For those prices on XP pro I would be happy to go out and buy it and install it for you.

I just called double edge tech and they told me that in october that wondow 7 is being released I got some price quotes from them bout putting xp on my computer they were like 5 dollars cheaper than the rest . they said that 7 is what vista should have been when the released it . they also said that 7 is

Windows XP Pro goes for $240 - http://www.softwareking.com...

Try asking if they can order an OEM edition or something. Those are a lot cheaper, but only work one time.

wow i just called express computer clinic and they were go to charge me almost 300 to put windows xp pro on my computer.... what in the world i could just go buy a new computer

I use Complete Wiring Concepts. Very resaonably priced and does great work. Their number is 336-452-9223.

I used Express Computer Clinic last week as was very pleased with the service.

I would also recommend express computer clinic. I've used them also.

If you are unemployed or have a old computers or don't mind having old parts put back into your computer, because they are free. http://jasonroush.webs.com/...
If you want new parts then someone else will be faster because the parts would have to be ordered, and are not free.

The Express Computer Clinic is an advertiser here, and I've used them myself several times. Call them at 973-0300.

that will not cost me a fortune. I am pretty sure it is the power source.