PC Repair-man. What needed?

jaqian · 17-11-2005 3:48pm #1

Hi,
I'm interested in doing pc repair in my spare time. I fix a lot of my mates & collegues pc's when they go belly up but this mainly means re-installing windows or replacing some broken part etc.

I was wondering...

1) If I was to do this legit what way does the law work regarding replacing/upgrading windows OS?

2) Also what skills should I have ie what should I expect to have to fix?

3) What services would you expect a pc repair shop to provide (if any) along with repairs?

Look forward to your comments.

Archytas · 17-11-2005 3:50pm

jaqian wrote:

2) Also what skills should I have ie what should I expect to have to fix?

I cant connect to the internet... man I hate those calls!!!

WizZard · 17-11-2005 4:07pm

Archytas wrote:

I cant connect to the internet... man I hate those calls!!!

Nah, it's more like "The internet is broken!".
Yes, clearly the entire internet is broken and you are the first to report it...

Third_Echelon · 17-11-2005 4:10pm

WizZard wrote:

Nah, it's more like "The internet is broken!".
Yes, clearly the entire internet is broken and you are the first to report it...

ah yes... support desk superiority complex at its best :rolleyes:

Cabaal · 17-11-2005 4:13pm

Archytas wrote:

I cant connect to the internet... man I hate those calls!!!

Work for a ISP for a few weeks and you'll really hate those type of calls with a passion

Third_Echelon wrote:

ah yes... support desk superiority complex at its best :rolleyes:

Indeed it is, and I agree with every word he says...

Mr. CooL ICE · 17-11-2005 4:22pm

By the sounds of it, most people would know someone like you as being a techie and general PC handyman, but can you solve any problems bigger than an upgrade or a software problem? If a PC wouldn't boot, would you know how to determine the problem if it was as obscure as a knackered BIOS chip or lack of voltage to a certain piece of hardware?

PC repair is something that a lot of people can do, and as said before, everyone knows a techie. But make sure you have all the knowledge before you embarass yourself by returning peoples PCs with a message saying 'Im sorry, i didnt know what was wrong'.

Zounds · 17-11-2005 5:20pm

are there any legal requirement or insurance or anything beyond tax in doing that sorta thing?

jaqian · 17-11-2005 5:27pm

Zounds wrote:

are there any legal requirement or insurance or anything beyond tax in doing that sorta thing?

That's what I wondering as well. Has anyone here worked in pc repair before? Let me know their experiences.

DemonOfTheFall · 17-11-2005 5:29pm

I'm sure if you did something to their PC which made it explode and burn their house down they'd be able to have a fair legal stab at you... Maybe some insurance or something ?

jaqian · 17-11-2005 5:32pm

Anyone know about the legality of reinstalling windows?

deevey · 17-11-2005 5:45pm

Insurance wise you would need (if you want to be totally legit) Public liability (you will be bringing spares and toolcase?). probably professional indemnity, as well as goods and travel on the car (assuming you have a car).

On a side note, alot of companies will not hire you if you do not have the above insurance.

House calls well... you can probably get away without some of it, but if you manage to delete somones only copies of wedding photos (an example) it can be piece of mind for you and them that you are covered for screw ups.

There are a few good cheap(ish) packages available for the above and if anyone wants the name of a good commercial broker PM me.

... Legality of reinstalling windows .... assuming its a legit copy and you have the "unique" serial number whats the problem? even XP you can call MS and get them to reactivate if there is a problem with activation.

Orion · 17-11-2005 5:50pm

jaqian wrote:

Anyone know about the legality of reinstalling windows?

If you're reinstalling with their original cds with their serial then there's no problem. It's illegal to use your own disks to install it.

jaqian · 17-11-2005 5:55pm

Macros42 wrote:

If you're reinstalling with their original cds with their serial then there's no problem. It's illegal to use your own disks to install it.

What about ppl who no longer have cd's? What do you do then?

petes · 17-11-2005 5:59pm

jaqian wrote:

What about ppl who no longer have cd's? What do you do then?

Buy more.

jaqian · 17-11-2005 7:01pm

petes wrote:

Buy more.

If I bought the OS could I use it to install windows on pcs where the owners didn't have a disc?

bette · 17-11-2005 7:04pm

jaqian wrote:

If I bought the OS could I use it to install windows on pcs where the owners didn't have a disc?

Certainly not! The license goes with the particular machine and the sticker is supposed to be stuck to the outside of the case!

Go Linux or Mac OS

petes · 17-11-2005 7:09pm

bette wrote:

Certainly not! The license goes with the particular machine and the sticker is supposed to be stuck to the outside of the case!

Go Linux or Mac OS

Not if the owner of said PC wants Windows on it. Customers always right and all that bollocks.

Duckjob · 17-11-2005 7:21pm

jaqian wrote:

What about ppl who no longer have cd's? What do you do then?

If you have your own windows media you *cough* can use it to re-install windows o/s with, but when it asks for the licence key, you can use their original licence key. That way, they end up with windows restored on their PC using their own legitimate licence.

Only prob, you can run into here, is with an OEM key won't work with a non-OEM disk and vica-versa.

DemonOfTheFall · 17-11-2005 7:25pm

You can bring around any windows disk you like as long as you use the licence key that's stuck to the side of their PC.

If you were going around with XP Corporate and lashing it on everyone's PC, as handy as it would be, you'd be pretty liable for an ass raping by M$ in court.

By the way, you'd want a fair few different kinds of discs spare, As far as I know there's 11 different Windows XP Licenses.

XP Home - OEM, Retail, Upgrade
XP Professional - OEM, Retail, Upgrade, Corporate
XP MCE - OEM, Retail
XP Tablet PC - Don't know how many.

You'd definetly want disks for OEM and Retail for Home and Pro at the very least if you wanted to be prepared.

Orion · 17-11-2005 8:55pm

DemonOfTheFall wrote:

You'd definetly want disks for OEM and Retail for Home and Pro at the very least if you wanted to be prepared.

It would all be perfectly legal. As long as you only use their serial - and I'd forgotten that these days for prebuilt pcs it's stuck to the side of the case. You'd probably get away with just buying the OEM versions of them. Not many people would have bought the retail versions.

PC Repair-man. What needed?

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