The Protector

Here are some guidelines on when is it time to call a professional computer service company.

I work in this field and I thought this would be a good subject to tackle today.  A lot of time when I get calls, I never know what type of issues I am getting into.  Sure I realize it is a virus related issue but there are a lot of questions that I would like to know before leaving for the customer site.  Here is my list and hopefully it will help you decide on when and who to call.

• What is the name of the infection that is causing the problem?
• Did you recently purchase or download anything related to fixing your your computer for example  virus, registry cleaners?
• Do you have your original Windows XP or Vista CD?
• Do you have your driver CD?
• Do you have a recent backup of your data?

Only 5 questions, but boy are they big.  Most of the time I have to call and ask these questions myself.

Let me explain the first one.  Knowing the type of infection or Malware that is crashing your computer will save you money and time on the service call.  So please tell the tech or the dispatcher what is infecting your computer.

Most infections are due to the recent download of some FREE software or the computer was infected by some bogus anti-virus or anti-spy ware that inform you of your computer becoming infected.  It also could be from the bloatware that was installed when you purchase your computer from the store.  This is the root of all infected computers.  Most people do not remove for example Norton completely from your computer.  Unless your renew your Anti-virus subscription you will 100% of the time get infected.  So you are not to blame.

OK so here is the third issue that is a big one.  Do you have your original Windows CD. 90% of the time the answer is NO.  I do not know where that is, or I never received one.  You are right you mostly did not receive one.  Most if not all manufacturers are cutting cost.  If you did not opt to pay for your original CD or make a backup copy when you first boot up your computer.  You will never find that CD.  Us service guys really need to know that one.

I try to fix my customers on one trip.  It is so many things that you have to do to get a infected computer back to normal operation that it is impossible to finish in a timely manner.  Having the answers to these 5 questions will really help.  What I only answer 3.  Yea, I know come back tomorrow and I will answer the other tools and I will let you in on some great tools and free software that will get your computer better than new.

I have to go and see my son play football.  It is FRIDAY NIGHTS LIGHTS ON THUSDAY.

GO COUGARS

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