Software and / or hardware based issues?

PC shutting down on it's own? Locking up? Slow? Won't "boot" to the desktop? Blue screen errors? Viruses?

 

Labor

Too busy to drop off your computer? 

$20.00

(optional)

Add $20.00 for pickup & delivery from your Pacific Palisades business. 

charges an additional $100 for on-site work

OR

$40.00

(optional)

Add $40.00 for on-site repair IF the work MUST be done at your Pacific Palisades business.

charges an additional $100 for on-site work.
Labor

Diagnose + repair multitude of Windows software and/or hardware based issues

$100.00

Flat rate to fix your hardware-based and / or software-based computer problems including malware (virus) infections.  Perform basic tune-up, including upgrade to latest Windows service pack and updates. Verify that your computer is fully protected. Install Microsoft Security Essentials FREE real-time antivirus software if computer is not already protected. Provide report on what work was performed.

charges at least $199.00 for this item
Labor

Failed laptop motherboard or other internal laptop part besides the hard drive or RAM?

+ $20.00

(optional)

Additional charge for laptop motherboard replacement or laptop internal part other than parts that are easily accessible via convenient lids that unscrew and open. Usually only the hard drive and RAM are easily accessed. Failed motherboards are very uncommon, but when they do fail, more labor is required than usual to take apart laptops, hence the additional $20.00 fee.

Also you may completely opt out of the entire repair (and be billed for NOTHING) if you don't want to have a failed laptop motherboard or laptop CPU replaced. If the cost of these parts with labor ($120) is too high, you may decide that your laptop is not worth repairing.

 

Parts (if any) billed as "reimbursement"

+ Exact cost of parts

(if any)

Add only the exact cost of reimbursement for any replacement part (s) replaced including California tax if applicable and shipping. Typically ordered from Southern California based www.ZipZoomFly.com , www.NewEgg.com or local LA county wholesalers and shipped in one UPS or FedEx working day (Monday through Friday).
Labor

"PERSONAL DATA BACKUP":

Do you have critical personal data or even "secure data" that has not been properly backed up?

Is your hard drive failing? What are the risks?

$20.00

(optional)

Create safety data backup of your hard drive (up to 50 GB of used hard drive space). This is HIGHLY recommended (if not a MUST) when attempting to clean viruses off of a system that is at risk of losing "secure data" that has not been properly backed up with respective cryptographic key. This is URGENT if your hard drive is showing signs of failing AND there is critical personal data on the drive which has not been backed up. What are the risks?

NOTE: This is not a data "recovery". At this low data "migration" price, PCR will only migrate that data which will transfer properly via the Windows "command prompt" or via imaging or cloning software without halting, locking up or other issues. This generally means that the hard drive cannot be seriously damaged.
NOTE: This 50% reduced price applies when coupled with the $100.00 repair rate (above). Price is based on used hard drive space - not drive size. If a Windows reinstallation becomes necessary, PCR can migrate your data to the new drive at no extra cost, but this low price does not include any "restoration" or folder restructuring. For example browser data (including bookmarks and passwords) and saved "local" emails (inbox, sent, trash, etc) must be "restored" before backed up data will open.

charges at least an additional $99.00 for only 9 GB of data backup

 

$0.25 for each additional 1 GB of safety data backup. Price is based on actual used hard drive space - not total drive size.

$10.00

(optional)

(very uncommon)

Export "secure data" such as Internet Explorer passwords, and encrypted files. "Old" computer must boot to the desktop in order to export. NOTE: Most computer users do NOT have any secure data.

NOTES: Using the command prompt data migration method (described above), PCR can transfer encrypted files and folders by simply removing encryption attributes, so that this data will be freely accessible on the "new" computer. However this method will NOT unencrypt Internet Explorer passwords and certificates.
Labor

IF it becomes necessary to reinstall Windows

Follow this link for more details about reinstalling Windows

FREE

(optional)

Labor to upgrade to a new system C hard drive. Does not include cost of new drive itself.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you have critical data that you need to migrate to the new Windows installation. Why? Because the data on your "old" drive remains untouched and can be kept as a safety backup! There is some risk of data loss whenever data is migrated. Better to be safe -- Upgrade to a new drive or back up your own data.
FREE

SIMPLE SYSTEM RESTORE w/ NO DATA MIGRATION: If attempts to manually repair Windows fail, there is NO charge to completely reinstall Windows, the latest service packs and updates, and hardware drivers. The end result of reinstalling Windows would be that your computer would run just as it did when you bought it new.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There are extra costs if you have critical personal data to migrate and/or restore to the new installation (see pricing below).

charges an additional $99 for a system restore.
FREE

Includes installation of Microsoft Security Essentials free anti-virus software.
charges an additional $69.99 for "protection".
FREE

Includes installation of Adobe Reader, Java, Flash Player and other basic freeware of your choice.
FREE

Includes installation of 3 non-freeware software programs that you provide (example: Adobe PhotoShop, TurboTax, Quicken, Microsoft Money). Add $5.00 for each additional program.

Does not include installation of complex programs such as professional video editing software, professional audio editing software, or other programs that may require time consuming installations.

FREE

Install drivers for up to 2 peripheral devices (printer, scanner, etc). Add $5.00 for each additional device.
NOTE: PCR cannot guarantee proper installation of your peripheral device drivers unless you bring them in to be connected. Does not include troubleshooting problems with the peripheral devices themselves. PCR only repairs computers.

Should NOT be necessary

There is NO need to "restore" any Verizon, Time Warner or Charter drivers or software to re-connect to the Internet. After a Window reinstallation you should be able to just plug your computer right back into your router (or modem) to reconnect to the Internet without any problem. You may need to simply power cycle your modem, router and computer, otherwise that's it!
Note

 Logon user account settings such as mouse speed and desktop background image (wallpaper) will be reset to default Windows settings.

NO support

Sorry, no support for reconfiguring of data backup software (such as Carbonite), VPN software, computer phone service (such as net2phone, Skype), and certain other software. If you need help reconfiguring these programs then you would need to do that yourself. If you have special software / hardware to reinstall please enquire to see if PCR can help or not. Also no support for AOL's obsolete interface / browser which is notoriously problematic. If you wish PCR can ONLY install these programs, but not reconfigure, support or troubleshoot them.
NO support

Sorry, no support for reconfiguring of (LAN) local area networks of computers. Do you share printers and documents throughout your home or business via a wireless or wired network? This you would have to reconfigure yourself if necessary. Often this is as simple as turning on all computers and using the Windows XP "Network Setup Wizard".

Labor

PERSONAL DATA MIGRATION - Migrate your "PERSONAL DATA BACKUP" to the new installation of Windows

FREE

(optional)

If you paid for a "PERSONAL DATA BACKUP" (listed above) then PCR will migrate that data backup contents to a single folder on your desktop.
NOTE: This does NOT include any reorganization of your files or filtering out of "junk" files. In most cases this means that your XP "documents and settings" folder (or Vista / 7 "users" folder) will be dropped (in it's original folder structure) into just one folder on your desktop. If you wish, it would then be up to YOU to hand pick your MP3's, documents, spreadsheets, photos, etc and move them into the new "user" folder structure. PCR provides helpful instructions on where the most common personal data files are stored by default. For an extra charge (see below) PCR can reorganize your DATA within the newly created "user" account folders.
Labor

PERSONAL DATA REORGANIZATION

OR

$20.00

(optional)

If you paid for a "PERSONAL DATA BACKUP" (listed above) then PCR will migrate, up to 50 GB of used hard drive space, of the most common folder contents into the new "user" folder structure. Includes contents of folders such as My Music, My Pictures, My Videos, Favorites, My Documents as well as other personal data according to your specific needs and instructions.

Or at this same migration price, if you simply provide a hard drive with a copy of your OWN backup, PCR will reorganize that data into the new "user" folder structure.

NOTE: There are many variables to what can and cannot be restored, some of which depends on whether your data was backed up from the "old" Windows installation while logged on to the desktop. Ask for details.
 

$0.25 for each additional 1 GB of safety data reorganization. Price is based on actual used hard drive space - not total drive size.
Labor

"LOCAL" EMAIL AND / OR BROWSER DATA RESTORATION - Do you need to restore old Thunderbird, Outlook, or Outlook Express emails? Do you need to restore your old Internet Explorer or Firefox data?

Why is this necessary? Just migrating the files that contain saved "local" emails and browser data is not enough. It must then be "imported".

$10.00

(optional)

Manually export and / or restore critical email data for 1 "local" email program (Thunderbird, Outlook, or Outlook Express).

This 50% reduced price applies when coupled with $100.00 repair rate (above). Sorry no support for AOL's interface / browser, which is obsolete.

$10.00

(optional)

Manually export and / or restore critical browser data for 1 browser (Firefox or Internet Explorer).

NOTE: No extra charge if "bookmarks" or "favorites" is the only browser data that you need.

This 50% reduced price applies when coupled with $100.00 repair rate (above). Sorry no support for AOL's interface / browser, which is obsolete.

DIAGNOSTIC & REPAIR

Check for hardware and / or software issues that may exist.

Repair software issues including Windows operating system issues and malware (viruses, spyware, rootkits, adware).

Notify you of hardware issues, repair if requested.

Install latest Windows operating system updates and other critical updates.

Verify that your computer is working properly and protected from malware.

Install Microsoft Security Essentials FREE real-time antivirus software if needed.

Provide detailed report explaining what work was performed.

YOUR QUESTION: How long will it take you to service my computer? Repair begins immediately unless stated otherwise. Some repairs take as little as 4 hours. Average repair time is 24 hours. If data must be backed up, restored, and / or imported then this increases completion time. If parts must be ordered, delivery time is typically 1 UPS or Fed Ex working day (Monday through Friday). Compare this turn around time with the "other guys".

YOUR QUESTION: What exactly do you do to remove viruses? Follow this link for answers to this and many other related questions.

YOUR QUESTION: Tell me more about reinstalling Windows. What does it entail? Follow this link for more details.

YOUR QUESTION: What causes "blue screen errors"? Statistically about 80% of blue screen errors are related to a piece of software called a "driver", but they can also be caused by faulty hardware, viruses, and other issues.

YOUR QUESTION: How much extra do you charge if it becomes necessary to reinstall Windows? There is NO charge to simply reinstall Windows, with basic computer hardware drivers, Java, Flash player, PDF Reader and FREE real-time antivirus software. You computer should run just as it did when you first bought it new out of the box. However there are extra charges IF you need to back up and migrate critical personal data to the new installation and IF you need to migrate and/ or import user settings, secure data, and personal browser data and/or "local" email data.

YOUR QUESTION: I have not backed up my critical data. Should I pay the extra $$ to have it backed up? What are the risks? One of the risks is that hard drives eventually fail and can fail at any time. 1 out of 12 drives fail in the first 2 years. Statistically after that, there is an 8% annual failure rate. If your hard drive stops working due to physical failure, the cost to recover data at high tech recovery labs typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,000.

Also keep in mind that you might have improperly backed up your data, or you may accidentally delete your own data later, or the backup process itself may fail. I has been reported that Carbonite lost 7,500 people's data in 2009. The "perfect storm" can wipe out all of your data. This is why the experts say that you should have at least two safety backups of your critical personal data, each stored at different locations.

QUESTION: Do you provide support for AOL's interface / browser? No. AOL's problematic interface / browser is obsolete. If you have an AOL email address, you can still access your email with ANY browser at mail.aol.com. You can also set AOL to be your home page with ANY other browser. Some folks still use AOL out of force of habit despite the fact that this program is ridiculously bloated and slow, it displays advertisements, and it decreases computer startup time. You should completely uninstall AOL, then use Firefox or Internet Explorer instead.

YOUR QUESTION: What are "local" email programs?  These are simply email software programs (such as Thunderbird, Outlook, Outlook Express, and Sea Monkey) which are physically installed on your computer.  With local email programs, one can store old email data (inbox, sent, trash, etc) right on their home computer. This contrasts with services like Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, G Mail which are installed and store email data on a remote computer on the world wide web.

It is important to note that after reinstalling Windows, your old saved "local" email data (inbox, sent, etc) will NOT magically reappear until you "import" this local email data. Essentially you have to "tell" local email programs where to "look" for the data. This process is a bit complicated for the average computer user. PCR can "import" your local email data individually at a cost of only $20.00 per program (Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird). Mail server settings must be migrated or reconfigured as well. So migrating your raw data is only half the battle when it comes to "local" email data migration.

NOTE: You, the customer, agree that you must back up your data, software, information and/or files. You agree that whether or not you request PCR to back up any data, software, information or other files stored on your product, in no event shall PCR and/or its repair tech be liable under any circumstances for any loss, alteration or corruption of any data, software, information, files, or loss of any other media from your product.

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