Points to Remember

Before bringing in equipment for repair it would be helpful to note the following points:

Warranty

Most computer equipment comes with a 1 year warranty with the option to extend for 3 years.
The exceptions are monitors and hard disks, which usually have 3 year warranties.
If in doubt, contact the supplier of your equipment.

User Manuals

Over the course of a year, hundreds of different makes and models of equipment pass through our doors.
Although we have access to a wide range of technical information, it helps us if you bring in any relevant user manual with the equipment to be repaired or upgraded.
This is especially true of PC laptops, where different models by the same manufacturer can be totally unlike each other in construction, features and operation.

Backups

It's an unfortunate fact that many computer users risk losing their vital data/thesis/entire life's work by not carrying out regular backups. A hard disk crash or virus infection can obliterate everything you hold dear. Data recovery procedures can reclaim lost files in some cases, but this is very labour intensive and can cost you, the user, hundreds of pounds.
Why risk it - Back up regularly!

Software

If your hard disk has been scrubbed or corrupted by accident or design you must supply us with the operating system and application software to have it re-installed.
If it was never supplied to you on removeable media, you will have to contact the supplier of your computer for advice.
Any other action could result in infringement of copyright law.

Laptops

When bringing in a laptop for repair, please ensure you also bring the laptop's power adaptor.
It also helps to include the laptop manufacturer's installation and driver disks should any re-configuration be necessary.
In the event of a serious hardware fault being diagnosed, bear in mind that many laptop manufacturers do not make technical information or spare parts available to third parties.
We can usually obtain spare parts from large companies such as IBM, Toshiba, HP, Compaq, Dell and Apple.
It is virtually impossible to source information or spares for other semi-unknown and poorly supported makes such as Acer, Advent, Fujitsu Siemens and Packard Bell.
This is a very good reason for buying a well supported laptop at the outset.

It's probably only...

The number of times we've heard, " My computer/monitor/printer's stopped working. It's probably only a fuse or loose wire..."
or
"Did you have any luck in finding the fault?"
If only life were that simple. Fuses blow for a reason. Loose wires are mythical. Luck helps in winning the Lottery but it plays no part in effecting an equipment repair - it's skill and experience that wins the day!