Cocky Approach in Repairing a Computer or Invincible Ignorance?
Cocky Approach in Repairing a Computer or Invincible Ignorance?
Easier said than done. Are you cocky enough to call me and say that you know how to fix your computer? Then, why are you calling me? What do you need me for? 🙂 That is the cocky approach or simply invincible ignorance.
REPAIRING A COMPUTER AND DIAGNOSING IT
“I know the motherboard is good, I know the power supply has nothing to do with this, I also just changed my hard drive, and my graphics card, the only thing is that my computer continues to get blue screens and freezes. Tell me right away what the issue is, do not talk to me like I do not know about computers because I do.” This is the typical cocky call I get from the “I know it all” type of person or usually the young ones.
If it is that easy and that quick to figure what is wrong with a $3000 computer like an Alienware or a gaming computer, then, why don’t you fix it yourself?
The answer to that is that you have explored every option that you know of and you ran out of solutions. Clearly, you now need a professional which is a combination of skills, talent, and experience!
I do not doubt the young generation is informed and they know quite a bit about repairing a computer, but if you think that reading a few articles and watching a YouTube video here and there on how to fix your blue screen, you are dead wrong. Nothing can replace 18 years of experience and hands-on with computers.
I have seen and experienced so much, and most of it, you do not find it in books and on the Internet but you discover it by testing thousands and thousands of computers yourself. Pick up a multimeter and start testing. I have seen things that cannot even be explained logically or technically, you read correctly. I tested computers and motherboards that were dead, DEAD, and an hour later, were alive again, and functioning properly and stayed that way.
It happens to humans too and we still do not why or how that is possible. This example among so many just teaches me or anyone that electronics can be very unpredictable.
REPAIRING A COMPUTER – TESTING EACH COMPONENT
When repairing a computer, you must almost always test each part no matter what the hardware issue is:
- Test the motherboard;
- Test the power supply and not just the paper clip test. That only tells you the power supply is alive but the voltage might be wrong and cause interruptions including freezing, sudden shutdowns, etc.
- Test the RAM;
- Test the fans;
- Test the CPU, stress test and you have to know how or it will be useless;
- Test the GPU, same as above; this takes time and a lot of patience while closely monitoring the temperature;
- Test the HDD or SDD; at times, the HDD passes the test, but in reality, it is no good — another anomaly that you learn along the way;
- Test your electrical outlet too; you won’t believe that but have seen it;
- Test cables with a digital multimeter; cables rarely fail but it can happen;
- And this is only the hardware testing part. Then, comes the software which is a whole other world, along with drivers and conflicts, etc.
Overwhelmed? Can you learn all of it? Absolutely you can! Nothing is complicated but only complex.
At times though, even with so much knowledge, you can’t get it done because you lack experience which equals to thousands of trial and error attempts and failures.
STILL THINK IT’S EASY REPAIRING A COMPUTER?
If you choose to blindfold yourself and/or if you think you know computers and can repair it, no one can stop you :).
A cocky attitude will bring you nowhere though and ultimately, you will have to shop around and find a pro that can take care of your computer’s issue especially when the problem is a weird one and/or difficult to diagnose. Although not always, the more expensive your computer is, like a custom built, or a gaming desktop, the more troubleshooting and more complex the whole diagnosis becomes.
- Do not expect from a PC Tech like me to be a magician and be able to tell you just by looking at your computer what the problem is. There is no magic wand and no luck!
- There is only testing, testing and testing with the right equipment, the right methods and above all the right ATTITUDE.
HOW DO YOU TEST THE TEMPERATURE AND HOW DO YOU FIX THAT?
I closely monitor the temperature and usually after 80 Celsius (although it depends on the CPU model), the computer will shut down to save the other components from getting overheated and damaged. The solution is to apply new thermal paste to the processor after disassembling the heat sink and CPU fan.
However, here is where most inexperienced people will fail. There are only 2 thermal paste brands that have always worked for me, other ones don’t. In addition, there is only one correct way, in my experience, to apply the thermal paste correctly to the CPU. All other methods which most were well favored on YouTube, did not work.
When repairing a computer, YouTube does not always tell you the truth. Some of these “Gurus” are full of shit.
I always say: Diagnosis and research at times, represents 99% of the work, and the rest is the solution.
ANOTHER COCKY WAY TO THINK
One day I got this call from this potential client, and he tells me that he got tired of his computer guy. I asked why and wanted to know what was the problem with this IT/Tech person.
He tells me that every time this guy would come to his house, he would spend an hour or so researching on Google the solution for his computer’s issue. Because of that, he got angry and fired him one day. He says he does not want to pay a guy researching and solving his issue on the Internet; he does not want to pay the tech person to teach himself.
My reaction was to laugh at this first. I explained this potential customer that Windows updates every week, drivers get updated constantly, and so any third party software you have in your computer from iTunes, Adobe Reader, to Office (word, excel), etc. Updates can cause conflicts and issues at times rather than solving a problem.
Because of this and because of the complexity and the unbelievable number of existing and new bugs (unknown technical errors), there is no way on Earth that the poor guy can know the solution to everything. We, as PC Techs, would need a cable plugged into our brains 24/7 feeding us solutions to new errors, and that is just NOT POSSIBLE (at least not now, I see this tangible in the future).
I kept going explaining that he should instead appreciate and value that person’s time, patience and skills to investigate, research and ultimately solve his PC’s issue. Google is indeed an excellent solution finder but assuming you know what to look for, how to interpret and apply the solution. For someone not in the IT field, a solution found on Google or in a book, will look like Jiberish and she/he would not know how to apply the fix.
I suggested that if he does not value someone’s time and skills, that he would Google himself, now he does not have to pay anyone, and he can teach himself :). He answered: “yes, I will”.
YES, GOOGLE IT
Undecided? Call 516-828-1418 to schedule an appointment to repair your computer.
So long!
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