COMPUTER REPAIR

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Bring your Desktop or Laptop (Windows or Mac) in to Computer Idiot® for a FREE checkup/evaluation. We'll promptly evaluate your computer issues while you wait and make recommendations to improve it's performance by looking for potential Hardware, Software and Security issues. (Available during regular business hours, in-store only. Computer checkup is for evaluation only and does not include repair of problems/issues.)

Call us at (805) 650-5981 to set up an in-store appointment for your FREE diagnostics.

When it comes to technology, there’s a proverb called “Murphy’s Law” which kind of rings true with computers: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”. As downbeat as that sounds, there’s a grain of truth there. Even though our cutting-edge devices look sleek and perfect on the outside, they’re still an incredibly complex jumble of electronics and software on the inside. It’s only a matter of time before something stops working as well as it should. When something does “go wrong” with a computer it’s easy to feel helpless. 

Fortunately, unlike poor old Murphy, we have tools to analyze and resolve these problems. These are collectively described as diagnostics.   At Computer Idiot®, we offer a FREE computer diagnostic service. Call us at (805) 650-5981 to set up an in-store appointment for your diagnostic. We’ll get your computer firing on all cylinders before you know it! 

Is your computer beginning to act up? Whether it occasionally crashes, frequently needs to be restarted, or is experiencing some other issue, you may need a little professional assistance. However, gone are the days of having to unplug everything, lug your system into your car, and carry it into a computer repair shop. At Computer Idiot®, we can bring the computer repair services to you – no heavy lifting or return visits required. We are a computer repair and IT support company that can troubleshoot your problems and provide a fast, reliable solution.  

With our computer troubleshooting services, you can rest easy knowing that your computer is in reliable hands and your problem will be taken care of. Our techs will come to your home or office, learn about the problems you are dealing with, and assess your computer or device. There’s no need to connect or disconnect anything. Simply save anything that might not be saved and close out any unnecessary programs, and we’ll take it from there.

We can bring the repairs to you –  

The most inconvenient part of most computer repair services is bringing your equipment into a store. You risk dropping your equipment or losing something along the way, and then you have to come back and pick it all up. Sit tight and we’ll come to you. 

Our techs will come to your home or office, learn about the problems you are dealing with, and assess your computer or device. There’s no need to connect or disconnect anything. Simply save anything that might not be saved and close out any unnecessary programs, and we’ll take it from there. Please call (805) 650-5981 to set up an appointment for an in-home or office visit. (1-hour minimum charge applies).

We understand that you have a few options when it comes to computer repair services in our community, but we are confident that we are the best techs for the job! Why, you may ask? Here are a few reasons:

We work fast without sacrificing quality – 

When your computer is experiencing issues, you want to get it fixed as quickly as possible. But you also don’t want to sacrifice quality and risk dealing with the same issue again in the future. Computer Idiot® knows how to work fast while being thorough and effective. 

We employ experienced techs – 

No matter which tech works on your computer, you can rest assured that they apply their accumulated tech know-how. Your equipment will be in great hands. 

We can repair all types of computers – Whether you have a PC or a Mac, our team is thoroughly experienced with every kind of computer. We know the ins and outs, what makes them work (and not work), and what kind of repairs they require. 

Even small problems with your computer need to be addressed, as they can get worse and eventually cause your system to stop working. Don’t risk losing important information or documents as a result of a sudden crash. Give us a call at the first sign of trouble!

Life moves fast, and it can be hard to keep up sometimes. That’s why you need to know that your computer and other devices are always at the top of their game. When they start acting up – or slowing down – they can severely impact your day and productivity. You deserve devices that work fast, efficiently, and without issue. The team at Computer Idiot® is ready to make sure that’s exactly what you have. We are a computer repair and tech support company that is ready to repair your slow computer or other devices.  

Our computer repair technicians can assist residential clients at their homes and commercial clients at their places of business. We can bring our services to you, so you’ll never have to deal with the hassle of lugging your equipment into a store. For customers with desktops and larger systems, this will make your life quite a bit easier. Just give us a call, let us know what kind of problem you’re dealing with, and we’ll come by to help.

Reasons Your Computer May Run Slowly 

There are quite a few reasons why your computer can run slowly. The Computer Idiot® techs are prepared for all of them. When we arrive at your home or business, our technicians will assess your system, diagnose the problem, and provide a solution. Prior to giving us a call, you can try simple fixes like running a disk cleanup or remove unnecessary programs to free up space. If this doesn’t work, it’s time to reach out to our techs.  

Some common reasons why your computer may run slowly:  

• Spyware or adware 

• Viruses 

• A fragmented hard drive 

• Lack of free space on your hard drive 

• Out of date operating systems, software, or drivers 

If you believe one of the above problems is your issue, or if you’re not sure, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We see these problems daily and can fix many of them promptly to help minimize any down-time or disruptions to your life or business.

You rely on your computer for so many things, it’s crucial that you fully trust the team you hire to fix it. Our computer technicians are the best of the best. Our techs are always upfront and honest with our pricing and available to assist you in the case of an emergency. A slow or broken computer can cause quite a disruption to your day, so we want to make sure we can be there for you whenever you need us.

RAM (short for Random Access Memory) is a kind of temporary data your computer needs in order to run. It’s stored on RAM chips, which are plugged into your computer’s motherboard. A lot of our customers get a bit confused about RAM. If your computer is crashing all the time, running very slowly or if you’re getting blue-screen errors, get in touch with us! We’ll diagnose the problem and if necessary, we can replace your RAM for you. 

What’s the greatest threat to your computer? It’s not hackers. It’s not viruses. It’s not even gremlins (although those are really bad)... it's HEAT!

HEAT is your computer’s most dangerous enemy. Heat places strain on every component of your computer’s inner workings. It causes metals and plastics to degrade and will eventually cause electronic circuitry to fail.   For your computer to run effectively, heat needs to be drawn away from it. Your computer’s fan (or fans - there are frequently multiple fans throughout your computer) is your first line of defense. Without a functioning fan, your computer will likely fail, and fast.

We hear this one fairly often from our customers. Many assume that the fan on their computer isn’t particularly important. After all, how can it be as critical as all the advanced electronics working away doing incredibly complicated and high tech things? All it does is … you know … spin. It turns out, those whirry little things tucked away at the back of our computers play a far more important role than simply creating a bit of white noise. If your fan is clogged with dust or making weird noises, your fan may need servicing or computer fan replacement. Your computer may also require a thorough cleaning, inside and out.

Signs you may need to replace your computer's fan(s):

• Your computer is making weird, repetitive ticking noises 

• An unusual amount of heat is building up in your computer 

• You can see lots of dust clogging the inside of your computer 

• You own pets or live in a dusty environment

Behind the scenes, a lot more is going on when you hit that power-on button! 

Your computer’s power supply is designed to do one job really well. It converts the alternating current (AC) power of your electrical socket into direct current (DC) which is the exact kind of power juice your computer needs to run. It’s also equipped with safeguards to prevent too little or too much power affecting your computer’s performance.   When it’s all functioning as intended, it’s an incredibly efficient process. Unfortunately, when things go wrong, it’s usually not pretty! 

If your computer isn’t turning on, gives off a burning smell or produces odd grinding noises, you may be dealing with a power supply issue. This is not a thing you want to mess about with. Opening up a power supply can expose you to a sufficient electrical charge to really harm you. Contact us at Computer Idiot® and we’ll check your power supply for you, replacing it if necessary.

Signs you may need to replace your computer's power supply:

• A burning or melting smell is coming from your computer 

• You hear electrical buzzing coming from your computer 

• Your computer won’t turn on and is completely dead 

• Your computer frequently becomes extremely hot to the touch

A hard drive (often abbreviated to HD, HDD or SSD) is the part of your computer which stores your data. It’s defined as a “non-volatile” device, which is really just a geeky way of saying that a hard drive will continue to store data even when your computer is turned off. Your hard drive stores everything your computer needs to be useful, from its basic operating system files to the data which makes your software run, right through to your personal files such as photos and documents. 

These days, there are two basic kinds of hard drive. The older kind consists of rapidly rotating disks that are covered in a magnetic material. Magnetic heads connected to a tiny moving arm are able to read and write data to these disks. It’s a surprisingly physical process. The newer kind are referred to as solid state disks (or SSDs). These newer drives have no moving mechanical components, instead of storing data through semiconductors. SSDs are faster and more reliable.

Signs you may need to replace your computer's hard drive (hard disk, HDD):

• Your computer is running slowly or and stalls when you try to open files 

• You are losing files or they are becoming corrupt after you open them 

• You hear rapid clicking or grinding noises coming from inside your computer 

• You’re tired of slow file read/writes 

• Your computer starts running a physical hard drive check when you start up