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Need Computer Repair Advice
01/18/11 | Self

Posted on 01/18/2011 1:32:48 PM PST by Robe

What would be a fair price to perform the following on HP laptop ???


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
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I have just retired from a 11 year Tech Support job at a large High School servicing 400+ desktops and laptops.
I have the necessary skills but have no idea of what to charge.
So my adroit and sage freepers let me hear from you... What would be a fair price to perform the following on a HP laptop ???
1 Format Hard Drive
2 Install Win Xp with Service Pack 3
3 Microsoft Office Package
4 AVG Virus Software
5 Adobe Acrobat
6 Cleaning of the keyboard, screen and case.
7 Diagnostics of the entire system after to check hard drive, cdrom,floppy, etc.
And I have all the necessary software and licenses needed for the service installation.
1 posted on 01/18/2011 1:32:51 PM PST by Robe
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To: Robe

Who pays the cost for the license software?


2 posted on 01/18/2011 1:34:32 PM PST by lormand (A Government who robs Peter to pay Paul, will always have the support of Paul)
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To: Robe

Buy a new one


3 posted on 01/18/2011 1:34:47 PM PST by al baby (Hi Mom!!! <sarc>)
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To: lormand
...meant to ask...

Are you providing the licensed software, or does the customer provide it?

4 posted on 01/18/2011 1:35:32 PM PST by lormand (A Government who robs Peter to pay Paul, will always have the support of Paul)
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To: Robe

$200.00


5 posted on 01/18/2011 1:36:00 PM PST by evets (beer)
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To: lormand

never mind...didn’t read the last line


6 posted on 01/18/2011 1:36:10 PM PST by lormand (A Government who robs Peter to pay Paul, will always have the support of Paul)
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To: Robe

Any laptop with a “floppy” is probably too old to service.


7 posted on 01/18/2011 1:40:47 PM PST by the_Watchman (Healthcare reform was never about health.)
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To: Robe

BTW, I have a servicable laptop with one problem. The electrical jack where the power cord plugs in is faulty and it need to be replaced. I have been told it’s one of the toughest repairs on a laptop. Can this be true?


8 posted on 01/18/2011 1:41:29 PM PST by muir_redwoods (Obama. Chauncey Gardiner without the homburg.)
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To: Robe

“Fair” is a meaningless term. Charge what the market will bear.

If you are providing a quality service, you’ll find that you can charge more than others. If your service stinks, you’ll find you have to charge less.

I know you wanted a number, but it just doesn’t work that way. I have a guy that does all our heat/ac work. He charges more than the going rate, but I know the work is done right and he is dependable. If I have a question or problem I know he’ll be over in the dead of night to fix it if needed.

Tip:

One area you can get into is setting up a PC to hook up to a big screen TV. Applications (netflix, hulu, tuner card, windows media player, etc...) and hardware (hdmi video card, wireless keyboard & mouse). Big hole in the market right now.

“Install Win Xp with Service Pack 3”

Ummm... You are a couple of generations of operating systems behind the times.


9 posted on 01/18/2011 1:42:36 PM PST by Brookhaven (Moderates = non-thinkers)
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To: Robe
7 Diagnostics of the entire system after to check hard drive, cdrom,floppy, etc. And I have all the necessary software and licenses needed for the service installation.

Just curious, what do you use for said diagnostics?

10 posted on 01/18/2011 1:43:54 PM PST by Las Vegas Ron (The Tree of Liberty did not grow from an ACORN!)
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To: Robe

The local ‘repair’ shop did everything you listed (albeit they installed OPEN OFFICE) execept for number 6 (because I didn’t take in the monitor or keyboard - I have a tower instead of a laptop) for $60. Cleaning a laptops keyboard (properly) can be a tricky and time consuming thing, so the cost might be higher for a laptop.

My best suggestion is that you call some local repair shops and see what they charge.


11 posted on 01/18/2011 1:44:57 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: Robe

Not much help, but my local PC repair shop charges $75 to reload the operating system, if they or you already have the license key.


12 posted on 01/18/2011 1:45:28 PM PST by Truth29
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To: muir_redwoods

same thing happened with one of my stepkids’ computers...cost around $200 to get it fixed...and is, apparently, a fairly common issue...the jack was partly broken off and very loose


13 posted on 01/18/2011 1:46:55 PM PST by Razwan (Yeah, yeah, I know...Razwan, member since 30 June 2000)
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To: Robe

Your car dealer would charge you $75 per hour to repair your car. Are you any less skilled?


14 posted on 01/18/2011 1:47:35 PM PST by Poser (Cogito ergo Spam - I think, therefore I ham)
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To: muir_redwoods

The problem with the power jack was a standard issue with early HP Pavilions. When mine went bad I had to use the cradle for power during the last two months until I got my new Dell. This is so common that I located online instructions and a site in the U.K. which would perform the service for around $50. (Don’t ask. I have lost the references.)


15 posted on 01/18/2011 1:47:56 PM PST by the_Watchman (Healthcare reform was never about health.)
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To: Robe

If it’s a federal computer that’s in question, I think $1,000,000,000,000 should be a fair price.


16 posted on 01/18/2011 1:48:06 PM PST by cajuncow
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To: Robe

Are you logged in?

:-/

Does it have to be HP?

Buy a new one. Or buy a Mac.


17 posted on 01/18/2011 1:49:24 PM PST by AFreeBird
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To: Robe

I’d agree $200+ if your including real licences, if your going to be doing this alot you shouls slipstream this all in to 1 install cd. Had to replace my SO’s vista 64 drive, would have done it myself but I’m running xp and ran into partition format problems. Had to go to bestbuy. drive was about $100 and copying the partitions was another $100(and they screwed up the diagnostic partition at that)


18 posted on 01/18/2011 1:49:30 PM PST by waynesa98
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To: Robe

$150 to $200 is about the going rate. Keep in mind that this is a pretty straight forward job, seeing as you are starting out with what used to be called the old F.F.R., Fdisk, Format and Reinstall.


19 posted on 01/18/2011 1:49:34 PM PST by Mr. Jazzy (God bless the United States of America and protect her from the enemies of freedom.)
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To: muir_redwoods

Yes, it is a pain! minimum charge here to take the laptop apart and inspect it is $135.00.

The reason to inspect it is that sometimes the motherboard is cracked or damaged by people wiggling the jack or propping the adapter plug on something so it makes contact and the board breaks.

At that point replace the laptop.


20 posted on 01/18/2011 1:50:14 PM PST by jdietz (God is great, beer is good and people are crazy, (which is why guns are necessary))
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