Services Overview

We specialize in both house calls and also laptop repair.

The house calls (or office calls or small business calls) cover a very wide variety of problems. Basically, if something is not working right, we can take care of it. You don't have to worry about crawling under your desk, unplugging your computer, and hauling it off to a store. We'll come directly to you, and we'll help you solve the problem on the spot.

In the rare case that a problem requires the computer to be repaired off-site, we will still pick it up, repair it at our facility, and then hook it back up for you -- just like it was! You don't need to worry about any of that; just let us come and evaluate your situation, and we'll let you know what we would recommend.

Laptop repair can be a lifesaver, and it's a service we offer to anybody in the world! If you are outside of the St. Louis metro area, don't worry! Just contact us, explain the problem, and we'll give you shipping instructions. We'll stay in touch with you via e-mail, and once your laptop is fixed, we'll carefully package it and send it on back to you.

Other services we offer include computer training, consulting, and setup of new computers and component. We can even help you migrate from your old computer to a new one, without losing your files, pictures, documents, or e-mails.

Troubleshooting

You know that something's not quite right with your computer. Maybe it's slower than it used to be, perhaps programs start crashing, the printer isn't working right, or maybe you can't get online like you used to. Whatever the case, we can troubleshoot the problem and fix it -- and, in most cases, on the spot.

In the event that there is a more severe problem with your computer, we will diagnose it, explain the problem to you, give our recommendations to resolve it, as well as estimated costs for the job, and then we'll let you make the decision.

Optimization/Upgrades

When a computer isn't running as fast as it used to, don't throw it out, and don't give up on it! Oftentimes, there is a lot we can do to speed things up, even withot opening the computer up.

There are many tweaks and optimization tricks we can employ in order to make sure that you're getting the most of your hardware and, in turn, greatly speeding things up! Additionally, we can run a general checkup on your system, just to make sure everything is as it should be. If we find anything that is not ideal, we will let you know and discuss your options.

When tweaking isn't enough, it can be a good idea to physically get inside the computer. Quite often, a little hardware upgrade can go a long way in terms of computer performance. Whether it's a hard drive upgrade, more memory (or RAM), or a DVD burner, we can order the parts and install them.

New Computers

If you have just ordered a new computer and you need help setting it up, give us a call! We can hook everything up, make sure the computer is running properly, and even set up your Internet connection, your printer, your digital camera, or any other devices you may have. We can also discard of your old computer for you.

File Transferring

Most people run into a bit of a problem when they finally buy a new computer: How in the world do I get my files from my old computer? You don't have to say goodbye to your old photos, documents, e-mails, and favorites. Instead, take them with you! We can help you transfer all of your valuable information from the old computer and put it all onto the new one.

Backups

It is extremely easy to overlook the importance of having a backup system in place. But what happens if, one day, you turn on the computer, and you find your hard drive has conked out? All of a sudden, all of your important files are gone! If a hard drive is completely dead, the chances of recovering your data (without paying a very high premium) are nil.

A backup system is so crucial because, eventually, all hard drives die. The sad thing is, oftentimes there is no clear warning when a hard drive is going out. Things will be working fine until, all of a sudden, your files are corrupted or are inaccessible altogether.

The beauty of a backup system is that it's so cost-effective and so maintenance-free. You pay for a one-time installation and setup, you tell us what files and folders should be backed up, and we will set up a schedule where the computer will automatically back up those files -- without you lifting a finger!

If you had a backup system in place, then a hard drive crash is nothing to worry about. We simply restore your data from your backup hard drive, and then you are good to go! If, unfortunately, you did not have a backup system in place prior to the crash, then it can be extremely difficult to retreive your files.

How do you determine if you need a backup system? Just imagine that tomorrow morning you discover that your hard drive is dead. If there is anything that you would miss, then you really should have a backup system.

Data Recovery

Oftentimes, a hard drive will not actually crash, but files will still be missing or corrupted. Or, we may just absent-mindedly delete a file, and only afterwards do we realize that we needed it!

If this is you, and you did not have a backup system in place, we can still help you! If the hard drive is still working, oftentimes we can "undelete" files, even when they are seemingly gone from the computer.

Due to the nature of hard drives and computers, this procedure is not as sure-fire as anybody would like, but one thing is for sure: The sooner, the better. If you have lost any kind of data, your best course action would be to immediately stop using the computer and get in touch with us.

Viruses/Spyware

Viruses and spyware can be very dangerous, as they can often come in under the radar and do not even make themselves apparent until damage is done. Aside from slowing down your computer and making it very unstable, viruses can actually destroy your data.

If you suspect you have a virus, we can scan your computer, discover any viruses, and remove them. Additionally, we can help you avoid getting them in the future, both by giving advice, but more importantly, by patching the holes that allowed the viruses in in the first place. A properly-secured computer should be virus-proof.

Security/Updates

This goes hand-in-hand with the previous section. One major cause for viruses is holes or vulnerabilities in operating systems or programs. Virus-makers exploit these holes and release a virus that will take advantage of the flaw. The good news is that when a hole is discovered, it's not long afterwards that a patch is released by the manufacturer, fixing the hole.

We can install any necessary updates to Windows and ensure that both Windows and your virus-protection software is up-to-date. Virus protection is very important, but it quickly loses its value if it's not kept current. We can make sure that everything is up-to-date and that your computer isn't a virus-friendly place.

Networking

Whether you have troubles with your existing network (wireless or wired), you want to add an additional computer, or you want to install a new network altogether, we can take care of you.

Also, if you're interested in sharing your files or printer over the network, so that other computers can access them, we can set that up for you.

Wireless Network Security

Wireless networks are great! They're so handy. You can roam around your house with your laptop and stay online. You can even, from your back yard, access files on your computer in the den. Unfortunately, if you can access them, there's a good chance your neighbors, or anyone nearby who has a laptop, can as well!

This, of course, is very alarming. What's even worse is it seems most wireless networks are unsecured -- basically leaving them wide-open to anybody. Thankfully, wireless networks can be secured so that you can have the best of both worlds. You can enjoy access to your wireless network from wherever you want, and you can be confident that nobody else is exploring your network.

If you're not certain whether or not your network is properly protected, we would strongly advise you to make sure that it is! We can come to your home or office, do a wireless network analysis, and make sure that your network is safe from intruders. That way, you enjoy the freedom of a wireless network, and you don't have to worry about other people having access to it.

Consulting/Training

You may not have a computer problem per se, but you are simply seeking some advice. Maybe you're about to buy a new computer, or you're considering switching Internet service providers. Whatever the case, we would be happy to listen to you and give you our recommendations on whatever is on your mind! Technology can be very confusing at times, and we would be happy to give you a comprehensive explanation of whatever it is that has you wondering.

Also, we are happy to provide friendly and easy-to-follow training on many procedures. Whether it's hooking up your digital camera, burning a DVD, or updating your software, we'll be happy to teach you!