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The sales pitch sounds good and is well rehearsed. $19.99 Diagnostic or $29.99 Computer Tune Up touting Hundreds of System Enhancements to make your computer run better. Run a quick registry check, do a quick dirty defrag, shut off a few things and do a basic virus and spyware scan that perhaps fixes a few very basic problems but reveals the existence of much much more work needing to be done.
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Invariably You'll need advanced virus removal $$, advanced spyware and malware removal $$, updates $$, a new anti-virus and anti-spyware solution which they happen to have in stock $$$ and can install for you $$. If that game doesn't run you'll need a better video card $$$$ which they can install $$.
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If your hard drive fails you'll need a new drive which they happen to have in store stock $$$, Operating system install which they can do $$, applications installed, new versions all of which you should buy and they have in stock $$$ and can install $$ including aforementioned anti-virus and anti-spyware and of course you'll want to save/recover or transfer your old data to your new hard drive $$$$. Don't want to spend all that wellllll we just happen to have a wonderful selection of new computers on sale we can sell you as a replacement and our extended service plans can save you from having this happen to you again. (Read the fine print)
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That laptop that won't recharge needs a new motherboard $$$$$$ not just a powerjack replacement and if that's too expensive we have a nice selection of new laptops in stock we can sell you as a replacement, all well known and trusted brand names of course.
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The sad part is that these services are both legitimate and at times misleading. Techs often spend as much or more time in sales training as they do in honing their technical skills and double as sales floor personnel.
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Many of their technical personel are fresh from school or training, not all that experienced and in the process of career building. These jobs are not as well paid and so these companies have difficulty hiring and retaining more experienced techs.
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As a result they "fix" according to a standardized methodology which often misdiagnoses and doesn't fix the most persistent Viruses or Spyware problems and misses intermittent hardware problems. (The most difficult to diagnose) The underlying methodology to all repairs, be they software or hardware is to sell sell sell, with an eye to the easiest, most profitable solution even if the solution doesn't fix the most serious problems.
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Advanced Virus & Spyware Removal usually means running two or three different anti-something scans with software the most persistent and nefarious viruses and spyware have been written specfically to avoid. Rarely does it mean poking through the registry looking at coded numbered entries looking for clues to it's origination, intent and links to other files. Here you can wind up spending hundreds and not get it really fixed. Sometimes it makes more sense to get your data off, wipe the machine clean and start with a clean slate. Does your tech tell you when you're in that situation?
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Hardware diagnosis usually defaults to the easiest, most profitable solution. Example: replace the entire motherboard of a laptop as opposed to replacing the broken power jack. Granted the entire motherboard is a preferable solution giving you an entire new assembly as opposed to a "repaired" one but the economics sometimes are enough to reccomend one over the other as an option. A $200.00 repair as opposed to a $600.00 replacement for example though sometimes the replacement cost is close enough to repair cost that the replacement makes better sense. Also, At what point does it make better sense to purchase a new computer and does your tech let you know when?