It takes minutes to start
Usually a mechanical hard drive, or too many programs starting up. Often fixable cheaply.
Computer Repairs Bedford WA 6052
Computer Repairs Bedford Repair, Upgrade or Replace?
Your computer is five years old and slow. Is it worth fixing? We will tell you straight, even if the answer is to leave it alone and save your money.
✓ Honest repair vs replace advice✓ Rate quoted before work✓ 30-day guarantee on workmanship and parts
Making a sensible decision
The Question Everyone Asks About an Old Computer
Most computers we see in Bedford are not dead, they are tired. They take a while to start, the fan runs often and websites hang. The owner wants to know whether to pay for a repair, spend a bit on an upgrade or just buy a new one.
There is no universal answer, but there are some rules of thumb. A machine under about six years old with a decent processor usually responds well to a solid-state drive and extra memory. An older laptop with a worn battery, a cracked hinge and a slow processor probably does not.
We look at the actual machine, what you use it for and what each option would cost, then lay it out in plain terms. Our slow computer repair page explains more about what we check.
Ask Us About Mine
Age-related symptoms
Signs Your Computer Is Showing Its Age
None of these mean it is finished, but they point towards what to look at.
Programs say "not responding"
Not enough memory, or a drive struggling to keep up. Upgrading memory can help a lot.
The fan is loud all the time
Dust and dried thermal paste. A clean often makes the computer quieter and faster.
Windows updates fail repeatedly
Could be low storage or system file damage. Worth checking before it becomes a bigger problem.
The battery lasts twenty minutes
A new battery is usually affordable and can extend a laptop's life by years.
Support for your Windows version has ended
Some older machines cannot upgrade. We explain your options without scare tactics.
How we decide
Three Questions We Always Ask
The answers shape the advice we give.
1
What do you use it for?
Email and browsing need far less than video editing or accounts software. Use sets the bar.
2
What is the weakest part?
A slow drive, too little memory, a bad battery or a failing screen each have different fixes and costs.
3
What does each option cost?
We put the repair, upgrade and replace numbers next to each other so the decision is easy.
Services in Bedford
Options for Ageing Computers
The usual ways to keep a computer going.
Solid-state drive upgrade
Often the best-value way to speed up an older computer. See computer upgrades.
Memory upgrade
Adding RAM where the machine supports it, so you can keep more open without slowdowns.
Battery and screen replacement
Fixing the worn parts so the laptop is usable again. More at laptop repairs.
Moving to a new computer
If replacing is the right call, we move your files and set it up so nothing is lost.
A rule of thumb
When Repairing a Laptop Stops Making Sense
If the repair would cost more than half what a similar new machine would cost, it is worth thinking hard before going ahead. If the laptop is also several years old and slow, the maths gets worse.
On the other hand, a desktop with a good case, a decent processor and a dying drive is often worth keeping. The parts that wear out most are the cheapest to replace.
We try to make this concrete: here is what the repair costs, here is what a new one costs, and here is what we would do. You decide.
The numbers
Cost Comparison Before You Commit
We will show you repair, upgrade and replacement costs side by side, so you are not guessing.
Assessment
Plain advice
We look at the machine and tell you the sensible next step.
Home customers
$132 including GST/hr
For family and personal computers. One-hour minimum, then 30-minute blocks.
Business customers
$165 including GST/hr
For small business machines that need to stay in service. Same minimum and blocks.
Parts and new machines are quoted before you decide. See our pricing page for rates.
Repair or replace questions
Bedford Computer FAQs
What people ask before deciding.
Think about its age, what is wrong and what it costs to fix. We give you a clear comparison.
On a computer with a mechanical hard drive, yes. Startup and loading usually improve noticeably.
Yes. Documents, photos and email are transferred, and we check everything opens.
Home work is $132 including GST per hour with a one-hour minimum. Business work is $165 including GST per hour. Parts are quoted separately.
We can advise on what to buy and help set it up. Our focus is repair and support.
Repairs and parts we supply carry a 30-day guarantee.
Not Sure If It's Worth Fixing?
Tell us the make, age and what it is doing. We will give you an honest first opinion.