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Seeking Second Opinions
On PC Repairs

Seeking a second opinion on proposed PC repairs is a good idea. There are some companies that give bad advice on PC repairs just to sell hardware and software. Here is an example of when you should seek a second opinion. I was called because a PC could not connect to the Internet using Verizon DSL. There had been a storm and as thunderstorms often do, it destroyed the PC’s DSL link. The blinking link light on their DSL modem signaled accurately that the DSL link was down. Verizon was summoned and they got the link operating properly in short order, but then the trouble began. Although the link was operating, they could not make a connection to the Internet. At this point the Verizon person was no help because they do not specialize in PC connections – they only specialize in connections from the DSL modem to the Verizon Network.

The PC was left with a repaired DSL connection but no Internet connectivity. Someone suggested that the Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) might be bad and need replacement. A bad Ethernet NIC most certainly prevents connecting to the Internet. At this point a second opinion may have resolved the problem. When I am called, I try to help the caller diagnose and solve their problem over the phone. I do this because I do not want to run out on a repair call and do nothing.

So off the PC went to a mainly blue color nationwide electronics store (not the one that is French owned) with on-site service that is slickly advertised as a police like unit flashing badges. At the store the PC was handed to them with a request to install an Ethernet NIC card. The card was installed, the PC returned home and the Internet connection was again tried to no avail. Advice on increasing the PC’s RAM would make the DSL work and work better was also dispensed. Increasing RAM would not make any Internet connection work, but would improve PC performance.

At this point I was called. As I explained over the phone how to step by step diagnose the problem, it became apparent that I needed to physically show them what to do. They invited me to come over so I went. What I discovered was that the problem was simply a misconnection. The physical wires from the Ethernet NIC to their Linksys router to the Verizon DSL modem were not plugged into the correct ports on the Linksys router. Just changing the places that the cables plugged into the router resolved the problem. More importantly, their Ethernet NIC was good and did not need to be replaced. I explained exactly what was wrong, and suggested that their original Ethernet NIC might be good. They had the original Ethernet NIC. We replaced the new NIC with it and it worked.

It just makes me angry when large organizations advertise technical competence but take advantage of the situation because a customer has no clue that they are being charged for unneeded repairs. When the store technician plugged their original Ethernet NIC into the store’s network, they had to immediately know that it worked and did not need replacement. Instead of charging them $5.00 diagnostic time (a very fair price for the store and the customer), the customer was sold an unneeded Ethernet NIC to generate more revenue for the store.

Trusting slick TV advertising is no substitute for a second opinion from a knowledgeable technical person.


Link to Missouri Computer Repair Reviews

P. D. Moulton and Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server computer support, and virus & spyware removal. Dial-A-Nerd repairs PC (s), computers, networks, removes viruses & spyware and upgrades slow computers 24 hours a day 7 days a week. DialANerd provides immediate remote access as well as fixed price computer repair, network repair, virus & spyware removal services at its local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair shop. Repair completion is typically 24-hours to 48-hours. Dial A Nerd recovers hard disk data and saves your data. Each hard disk is tested for errors for free. Dial A Nerd makes a fixed disk image, recovers and saves your data for about a 90% of the desktop computer, laptop computer, and netbook PC (s) serviced. Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair business provides fast PC repair, computer repair, desktop computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, and virus & spyware removal services with a warranty. Dial A Nerd works on many PCs including Sony computers, Gateway computers, Hewlett Packard computers, Compaq computers, Toshiba computers, Emachines computers, Clone PCs, and Dell computers in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD). The Dial A Nerd mission is delivering the best quality, affordable cost effective PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, desktop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, virus & spyware removal, home PC repair, printer configuration, PC - desktop computer - laptop computer - netbook computer performance optimization & speed up service. Homes and small businesses with limited IT service and IT support budgets in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) hire Dial A Nerd.


© 2000-2013 P. D. Moulton
DialANerd
7146 Rivers Edge Road Columbia, MD 21044 US
Phone: 410-531-5890 Website: dialanerd.com