Express PC Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions: We tend to receive a lot of phone calls with similar problems. On this page you'll find a run-down of them, with some suggested solutions and/or prices. Please use this page as a guide only; actual prices may vary depending on seriousness of the problems (and accuracy of this list!). Express PC Solutions is not responsible for anything that happens to your computer as a result of using this list to attempt to solve any problems.

I'm getting a lot of pop-ups! Most likely, your computer is infected with one or more programs commonly known as spyware, adware, malware, or several other names. These programs are designed to place ads on your screen (sometimes when you're not even online!) in order to sell a product or service. Many of these ads are deceptive -- some will say things like "Your system is infected! Click here to clean it now" or similar phrases. Windows will never change your desktop background or pop up infection notices in your taskbar (the area at the bottom-right corner of the screen). If this has happened, it is highly recommended to get your computer cleaned. Some of these programs can stay resident in memory even while running a scanner on your hard drive; as a result, when the scan is complete, you can still be infected! At Express PC Solutions, we are your number one source for removal of these programs. Most times we can completely clean the system without any data loss, even if you don't have a recent backup of your files.

Do I have to take the computer to your shop? No! We offer both in-store service as well as on-site service to all our customers. In addition, there is no additional travel fee for any customer within 15 miles of the store, and only a small surcharge beyond that. Your time does not start until we're at your house and ready to work! Some problems, such as random rebooting and freezing, are better suited to in-store repair, as we have a complete inventory on-hand to assure we've got what you need to fix the problem. Ideal on-site repairs include virus and spyware removal, high speed internet setup, and general computer problems/errors.

Can you tell me how to fix it over the phone? For some small problems, we can attempt to help you repair things over the phone. However, remember that every single user's computer is different. Everyone has different hardware and software running, and even two computers with the same model number can often have vastly different hardware. Spyware and virus problems often cannot be solved over the phone at all, as they require specialized software to remove the infected files. In addition to all this, remember that any time spent on the phone is time we can't work on a computer that is on the bench! We strongly urge you to either bring your computer to us for any problems you may be having, or to schedule an on-site service call.

We had a storm and I can't get online! If you use a dial-up (a regular phone line connection) internet service, and you don't have any surge protection on your phone line, it's very possible that your modem has been hit with a damaging power surge. This is the most common form of surge to hit a computer, as most people have their systems connected to an electrical surge protector but not one that handles the telephone connection as well. Fortunately this is typically a cheap fix -- modems for most computers are as low as $13.00, and they do not require much bench time to repair. If you use a high-speed connection, you will want to get ahold of your service provider (probably Verizon, Charter, or Cox) and have them test the equipment before you bring your system in, as if the problem lies in their modem, we will not be able to replace it.

The power jack is broken on my laptop, or my laptop won't charge! A broken power jack is the most common laptop problem we see here. A sure-fire sign that your laptop jack is broken is to see if it wiggles around an excessive amount. Some jacks do have a little bit of movement, but if you can physically move the plug around quite a bit, the jack has more than likely come off the motherboard. Another sign is if the battery does not charge unless the plug is pulled in a certain direction, or held in place. If your jack is broken, we can usually repair or replace it! Bring the laptop in and we will inspect it to see if the problem appears to be fixable. Many people assume that because the part is attached to the motherboard, it's not replaceable without swapping out the entire board. This is not true and we can usually have you up and running again in about a week.