Look for sources of free help to repair computer "bugs."
Computer owners are always keen to find sources of free help and repairs for their broken PCs. But while this is a natural inclination, it's not always possible to find real help for free. Computer repair is, after all, a skilled profession, and not all problems can be fixed by amateurs. There are, however, a few sources for reliable free help on the Internet and in your hometown that you can try before resorting to paid help from a pro.
Instructions
1. Turn to Google, or other search engines, for free help. Professional repair technicians turn to the Internet all the time when they see a new problem they're unfamiliar with. Type your computer's most serious symptom into the search box, and view the search results. There are literally millions of websites on the Internet devoted to sharing information about computer problems. Some of the best "techie" sites are forums where hardcore "geeks" gather to swap problems and solutions. Helpful sites include TechRepublic, MajorGeeks, BleepingComputer, Tom'sHardware, and PCMech.
2. Read many potential articles and forum discussions about your problem before choosing a solution. Don't choose the first suggestion; drill deeper into the question, and check out several suggestions found on different websites before choosing one to test. Bookmark each site as you enter it to prevent losing the path to a site that looked promising.
3. Look for discussions and suggestions that provide step-by-step instructions. Many of these free sites will offer very clear answers. BleepingComputer, for example, offers a complete tutorial on use a tool like ComboFix to destroy the worst viruses.
4. Examine these forum discussions and threads and look for reactions from other readers. If the suggested "fix" works or doesn't work the other forum users will usually say so. If a writer proposes a fix and no one responds to it, keep looking. Go with solutions that at least two or three other people have tried and also recommend.
5. Do all your research and reading before you leap to download "tools" or software that claim to fix your problem. They could be virus traps looking for desperate victims. If a tool is that good, other techs will praise it on other sites. Google the proposed tool, and ask "Is X tool infected?" If it is, other geeks will say so.
6. Print out the instructions you want to test; don't try to follow from an image on the monitor.
7. Understand the directions before proceeding. If you don't understand a term, Google it.
8. Seek real-life free help if your Google search fails you. Take your computer to a small independent computer repair store, and see if there is any kind of free help available there. Offer to swap something of value for the help, including your own labor. Many small computer repair stores will make special "deals" like this. Don't bother "big box" repair stores with a request for free assistance; they won't be able to help, due to corporate policies.
9. Contact local high school or junior college Computer Repair classes and find out if free "clinic" services are available. Many computer maintenance teachers will jump at "real world" repair opportunities for their students like this.
Tags: free help, before choosing, forum discussions, like this, repair stores, sources free
