Do Computer Repair Shops Need Your Password to Repair Your Computer?
Before taking your computer to a repair shop, it’s important to know if they will need your password for the repair process. Also, remember to make a complete backup of your system before handing it over. This tactic will allow you to avoid potential privacy issues.
Precautions to take before taking your computer in for repairs
One of the most important precautions to take before taking your computer in for repairs is to have a good backup of your data. Having a full backup will give you peace of mind in the event of a problem. If you’re not comfortable creating a backup on your own, there are plenty of free backup tools out there.
Keeping your hard drive below half full will reduce load times. You should also make sure to replace your battery as soon as it begins to run down. Laptop batteries tend not to last very long.
Changing your password may be necessary for your repair person to work. They may also need to delete files containing personal information or financial information. Make sure to ask your repair person about their policy on protecting your privacy.
A good backup plan will protect your data in the event of a hard drive failure, but it is still a good idea to prepare your computer before you drop it off at a computer repair shop. Some computer repair shops will have a checklist for you to follow before you drop your computer off.
Another precaution to take before taking your computer in for repairs involves running a virus scan. It’s a good idea to make an image backup so that you can restore your system if something goes wrong. The best way to do this is to create a copy of your system before you take it in for repairs. This will ensure that if the technician is unable to reinstall software, you can regain access to your computer.
Taking your computer to a repair shop may not be a pleasant experience, but it’s important to prepare your computer before you leave it behind. This will prevent any data loss and allow you to get back to using your PC as quickly as possible.
Preventing privacy violations in computer repair shops
This study from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) was tasked with figuring out what was the best way to keep customer data private. As it turns out, the most effective approach was to ask customers for their device credentials, and then to take the necessary precautions. Of the dozen or so tested laptops, only six actually had their personal information compromised. The most notable exception was an Asus UX330U laptop, which was returned to the shop’s slumber without any user-specific data being divulged.
While a number of shops failed to comply, the only one that didn’t was one that warned customers that they wouldn’t be able to verify work on their machines. One shop actually offered a free service to replace the hard drive, and another offered to take the machine home for a nominal fee. To protect your privacy, never leave your computer unattended, and be sure to create a guest account to access your files. Some reputable companies even offer remote tech support to boot up your device if the worst happens.
One major nitpick: The study was a small sample, comprising only twelve Canadian shops. Several were national service providers and others were local and regional enterprises. Not surprisingly, the data was skewed towards the province’s most populous region. There was no way to gauge the performance of individual shops in the broader context, but it’s worth taking a few minutes to find out if any of your local IT aficionados are up to the task.
Reputable repair shops will give you an estimated amount of time to complete your request
When you need a repair, you want to choose a computer repair shop with a solid reputation. This is important because they will be able to offer you a quality recommendation within a reasonable time frame.
Many shops will also give you an estimate of the repair time. You should not have to wait longer than a few business days to get your computer back. If you need it sooner, you can let the technician know.
Some technicians will even be able to fix your problem remotely. However, this takes their attention away from the on-site issues, and can cost them time.
The cost of repairs can vary depending on the kind of work you need done. For example, a low end MacBook Pro battery replacement can cost from £45 to £50 per hour. On the other hand, a high end laptop can cost upwards of £85 to £90 per hour.
In addition to the repair fees, you should expect to pay a call-out fee. This will cover the technician’s travel time.
We are very grateful to Vlad for his excellent service repairing our personal laptop. Our laptop suddenly got infected with adware popping up everywhere on our computer screen and we needed a speedy and reliable service to get it fixed asap. We came across… More Dr IT Services and were lucky enough to be able to book Vlad on the same day. He very speedily diagnosed and fixed our laptop on the same day, and for a very reasonable price. We cannot recommend Vlad enough for his computer repair services!
I contacted Vlad after my son fried my laptop by using his powerful charger in my less powerful laptop. I was very anxious.
He was very responsive when I made initial contact and I was above to drop my laptop off that morning.
The service was supremely… More professional and very quick. I even brought my son's laptop (which was broken and that is why he was using mine) to be fixed too.
I was given clear prices and expectations for how long the repairs would take. Both repairs were completed very quicker and exceeded expectations.
I would highly recommend Vlad.
Great laptop repair! Fixed my HP envy screen. I was so worried about how much it would cost but Vlad gave a very low cost price and did an excellent job. Looks good as new.
Highly recommend.
I contacted Vlad as my laptop wasn’t working. (Would not power up). I dropped it off to him in the morning. Then later that day he was able to diagnose the fault and put forward a plan to resolve.
Unfortunately it was not economical… More to repair, but he was able to source the perfect replacement for my budget. Which I couldn't be more happy with. For a small fee he was able to transfer all my data over to the new device.
All turned around in a few days.
The service was fast, friendly and had great communication. I would highly recommend to anybody who needs their devices repairing.
Thanks Vlad.
Exceptional service!!
We thought we had lost over 20 years of memories but Vlad at Dr IT Services managed to recover pretty much everything. There is no price to put on memories so to have recovered the data lost was beyond words for us.
The team at… More Dr IT Services excelled in their computer repair, laptop repair, and data recovery services, offering prompt and friendly assistance that was both knowledgeable and reliable, making the entire experience seamless. Their efficient and helpful staff made the whole process stress-free, leaving me completely satisfied with their overall service. Would definitely recommend!
Vlad is exceptional in IT related field.
He saved my data, it was like saving my life literally. At Dr IT services you can assured of a solution for your IT related problems, you can simply close your eyes and can trust him, guy is a genius, I be will… More working with him on several other projects once I am settled in. Thank you Dr IT services 😊
5/5 .
Merry Christmas Vlad..cheers see you around!
I bought an expensive gaming laptop which was shutting down whilst gaming, and I suspected it might be because the operating temperatures were too high.I reached out to Vlad one morning and he offered to take a look at the laptop and repair it the same… More day. He was very polite and knowledgeable about the laptop I'd bought and about the CPU and GPU therein, and was aware that they were prone to overheating. He knew immediately what to do to fix it, so I left my laptop with him and shortly thereafter Vlad let me know that he had finished and the laptop was ready to collect. He was so efficient I could barely believe it! He took pictures throughout the process of the internals (before and after his repair) and showed me them on arrival.I took the laptop home and sure enough the operating temps are ~15c less and the laptop now works perfectly. Thank you Vlad! And all for a very reasonable price. Please do not hesitate if you are thinking about using Vlad! If I need anything IT related from now on, Vlad will be my first point of call!
Vlad was incredible! So generous with his time, explained everything so well and was great communicating. Cannot recommend him highly enough.Don't look around for someone else, if you've got a problem this is the guy you need to see!
Vlad is excellent to use. I was looking for a computer repair in the area and came across him. Contact very easy and dropped the laptop down straight away. My son had broken his screen. Good communication with Vlad and efficient repair. Kept me updated… More throughout the process. Reasonably priced. Overall, i wouod recommend Vlad if you need any repairs doing, i will be using him again if i need to
Dr IT Services: Exceptional ServiceI recently entrusted Dr IT Services with the repair of my water-damaged laptop, which required a motherboard replacement. I am delighted to commend their exceptional service.Dr IT Services exhibited professionalism and… More expertise throughout the repair process. He provided clear and concise explanations of the necessary work, alleviating my concerns. To my great relief, the repair was completed efficiently, and my laptop was restored to full working order.I would wholeheartedly recommend Dr IT Services to anyone in need of computer repair services. Their technical competence and commitment to customer satisfaction are truly commendable.Very satisfied customer
Vlad was really great. He was highly professional and very helpful in sorting out my problem which required a new motherboard. He did an excellent job fitting the new motherboard at a very good price.
He even helped me return the defective motherboard… More that was sent in error as I was outside the country, which reflects his helpful nature.
I have used his services more than once, and he helped me repair 3 different laptops. I don't go to anyone before asking him first for help.
I highly recommend that you talk to him if you have any issues with a PC before going to someone else.
Exceptional Service!!!I had some issues with my PC last week, with my SSD, and I thought I have lost my university assessments because my PC did not open anymore. Another issue was that I did not know anyone in my area that could fix my PC but I am glad… More that I have found and meet Vlad. He manage to fix my PC in one day just in time to be able to send my assessment to the university in time and the problem was solved. Vlad is a really great person and i would recommend him to anyone from now on if they have issues with their devices.
Thank you so much to Vlad and his knowledgable contacts! My hard drive had corrupted and I thought I had lost thousands of family photos - you can imagine how devastating that feels. Although Vlad could not recover them all, he was able to facilitate… More a company to do it on his behalf. It felt like Christmas to be reunited with them after months of uncertainty. I have no hesitation in recommending Dr IT.
Vlad has done an excellent job on our lap top, which needed updating, both in hardware and software terms. We hope to get a good few more years out of it. He is very knowledgeable and helpful, and goes the extra mile when there are any unforeseen issues.… More I can certainly recommend him.
Vlad brought my computer back to life with the excellent work he did. He replaced fans, battery, fixed the keyboard, mouse and did a deep cleaning of my computer. The annoying sound of the ventilation and other problems my laptop had were solved efficiently.… More Every part replaced was original. Vlad also gave me a good price with multiple discounts. My laptop now works like new. Laptop brand: MSI GS65 Stealth Thin. Thank you very much, Vlad. Highly recommended.
10/10Great guy, very knowledgeable, dependable and personable. I brought a mission to Vlad. I wanted to upgrade my near 6-7 year old PC for streaming and gaming. And boy did he deliver. I gave him a list of games that I wanted to play and within a day… More he sent me a list of upgrades I needed with a run down on why. He got the work done quickly and efficiently. Happy with the service! I would definitely recommend Vlad to anyone. Thanks man!
Vlad provide a honest and reliable service to fix my old laptop that I thought could not be fixed! He provided a great price and a very quick service. I will definitely use his services in the future!
I was stuck. Really busy and relying on my laptop and it stopped working. What to do? Take it to a repair shop but, which one? So, search reviews, phone a couple of people and the one that seemed to come up with good reviews and also speedy term around… More was Dr IT services.The machine went down there even though it was someway from my home. Good decision! Repaired in the day with a very clear explanation as to what was wrong and assurance that the computer was like new – it is – and then a very helpful tutorial as to what to look out for in the future to make sure it stays in good nick. From beginning to end there was a feeling of competence matched by courtesy. I will certainly be returning should I have any further issues. Great service.
The laptop that I use for university had been disturbed by a water leak in my backpack. The screen was broken but was at a level which was fine for the laptop to completely operate and to slightly still see things on the screen. However hours after on… More the same day after the leak, the laptop screen was completely broken which showed the flashing of bright lights. The next day after continuously looking for reliable technicians, I saw Dr IT Services (Vlad) and decided to give him a call. I explained the situation to him and he gave me an educated and knowledgeable response on to what might be the issue with my laptop. I asked him if I could come to him physically to see what the issue was and he politely accepted the offer. He had an intensive look at my laptop and concluded that it was only the screen that had been damaged and nothing else. He then offered me a very exceptional laptop screen repair service that was incredibly affordable. He repaired my laptop and I could honestly say that he did an amazing job. I highly recommend Vlad due to his excellent knowledge, professionalism and kindness.
Over time, my laptop had become slow and unresponsive. I needed an upgrade, and more importantly, a reliable computer repair service. That's when I discovered Dr IT Services. Vlad diagnosed the issue promptly, explaining the process in a language… More I could understand - no complicated tech jargon!What sets Dr IT Services apart is Vlad's dedication to customer satisfaction. He not only fixed my laptop but also offered useful tips on maintaining its performance. His services are a blend of expertise, efficiency, and value for money.If you're in Birmingham and searching for 'computer repair near me', look no further than Dr IT Services. I left with a laptop that felt brand new, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing I now have a go-to computer repair shop.
Thorough, extremely knowledgeable and even more patient. Fixed my noisy fans in a very timely one day service and assisted with my queries thereafter. You can’t find better IT care at such a reasonable price point.
I have to commend Vlad for his work on my laptop,never having need of repairs before I was worried I might not get the service I wanted.I looked at the reviews and chose Vlad and so glad I did he was so pleasant to deal with and the service was impeccable… More and the price was a lot less than I expected.If you need repairs have no worries about Dr IT, fantastic reliable service and repaired in 48 hrs.
Dr IT services is a very competent and supportive unit. I am happy to use them again and again if required. They also have links with further experts. I almost lost my data when ny laptop suddenly broke down and they helped me to recover them!
I highly recommend Dr IT's expertise and services. Vlad was very persistent on a difficult problem with my son's laptop, honest with the issues, and I am very happy with the repair. Thank you!!
A good repair shop will reset passwords, if requested, and charge a small additional fee. They will also be happy to answer your questions. There are also many online forums and groups where you can find information on how to use your computer.
When you are working with a computer repair shop, you should provide a detailed description of your issue. You should also put the information in writing. That way, you won’t forget it once they begin working.
Computers are a very important part of our daily lives. If you are having trouble with your computer, it can be a significant hassle. It can also cost you productivity.
Making a full backup of your system before you drop off your laptop
If you have a computer or laptop and you are planning to take it to a repair shop, you want to make a full backup of your system. This will help you keep your data safe and sound in the event of an accidental or intentional mishap.
In this day and age, the computer has become an indispensable part of our lives. With the rise of social media, email, and other online services, it is important to keep your digital files safe. You can do this by using a backup solution to back up your files.
One of the best ways to do this is with a software or hardware backup tool. These products will allow you to store your files in the cloud. They are also able to do a full backup of your hard drive, ensuring that your data is safe even if you have a catastrophic failure.
Aside from using a backup solution to back up your data, it is also a good idea to store the hard drive in a safe location. An external hard drive is a great option. Even though the device may be connected to your desktop, it is a good idea to connect it to an uninterruptible power supply.
There are also some manual methods to save your files. For instance, you can back up the hard drive with a portable USB storage drive or copy your files to a cloud service such as Dropbox.
Another way to back up your data is to create a system image. This is a digital replica of your entire system, including its software and hardware, and is the best way to restore your Windows 10 system after a major hardware or software failure.
Encrypting your files to protect important files
Encrypting your files helps protect your computer from data breaches and unauthorized access. If your files include personal information, such as credit card numbers, bank account details, or any other sensitive information, encrypting them can help keep your information safe and secure.
Whether you are an individual or a business owner, protecting your confidential information from unauthorized access is a crucial concern. To encrypt your files, you can use a number of different programs. These programs are designed to work with the specific security settings of your computer’s operating system. Some programs are built-in to your computer, while others are available as free, open-source software.
One of the easiest ways to encrypt your files is to use the Windows native encryption tool. You can do this by going to Settings, System, and About, then Device Encryption.
Before you enable encryption, you should back up your data. This will make it easier to recover your files if you do have a problem. It is also a good idea to have your files backed up on an external hard drive or a cloud service.
Another option is to encrypt your entire hard drive. In this case, you will need an encryption key, which will require certain hardware to operate. The downside is that you will not be able to move or delete encrypted files on the drive.
Encrypting your files is a quick and easy way to protect your desktop or laptop from a thief or other criminal. However, be sure to backup your computer regularly and keep your recovery key somewhere safe. Otherwise, you could lose all your data.
If you want to encrypt your files, you can try a free, open-source program such as 7-Zip. This program has high compression and uses AES-256 encryption to encrypt your data.
Hi, I'm Vlad Tabaranu. I'm your local computer and laptop repair specialist in Birmingham, and I've been providing top-notch IT services for over two decades!
Since April 2000, I've been dedicated to solving all kinds of computer problems, consistently ranking among the top 3 computer repair services in Birmingham. My commitment to excellence has been recognized with prestigious awards, including:
1. Is your PC/laptop noisy or overheating? Get it internally cleaned and have the thermal paste replaced!
2. Is your PC/laptop slow? Replace your current storage device with an SSD or nVme!
3. ALWAYS keep your important data on cloud! I recommend MEGA.nz for 2 reasons: I) it's end-to-end encrypted & II) it's cheaper per TB of data than Dropbox and Google Drive
4. SECURITY Surf the web without tracking with a VPN Surfshark
5. SECURITY Realtime keystroke encryption protects your typed info from keystroke capturing malware in all browsers and major apps. KeyScrambler