Diagnosing a client's PC...

Topic: Diagnosing a client's PC... (Read 4010 times) previous topic - next topic

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #15 – February 10, 2006, 02:08:27 PM

PS would be my first guess, also try a new power cord if you are using hers, ppl do very strange things with those, those compaq PSU's are ass.

this will cause all kinds of problems, including the clunk as the drive it not getting enough power to spin up.

second, heat (could also be caused by bad voltages) clean everything up and make sure nothing is getting toasty hot.

third would be cpu or MB.. either one can cause similar symtops. but my first stop would be ac cord, then psu (if nothing is on fire when the symtoms start and the cpu fan is all clean ect.. )

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #16 – February 13, 2006, 02:42:30 AM

Well, here's an update. I tried a working PS with no results. So, I figure, it's about 90% chance that it'll be the motherboard. A couple problems here, though.

First, the known good board I was going to test out is a regular ATX form factor, and this thing, being a compaq, uses what appears to be a Mini ATX (3 PCI's and an AGP port.) So that means I have no way to test a good mobo in the PC.

Another potential problem that I see is that all the controls and lights for the front of the case come through to the board on a single plug instead of individual ones. Assuming that maybe, possibly this arrangement is a standard one, the plug MIGHT work on an aftermarket mobo, but if someone knows otherwise, please inform me. If I tell the lady she needs a new case, PS and mobo, chances are she won't want to pursue fixing this. Plus, chances are that the CD drive and hard drive are on the way out too.

I think tommorow I'm going to throw the HDD into my working computer and see if it's salvagable. If it formats and stores data ok, then that's even more evidence leaning towards a bad mobo.

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #17 – February 13, 2006, 07:38:25 AM

I wouldnt spend anymore time on it, Youe MoBo is . Tell her what she needs build her one for about 300 useing new parts from m-wave. then charge her 400 for the whole thing.

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #18 – February 13, 2006, 08:25:39 AM

It wouldn't be worth trying to find a Compaq mobo, and you couldn't fit a standard mobo into the Compaq case, so it's time to put it out to pasture. If she doesn't want to go for a whole new computer, you might try a new mobo and case/PSU and use her existing stuff. Of course, if the MoBo is bad it might have eaten the processor and/or RAM as well...

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #19 – February 13, 2006, 12:24:15 PM

Yeah it sounds like the whole thing may have gotten zapped pretty good by an electrical surge or something. Compaqs are pretty much disposable proprietary pieces of garbage when it comes to finding parts that will fit them.

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #20 – February 13, 2006, 12:27:37 PM

yah, if the com MB is toast. time to go with a older intergrated Nforce board and build a brand new one for like 300 bucks

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #21 – February 13, 2006, 09:10:06 PM

compaq's always include the driversfor the computer on the first partition, and the windows files are on the other partion. I would just try to sell her another computer instead of fixing that one. If it dosent post it is the motherboard.

If the hard drive makes any noise huck it. If a hard drive makes any noise, something isnt right with it, and there isnt a whole lot to go wrong.

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #22 – February 14, 2006, 12:58:47 AM

Here's the thing of it all, she only wants this PC to be fixed, if possible, to be used as a second computer. They're going shopping soon for a new one, and this was going to be her oldest daughter's personal computer. So I doubt she'll want to have me build one.

So, assuming she doesn't want to pursue further repairs, here's the question. Do I still charge her for my time?

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #23 – February 14, 2006, 02:09:38 AM

Brian, when I was working for Aport, we charged a diag fee. Even if they didn't want us to fix it. Time is money.

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #24 – February 14, 2006, 10:41:12 AM

a couple of places down here charge $10 for a diagnossis.

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #25 – February 14, 2006, 11:06:34 AM

I charge 25+parts to fix a PC but then again i only do it for freinds. If it not a freind its 25 per hr min of 1 hr

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #26 – February 14, 2006, 12:57:41 PM

I always let 'em know up front that it is $40/hour plus parts, if any.

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #27 – February 14, 2006, 01:48:25 PM

Quote from: jkirchman

I always let 'em know up front that it is $40/hour plus parts, if any.

Now that sounds more like it Jim.

I charged $35/hour mininum of one hour.

Of course I do NOT do this for friends, kind of like when you ask your body shop buddy to help you with your car and he keeps blowing you off.

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #28 – February 17, 2006, 10:08:57 AM

i really only do it for family, so it is nornally just parts. speaking of, i have to fix my brother-in-laws soon..

Diagnosing a client's PC...

Reply #29 – February 17, 2006, 03:36:32 PM

I called the lady today and gave her the bad news and she offered a couple times to pay me but instead just let me keep the computer. So I guess all is well. Maybe I can use the HDD for something if'n it isn't trashed.