The most common reason a repair takes longer than it should isn't the repair itself — it's missing information. We get a machine on the bench with a sticky note that says "won't turn on," no Windows password, and no idea what the customer did before it died. Fifteen minutes of prep on your end saves real time and money. Here's the checklist.
1. Back up anything you can't lose
This is the single most important step. We treat every machine like the drive could fail mid-diagnostic, because sometimes it does. If a drive is already failing, opening Windows one more time might be the last time it boots.
If the PC still turns on, copy these to a USB drive or upload to OneDrive / Google Drive / iCloud right now:
- Photos and videos that aren't already in the cloud
- Tax documents and financial files
- Anything you've worked on in the last month
- Browser bookmarks (export from your browser's settings)
If the PC won't turn on, that's still recoverable in most cases — but tell us at intake so we know to prioritize data over getting it running.
2. Write down what's actually happening
"It's broken" doesn't help us. "It shows a blue screen with code MEMORY_MANAGEMENT about ten minutes after I open Chrome" tells us where to look immediately.
Write down:
- The exact symptom (what you see, what you hear, what doesn't work)
- The exact error message if there is one (take a phone photo of the screen)
- When it started — "three days ago," "after the last Windows update," "ever since my kid spilled juice on it"
- What you've already tried — restarts, reinstalls, running a virus scan, etc.
3. Find your Windows password or PIN
We can't diagnose most software issues without booting into Windows, and we can't boot into Windows without your login. If you've forgotten it, recover it from your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com before you bring the machine in. If it's a local-only account, write it down or be ready to give it at intake.
4. Decide your data threshold up front
If your drive is failing and your files aren't backed up, recovery costs scale with how badly damaged the drive is. Easy recoveries are $99–$249. Severe physical damage that requires a clean-room recovery can run $500–$1,500. You'll have to make a call.
Decide before you walk in: what's your ceiling? If you don't really care about the data, the answer's easy. If your wedding photos are on there, the answer's also easy — but you've decided ahead of time, not in the moment under pressure.
5. Note the make, model, and serial
If your PC is still under warranty (most are for the first year), the manufacturer may cover the part for free even if they don't cover labor. The serial is usually a sticker on the bottom of a laptop or on the back/top of a desktop case.
For custom-built PCs, knowing the components helps too — motherboard model, GPU model, RAM kit. If you have the original parts list or receipts, dig them up.
6. Decide what gets fixed if it costs more than the quote
Sometimes a diagnostic uncovers a second issue. We'll always call before doing extra work, but think ahead: is there a price where you'd rather replace than repair? For most general-use PCs, the rough line is around 50% of what a new equivalent would cost. For machines with sentimental value or specialized software, the math is different.
When you bring it in (or we pick it up)
Bring the laptop charger if it's a laptop. Bring the power cable for a desktop tower. If it's a custom build, bring any extra parts or peripherals that might be relevant. The more we have on hand, the fewer trips back and forth.
If you booked a free white-glove pickup, just have the machine and the symptom notes ready when we arrive. We handle the rest — including the careful packaging if it's going back to the shop for parts.
If you haven't booked yet
Book online at howardresourcegroup.com/repair-book or call (706) 203-2563. The $24.99 diagnostic gets you a real answer, not a guess. If we can't fix it, you don't pay for the repair.