Store attempts to fix computer

[Coolcolin15]

Well guys here is my problem. Now when im telling this story keep in mind it happened to my girlfriend not me. Okay. She tells me that her computer broke. She said that they tried to turn it on but it wouldnt go on. It just stayed off. so her family took it to i believe it's called dsgsystems. Near brock? So that store took it, and they said the psu probably went, and they said it took the mother board with it. So the store said they would fixed it. The store said they added some ram, replaced the mother board and psu. (when it came back to their house it also came in a different case, im just mentioning everything) Okay so they turn it on, they still have everything so its all good. I told my girlfriend to back everything up of hers as the first thing she does. So she does that, next day the computer won't turn on again. (she says it won't turn on, but i actually think it turns on this time, but the OS won't load, she said something like it comes on then the screen goes all big and shuts down again.) So they phoned the guy, and he said it was probably a virus or something so if he took it in he'd format it for them for free. So my gf's mother phoned the next day and he said he charges 85 dollars to format a computer. First he said free now he says it will cost 85 dollars.


So i just really have to questions: 1. Does all of this seem normal? Like in dunno they paid 400+ dollars the first time they gave it to them and now after the first time of not fixing it he wants them to pay him 85 dollars for him to format it?

2. I've formatted computer before, but i just want to make sure when i format it that i am doing everything a reputable store would be doing. (i would like to format it for them to save them the dollars). I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right, what is there to it?

Thanks for any help guys.
Colin

[freestylegreek]

Its too bad you cant take it to Les and Deb at least they know what there doing this store doesnt seem too.

[smirnoff]

nothing to it and this guys is just ripping you off for something thats 5 min of work and dead simple.

if you have formated before then you have done the same as they have.

nothing hidden that the stores do that you haven't.

i am only guessing but i wouldn't be suprized if some of the hardware wasn't broken.

theres just to many of these guys out there.

[Nave]

400+ for that first visit i would look at the bill to see what they charged you for. top of the line ram mobo and psu... you didn't ask for a new case. big computer stores hire drones that only care about time not the customer. i try and do all my friends stuff for them, saves money and disgraces to the computer repair industry.

[Coolcolin15]

Well yeah, i was thinking maybe the new motherboard didnt fit in the old case maybe? And when you say i've done everything they have for formatting...How do you do it? What do you use. just fdisk? or am i missing something?

[AMD]

If it was a standard ATX case, there is no excuse. $400 is almost the price of a new (basic) PC.

"Probably went"? Did they bother doing any testing before condemning the motherboard?!

Were the old chipset drivers properly removed? We need more info.

[scoot]

You are skimping out on a lot of details here.

I run into common things as well, you get the average computer user who knows next to nothing about computers. Filling them up with a bunch of "stuff they don't understand" is the last thing they want, they just want the computer.

How old was the computer? Lets say its a P3, as this is the most common for me to get. 99.9999999999% of the time if I repair a P3 it's because there is some sort of stability, boot or no power error. First thing I check is the cap's to see if they are leaking. So, lets say they are leaking. Where do you get a new p3 motherboard? Time to upgrade.

So, here is a breakdown.


Asus K8V-MX - $99
AMD - $149
Ram - 512mb - $59
Powersupply (enermax) - $49
OR
Case - Antec SLK1600 w/300w psu - $62

This brings you to $369 + LABOUR + tax.

Tell her to get a breakdown of what was replaced. Are all the parts new? Where is the old case/parts?

Depending on what was replaced, $400 seems respectable.

If I have any doubts of a bad PSU, it will be changed no questions asked. The benefits of a decent PSU are priceless. Would you be willing to save $20-$30 to power your $1000 computer?

[Coolcolin15]

Okay guys i will do that! I have all the stats of the "new" computer she has, but unfortunatly i never got to take a look at it before they sent it away. She told me after they had sent it in. So i wll get the invoice with everything done and come back to talk. Stay tuned.