Homework, budgeting, bills, even browsing dinner recipes all have a degree of urgency that mean dealing with a broken computer isn’t comfortable for long. Yellowstone Computing offers three options: remote repair, onsite service call, or bring it in. Which is the best choice for you?
Benefits of Remote Support
Speed: If remote repair is a possibility, your technician can connect via the Internet and have you operational in short order. If you subscribe to a monthly service plan, you might also choose to just leave it turned on in the morning and go to work as normal, while we log in to conduct the repair, and have it ready for your return. Without this option, you’d need to juggle time in your schedule to drop the system off during normal business hours (9am to 5pm) or schedule a time for us to come to you.
Convenience: You get to skip the unpleasant tasks of unplugging the PC, untangling the cables and carting it into the repair store. Even then, once repaired, you’d still be privileged with carrying it back home and playing a game of which-plug-goes-where.
Computers may be getting smaller, but they’re still heavy and fiddly! Laptops are designed to be moved around often and it may not be a problem to stop at the repair store, but traveling with a desktop PC requires a little more effort and a lot more inconvenience.
Negatives of Remote Support
Limited repair options: A remote connection can only repair certain software problems, not hardware problems. It’s impossible for the technician to swap out a failed part remotely, and unless you’re confident in your own repair skills, guided physical repair isn’t viable either.
Occasionally the problem will also be outside the computer, perhaps a troublesome printer or connection. Your technician may be able to walk you through correcting some of these minor problems yourself, but most invariably require an onsite service call or taking your computer to the shop.
Connection speed: A slow or unstable connection will make a remote repair take longer and increase the difficulty of the task. The extended time impacts the cost for the call, and in extreme cases, can negate any benefits of skipping the physical inspection. Your connection needs to allow the technician to see real-time responses as if they were sitting there in person.
Accessibility: If your computer won’t start or can’t connect to the Internet at all, your technician can’t log in remotely. Problems of this nature include seeing a ‘blue screen of death’, boot failure and failure to power on. As much as we’d like to help you, being able to log in to your system is a vital step in the remote repair process.
Remote support and repair is the ideal situation, purely for speed and convenience. As a bonus, in the event the remote repair is unsuccessful, it also means your tech now has a better idea of the problem and can speed up any on-site or in-store repairs. Remote support is the best option for many repairs and gets your computer working again with minimal disruption and if you have a monthly service plan, greater cost savings!
Need a repair? Call us at 715-255-0325 for rapid remote support, and don’t forget to ask about our remote service plans! - We will be adding support links to our webpage in the near future, stay tuned!