Computer Hardware Repairs

PC Hardware Repairs and Troubleshooting
Replacement and Spare Parts
Printers & other Computer Peripherals
Drivers - Hardware Vs. Software

 

PC Hardware Repairs and Troubleshooting

Computer hardware faults are a major cause of computer crashes and Windows lock ups and freezes. Faulty computer parts such as corrupt memory/RAM or aging power supplies can cause hard drive errors if the corrupt data is written to the drive. Often hardware malfunctions occur due to build up of dust and the resultant overheating or it wears out with age.

Aussie PC Fix hold an extensive collection of replacement and spare parts for sale, and many more for testing, which allow us to test your individual hardware components for stability. We can troubleshoot your computer hardware to locate any system hardware failures and replace or repair the failing part. By isolating your computer components we can determine the specific hardware device that is causing errors and fix the problem.

The infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSoD)

We are also able to quickly test your hardware without using your Windows installation. By loading other operating systems and bypassing your own install of Windows we can easily determine whether a fault is hardware or software based.

As well as performing diagnostic tests we can stress test computers or individual components for many hours at a time with high load. This can identify parts that may not be performing up to specification or are overheating.

 

 

Replacement and Spare PC Parts

Aussie PC Fix stock a range of computer parts which we can supply to you during onsite service or are available for pickup or delivery. We can advise on which hardware best suits your needs as well as your price range, and of course which products are compatible with your computer system and peripherals! Please click here for pricing on replacement or spare PC parts..

 

Power Supply Units (PSU) convert standard electricity to a power that your computer can use, but they are prone to failure after several years and after time may not deliver enough power to your computer. This can cause Windows and computer crashes, or at worst fry your motherboard or hard drive. Most power supplies are at least 400W, Aussie PC Fix supplies replacement 550W power supplies for only $59.

 

Memory, also known as RAM, temporarily stores the computer's data that it's currently working on. When power is cut memory loses all its stored information and this is why you lose data if you have not saved your file to the hard drive (the hard drive is a more permanent storage and is designed to store your information while your computer is turned off).

Faulty Memory/RAM can cause unpredictable results as real-time calculations which are stored in RAM get corrupted and errors such as the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) often occur. If these corrupt results are written to the hard drive, this can also cause corrupt your hard drive data.

It is recommended to have at least 1GB of RAM for Microsoft Windows XP computers (512MB at a minimum) or 1-2GB for Microsoft Windows Vista.

Just 512MB is usually recommended for Windows 2000, though this 8 year old operating system is rapidly approaching its end of life with Microsoft discontinuing support in 2010 ...and by the way Office 2000 'expires' next year!

 

Hard Disk Drive failure could mean critical data loss and it is important not to use the drive except for data recovery. If you think there is a hard drive problem you should turn off the computer because further use may cause more corruption of your data and files. If files have been lost due to deletion, just by using Windows the drive may permanently overwrite your data. Performing a routine backup is an essential maintenance task that should be performed regularly by every computer user to preserve your data.

 

USB ports, DVD/CD Drives, Floppy Drives and other parts which get a lot of use can easily be damaged or wear out, but most can also be easily replaced. Custom USB ports at the front of the case can sometimes be hard to remove and replace so in some cases adding a USB expansion card (PCI) is a better solution.

 

Video cards (or graphics cards) often start to display strange artifacts on the screen or repeatedly flash/reset the display. A "No Video" error on the monitor means that your graphics card is not sending any video, but do check your cables are secure first! Video cards can get very noisy in a dusty computer because of their small fan size which needs to run faster to keep the card cool.

 

Processors/CPUs don't often fail by themselves after installation because they are the most reliable part in a computer. Most have very good thermal protection which automatically turns off the PC when a critical temperature is reached, but some aren't so lucky! CPUs usually only die because their cooling fan has failed or if the motherboard shorts out - both situations often caused by dust and dirt. Processors can also be very easily damaged during installation.

 

Motherboards are the most difficult part to replace in a computer because nearly all other components plug directly into it. Older motherboards (Pentium 4 / Athlon based) can be harder to replace because manufacturers have (mostly?) stopped making them and it is hard to find a new board. Aussie PC Fix keeps several types of used motherboards in hand so your downtime can be kept to minimum.

You should also ensure your motherboard and whole computer is free from dust because the heatsink and fan assembly that cools your computer is a major point of failure and can render your motherboard, processor and entire system unusable.

Motherboards also have CMOS battery which keeps a small amount of power to your computer while turned off. If this battery goes flat then your PC can lose time and important settings.

 

Printers and other Computer Peripherals

A computer peripheral is simply any device that connects to your computer but is outside of the computer case, as opposed to the parts mentioned above that all live inside your box (case).

Is your printer shooting blanks or printing garbage? Having troubles transferring those photos from your new digital camera? Need to learn how to download podcasts or transfer music to your MP3 player or iPod? Aussie PC Fix can help you make proper use of these and all the other gadgets you may have!

We support peripherals such as: Printers (Laser and Inkjet/DeskJet) Scanners, Faxes, Multifunction Devices (MFDs e.g. 3-in-1s, 4-in-ones, All-in-ones, ...), most USB Devices, Speakers, Microphones, Headsets, Keyboards, and Mice. Most faulty parts are not repairable and must be replaced, but we can help with any setup, usage or performance issues you may be having.

 

  

Other parts in a computer will fail from time to time, but hardware errors may not actually be caused by the hardware itself, but the software drivers that control it.

 

Drivers: Hardware Vs. Software

Windows Driver Installation Problems

 

Each piece of hardware installed on your computer (including most peripherals) needs software drivers to tell your Windows operating system how to talk to the hardware. This piece of software is called a driver because it 'drives' the hardware, and is unique to each product.

When a hardware component does not act properly, it may not actually be the hardware itself that's failing, but commonly it's actually just the driver software or Windows itself that is causing the problem.

Hardware drivers can become corrupt or overwritten easily in Windows. For example, a new hardware device or peripheral installation can overwrite files that were previously in use. The new device upgrades the software drivers but has no consideration of other devices that may rely on the older versions of drivers. Ironically, this occurs more often when you upgrade your product with another from the same brand.

Windows comes supplied with thousands of drivers for devices, but many of these are 'generic' which is a basic driver with limited functionality. Microsoft tries for maximum compatibility but cannot know or predict how every manufacturer might design their product. MS cannot include drivers for devices made after the Windows release, though sometimes releases an update online.

Usually the driver for most computer devices can be found online at the manufacturer's website, or another site that specialises in driver files. It is usually a good idea to keep up to date with the latest drivers as they can fix bugs or improve functionality or performance for the product.

 

Current service rates are
$80 per hour plus $20 callout fee

or look for fixed pricing on service pages

Minimum fee of 1 hour for diagnosis, then charged per half hour block

Please call 0410 628 935 or 6160 1337
or Book Online to arrange your service

 

 

 Aussie PC Fix  Canberra
Computer and IT Services

 

Aussie PC Fix provide reliable, efficient and friendly IT support with only qualified technicians that will solve your problem. We guarantee you will be happy with your Computer Service or we'll repair it again for free.

Canberra's Aussie PC Fix are here to help you with a wide range of computer, networking and other IT services for computer users in Canberra, ACT, Australia. Call us today on 0410 628 935 or 02 6160 1337 to find out how we can help you, or book a service online.

You can trust Aussie PC Fix to always fix your computer problems reliably and efficiently, and at a reasonable price with our services being guaranteed.

We provide expert solutions for all Home Users, Home Office, SOHO, Small Business to Medium Sized Business, SME, Retail and Branch Offices in both North Canberra and South Canberra, as well as Queanbeyan.

We are your Canberra onsite computer support specialists, but also offer drop-off service to our workshop in Latham, located in Belconnen, Canberra. Pick-up and Delivery is also available.

If you need help with anyhing not listed above, please contact us online or email support@aussiepcfix.com and ask!

 

Current service rates are
$80 per hour plus $20 callout fee

or look for fixed pricing on service pages

Minimum fee of 1 hour for diagnosis, then charged per half hour block

Please call 0410 628 935 or 6160 1337
or Book Online to arrange your service