We do not usually repair Dead Laptops !!

New Laptop Sales - coming soon?

Laptop Software Support

If your laptop or notebook is running slow, has Windows or program errors, or you are having trouble installing hardware or software Aussie PC Fix is here to help you solve these problems.

From a software point of view, laptops are very similar to their desktop cousins so all our Microsoft Windows and other software help and tech support services apply to laptops as well. In fact many other of our computer services apply to laptops as well as desktops.

The major difference of course is hardware; each hardware component needs its own driver - a software program which tells Windows how to communicate with the hardware device. Aussie PC Fix can help you resolve any laptop driver or software related issue and get you laptop back on line quickly.

Laptops more commonly have problems with driver installation because of the very unique hardware that they use as compared to a desktop. Finding the correct drivers can sometimes be a challenge, but highly recommended that you find them before you need them e.g. before reinstalling Windows!

Be careful you also have Windows XP drivers available if reinstalling XP, and the same goes for Vista. Not all 'Vista' laptops have the required drivers to make XP work properly if thinking of swapping your version of Windows - and epecially watch those Vista USB drivers!!

It's important to use the correct drivers for your model of laptop - here are some popular manufacturer driver download sites: Acer/Packard Bell, Asus, BenQ, Dell, Fujitsu, HP/Compaq, IBM/Lenovo, Sony (AU), Toshiba.

Laptop Hardware Upgrades

Memory / RAM

Aussie PC Fix keeps the most popular laptop memory / RAM types on hand and can source most other types if required. Increasing the memory of a laptop is one one of the easiest and quickest upgrades and can usually significatnly boost the speed of your laptop if it's running low on RAM.

Laptop memory is much smaller and unfortunately more expensive than their desktop counterparts. All notebook memory is of the type SO-DIMM RAM (Small outline dual in-line memory module random access memory!) as opposed to a desktop memory module which is simply called a DIMM.

Newer laptops will take SO-DIMM DDR2 memory, while older ones take SO-DIMM DDR1 (or simply SO-DIMM DDR), but laptops can also be more picky than desktop computers about the speed of the RAM, e.g. 333/400MHz DDR1, or 533/667MHz DDR2.

Also, much older laptops might take SO-DIMM SD-RAM 100/133MHz which may be ordered on request but if your laptop is that old then it may not really be worth upgrading.

Popular sizes are 512MB and 1GB (1024MB), and sometimes 256MB for DDR1. Many newer laptops only take 2GB maximum, older ones only take 1GB or less. Laptop Memory is easily upgraded on the spot for just $40 or free with any other service.

Hard Disk Drives

Most laptops take 2.5" (two-and-a-half inch) disk drives which are a full inch smaller than their desktop cousins. These are easily upgraded or replaced and we can also copy your old drive on the spot. There is a small fee of $40 for drive installation, plus $40 if needed for time to copy your old drive or data across to the new disk.

Popular hard disk sizes are 80GB and 160GB running at 5400rpm (revolutions per minute). Faster 7200RPM 2.5" drives are available but a quite a bit more expensive. Some laptops come standard with only 4800RPM drives and are easily upgraded.

Other Laptop Upgrades

Aussie PC Fix only perform other laptop upgrades such as processor/CPU or graphics cards on a case by case basis. Often it's not worth the cost or is actually impossible to upgrade these components. Each laptop needs to be thoroughly inspected and the upgrade options researched before ordering new parts.

Replacement or upgrade DVD/CD drives can usually be sourced and installed. Upgrades usually take several days plus days or weeks waiting for parts and vary in cost.

Is your laptop running hot? 2cm thick of dust may be the cause!

Clean and Dust Out Service - $160-240

Laptops can be more susceptible to failure than desktops caused by dust, dirt and hair, because of the small size of enclosure for all the laptop parts. Laptops can also be easily transported outside to dusty environments which can wreak havoc on your laptop or notebook's cooling system.

Although several models have major airflow design flaws, most do have a very good cooling system for their size but when the fans or airways get clogged, overheating can occur very quickly.

Overheating the laptop usually causes Windows to crash and turns off the laptop, but the problem should be fixed as soon as possible to prevent heat damage to the expensive laptop components. A processor/CPU usually has a thermal cut-off point which cuts power to the laptop at a certain temperature, but this doesn't always work and not all laptop processors have the feature.

The laptop in the picture above had a layer of dust about 2x1.5x10cm thick stuck in its fan cooler's vent leaving no airflow and was causing overheating. The laptop crashed every few minutes, but once the laptop was cleaned out from this and other dust, and the noisy fan replaced, the laptop was back to normal. (Well it did need a spyware clean up too!)

Clean out services for laptops cost between $160 and $240 depending on the model and severity of the dust, and will usually be performed over several nights in our workshop.

Laptop Hardware Repair - $80 diagnosis unless listed below

Aussie PC Fix provides hardware repairs to laptops on a case by case basis. Please contact us with the laptop model number and brand, and describe the problem you are experiencing.

Replacement Keyboards, Power Adaptors, Batteries, LCD Screens
- Installation and Repair Services are available as listed

*** If your hardware repair is not for replacement keyboard or LCD then:

We will charge $80 for diagnosis of faulty laptops regardless of outcome

If your laptop still powers on and displays a message, picture or error on the screen then the laptop may have a disk, memory or overheating problem and there is a good chance of successful repair.

If Windows does not start up, has random errors or crashing then we will test your laptop for any hardware faults without loading your install of Windows to check if the problem is really hardware or software based. We can stress test and/or replace the individual hardware parts to troubleshoot and identify the faulty component.

Here are some diagnosis questions that can help us help you when you contact us or Book a Service Online.

How often does the laptop crash? Does Windows start properly when you turn the laptop on? Does the laptop crash at the same point in time? Has the crashing become worse over time? Does the laptop feel hotter than usual? Which lights are on and what colour are they?

If the laptop is error free for a longer time after not using it, it may be the laptop is overheating. If, after the first crash, further crashes occur more frequently then this may be because the laptop is already warm or hot so overheating will more easily occur.

Notebook hardware repair costs $80 for minor repairs or between $160 and $240 depending on the work required and model of laptop.

Dead Laptops Cost extra! - $160 diagnosis / $320 fix

Aussie PC Fix does not usually repair 'dead' laptops that are caused by power or battery issues. If your laptop does not power on at all (no lights or fans) then we are happy to attempt diagnosis for you, but we cannot guarantee the problem will be repairable.

If your laptop's lights are showing a power error (usually orange or red battery light, sometimes also flashing) then we cannot guarantee the problem can be economically repaired, especially if a new motherboard is required.

Troubleshooting hardware problems with laptops is a time intensive process and we must charge for our time spent to find the problem regardless of the outcome (there are over 40-60 individual screws inside your laptop after all!).

*** If your laptop does not power on then:

We will charge $160 for diagnosis of dead laptops regardless of outcome

Contacting your manufacturer is usually the best option when major hardware repairs are needed, though this can often take weeks or months. If you'd still like us to diagnose and troubleshoot your dead laptop, or a laptop with a power problem, we will charge $160 upfront for approximately 2-4 hours of diagnosis. Final fee will be up to $320 in total plus any parts.

It is very important to back up your data before returning any computer to the manufacturer because in most cases they will format (wipe) your hard drive during service. Please book a backup service if you need help to properly and safely back up your data if returning it to the manufacturer.

New Laptops - brand new laptop sales coming soon!

Free advice on buying a new laptop

Currently Aussie PC Fix does not sell laptop or notebook computers, but please check out our desktop systems for sale which are much more powerful, cheaper, and easier to upgrade and repair, although not as portable!

We usually recommend HP/Compaq for value for money, or a Dell with option of a 3 year warranty which can end up a little pricey but worth the added security!

For higher performance models over about $1500 we recommend a high end Asus model, or for over $2000 there are some quality Toshiba models around, both usually coming with a 2-3 year warranty as standard. Sony also make some top laptops though they can be a bit pricey.

With all computers, including laptops, it depends on the particular model, its specifications, and warranty, which all compete for value for money.

We can give you expert advice on what laptop model to buy to best suit your needs and budget for an hourly fee. Some quick advice is to avoid the Celeron models unless you are on a very tight budget and the purchase price is very low. Also note that Pentium M and Pentium 4 models are now outdated and this should be reflected in the price paid.

If your new laptop is running slow and has Vista, it is likely that a memory upgrade will help get you back to speed! For Vista you should get at least 2GB, with 3 or 4 GB even better!