Geek Squad for Computer Repairs?

[Below Zero]

My computer has been running really slow and I'm not sure why. I have Spysweeper and Virus Scan and they have not turned up anything. I want someone to take a look at it.

The tech that comes into our office charges $65/hour for personal work.

From googling Geek Squad they charge a flat fee.

Is $65/hour reasonable? Any pro/cons of Geek Squad? I am a computer jong so I can't handle this myself.

[Tuckerman]

$65 /hour is reasonable. Geek Squad is hit or miss they may take your PC for a number of days and fix nothing? What operating system are you running?

[Below Zero]

$65 /hour is reasonable. Geek Squad is hit or miss they may take your PC for a number of days and fix nothing? What operating system are you running?

Uh....Windows XP I believe

[Tuckerman]

Have you tried a restore?

[Tuckerman]

If not try it first. Goto start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Restore. Pick a restore point when you can remember your PC running fine.

[jonesy]

free software cleaner. temp files,registry,cookies,history,ect.

[StingTaco]

Geek Squad has been getting some bad press lately for stealing porn and mp3s off of people's machines.

http://consumerist.com/consumer/leak...orn-277560.php
http://consumerist.com/consumer/inve...ter-271963.php

[freshie247]

Don't go to Geek Squad,they have too many Rat F*cks in their ranks

[mc_roon]

defrag your harddrive, and check the task manager to see if any program is eating up memory and power

[pechelman]

My computer has been running really slow and I'm not sure why. I have Spysweeper and Virus Scan and they have not turned up anything. I want someone to take a look at it.
.

spysweeper and your virus scan are probably largely responsible for it running slow. mccaffee is a terribly bad memory hog of a program.

also
a few quick tips.

goto start - programs - start up and delete anything in that folder you dont absolutely NEED to be running and open all the time.


goto start - run - and type in "regedit" without the quotes. hit enter.
browse to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SOFTWARE - Microsoft - Windows - Current Version - Run
and delete anything you dont need running and open as before.


check that you have adequate harddrive space available.
you really should have at least 1gb left to let your computer do its thing.


Uninstall programs you dont need and dont use.

If you can, find a free registry cleaner and let it do its thing.

lastly
defrag you computer, and if possible "optimize" your system folders if you have that option. basically it moves them to a place on your HD where they can be accessed faster.

[Below Zero]

Have you tried a restore?

No, haven't tried that. I'll try it.

free software cleaner. temp files,registry,cookies,history,ect.

What is software cleaner. I've got Internet Explorer set up to ask me if I want to accept cookies or not. I usually say no. I have Spy Sweeper also. I
ve never cleaned out temp files - I should probably do that.

defrag your harddrive, and check the task manager to see if any program is eating up memory and power

I have looked at task manager and looked at the programs that are running inthe background, but I can't tell what these programs are, and I don't know how to stop them. And if I do stop them, I don't know whether they are important or not. I know that something with Itunes eats up a lot of memory. That's kind of why I want a pro to take a look at it. I'll defrag the hardrive.

[Cirquerider]

And stay away from those free registry cleaners. They are minimally effective, and unless you use a disposable email address your email will be instantly delivered to dozens of spam lists.

Sometimes the slowness is caused by programs starting up and running in the background. To review and stop programs from running that you don't need, use Start / Run / msconfig. This will let you view the "ini" files and windows startup. Also, I agree with Pechelman that the antivirus and spyware programs you use are likely culprits.

[Cyber Cop]

Good spyware protection starts with dumping IE. Try firefox.

[smolakian]

My advice. If you were prepared to spend $50-$100 on geek squad or a private tech, just go out and buy an external hard drive. Move all of your important stuff onto that drive. Then, format the HD and do a clean Windows install. After that, you are pretty much guaranteed to be back to full speed again. The reason is, that windows collects dust in all of its corners and there is no really easy way to clean some of it out. Although, a spyware remover and a defrag will help a little. Some of those bugs (spyware/malware) are really nefarious and hard to kill.

It's always nice to have a good external drive to keep a back up of all your music, pictures and movies anyway.
PM me and I wouldn't mind walking you through it.

[skiHOG]

My computer has been running really slow and I'm not sure why. I have Spysweeper and Virus Scan and they have not turned up anything. I want someone to take a look at it.

The tech that comes into our office charges $65/hour for personal work.

From googling Geek Squad they charge a flat fee.

Is $65/hour reasonable? Any pro/cons of Geek Squad? I am a computer jong so I can't handle this myself.

hell no, do not use the geek squad. i am computer person and i could do it for a lot less money, and you won't have to deal with the dorks. if you're in the front range or close i'll do it for a case of dank beer.

[snowsprite]

Do the disc defrag *and* disc cleanup (Programs>Accessories>System Tools).

Also, I suggest on explorer clicking Tools>Internet Options>Settings>View Files and then see how many files you have in there. Maybe you have not removed them all. Select all and delete these.

In addition, in the Settings window on "Amount of Disc Space to Use" set the number to like 1MB. You don't need like 1200 MB in there! Also, in the General Settings, only set it to keep your history stored for like 1 day. You don't need to save 20 days worth of history. Click apply & okay and you're all set.

How much RAM do you have? I just upgraded to 2 GB (only like $125 off ebay) and my computer is lightning fast. Consider upgrading the RAM...

Sprite

[Tippster]

My advice. If you were prepared to spend $50-$100 on geek squad or a private tech, just go out and buy an external hard drive. Move all of your important stuff onto that drive. Then, format the HD and do a clean Windows install. After that, you are pretty much guaranteed to be back to full speed again. The reason is, that windows collects dust in all of its corners and there is no really easy way to clean some of it out. Although, a spyware remover and a defrag will help a little. Some of those bugs (spyware/malware) are really nefarious and hard to kill...

Just did this with my kids' compooper, along with a RAM upgrade. Runs like a champ now.

[Below Zero]

hell no, do not use the geek squad. i am computer person and i could do it for a lot less money, and you won't have to deal with the dorks. if you're in the front range or close i'll do it for a case of dank beer.

Thanks JT. I think I will take you up on that. Maybe next week sometime? I'll drop you a PM later.

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

[Lonnie]

Geek Squad has been getting some bad press lately for stealing porn and mp3s off of people's machines.

How can you steal porn? Don't tell me somebody was stupid enough to PAY for porn....

[skiHOG]

Thanks JT. I think I will take you up on that. Maybe next week sometime? I'll drop you a PM later.

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

yea, no prob. i should be around.

[milton]

My advice. If you were prepared to spend $50-$100 on geek squad or a private tech, just go out and buy an external hard drive. Move all of your important stuff onto that drive. Then, format the HD and do a clean Windows install. .....

Yep, that's really the best way. The downside is you have to download all your windows updates again, export/import your email and address book, and re-install any programs you added since you bought the computer.

[icanseeformiles(andmiles)]

just to make sure: are you keeping your virus scan and spysweeper up to date? If not, run updates, then run them again.

And, msconfig is good to look at if you're running XP; if you're using 2k, msconfig is not packaged with the OS.

[G]

My advice. If you were prepared to spend $50-$100 on geek squad or a private tech, just go out and buy an external hard drive. Move all of your important stuff onto that drive. Then, format the HD and do a clean Windows install. After that, you are pretty much guaranteed to be back to full speed again. The reason is, that windows collects dust in all of its corners and there is no really easy way to clean some of it out. Although, a spyware remover and a defrag will help a little. Some of those bugs (spyware/malware) are really nefarious and hard to kill.

It's always nice to have a good external drive to keep a back up of all your music, pictures and movies anyway.
PM me and I wouldn't mind walking you through it.

That's a great plan, and it's the method I've used for years. spend a couple of hours and you get a brand new computer.

Now, I have just divided my HD into two partitions. Windos runs on C:, and everything else goes on D: When windows starts getting pissy, I reinstall it. All the rest of my files are still safe and sound - ready to go on drive D.

[skiHOG]

you can even set up a RAID system where you always have multiple hard drives that are essentially cloned. so, if you one goes bad you still have the other(s) to run until you get the bad one back up and running.

[fortysix&2]

I'd suggest greasing the muffler bearings and changing out the tubes.
Seriously though, you could also check your virtual memory settings by: Right-click on 'My Computer'; click on Advanced; click on Settings.. in the Performance section; click on Advanced; click Change in the Virtual Memory. Make the file bigger.

I don't recommend deleting the p0rn.