What is a Free Computer Tune up?
The term Tune-Up normally is associated with automotive repair. A tune-up is something that gets done on your automobile at regular intervals or when it’s not running right. Most of the time the later is true. Many people, including myself, put off regular maintenance to their automobile and don’t start thinking about it until it stops running or stops running well. Because of this association many industries, including computer repair, have picked up the token phrase “Tune-Up”. The idea is to express to the customer that once they are finished the product will function correctly.
The reason I am writing this is because many companies in the computer industry are using the word tune-up in a way that’s quite deceiving. When you bring your computer in to get a tune-up you expect to pick it up fixed, or at least running better. However, some big box stores are using the term tune-up rather then diagnostic. A diagnostic is when a computer technician looks at a problem a computer is having and suggests the best course of action to correct the problem without actually fixing it.
I am sure everyone has seen the banners that say “Free Tune-Up” in front of many big box stores. Have you ever wondered what they mean by tune-up or have you just taken for granted that your computer will run better when you pick it up? Well it won’t and here’s why. What they are doing is not a tune-up at all. It’s a diagnostic. Also they use a program that automates the diagnostic so the technician does not even have to be experienced to perform it. Basically this is an automated program that finds problems with the computer and prints a report. Based on this report the technician can advise the customer what it will take to fix their computer. By definition this is a diagnostic not a tune-up. Finally since the technician does not have to have any experience they really don’t know what’s wrong with your computer they are just reading a report. These reports are very general and many times miss diagnose a problem.
By definition a tune-up to a computer should be similar to a tune-up in a car since that’s where this term originated. Let’s go over a list of what’s included in a tune-up at CyberCPU Computer Repair.
- Malware/Virus Removal
- System Updates
- Clean up temporary files
- Defrag
- Remove unnecessary startup items
- Verify or add security software
This is just a basic list. A tune-Up should actually be a Tune-Up. Before I do a tune-up I do a diagnostic, which is free. This diagnostic will cover the improvements that a tune-up should provide. Other problems like bad hard drives, low memory, or any other problem will be brought up then.
Finally many big box stores are only approved to use a limited number of tools. The amount of tools available to technicians is amazing and 90% of these tools are not available to the technicians at big box stores. This is due to the fact that many of these tools can cause major harm if not used by someone experienced. Because many big box stores hire inexperienced techs, most of the time just savvy sales people, they don’t have the proper experience to handle most complex problems.
In closing many people believe that computer repair by a large company is the right way to go. However, most large companies are more interested in up selling products. Technicians have sales quotas that they have to meet, their job depends on it. Because of this their diagnosis on many problems is based more on the up sell then the repair. Is this the best for the customer?
