Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to many more FAQs are tagged in detail on our tumblr. pages

I need my operating system reloaded but I do NOT have recovery discs & my system recovery does not work, is it possible that you can back up my Music, Pictures, Documents & Videos & completely clean reinstall the original operating system?

Yes. The Complete Re-install (System + Windows Update) includes this as well as setting up & install of Security & Anti Malware.

Will you erase my PC's original factory restore partitions if they still exist?

Not unless specifically requested. Where original factory partitions might exist, although they may not be needed they can still be useful if a user wants to resell or dispose of their machine through a Cash Converter store for example, the original factory partition might be required in such a case for the factory reset of the machine.

How come competitors like my local PC store are so much more expensive? Is it because they offer better service?

Competitors to fixmypc.24ex probably have significant overheads & costs like business premises, vehicle fleets & staff numbers. They usually advertise nationally at significant expense for a high turnover meaning that they also have to charge customers VAT.

Exactly what capabilities & experience for specialist Repair work do you have?

Mike is trained in Repair & Rework of PCBs (advanced), to component level using SMT Principles & IPC A 610 Workmanship Standards. Because certain aspects of Laptop & Desktop Motherboard repairs are BGA form factor, utilising Ball Grid Array chips which cannot be re-soldered using conventional equipment. Mike subcontracts locally processes that affect product conformity with requirements. For example some specialised aspects of data recovery may require full Class 100 Cleanroom facilities, advanced flash memory recovery, or even Forensic Investigation work which has to be undertaken in the strictest confidence. A FREE Examination, No Fix NO Fee policy is adhered to, with, in many cases a same day repair service - even where subcontracting or outsourcing to OEM manufacturers or partners is necessary.

Exactly what minimum standards are adhered too?

Not even a brand new unboxed PC today would meet fixmypc.24ex's "minimum security baseline". Although this baseline depends somewhat on activities & level of computer experience of the end user, all PCs that fixmypc.24ex 'releases' conform to 'minimum standards' (after for example a customer opts for a standard 'health check/tune up'). Certain set checklists are adhered to. The minimum security configuration for all PCs released includes a fully current patched OS, hardware/software firewall, fully current anti-malware software, a current secure Web browser, & a process for frequently updating any fully current third party applications. (security may also include added layers of protection, like encrypted data or parental controls where required).

How come I have never heard of fixmypc.24ex?

Mike operates as a sole trader officially under the business name 'Mike Cutmore' & service is hardly ever advertised. Mike registered the Short URL Sub Domain name 'fixmypc.24ex' for website use (signifying the 24 hour Essex based service), & if you had actually heard of 'fixmypc.24ex', chances are Mike has been personally recommended by a previous customer. Mike doesn't use mailing lists or subscriptions, marketing automation or campaign creation to target customers. There are no answering machines or voice-mail.

How long does a typical £50 pc tune up tech session visit last?

You should allow five hours for work to be carried out to successful completion.

Can you visit the London area?

The entire Essex area of the UK is covered. Preference is given to the Braintree area, but there is no reason why anyone living near the borders cannot be seen also.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Mike Cutmore gladly accepts Cash (Sterling or Euro), Cheques or Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoin, or account payments through PayPal or by your mobile using 'Paym'.

How secure is this site?

Checkout doesn’t require you to fill in your details on this site. We use PayPal for payments, & PayPal automatically encrypts your confidential information in transit from your computer using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with an encryption key length of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available).

Do I need a PayPal account to purchase?

No, you are NOT required to have a PayPal account to purchase. Although if you already have a PayPal account you may use it.

Is it possible to book a PC tune up tech session completely online?

Yes, the secure 'Buy Now' link is provided on the rates page. Simply follow this through & you will be contacted for an immediate appointment. Naturally if you prefer to telephone or email you can.

Do you offer free telephone support?

We never ever cold call to provide technical support- you have to specifically call us. We can offer support, assistance or advice if you request it when you call us over the telephone. Often the support provided helps significantly & you might like to make a completely optional small secure discretionary donation of your choice via the donate button on our support page.

Do you offer remote desktop support? Can you take control of my computer with my authorisation & fix any issues I am experiencing?

Yes. By taking control of your computer remotely with your permission, minor issues can sometimes be fixed with you watching the process take place. However, if your computer is performing poorly or is badly infected with malware entities that strangle the Windows' GUI &/or network stack, remote support may not be possible & your machine may have to be disinfected in person without relying on network accessibility. fixmypc.24ex never ever makes unsolicited calls. If you are looking for remote support assistance please be careful with unsolicited phone calls that help you fix your computer. Scam cybercriminals cold call you & claim to be from Microsoft Tech Support. They offer to help solve your computer problems. Once the crooks have gained your trust, they attempt to steal from you & damage your computer with malicious software including viruses & spyware.

Do you repair Macs?

No, because unlike PCs, where the hardware uses 'open architecture', being made by many different manufacturers & assembled together & running software produced by another company, Macs use 'closed hardware architecture'. No one other than Apple can produce a Mac & even the software that runs on a Mac is by Apple (no Original Equipment Manufacturer ever produced a Mac).

As Apple does both hardware & software, the 'closed architecture' also tends to inhibit the kind of 'open maintenance & support model' that fixmypc.24ex can offer, (for example the MacBook Pro has very little in the way of user-serviceable parts, with RAM soldered to the motherboard & battery packs glued into place). Also by security locking certain components, Intel-based versions of the MacOS only run on special, Apple-branded PCs that contain a proprietary security chip. The MacOS looks for the security chip, & refuses to run if it's installed in a Computer without the chip- which is to say: It will refuse to run on any other brand PC, even if all the other hardware is identical. Apple use legal measures to remain the sole provider of Mac hardware; thus allowing them to charge their premium prices (& therefore offer their own first party support where required).

For these reasons & because Windows can be an infinitely better operating system when it isn't smothered by the demoware, adware, & other bloatware that many PC manufacturers & vendors splay onto the Start menus, the desktop, & the System Tray, fixmypc.24ex concentrates solely on offering PC owners true inexpensive 'icing on the cake' signature install support that may otherwise be missing from the more popular open ownership model & typical user experience of a Personal Computer.

I think my PC has seen better days. It's several years old now. I believe it would be better for me to bite the bullet & just buy a new one. What do you recommend?

New PCs just feel fast because they usually are much faster than whatever you had before, but as the months go by, the new speed just feels normal & you start to notice delays when things are not as fast as you'd like. Its a never ending circle. Slow running can be solved either by debugging your current PC or by reinstalling its operating system. You cannot solve the problem by buying a new PC as all this will do is simply replace your current problems with a different set of problems. New PCs can contain bloatware & unwanted programs which ultimately requires removal & configuration as part of an 'out of box experience' . If your PC is less than a decade old it may be perfectly possible to upgrade it. fixmypc.24ex has upgraded & tuned many an older machine to outperform even a modern unit. We can usually bring modern, up-to-date, & secure computing to older hardware. As long as it is physically intact & still operating, there are almost always ways to keep older hardware running usefully in the modern world. Some options are so resource efficient, they can work well even on ancient, 'XP-class' hardware! Small-footprint, lightweight versions of Linux for example can give older, limited hardware a high-performance, modern desktop environment. But if you want a nicely set up brand new PC, Microsoft offer new optimised 'signature experience' machines at the Microsoft Store & sometimes for a lower price than the equivalent, (but bloated) machine from a retail store! Don't forget to call us immediately you do get your new PC in order to ensure that it gets the best start from it's oobe.