Computer Repair FAQ BEFORE YOU BOOK

Drop-offs and pickups are Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 10 PM Eastern. I'm closed Sunday. Drop-offs are by appointment: pick a time online or call (800) 292-8397, and you'll get the address once your time is confirmed.

Most repairs (diagnostics, virus/malware removal, tune-ups, OS reinstalls) are completed within 1 business day. Repairs requiring ordered parts (hardware replacements, upgrades) typically take 3–5 business days, depending on part availability. I'll give you a specific estimate at drop-off based on your device and issue.

Yes. Once your device is dropped off, you'll get an email with your ticket number (like WCS-1001) and a Track your repair button, and I'll email you each time its status changes. You can also check anytime on the Track My Repair page (waynesvillecomputerservices.com/track) with your ticket number and the email you booked with, or sign in to a free account to see all your repairs.

When your device is ready, I'll call or email you (at the phone number and email you gave when booking) with the total and a few pickup times. We'll pick a time that works — Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 10 PM — and you pay what's left at pickup (anything you prepaid, and parts you paid for when you approved the quote, already count). I'll show you what was fixed before you go, and your 30-day warranty starts then.

Yes. Your device stays with me the entire time — it's never sent out to anyone else. I only access what's needed to diagnose and fix the problem, and I never browse, copy, or share your personal files, photos, or accounts. If a repair involves wiping or reinstalling, I'll tell you first so nothing gets lost unexpectedly. I still recommend backing up anything important before drop-off.

Every repair comes with a 30-day workmanship warranty, starting when you pick up your computer. If the problem I fixed comes back, or something's wrong with my work, call or email me and I'll redo the work at no charge. It doesn't cover new issues, physical damage, liquid damage, or problems unrelated to the original repair. Parts I supply also carry the maker's or seller's warranty, under its terms. If you bring your own part, my installation is covered, but the part itself isn't. Your old parts come back to you, unless you agree to a supplier exchange that needs them.

Your device, its charger/power adapter, and any relevant passwords needed to access it.

Windows, Mac, and Linux on desktops and laptops. I can also help with software issues on tablets.

Yes. I'm CompTIA A+ certified, the industry-standard certification for computer technicians. It covers hardware, Windows, macOS and Linux, networking, security and troubleshooting.

I don't work on phones. For tablets, I can help with software problems — slowness, updates, apps, settings, and troubleshooting — but I don't do any hardware repairs on tablets, including screens and batteries.

Not at this time. I focus on diagnostics, internal upgrades, desktop part replacements, software, and virus removal. Keyboard repairs are possible depending on the device — ask and I'll let you know.

Yes, and drop-off is free. I take laptops, desktops, laptop and desktop parts, the accessories that go with them, tablets and iPads, and phones. Every drive with personal data is wiped. I refurbish and resell what I can and recycle the rest. Book a drop-off time online and mention what you're bringing.

In many cases, yes — but it depends on the device and what caused the data loss. I'll assess this during diagnostics and let you know your recovery options.

A private money dashboard: money in and out, your accounts and cards, subscriptions, receipts you forward by email, spreadsheet imports, and optional read-only bank sync (a separate SimpleFIN subscription). $10 a month or $100 a year. A setup appointment with me (about an hour, at the shop or on a video call) is $90 and optional. It never asks for a password and can't move money, and you can download or delete everything any time. Details and booking at waynesvillecomputerservices.com/custom-dashboard.

At pickup, I accept cash, card, Venmo, PayPal and most payment methods. Booking and estimates are free, and paying online ahead of time is optional: the $40 diagnostic, $60 OS service, $60 deep cleaning and $30 software install can be prepaid through Square (card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App Pay or Afterpay). If a repair needs parts ordered, you pay for the parts when you approve the exact quote, and I order them after that; the rest is paid at pickup. Prices are plus 7% NC sales tax.

Only the $40 diagnostic fee applies if no further repair is done. If you picked an upgrade and your computer turns out not to support it, you pay nothing for it (unless you'd agreed to a diagnostic), and I never order parts before checking compatibility.

It counts toward the repair. When a diagnostic is followed by a repair, the labor for the two together is at least $80, or the repair's normal price if that's higher, and the $40 you paid counts toward it once. For example, a diagnostic and then a memory install comes to $80 in labor, so $40 more after the diagnostic. You approve the price before I do any work. Services you book without a diagnostic keep their normal prices, and an upgrade you pick yourself (like more memory) has no diagnostic fee: if I find another problem, I'll ask before charging for a diagnostic.

Parts are priced upfront: your quote shows the exact price of each part before you approve or pay, and nothing is ordered until you do. If a part's price changes before I order it, I check with you first.

Yes, if it's compatible with your computer. I check that it fits, then charge the normal installation labor with no parts charge. My 30-day warranty covers the installation but not the part itself. If the part turns out to be faulty or needs extra troubleshooting, I'll explain any diagnostic charge and ask before doing that work. The parts I recommend, from a budget pick to a step up, are on my Recommended Parts page. See recommended parts →

$30 covers up to 3 ordinary apps plus routine updates on one computer. Each extra app is $10. Paid licenses, moving data, OS reinstalls and unusual setups are quoted separately before I start.