PC Repair Checklist 1
I started out making this little list for myself, then figured I’d share. When I go on a service call for a malfunctioning Windows computer, if the issue isn’t a “quick fix”, it usually boils down to one of three resolutions:
- Creating a new user profile
- Performing a repair to partial re-install of the Operating System
- A complete HDD Format and OS reinstall
In any of these three scenario’s, there are a litany of things that need to be revisited in order to get the computer back to a state that the owner had it in prior to the problem, and your arrival to fix it. This is my hot-list of things to check before you return the PC, to ensure smiling faces, and avoiding the dreaded “uh-oh, I think I forgot something” feeling, or worse, the “Uh, you forgot something” phone call. This list is mostly for residential customers, commercial and enterprise PCs have a few other things to look into, like mapped drives, I’ll create another list for them later. I’ve been fixing computers for a long time, but trust me, I’ll be referring to this list daily, and if you fix computers for a living, I’d recommend printing this out and keeping it handy, like I do. If anyone has anything to add to the list, please let me know!
The PC Repair Checklist
- Printers, installed, configured, and correct device set as default. Some software, like Quickbooks, uses its own internal printing settings, did you check there, too?
- Power settings. Sleep mode and hibernation tend to be more trouble than their worth, disable them except on laptops, where user preference wins out.
- Screen Saver set to user preference
- Wallpaper restored to user preference
- Ensure all files are where they are expected to be, on the desktop, in My Documents, or any place else the user had them originally
- Did you recreate application icons on the desktop as the user prefers?
- Is the users email application and email accounts restored to their original settings? Did you test to make sure the send/receive is without issue?
- Did you ensure that all applications the owner had originally have been restored?
- Did you open all applications the user uses regularly, to ensure there were no Activation processes left to do, or simple configuration or splash screens to contend with?
- Many programs, like Wordperfect and MS Office, have default file access and save settings that may have to be configured.
- MS Outlook users may have a default stationary or signature that needs to be recreated or restored
- Did you ensure that the owners Bookmarks have been restored, and are accessible in their browser of choice?
- Did you convince the user to switch to using Firefox, Opera, or Safari?
- Are you sure the computer is using the most up-to-date version of Adobe Reader?
- Did you ensure that Adobe Flash was installed and working on the owner’s browser of choice?
- Can the user watch DVD movies from his DVD drive?
- Did you uninstall any bundled software that has no reason for existing on the owner’s pc?
- Did you review the start-up items using msconfig and/or the registry and remove any applications that have no need to start at run-time?
- Are automatic updates set up correctly, and is the user aware of its purpose, and when it will download and install updates?
- Did you install Antivirus software, update it, and ensure the owner is aware of how to verify that it is operating properly?
- Are all peripheral devices installed properly? Webcams, external drives, any loose usb cords hanging around under the desk?
- If the computer connects to the network wirelessly, did you ensure that it connects automatically? Turn it off, turn it on, and make sure. Do it twice.
- Same thing for wireless printing, turn everything off, turn it back on, make sure.
- Did you write down any passwords, WPA/WEP keys, anything the client might need, and made sure to hand it to them? Don’t just leave a sticky note on the desk.
- Did you set the correct home page in the browser?
- If they sync a PDA or smartphone with the PC, did you configure and test it?
- If they fax directly from their computer, did you configure and test it?
- Are you using the correct display resolution and default font sizes on the desktop, in email, and in their word processing program?
- Did you check the computer’s sound settings? Play a song. Is the owner using Windows Media or ITunes? Is everything imported?
- Did you check the virtual memory on Windows XP machines? 1.5 minimum, 3x maximum.
