Free repair tips: try this first
Plenty of computer faults can be fixed at home in ten minutes with no tools. These guides cover the checks our technicians would do first. They are free, and there is nothing to sign up for.
- Windows 10 and 11: slow PCs, start-up failures, damaged system files, network faults
- macOS: Safe Mode, First Aid, Apple Diagnostics, reinstalling without losing files
- Linux: broken updates, full disks, boot problems, reading the logs
- Hardware troubleshooting: no power, no picture, overheating, liquid spills, failing drives
Three rules before you start
- Back up first. If the computer still starts, copy your important files to an external drive or cloud storage before you change anything.
- Change one thing at a time. Then test. If you change five things and it works, you will not know which one fixed it; if it gets worse, you will not know which one to undo.
- Write down error messages. The exact wording or code is the quickest route to the cause, for you or for us.
When to stop
- A hard drive that clicks, grinds or keeps disappearing: switch off and do not run repair tools on it
- Liquid inside the machine
- A burning smell, smoke, or a battery that looks swollen
- The same fault straight after a full reset or reinstall
Any of these points to a hardware fault that software steps will not fix and can make worse.
Still stuck?
Send us an enquiry and describe what you tried. Advice by phone and email is free. If the machine needs to come in, a bench diagnostic is £54, deducted from the repair if you go ahead. See also our frequently asked questions.