# Getting in the computer repair business. Any suggestions?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-in-the-computer-repair-business-any-suggestions/538505>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 6, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-in-the-computer-repair-business-any-suggestions/538505 "2010-05-06T13:30:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-in-the-computer-repair-business-any-suggestions/538505/21 "2010-05-12T17:03:13Z")

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> [@BrotherCadfael](#):
>
> Someone upthread suggested offering a flat-fee wipe and reinstall. As others have noted, there are a lot of competing services out there for hardware service, but I’d bet there’s a market for a cut-rate wipe and reinstall service.
> 
> You’d have a problem in that many users won’t save their original CDs (or never got them in the first place), but you can probably manage to deal with that. Charge extra for reinstalling applications, and then only from original media (to cover yourself legally), and for backing up and restoring data.

I was going to make a post on this, so I hope you don’t mind.

A few months back, I had my computer reformatted and XP re-installed after a previous attempt (which I posted about here) was done incorrectly. The local Best Buy wanted $199 (157 euros) just to look at before deciding what to do. I found a place (a literal hole in the place that’s been in business for over a decade. So they’re doing something right) that did it for $99 (78 euros) with a 7 day guarantee for any problems related to the installation. I don’t know if you’ll run into the same thing in Europe, but you might run into competition charging similar prices despite having the extra overhead of running a brick and mortar place. Also, I was told I was responsible for backing up and restoring any data. The paper authorizing the repair specified that. I assume to protect themselves from lawsuits.

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