Stop, step away from the tools and rethink the attempted computer repair by taking a moment to read this! A broken computer is a nightmare. Whether it is for personal or business use, or perhaps the double-whammy of serving both uses, it can mean massive inconvenience or, worse, the loss of years of work and data. 

As computers are such complex things, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of things that could go wrong. From accumulation of dust, to viral infection, to a complete unknown factor, the consequences can be devastating.

What’s more, the damage can be even greater if someone with limited knowledge attempts to repair their ailing machine themselves. Below, we will look at the reasons why it is not always a good idea to try DIY when it comes to fixing a computer.

The Warranty and Beyond

Most computers will come with a warranty from their manufacturer. Most commonly, these periods reside in the one to two year range and offer protection against any faults or problems that may occur in that period. 

When someone decides to fix a machine themselves, the moment they open that computer up, the warranty becomes null and void. This is due to the fact that the manufacturer can no longer be sure about what the user has done to the insides of the machine and cannot be held responsible for it breaking. Most machines have a seal that, once broken, alleviates the manufacturer from any responsibility for their product. The computer could be a mere six months old, but it will not matter.

Some people, if they are desperate or impatient, might crack open the case and have a look to see if there are any obvious problems, or perhaps they believe they know the root of the problem. Nevertheless, they are voiding their warranty and opening themselves up to potential expense further down the road. If the user cannot locate the problem, then they have thrown away their warranty – i.e. a free repair job, purely for the sake of a few moments impatience. They will then have to take the machine to a local repair shop for assessment.

Making Things Worse

For most people, computer repair is not a skill that they are proficient in. Due to this, there is little reason to go poking around in an alien environment that we know little about. The majority of people know little about other household electronics, such as a microwave or hoover, and would not dream of attempting to repair them, so why are computers different?

The truth is that they are not. Except in one major way – nobody stores important details and data on a microwave. The likelihood, when one is attempting to fix something that one lacks knowledge about, is that the problem will probably go unfixed or, worse still, that inexperience will lead to further damage and issues.

The inside of a computer is a delicate place, which is very sensitive to dust and other contaminants, which the inexperienced user may inadvertently introduce. This is without mentioning the potential damage that the untrained hand could cause to the intricate innards. A small wire snagged here, or a little scratch there and the problem can suddenly become a whole lot worse.

Following Tutorials

A user with a broken computer may look up online tutorials to help them with their problem. It seems simple enough – follow along step by step and voila! Problem solved. However, as anyone who has ever tried to build their own sofa or bed, which is infinitely less complex than a computer, can tell you – it rarely goes well. 

The most well intentioned computer user on the planet could try to fix their computer with the help of a tutorial and soon find themselves in hot water, and the reasons for this are clear.

Online DIY tutorials for computers are, supposedly, created by experts; otherwise, they would not be fit to offer advice. Now, when it comes to the internet, there are millions of people offering advice on things that they know nothing about, and computers are no exception. No doubt there are many very well done, helpful tutorials out there but, as a layman, how is one to tell which is which? A user could be following a tutorial that is, at best, ill informed and, at worst, very erroneous.

As well as the plain wrong, there are plenty of tutorials out there that assume a certain base knowledge, using terms and skipping steps that seem rudimentary. For those with a little know how, this is no problem, but this can soon leave novices pulling out their hair. All of this will show that computer expertise is indeed the realm of someone else, and simply confirm that an expert needs to look at the problem. 

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There is never any reason to feel embarrassed about not being able to fix your computer. A car, complex as it is, needs expert appraisal when it is broken, and no one feels less adequate because of it. A computer is an important and central part of most people’s lives in the modern world and, as such, should be treated with the right care and attention when it needs it.