Thrifty Thursday - How To Save Money on Computer Repairs

In the United States in 2009 over 70 million homes had at least one computer. I can guarantee that many of those moms, dads, and teens in those households had quite a few headaches related to their computers. Whether a virus took root, a hard drive died, or the dreaded BSOD (blue screen of death) appeared, millions of Americans were sitting in their desk chair staring at the screen letting out a huge sigh. When it comes to the frustrations above, the average computer user is not only baffled, but they usually end up paying a small fortune to a repair shop, or worse yet- a chain store. The good news is, those charges can be easily avoided.

1. Most frequent computer problem and solution: Viruses.

A. Do not underestimate a virus. If you notice a suspicious program that you did not install, especially if it pops up warning about viruses or malware and/or asks for money, immediately run your antivirus protection of choice. (Sites like Limewire and Myspace are notorious for being virus packed.)

B. Always make sure you have an antivirus program installed on your computer. Make sure that the program you choose is frequently updated and run on your. (My personal favorites are Avast! Antivirus or AVG. These programs are both free and user friendly)

C. If for any reason you cannot get rid of a virus infection do not look to the internet for help. Online programs that promise to speed your computer up, clean your registry, and get rid of all viruses, do more damage than good. Call a local repair shop, (avoid calling places like Best Buy and Staples. You will be overcharged and chances are you will end up visiting a privately owned computer store to fix their mistakes.)

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