Ooh! I love this question!
It’s not super frequently asked, if ever, but I’m going to answer it anyways.
Firstly-
If you’re dropping off a device, I get you to fill out a form. This helps me understand more about your usage of the device, and the device itself. I like to understand the following:
- Is it currently working to your expectation?
- Has it ever broken or been repaired before, and/or how old it is?
- What drives you crazy about its behavior
- How long has it been driving you crazy
- Have you noticed it changing recently in terms of symptoms
The form also helps with a couple other things
- Who you are, and that this device is yours
- How to contact you
- If anyone else uses this computer, which may mean that there would be additional user accounts, or if someone else may have been doing things on there.
- An ongoing health record if the machine comes back
- Accountability so I retain notes of any actions I took
So, once your machine is checked in, and each part marked with a little tag that goes onto your form, the checklist begins. (Currently 3rd page of the form). I look at the following:
- Physical condition. I often open up the computer and show you. I look at age and health of parts.
- Mental condition. What is the computer currently at in terms of processor usage, memory usage, hard drive storage.
- Software. Are there things on the machine installed that do not belong? Things that are known to let malware in? Is there evidence of malware itself?
- Protection. Is the antivirus working, is there enough protection installed? Does the browser usage indicate a higher level of protection would be good. Is the browser itself slowed by extensions?
- Backup and Security. Is the device backed up? Is there personal data easily accessible on the device, and does the user know and realize the risk. Can risk be mitigated.
- Future planning. Is this device going to continue serving well, or should it be replaced soon, or portions thereof replaced.
Now, if I have a lot of machines, I will focus on the critical machines, before the non-critical machines. Some actions really are time sensitive. Data loss is a terrible terrible thing, and so I really want to protect against it.
Hopefully this describes a basic computer visit.
About Me
Mel Bryce has lived and worked in the Kootenays for over a decade. She takes her coffee black, and still supports Nvidia graphics cards.
