Repairs
Computer health check and tune-up
A full check of a computer's drive, updates, security, startup items, backups and cooling, with a written list of findings.
A computer rarely fails without warning. The drive starts logging errors, updates quietly stop installing, the fan clogs with dust, and the backup that everyone assumed was running stopped long ago. A health check looks at all of it. We test drive health, bring updates and security software up to date, clear startup clutter, check temperatures and cooling, confirm the backup actually works and then tune the machine. You get a written list of what we found and what we changed.
From $135 + GST + $30 call-out ($185.25 incl. GST)
- A written findings list in plain English
- Nothing removed without asking you first
- Clear advice on whether the machine is worth keeping
Signs you need computer health check & tune-up
- The computer takes noticeably longer to start than it used to
- The fan runs loudly even when you are only reading email
- Updates have been failing or asking to restart for a long while
- You are not sure whether your backup is actually working
- Two or more security programs keep competing for attention
How we do it
A health check starts with the parts that predict failure. We read the drive's own health data and run a surface test, check the battery on laptops, and look at the event logs for crashes, disk errors and failed updates. We then open the case or clear the vents to remove dust, and watch temperatures under load to confirm the cooling is doing its job. Each finding is noted as it comes up, so you can see the evidence rather than take our word for it.
The tune-up follows the findings. We bring the operating system, drivers and firmware up to date, remove duplicate or expired security products and leave one working, and switch off startup programs that slow the machine without helping you. We confirm the backup runs and restore a test file to prove it. Finally you receive a written list grouped into healthy, needs attention and recommended later, with nothing removed or changed that you did not agree to first, and a short note on anything worth watching over the coming months.
Typical computer health check & tune-up jobs
- Hard drive and SSD health testing
- Windows, macOS and driver updates brought current
- Security software checked and duplicate products removed
- Startup programs and background clutter cleared
- Dust cleaned from fans and vents, with temperatures checked
- Backups tested by restoring a sample file
Specific computer health check & tune-up jobs
- Slow computer tune-upMy computer takes ages to start and programs hang, but nothing is actually broken.
- Health check for every computer in the officeWe have a handful of office computers of different ages and no idea which ones are healthy or about to fail.
- Overheating laptop clean and checkMy laptop gets hot, the fan roars, and it sometimes switches off on its own.
Computer Health Check & Tune-up for businesses
In an office, one unhealthy computer can cost a day of someone's work when it finally gives up. A health check across your machines shows which drives are wearing out, which computers have stopped receiving updates and which backups only exist on paper. It gives you a sensible order for replacements instead of buying in a panic, and it closes the easy security gaps that come from missed updates and expired protection.
Computer Health Check & Tune-up at home
At home, a health check suits the family computer that has slowed down, started making more noise or simply has not been looked at in a long time. We find out whether the slowness is clutter, a tired drive or dust, fix what can be fixed and make sure your photos and documents are actually being backed up. If the computer is near the end of its life, we tell you plainly.
Before we arrive
To make the visit quick, it helps to have these ready:
- The computer's password, and administrator details if they are different
- Details of how you back up, such as an external drive or cloud service
- A note of anything that has felt slow, noisy or unreliable
- Any security software subscriptions you know you are paying for
What a visit looks like
When you book computer health check & tune-up, you tell us what's going on and we reply with a time that suits you and a price. Nothing starts until you're happy with both.
On the day, the technician arrives, looks at the problem in person and confirms the plan with you before starting. If something turns out different from what was expected - a part is needed, or the cause is somewhere else - we stop and agree the change with you first.
When the work is done we test it with you, show you what was changed, and leave the area tidy. For business jobs we note what we did, so there is a record for whoever looks after your IT next.
Pricing
From $135 + GST + $30 call-out ($185.25 incl. GST)
| Charge | Price | Incl. GST |
|---|---|---|
| Call-out, per onsite visit | $26.09 + GST | $30 |
| First hour on site | $135 + GST | $155.25 |
| Each half hour after the first hour | $60 + GST | $69 |
| Remote help session (no call-out) | $60 + GST | $69 |
| SuperGold card holders - first hour at home | $116 + GST | $133.40 |
Estimate your visit
$185.25 incl. GST, call-out included
An estimate at our standard rates. Bigger jobs get a free quote before we start.
Every visit includes
- Travel to your site
- Diagnosis on site
- Fix tested with you
- Plain-English explanation
- Notes for business jobs
- Tidy finish
Computer health check & tune-up is charged at our standard rates: a $30 call-out, the first hour, then half-hour blocks. We never charge by the minute or in 15-minute steps, and there are no hidden extras.
Larger jobs - a new network, a run of cabling, a server or a camera system - get a free quote before any work starts, so you know the cost up front. Parts and equipment are quoted and agreed before we order them.
There is no contract, no monthly fee and no membership. You book the job you need and pay for that job.
Computer Health Check & Tune-up: common questions
What is the difference between a health check and a repair?
A repair starts with something broken. A health check is for a computer that still works but feels slow, noisy or uncertain, and it is aimed at finding problems before they cause a breakdown. If we find a fault that needs a repair, we explain it and ask before doing anything more.
Will you delete any of my programs or files?
Not without your say-so. We list software that looks unnecessary, such as trial programs or duplicate security products, and remove only what you agree to. Your documents, photos and email are left alone. Where something is unclear, we leave it and note it.
Can you check all the computers in our office?
Yes. For a small office we check each machine and give you one combined list, so you can see which computers are healthy, which need attention and which are close to the end of their life. That makes it easier to plan replacements sensibly.
My computer is quite old. Is a tune-up worth it?
Often it is, particularly if the slowness comes from clutter or a failing drive rather than age itself. If the computer can no longer run supported updates or the hardware is failing, we will say so honestly rather than tune a machine that should be retired.
Helpful guides
- Why is my computer slow? Causes and fixesA slow computer usually has a clear cause - an old hard drive, too little memory, startup clutter or malware. Here is how to find which one it is and fix it.
- Which computer upgrades are worth the money?Not every upgrade earns its keep. See which computer upgrades - SSDs, memory, batteries, monitors and docks - give real gains, and which ones rarely pay off.
- A simple computer maintenance checklistKeep your computers running smoothly with this plain-English maintenance checklist covering updates, backups, storage, security and physical cleaning.
- Why your computer keeps freezingComputer freezing or locking up? Learn the common causes - overheating, failing drives, memory faults, drivers and software - and how to narrow them down.
- How computers get viruses, and how to stop themMalware rarely appears by magic. Learn the real ways computers get infected - email, downloads, fake updates, old software - and the habits that prevent it.
- Can Macs get viruses?Macs are well protected but not immune. What threats affect macOS, how Apple's built-in defences work and the habits that keep a MacBook or iMac safe.
Computer Health Check & Tune-up by area
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Auckland CBD
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Ponsonby
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Remuera & Newmarket
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Mt Eden & Mt Albert
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Onehunga
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in North Shore
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Albany
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Hibiscus Coast
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in West Auckland
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Kumeu & Hobsonville
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in East Auckland
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Botany & Flat Bush
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in East Tamaki
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Manukau
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Papakura & Takanini
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Pukekohe
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Mangere & Airport Oaks
- Computer Health Check & Tune-up in Hamilton