My new computer

P

peter912

Member
I have replaced my 8 year old Dell computer with windows 10 installed in it. This new computer has Windows 11 Pro. It was not possible to put windows 11 in the old Dell computer plus it always took so long to start up for some reason. The technician who sold me this custom built computer charged $1000 for this refurbished computer, plus $400 to install and transfer data to the new computer. The monitor also had to be replaced because he said it was not compatible with the new computer. How can a monitor not be compatible with a computer?

Another puzzling thing happened after using the computer for one week. I had a message on the screen that my computer is not connected to the internet. I called my internet provider who discovered that the computer was not connected to the modem. If the computer was not connected to the modem then how did it work for one week? Maybe it was connecting through WiFi perhaps? The wire from the modem was connected to the outlet in the wall, so I had to unplug it and plug it into the modem and then I got my internet back again.
 
peter912 said:
How can a monitor not be compatible with a computer?
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A lot of computers these days are only coming with HDMI and Display port connections so if your monitor is an older type which only may have VGA or DVI then technically its not compatible. However, you can get HDMI to VGA or DVI cable converters which I had to do for someone a couple years ago.

As far as the internet connection goes, It could have been connected by wifi and only you would know that. It's possible the wifi died or was having issues.

peter912 said:
The technician who sold me this custom built computer charged $1000 for this refurbished computer, plus $400 to install and transfer data to the new computer.
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What are the specs of the pc? $400 is outrageous to install windows and transfer data. You got robbed.
 
Hi John,

Where can I find the specs of the pc so I can let you know?
He didn't install windows because it was already installed on the new computer. He charges $199 an hour and he spent 2 hours at my house connecting the computer and transferring data from the old computer to the new computer. He also said that the fan was very small in the old Dell computer.

I found this:

Windows 11 Pro

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6 Core Processor 3.60 GHz

Ram:16 GB

System-64 bit operating system x 64based processor

Storage 1.84 TB

Graphics Card 4 GB

Installed Ram 16.0 GB

So what does this all mean ? How good or bad is this computer?
 
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Download and run Speccy from here

Thanks for downloading CCleaner

www.ccleaner.com www.ccleaner.com

and you can either screenshot the output or save it to a text file and you can upload that here. It will look like this.

speccy.png

If you aren't sure how to screenshot then click on file and click on save to text file, save the file to pc and then attach to your post.

That will give us a more detailed look at what you have like what motherboard, specific video card and hard drives.

It really sounds like this guy has a high sales and labor margin especially for a refurbished pc.
 
johnb35 said:
Download and run Speccy from here

Thanks for downloading CCleaner

www.ccleaner.com www.ccleaner.com

and you can either screenshot the output or save it to a text file and you can upload that here. It will look like this.

View attachment 11817

If you aren't sure how to screenshot then click on file and click on save to text file, save the file to pc and then attach to your post.

That will give us a more detailed look at what you have like what motherboard, specific video card and hard drives.

It really sounds like this guy has a high sales and labor margin especially for a refurbished pc.
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Can't you tell anything from the information that I provided?
 
beers said:
I’d stop going to this guy.
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The first place that I tried was Geeksquad but they only service what they sell. Then the second place no one picked up the phone, I just got an answering machine. Then I called this guy and he was able to come right away and that was important to me because I depend on the computer for so many important things. I turned on the computer but the monitor screen stayed dark for a long period of time, I thought it was gone for good. I knew he was expensive because I googled him before I called him but he provided fast service and brought a new refurbished computer and monitor with him. Hopefully I won't need to call anyone for a good while.
 
peter912 said:
Can't you tell anything from the information that I provided?
Click to expand...
johnb35 said:
Download and run Speccy from here

Thanks for downloading CCleaner

www.ccleaner.com www.ccleaner.com

and you can either screenshot the output or save it to a text file and you can upload that here. It will look like this.

View attachment 11817

If you aren't sure how to screenshot then click on file and click on save to text file, save the file to pc and then attach to your post.

That will give us a more detailed look at what you have like what motherboard, specific video card and hard drives.

It really sounds like this guy has a high sales and labor margin especially for a refurbished pc.
Click to expand...
This app was asking for permission to make changes and I checked online and found out that it contains malware imbedded in the program. So I didn't want to take a risk by downloading it.
 
Speccy is pretty well known.

You can even use Device Manager to pull some of the info strings, or things like GPU-Z to identify your video card.

1744232634395.png
 
As beers as said, speccy is well known and is not malware. However some programs may ask you if you want to install other software which may be good or bad. I dont remember if it asked me to install any additional software or not.
 
I'm not as verbally correct as others have been. I've been building computers for 28 years. You got ripped off. This dude must have close to a 100% markup and 400 bucks to transfer your data. I would have charged probably 50 bucks.
 
This is exactly one of the reasons that I switched to Linux. The operating system is free, and will install on any computer. The last version of Windows, that I used, was Windows XP. I'd never go back to paying for an operating system, let alone paying someone to install it. Circumstances, like yours, is the exact reason why Linux was created, in the first place.

In your case, I'd recommend trying a Linux bootable DVD. Linux is a lot easier to use for those who know a little more about computers. However, there's tons of information out there. As for me, any time I had a Linux question, I just googled it. That's how I came to learn how to work my way around Linux. I have absolutely no regrets.
 
StrangleHold said:
I'm not as verbally correct as others have been. I've been building computers for 28 years. You got ripped off. This dude must have close to a 100% markup and 400 bucks to transfer your data. I would have charged probably 50 bucks.
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The charge wasn't just for transferring data. He came out to my house and spent 2 hours here connecting and setting up the new computer. So you are saying that you would have gone out to a customers house and spend 2 hours there, for only 50 dollars? I am not disputing that I was overcharged, just the amount. I can only imagine how shocked you would be to find out how much plumbers charge but we will leave that for another forum, this is a computer forum.
 
Im not doing anything other than hooking it up for customers at there house. I will pick up your old computer and bring it to my place. I do everything at my place. Build it, install the operating system, update it, data transfer, done. Then deliver it and hook it up and get it going. There is no point sitting at someone's house for 3 hours. I've been doing this for years, have a computer room for every thing.

The way I do it is ask what they want in a computer. I'll do 3 different builds. Let them pick one. If you want your data transfered I will bring your old computer home, or come back and get it when the parts arrive. Build the computer here, do all the updates and then transfer your data. When I have it up and running I will do a stress test on it. When it's rock solid I will deliver it and hook it up. I'll even give you a discount if your old computer is worth anything and you let me keep it.

I even give you a warranty as in the parts warranty for 1 year, free. After the year I'll still stand behind the parts as in the warranty but will charge to swap them out. But I do everything here, not at the customers house other than unhooking it and hooking it up. I'm not the geek squad that will burn you up on labor charges.
 
StrangleHold said:
Im not doing anything other than hooking it up for customers at there house. I will pick up your old computer and bring it to my place. I do everything at my place. Build it, install the operating system, update it, data transfer, done. Then deliver it and hook it up and get it going. There is no point sitting at someone's house for 3 hours. I've been doing this for years, have a computer room for every thing.

The way I do it is ask what they want in a computer. I'll do 3 different builds. Let them pick one. If you want your data transfered I will bring your old computer home, or come back and get it when the parts arrive. Build the computer here, do all the updates and then transfer your data. When I have it up and running I will do a stress test on it. When it's rock solid I will deliver it and hook it up. I'll even give you a discount if your old computer is worth anything and you let me keep it.

I even give you a warranty as in the parts warranty for 1 year, free. After the year I'll still stand behind the parts as in the warranty but will charge to swap them out. But I do everything here, not at the customers house other than unhooking it and hooking it up. I'm not the geek squad that will burn you up on labor charges.
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So what do you charge to build a computer? Also data transfer, delivery and hook up?
 
It doesn't matter if you build a 500 buck computer or a 4000 dollar computer. I charge 125.00 to build it. I can have it done between 1 and 2 hours. If you want me to install the OS and a data transfer it's 50 dollars. So 175 total for labor. You have to remember I'm not doing this at the customers house. I'm at my place, 95% of the time I will have it done the next day, the reason for the 95% is the chance you get a defective part and it will have to be RMA. Then deliver it and hook it up for you. So I make 175 bucks for a side job that's not really that hard. Really the longest part of the job is installing the OS and updates, but I just sit back and watch TV and eat a grill cheese sandwich.

I will add a exception. If you want water cooling and have maxed out case with 6 fans. The labor will be more, but not that much.
 
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Listen man, I'm not trying to make you feel bad. If the computer works that's great. You were just over charged. You got a AM4 Ryzen 5 3600. It's a almost 6 year old processor. Two DDR4 sticks of memory. AM4 board. Don't know the video card, there are a lot of 4gb video cards or power supply, SSD and case. He charged you 1000 bucks. With the parts I have I would have built you something pretty close for around 500 bucks. Now I'm talking used parts that I have which is not different then refurbished. Then 175 for labor. So around 675 total. So we are talking about me getting 675 bucks for my parts and some labor. Being used parts I would have gave you a 90 warranty. If it runs good and does what you want it too that's great, no problem. You just got over charged.
 
StrangleHold said:
Im not doing anything other than hooking it up for customers at there house. I will pick up your old computer and bring it to my place. I do everything at my place. Build it, install the operating system, update it, data transfer, done. Then deliver it and hook it up and get it going. There is no point sitting at someone's house for 3 hours. I've been doing this for years, have a computer room for every thing.

The way I do it is ask what they want in a computer. I'll do 3 different builds. Let them pick one. If you want your data transfered I will bring your old computer home, or come back and get it when the parts arrive. Build the computer here, do all the updates and then transfer your data. When I have it up and running I will do a stress test on it. When it's rock solid I will deliver it and hook it up. I'll even give you a discount if your old computer is worth anything and you let me keep it.

I even give you a warranty as in the parts warranty for 1 year, free. After the year I'll still stand behind the parts as in the warranty but will charge to swap them out. But I do everything here, not at the customers house other than unhooking it and hooking it up. I'm not the geek squad that will burn you up on labor charges.
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You do the same thing I have done for years too. That way I can let the computer do what it needs to do and I can do other things at home if need be. He definitely got raked over the coals on this.
 
johnb35 said:
You do the same thing I have done for years too. That way I can let the computer do what it needs to do and I can do other things at home if need be. He definitely got raked over the coals on this.
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Yeah, other then naming the computer. during the install and updates its just OK a few times and a few YES. I kinda know when and how long it will be when they pop up. I keep glancing over at it with this (please don't) look every now and then, for that dreaded blue screen or restart for no reason, LOL. It rarely never happens on a used build with parts I know works. Usually it will be a memory problem. This memory really doesn't like this board or vise versa.
 
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