Explanation of Services Offered
 
 

PC repair / upgrade

    Here, your computer is likely to be taken apart and worked on.  One or more components are likely to be replaced.  Please note that in addition to the labor costs, parts will cost extra.  However, parts will be sold to you at my cost plus 10% if they were bought wholesale, or 25% if I had to buy them retail (such as in a dire emergency).  This means that if a video card costs me $100, shipping and all, and it takes me 30 minutes to install it and set it up, you will pay ($100*1.1)+($44*0.5 hours)=$134.

    First of all, a personal interview is required for web site design.  This will take between 30 minutes to 2 hours.  However, the "first-hour" charge will apply only one time.  For example, if I interview you for 1 hour, and it takes 5 hours to build the site, you will be charged for 6 hours, which will normally be $44+($22*5 hours)=$154.  Please note that the time it takes to build a site will vary GREATLY!!!  Simple sites can be built in 2-5 hours.  More complex sites can take DAYS to build, even with powerful software tools!  Also, your site data can be burned onto a CD, and this will be $5.

    Also, I am not really set up for taking user input other than selecting links and such.  This is all done through HTML, which stands for HyperText Markup Language.  However, I can set up a nice web site to showcase what you have.

    Finally, I am UNABLE to host your site for you.  I do not have much server space.  You will have to put this onto your own server or a server of your choice, usually using an "FTP client".  A very good FTP client is WS FTP.   However, I CAN help you with this process, for it can be intimidating to new users.  The charge will be just an extension of the job (no more "first-hour" charges).  However, a house call usually IS required for this, particularly if I am to upload this onto your server.  Going back to the above example, if it takes me an hour to upload your site onto your server, then the final bill will be $199.  This includes the interview, web site construction, burning the CD, house call, and uploading to your server.

    Also, if you want the interview at your house and also need help uploading the site onto your server, then TWO house calls will be necessary, but only one first-hour charge.  You will be charged for the FIRST house call only ($18).

    Please note that I can use the following for web site construction:

    - Your original pictures / drawings (NO copyright stuff!)
    - Your original music and/or sounds or classical music
    - My pictures, drawings, and images
    - My music (my own compositions) -- $50 each

    As for my musical compositions, I can incorporate EACH of these for $50.  However, use in multiple locations does NOT carry an additional charge.  Only MP3's will be encouraged.  NO songs will be encouraged as WAV format due to huge file sizes (can eat up around 10 MB per minute!).  However, short sound effects are ok even as WAV files.

    This is an area that I cannot guarantee well.  However, I will try to remove these.  Ideally, I would install a "demo" version of a virus checker and have it scan your system.  However, if files are deleted or overwritten with inferior versions, there is not much I can do.  I MAY be able to take your Windows CD or system restoration CD and try to overwrite the corrupt file(s).

    Right now, things look rather bright for the success in removing adware and spyware for your system.  I will use an automated tool for doing most of this.  A few of them, however, require manual removal, particularly newer stuff.

    WARNING:  A potential side effect of adware / spyware removal is having one or more programs no longer working.  Kazaa Lite and IncrediMail are a couple of prime examples.  If you insist on these programs and not want adware, then you have to make up your mind.  It is one OR the other, but NOT both!  I know that this is painful, but this is the ugly truth.

    Here several possibilities are available.  Perhaps you have some photos that you want digitized (scanned), but don't have a scanner.  I can do that!  Perhaps you have some photos that are discolored.  There is hope for these.  If you have black and white photos that turned yellowish, these are a piece of cake to restore!  Problems with brightness, contrast, and color balance can usually be corrected, often easily.  These can be saved to CD ($5 for whole CD) and/or printed out.  The costs for printouts is $2 for large (8.5 x 11 inches), $1 for medium sized photos (half a page), or 50 cents per quarter page.  These costs are cut into half if regular paper is used (NOT "photo paper").  Multi-page pictures will cost $2 times the number of pages.  Please note that things will be rounded up to the next page.  For example, if a photo takes 2.2 pages, then you will be charged for 3 pages.  Only genuine name brand ink is used.

    This includes business cards, posters. banners, home design, building design, room remodeling designs, and possibly more!  Results can be printed out and/or saved to CD ($5 per CD).  For business cards and mailing labels, the charge will be the design time plus 15 cents per card.  Please note that my card stock is about 5 cents a card (at my cost).  I have to add for ink and equipment wear and tear.  Only genuine name brand ink is used.

    This can be one-on-one or a group setting.  As for group settings, costs will vary, depending on cost of renting a facility.

    If you have a CD or DVD burner or tape drive, I can use this to back up your system.  If you have no backup device, I can do a "pseudo backup".  This is not a true backup and will NOT protect against a hard drive failure or certain viruses.  However, a pseudo backup IS good for when Windows gets all gummed up.,  A pseudo backup will help to save you from having to reformat your hard drive.  I can optionally back up your hard drive by temporarily removing it from your system, connecting it up to my laptop PC, along with a new hard drive, and then do an image copy.  However, a new or spare hard drive with sufficient capacity is required (either IDE/ATA or SATA).  You would then have protection against a hard drive failure, viruses, and operating system corruption.

    Shoring up is a process that will incorporate a pseudo backup, firewall check, and other things that will help to keep your system up and running and make it less vulnerable to getting all gummed up.

    This service is great for people with disabilities and those with age-related problems.  Some people don't have the strength to carry a PC tower.  Many people don't have the physical ability to get back behind a computer desk.  Still others are intimidated by the connections and such.  Others may need counseling and help in setting up a configuration that is right for THAT person.  In any of these, I can help.

    If you are thinking of buying that $500 piece of software, but don't know if it is right for you, I can help you decide.  If you are working on an invention, but are stuck due to lack of technical and/or mathematical background, I'll try to help you.  If I CAN'T help you, you will NOT be charged.  As for inventions, your ideas will be kept strictly confidential.

    If you have a fear of computers (computer phobia) or are afraid to get online, I may be able to help you.  If you are afraid to shop online due to the possibility of identity theft and more, I can probably help you.  Here, education is probably the best defense for you.  While I don't accept insurance plans, my rates are much lower than counseling in medical settings.