Most people overpay for repairs or buy the wrong machine because they don't know what to ask. Here's what I tell every customer before they spend a dollar:

1. That "slow computer" probably just needs an SSD

Replacing a hard drive with an SSD costs ~$50–80 and makes a 5-year-old laptop feel new. Most shops will charge you $200+ labor and call it a "tune-up."

2. "Your motherboard is fried" is the laziest diagnosis

Before any tech says this, they should have tested the RAM, reseated connections, and ruled out a simple BIOS issue. 90% of the time it's something cheaper.

3. More RAM ≠ faster computer (most of the time)

If your bottleneck is a spinning hard drive, adding RAM won't help. Fix the right problem first.

4. Factory reset is not the answer to everything

Data loss is real. Any shop suggesting a wipe before attempting a repair isn't trying hard enough.

5. Free antivirus is fine for most people

Windows Defender, kept updated, is genuinely good. Don't pay a monthly subscription for something your OS already does.

If you want straight answers before your next repair or purchase — that's exactly what I'm here for.