Geek Squad Alternative Calgary

This is a very broad question, and it can vary a lot based on the parts required. However, we’ll try to draw some labour price ranges for the most common jobs below:

Laptop Screen Replacement

We offer a flat rate for the majority of non-touchscreen laptops. The flat rate is $199 and includes the screen and labour. If the screen is a touchscreen, then the parts and labour will be quoted upfront based on the exact make and model of your system. In order to get an accurate quote, we will need the full make and model of your system, and in some cases the serial number as well.

Also, it would be extremely helpful to know the maximum resolution your current broken screen supports. In order to determine that, you could try connecting your laptop using an HDMI cable if possible to an external monitor/TV. Power on, log into Windows, right-click on your desktop and select ‘Display’. Scroll down to ‘Display Resolution’, click on the drop-down box and take note of the maximum resolution supported at the top (i.e. 1920x1080).  

 As a final note on broken screens, when a screen gets damaged, oftentimes the reason is a hinge detaching from the LCD cover or worse, from both the cover as well as the base. This is easy to spot as you will notice the screen detaching from either the back cover, base or both. In this scenario a proper on-site assessment may be required as the cost may be too high, making it not really worth fixing the laptop. Do not hesitate to contact us if necessary, we offer FREE in-house and on-site quotes.

Screen Replacement for Non-Touch Screen (most models): - $199 flat rate (parts and labour included)

Screen Replacement for Touch Screen: Labour ($88 – $220) + cost of screen

Disk Replacement

Disks fail. It is not a matter of IF but WHEN. Disks come in many sizes, speeds and types of technology used. The most common replacements we use are called SATA solid-state drives as they are compatible with most of the systems nowadays, as well as up to 5x faster than conventional hard drives. So when you replace your old degrading hard drive, you’re also benefiting from an upgrade, meaning your system will feel so much faster than even when you initially purchased it. Prices vary mainly on storage space, connection type and brand. For SATA SSDs, the price ranges from as low as $50 dollars to $200+. For NVMe drives, the prices are quite higher and are to be determined onsite, based on key type, brand etc. The labour is determined by the complexity of computer disassembly as well as the procedure involved in transferring the data over to the new disk. We can either clone your existing disk to the new one, if the existing one isn’t too degraded, or we can install a new operating system and programs from scratch. For the first approach, you should expect 1.5 hours of labour on an average (including disk removal, cloning and installing the new disk). For the second scenario, we have two rates. We either offer a 250 flat rate plus the cost of the new disk, or an hourly rate. This will be discussed with you and decided based on how much data/software configuration may be needed. We always make sure to choose the option that’s most cost-effective for the client.

Disk: $50 – $200

Labour: Cloning $88 – $132 / New Configuration and Data Transfer $250 flat or hourly

Power Supply/DC Jack Replacement

One of the most common causes of a computer not powering on is a bad power supply in the case of a desktop PC or a DC jack for a laptop. Our technicians do carry basic ATX power supplies with them for the regular desktop towers and will be able to replace those on the spot within the first hour. Usually, there will be remaining time to perform other tasks like general maintenance or help with other technical issues you may experience within the same first hour. Power supplies can cost anywhere between $50 dollars for most basic PCs and $300 for higher-end gaming PCs or mining rigs. For small form factor PCs, the power supply costs are similar, but they need to be ordered as no shop keeps these in stock.

Laptops do not have a power supply, but an actual DC jack (the port where you plug your charger into). These jacks could be either soldered to the logic board or they may be connected with a harness. DC jacks are inexpensive and cost anywhere between $15 and $50 dollars. The labour here varies based on the complexity of the laptop disassembly as well as the type of DC jack (soldered or with harness). For the harness ones, you’re looking at 1 – 2 hours of labour, while the soldered ones require 2 – 2.5 hours.

Power Supply: $50 – $300 Labour: $88 – $132

DC Jack: $15 – $50 Labour: $88 – $220

Slow System:

Slowness can be caused by either software or hardware faults. In most cases, we will recommend one of two things. A wipe and reload of the operating system if all of your hardware passes health tests, or a system upgrade like replacing an old hard drive with a solid-state drive in the case that disk proves to be the cause of the slowness. In some instances, especially on older laptops, overheating can be the culprit. Should overheating be the issue, this can be fixed within 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the complexity of your computer disassembly.

Data Transfer to New System

This is probably one of the toughest ones to quote, as there are just way too many factors to take into consideration. First off, it is the amount of data and programs that need reconfiguring on the new system. The time it takes the data to transfer is also heavily dependent on the speeds of disks the systems are equipped with (both old and new). The procedure applied – if the old system is easy to disassemble then we may take the disk out and connect it to the new machine to transfer. If the old system is a pain to take apart and get to the disk, then a backup of the old system may be required, adding an extra step to the data transfer. Is the old system even accessible or is it damaged? Another way of transferring data is by using some form of syncing service like iCloud or Microsoft One Drive, if the client is a subscriber to any of these services and both systems are still functional. As you may guess, all these factors need to be carefully assessed at the client’s location. However, we have been doing this for years and always managed to find a cost-effective solution for our clients. Should a data transfer process take more than 3 hours, taking equipment offsite with the client’s approval may be the more cost-effective solution.

Labour: up to $264. Any systems requiring more than 3 hours may be taken offsite with the client’s approval, for cost-effectiveness.

Virus Removal

Most virus removal jobs can be completed within 1 to 1.5 hours. However, some viruses could damage important system files, rendering the operating system corrupt. In these cases, an operating system reload may be needed, in which case a flat fee of $250 will be applied for data backup, OS re-installation and data restore and programs configuration. If the client happens to have minimal data and programs to be configured as well as barely any data, then an hourly rate may be applied, whichever comes cheaper.

Labour: $88 – $132

OS Reinstall with Data Backup and Restore (if necessary): $250 flat or hourly (whichever comes cheaper)

The short answer is ‘NO’. However, we shouldn’t confuse ‘unable to fix’ or ‘lack of skill’ with some of the situations below:

1. Your system needs a part that you find to be too expensive and refuse to go ahead with the repairs

2. The issue proves to be a third-party fault or outside of our hands (i.e email account issue on host side; locked out Apple ID account with backup phone number and email address that customer doesn’t have access to anymore)

3. Parts can take a long time to arrive, specifically for laptops. It is not uncommon to even not be able to come across some specific parts for some laptops. Should the customer refuse the wait time, a diagnostic fee will be charged.

The list can go on, and we aren’t trying to find excuses here. We are simply talking from bad past experiences with customers trying to take advantage of a fair policy. One thing we can promise 100% is that if any of our techs are truly unable to fix your issue due to a lack of technical skill, then you won’t be charged for the visit.

The short answer is 5 to 7 years. There are factors to take into consideration like usage, handling, environmental factors, and maintenance when it comes to a computer life expectancy.

Desktop computers tend to last longer than laptops or AIO systems due to better cooling, easier and more affordable components replacement as well as compatibility. Laptops on the other hand can create more heat causing components to fail, parts are hard to find and more expensive to replace.

Just like a vehicle, the more ‘mileage’ you put on your system the faster it can reach its end. Setting your system to go to sleep when not in use and making sure to properly power it off when possible, can prolong its life.

Improper handling can cause a computer to break. Forcefully shutting down your system by long-pressing the power button or holding your laptop on your lap while watching a movie in bed, causing overheating isn’t a good idea.

The environment can play a major role as well. In dusty or smoking environments computers will surely not last as long unless regular internal cleanup is performed. Using canned air can work to an extent, however, there are hard-to-reach areas specifically on laptops, that cannot be properly cleaned without disassembling them. Also, humid environments can cause corrosion on circuitry boards causing all kinds of issues.

Just like vehicles and appliances in your house, your computer can and will benefit from regular maintenance. Noticing those high temperatures or failing drives will avoid more costly repairs down the road.

A lot of systems will make it past the 7-year mark or even 10, reaching obsolescence. Planned obsolescence is something that cannot be avoided. This is a vendor’s way of telling you ‘I want you to buy a new one’ and unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it. When we are asked to fix a computer, this is the first thing we assess and take into consideration. If your system is obsolete or about to, then we will make sure to inform you of this before any repairs or maintenance will be performed.