Last week, I brought my desktop to a repair shop because I couldn't factory reset my Windows installation. I wanted to wipe everything in preparation for a new GPU, and honestly, it was just time to clean up the years of junk. The last update I got was that they suspect my motherboard or CPU might be defective since they couldn't get past the BIOS. They were planning to test some different CPUs. I'm not totally in the dark about the situation, but I'm wondering how long these types of repairs should typically take before I consider trying a different shop.
4 Answers
Waiting a week for them to work on your machine isn’t too crazy, but the sudden diagnosis of needing a new motherboard and CPU is red flag territory, especially since you brought it in for a software issue. If you can at least get to the BIOS, it means your CPU is at least somewhat functional. I’d recommend getting your PC back and maybe looking for a second opinion elsewhere.
So, you tried resetting Windows, but ended up with a hardware diagnosis about your motherboard and CPU? That’s a bit suspicious to me. If it’s just a software issue with resetting Windows, it should only take about an hour to reinstall cleanly with a USB. It feels like they might be upselling you on a bigger issue that might not even exist.
The shop owner did mention using a USB drive to install Windows, but said it just wouldn’t work on mine. I didn’t have any hardware issues before taking it in, but now I'm worried about what they claim is wrong. What do you think a ‘bigger issue’ could be?
From my experience, if you're having trouble with recovery, it might point to a failing hard drive or SSD. Usually, working on a PC shouldn’t take longer than a couple of hours to identify the issue. It’s definitely unusual for them to hold onto your PC for that long without updates. Make sure you get back everything you handed in and check for any swapped parts; I've heard of shady practices like that before.
Thanks for the heads up! I’ll make sure to check everything when I pick it up. They said they were trying to load the OS onto my new SSD but had issues – they think it’s a motherboard problem. I wish I had my hands on it to inspect!
It's tough to say exactly how long a repair should take because it really varies from shop to shop. Each one has different workloads and staffing, so it might not be possible to work non-stop on just your device. If you didn't pay for rush service, waiting a little longer is probably normal. Just a quick call to check in might ease your mind!
You're right. I think my impatience is getting to me, and I should just hang tight. Thanks for the reassurance!
I was thinking the same. I might hold off until Friday to see if they’ve figured anything out, but if not, I’ll take it somewhere else.