Do you take walk-ins, and what does it cost to look at my computer?

Straightforward answers, since this is usually what people want to know before picking up the phone.

Walk-ins: yes, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern. Calling first is not required and it does help, because we can tell you whether the part you will probably need is in stock, and occasionally we can solve it on the phone and save you the trip.

Diagnostic fee: a flat charge, and it is credited toward the repair if you go ahead with it. So if you have the work done, the diagnostic effectively costs nothing. If you decide not to, you have paid for a clear answer about what is wrong and whether it is worth fixing, which is worth having either way. Advanced Computer Consulting handles home and personal machines and publishes current rates.

What you get: a proper diagnosis rather than a guess, and a quote before anything is done. We do not start work and then tell you the cost. If what we find means the repair is not worth it, we will say so plainly, including when that means we do not get the job.

Turnaround: most common repairs are same day or next day when the part is in stock. Data recovery and anything needing an ordered part takes longer, and we will give you a realistic timeframe up front rather than an optimistic one.

What to bring: the computer and its charger. If you know the password, bring it, because there is a lot we cannot check without getting into the machine. If you do not know it, that is workable, just say so.

Tell us if there is data you cannot lose. Photos, documents, tax records. It changes how we handle the drive and it is the single most important thing to mention at drop off. If the machine is dead and the files are the reason you are here, lead with that.

Business customers with an agreement do not go through this process. Your support comes through your agreement, and hardware gets handled as part of it.