Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is this part of the Arabella Reserve HOA in any way?
A. Absolutely not! I am a private citizen offering to help my neighbors. This website, and the services being offered are not in any way affiliated with the Arabella Reserve HOA, it's management company, or other affiliates. 

Q. Why are you doing this for free?
A. As I have explained throughout this site, computers are a passion and hobby of mine and since I am recently retired, I thought I could help a few neighbors with one of the most frustrating things we live with every day. Like any hobby, there are some costs to me, but I am willing to absorb them to do something I enjoy. See my Associates Link for more info on how I try and recoup a tiny fraction of my expense, all while doing all the labor free to you. I do not sell parts or software, so if needed, you can buy them anywhere you like. That said, many repairs do not require parts, such as virus removal. 

Q. How do I know what parts to get?
A.  I do not sell parts. I will give you several options of what to get and where to get the parts that you will need to purchase. If possible, I'll give you several options on prices as well. However, you can buy the part anywhere you like. If the part doesn't fix the problem for some reason, you can send it back, which is why I usually recommend buying the part from Amazon with free shipping and returns if you subscribe to Amazon Prime. 

Q. You built this entre website to do free computer repairs?
A. Yes, can you tell how bored I am? This literally took me a few hours from start to finish, although there is a cost to me for the domain name, website and associated services. I wanted to get everything spelled out so we are all on the same page and this was the only way I could think of. 

Q. Why do you require a signed release of liability (Waiver)?
A. One might say a good neighbor would never ask another neighbor to sign a waiver for offering their help, and in most cases that may be true. I have helped many of my Arabella reserve neighbors doing various things since I have been here. But helping someone with a landscaping chore is not the same as trying to save decades of irreplaceable documents and photos stored on an expensive electronic device. 

No matter where you go for repairs, you will likely be asked to sign a release of liability before anyone will work on your computer. Computers can arrive infected with viruses or malware where information has already been stolen, data deleted, or parts broken, and no computer shop will want to be responsible for that. Also, sometimes, simply by inspecting a computer, there is a chance something will break or data will be lost.  It may not happen all the time, but it does happen. Additionally, since I am doing this for free and we unfortunately live in a litigious society, I absolutely have to protect myself and my assets. I completely understand if a potential client feels uncomfortable signing the waiver, but I must decline the repair. 

Q. Do you do computer training?
A. Not really. While I will discuss the specific items that require attention, computer training is widely available for free on the internet. The best way to learn anything is to head over to YouTube and search for the thing you need to research. You will find an abundant of training videos for almost any subject. 

Q. What if I have a warranty on my computer, can you still fix it?
A. Sure - if you want me to. But it is possible that having any third-party work on your device could void the warranty of the seller or the manufacturer. It will be your responsibility to verify if there is a warranty on the device. 

Q. Can I trust you with looking at my computer files?
A. Ask yourself if you can trust any computer tech looking at your computer files; an 18-year-old so-called PC Tech at Best Buy for instance. All I can tell you is that there may be no need to look at your files for most computer repairs. However, if you are asking to backup or retore lost files, there is no way to do that without looking at them. It would be like trying to find your lost car keys with a blindfold on. All I can say is, I will do my best to avoid interacting with your data if possible. Of course, if you feel uncomfortable, feel free to try another service. 

Q. Are you qualified to work on computers.
A. While I spent decades overseeing a large auto dealer group's IT system, I have no "formal" classroom type training on computers. I do have decades of on-the-job training building out interconnected networks, managing and configuring dozens of servers, firewalls, routers, switches, backup solutions, network security appliances, software installs and patches. and countless computer repairs and upgrades. Over the years I oversaw this IT infrastructure, we never had a security incident, and all their networks remain up and running today based on the work I did for all those years. But that doesn't mean I know it all, nor does it mean there won't be a problem with your device. Any computer technical of any experience can have a catastrophic failure, and I am no exception. The same hold true for car auto mechanics, contractors and brain surgeons. Speaking of auto mechanics, I was an ASE Certified Master Mechanic and completed several certifications in electronics and control systems. 

Q. Are you licensed, certified, or insured?
A. No. This is a hobby. This is why I ask people to sign a waiver releasing me of liability. You know the old phrase, "No good deed goes unpunished"?  Well - I must protect myself and my assets and this waiver is the only way I know to do so. I am not willing to risk my house, no matter how much I like my neighbors. 

Q. I see the website is called dealercomuting.com, why?
A. I registered this domain about 20 years ago when I contemplated going out on my own, offering services to car dealers. That never materialized,  so I used it for this site because it was just sitting there doing nothing. There is nothing more to it than that.

Q. Do you offer any guarantees?
A. No. I am doing this free of charge, and I cannot make any garantees. That aside, computers can often be fickle with problems, especially if they are old or have been infected with a suborn virus. It is unfortunately necessary for repeated repairs in these cases. I do not sell parts. So, if you purchased any parts for a repair I do, you will be responsible for working with the seller for refunds or replacements of any damaged or defective item. Also note that I have no obligation to redo work I did, especially if I determine the computer is a lost cause. But I will always try to work with you. 

 Q. Can you really recover lost files?
A. Maybe. Not even the FBI or NSA can guarantee they can recover files from a computer. Some devices are simply dead and cannot be revived. other are damages or the files were overwritten, making them impossible to recover. However I do have some advanced software that will try and do the job, but there are no guarantees it will be successful. If I fee I am uncapable of restoring the files, I'll give you some information on how to find a dedicated file recovery service, but file recovery can easily go into the many hundreds of dollars.  

Q. How long will it take to fix my computer?
A. I will usually get to a device for initial diagnosis within 48 business hours. Once I know what I am working with, I'll let you know about how long it will take to fix the device and let you know what parts you need to get. However, time estimates will be estimate. Life gets in the way sometimes.

Q. What is my remedy if you don't fix my computer or something goes wrong.
A. Ask yourself if you would be willing to pay to fix your neighbors car because the window was broken while they were away and you were supposed to keep an eye on it. My guess is since you weren't charging for security services, you would be unwilling to fork over $500.00 to fix the car. Similarly, because this is a free service, I will not be financially responsible in any way for any device, repair, or lack thereof. I clearly spell this out in the waiver, so please review it.

Q. What are my other choices for fixing my computer.
A. There are many computer repair shops around, several right here in Vero Beach. BestBuy's Geek Squad has a computer repair service. At last check, the inspection is $49.95, which seems reasonable enough. However, be prepared for them to sign you up for their $200.00 yearly Geek Squad plan (which auto renews every year), plus the cost of parts and labor. 

You can also try fixing common problem yourself using the tools I have listed on the Tips & Tricks page of this website. If those don't work out, then it's time to get professional help. I make no warranties as to the efficacy of the suggested tools as I have no affiliation with these companies. However, I have used many of them and they do sometimes work well depending on the issue at hand. 

There are also independent stores around town which I will list below. I have never used these services and have no recommendation on them, one way or the other. Please do your own research for computer repair shops and their ratings. 

PC Repair Shops in Vero Beach:

BestBuy / Geek Squad:
Address: 6156 20th St, Vero Beach, FL 32966
Hours: Open ⋅ Closes 8 PM
Phone: (772) 778-0679

Computer Repair Vero Beach
1258 Scarlet Oak Cir ·
Phone: (772) 226-0017

Computer Connection
941 17th St 
Phone: (772) 567-8564

ACT COMPUTERS
1525 US-1 
Phone: (772) 567-7888