FAQ

Q: Is using the diagnostic free?

A: Yes! The flowcharts of all levels are provided free of charge to all users.

Q: What do I do if the Solution Code given doesn’t resolve my problem?

A: In the unlikely scenario that the answer provided does not fix the issue with your machine, you can choose a higher level Flowchart or take your machine to a professional for service. Computers have a vast number of different proprietary hardwares and softwares and near infinite possible combinations of them all. Though The Technomancer’s aim is to allow you to bring your own computer back to life, sometimes expert service is required.

Q: At the end of the flowchart, I was told to have the machine serviced by a professional. How do I know which local computer repair shop to choose?

A: Word of mouth, online reviews and the amount of time the company has been in business are all good indicators of which shops are trustworthy and which are not. Generally you’ll want to find a reputable company with a physical location/storefront (not the “computer expert” working out of his mother’s garage that you found on Craigslist) and reasonable rates (expect to pay around $50-100 per hour for quality service).

A directory of local computer repair shops can be found online here.

The Technomancer advises against larger “chain store” computer repair centers such as Best Buy’s “Geek Squad” due to inexperienced technicians, a commission/upsell-driven atmosphere, lackluster quality of repair and unreasonably long turnaround times.

Q: How do I choose between the products listed on my Solution page?

A: If a Solution lists multiple products capable of solving your problem (Virus and Spyware Removal particularly), which item you choose is entirely dependent on personal preference. If you have no existing preference, download trial versions of the products (where available) and give them a test-drive!

Q: Why are all the /’s  in your flowcharts backwards?! It’s confusing!

A: Unfortunately, the one drawback of using the jquery script to bring you interactive flowcharts is that it parses forward-slashes in a strange way; all forward-slashes have been replaced with backslashes to ensure maximum stability for the applet. Because these only exist in the Intermediate and Advanced charts, I have no doubt you computer literate gents (and madams) can figure it out.