Starting a Computer Clean-Up Service. Any Tips?

I'm planning on starting a computer clean-up service to serve as a sort of part-time fill-in job until I move in the fall.

Any advice you guys have would be *very* appreciated. Here's the rough idea I've come up with:

Service costs $50 and includes:
Free permanent anti-virus software
Free permanent anti-spyware software
Increased computer performance
Decreased computer boot times

Basically I'm thinking I would go in, boot their comp into safe mode. Install AVG and start scanning. While that's scanning I'll examine and clean the start-up list in MSConfig, install Ad-Aware, SpyBot, and Spyware Blaster. I'd have all the software with me on a USB.

Once the AVG scan completes I run the Spyware stuff and then do an ewido scan. I make sure AVG is set-up to run and auto-update and I instruct them to scan with Ad-Aware and Spyware Blaster weekly.

Even a computer in pretty bad shape should be able to handle this stuff in the course of 3 hours or so.

Anyway feedback is very appreciated (positive or negative). Particularly do you recommend any changes or additions to what I do? And do you think I could generate business with this level of service and price point?

 

I was playing with that thought, too. If you end up doing this you should use programs like registry cleaners and TuneXP to increase the performance. Then do a disk cleanup and defrag the hard drive and mabey compress it and not allow indexing. There are a ton of XP tweaks out there so just google it. For a substantial fee more you could offer undervolting and better drivers.

How well you do really depends on a lot of factors. If it a small business, it would mostly be word of mouth. Some other factors would be if you messed up their comp or not, price, time spent, location, advertising, and percieved performance increase. I would venture to guess that a large college campus may be a good place to look for business. Also use a program like Super Pi before and after to show the performance gain.

Hope that helps, have a good one.

 

I really like the idea, especially what you are doing and the price. If you try to defrag the machines and add drivers...it could get VERY long. Of course, you could charge a higher fee for this.

I think the main selling point is that most people don't do this stuff on their own. What you want to set up for them is a collection of PERMANENT changes that are self-sufficient (ie: scheduled antivirus/spyware scans). Many things about a computer will degrade over time, but if you have a couple scheduled tasks and have the computer start off on the right foot...then the person could have a better chance of maintaining that.

It's a good idea, I've done it (among other things) and it can work if you have the marketing ability.

 

I forgot to mention that I'd install Firefox and the essential extensions to help prevent future problems (and improve browsing).

Anyway, yeah, one priority is to keep it short/cheap. The Geek places charge in the range of $50/hr I think and people just don't call them unless they don't have a choice.

My target market would be more the segment that would drop $50 on new anti-vir protection or spyware protection because they're fed up.

Anyway, specifics:
-I could start a defrag when I left to offer a little more servuce with no more add'l time spent on the job.
-Does the method i mentioned in my first post need improvement or streamlining in any way?
-If I'm going to do any tweaking stuff, what program/tweaks would you guys recommend?

Thanks for the advice. Hopefully it can be useful for several on this board to possibly start something like this... as long as you don't live in the same city as me

 

Google TuneXP, and read and understand the help file. One thing to keep in mind is that your target market will not understand the benefits of changing web browsers, and will likely not do so just because some guy admonished them to. Best thing to do is as others have said, scheduled anti-virus and spyware scans. Also, google "hijackthis," it's a great tool for seeing possible spyware hijacks.

Not sure what freeware anti-spyware tools have scheduled scans, but I think that is the key.

Remember, people are stupid, so you can't depend on them to do anything once you leave.

 

I think if I set them up with Firefox and Fasterfox at the same time I've cleaned their comp that Firefox will be so much faster that they won't want to go back.

Same idea goes for getting them to do even a little bit on their comp. If they've paid $50 they're obviously fed up and want to be a little better about maintenance.

On the other hand...

is all too true.

One of my biggest concerns is working on messed up machines with inexperienced users means there are likely going to be computer problems later and I'm likely going to get blamed for them.

 

the FF route is not a good idea for inexperienced users. many sites that users in your demographic go to are professional sites like banking sites, etc. and many of those sites are not FF friendly. you will only cause confusion, frustration, and get a bad rep for yourself if you give them a browser that won't work with the sites they go to.

 

Plus, even if Firefox is better in almost every way...most will still not want to switch. Your target market looks for simplicity...not the best and brightest. They just want to turn on the computer, have it work well, and get their stuff done.

My girlfriend basically refuses to use Firefox, no matter what I say. She likes how IE works, even if it's slow, it's reliable and comfortable for her.

 

I like the idea but what if you mess up something on the computer? Like what if you change the registry or tweak something that stops boot up. It may mean spending extra time to sort it out to the user losingaccess to all their data. What if that happens?

 

You guys make some really good points about Firefox that have me reconsidering that. I may go half way and install it as an alternative but not try to force a switch or anything.

radditz - you've definitely hit on one of the tougher questions. Basically I'm going to make sure they know that I don't solve problems outside of virus/spyware and then I need to make sure that the things I'm adjusting are "low risk" in terms of somehow screwing up their comp. Does TweakXP fit this category of low risk, btw?

Oh, and a new question, can you get effective scans with the anti-spyware stuff while you're in safe mode or are those best run in regular windows? Anyone know?

P.S. - As always, you guys are awesome.

 

the best scans are in safe mode; be it av or spyware scans