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How much to charge for a backup/format/re-install?

C

cherrytwist

Diamond Member
So my wife is pimping my computer services out to her co-workers. I'm curious how much to charge for a simple back-up/format/re-install their OS? They've provided all of their software discs.

To be honest, I feel guilty taking any money for stuff like this...but I know not everyone is tech savvy and it's worth something (in particular for my time).

What is a fair price?
 
75$. 50$ is too cheap and 100$ seems like too much. and once you get 20 people asking for the service, its not so much of a bad thing to take money for it, cause it takes up time once you get a few of them.
 
I wouldn't do it, anything goes wrong with the computer after you do the service they're going to come back to you. Even if it's their fault. Headache waiting to happen.
 
I'd charge $50 and be VERY upfront and clear that you're giving them a clean OS (I guess you could d/l service packs) and putting back their files that were backed up. Basically, you are giving them a computer that, if anything goes wrong, is not gonna be your fault. Throw on Adaware if you want before you leave, as well. If anything goes wrong in the future, you'll gladly help and bill them. Hopefully this will make 'em not call you expecting free service.
 
I would say at least $75 and if their drives are big enough put a partition in big enough to ghost to so
if they get a virus or delete a windows file you can boot from a ghost floppy and restore the whole deal
in less than 15 minutes. 🙂

Ghost is the best insurance I've found to cut the reinstall time.
 
Originally posted by: fivespeed5
I wouldn't do it, anything goes wrong with the computer after you do the service they're going to come back to you. Even if it's their fault. Headache waiting to happen.
Click to expand...
Exactly, if you don't need the money, just say no.

It the same as with build custom systems for acquaintances -- you make little or nothing, but they feel you owe them unlimited free support since "they paid you $x" (most of which went for the parts).

If you must, figure in several hours of tech support after the fact in setting your price.
 
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Originally posted by: fivespeed5
I wouldn't do it, anything goes wrong with the computer after you do the service they're going to come back to you. Even if it's their fault. Headache waiting to happen.
Click to expand...
Exactly, if you don't need the money, just say no.

It the same as with build custom systems for acquaintances -- you make little or nothing, but they feel you owe them unlimited free support since "they paid you $x" (most of which went for the parts).

If you must, figure in several hours of tech support after the fact in setting your price.
Click to expand...

Well, usually I'd agree. I have declined building systems for this reason. But simply backing up their files and reinstalling windows isn't quite the same animal. They were ready to take their machines to Best Buy to have them remove the spyware. Also, my wife has already committed me to doing it.

Originally posted by: jyates
I would say at least $75 and if their drives are big enough put a partition in big enough to ghost to so
if they get a virus or delete a windows file you can boot from a ghost floppy and restore the whole deal
in less than 15 minutes. 🙂

Ghost is the best insurance I've found to cut the reinstall time.
Click to expand...


Great idea, thanks! This way if they come back a week later with the same spyware...

I'll only charge half 😉
 
Originally posted by: cherrytwist
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Originally posted by: fivespeed5
I wouldn't do it, anything goes wrong with the computer after you do the service they're going to come back to you. Even if it's their fault. Headache waiting to happen.
Click to expand...
Exactly, if you don't need the money, just say no.

It the same as with build custom systems for acquaintances -- you make little or nothing, but they feel you owe them unlimited free support since "they paid you $x" (most of which went for the parts).

If you must, figure in several hours of tech support after the fact in setting your price.
Click to expand...

Well, usually I'd agree. I have declined building systems for this reason. But simply backing up their files and reinstalling windows isn't quite the same animal. They were ready to take their machines to Best Buy to have them remove the spyware. Also, my wife has already committed me to doing it.

Originally posted by: jyates
I would say at least $75 and if their drives are big enough put a partition in big enough to ghost to so
if they get a virus or delete a windows file you can boot from a ghost floppy and restore the whole deal
in less than 15 minutes. 🙂

Ghost is the best insurance I've found to cut the reinstall time.
Click to expand...


Great idea, thanks! This way if they come back a week later with the same spyware...

I'll only charge half 😉
Click to expand...


I have went as far as taking some extra hard drives less than 10gb and doing a ghost
back up on them and then labeling them with my "customer's" name so when they bring them
back 6 months later with some weird windows error or spyware or deleted files I can
fix them right up pretty quickly instead of keeping their pc's for days like the computer shops do.
 
I am in the middle of the same situation. A local computer store quoted them $84 just to remove the junk from their computer. I quoted $80 w/ a network card that they also needed to purchase and have installed.
 
I just did it for free for the guy that lives next to me, Maybe I suck? but when I help people out with their PC problems I dont charge them. Think about it if you charge them, you become their personal tech.
 
I dont charge family/friends for computer help, even people that i was not so close with. I feel bad charging them for some reason..
 
Originally posted by: TwiceOver
I am in the middle of the same situation. A local computer store quoted them $84 just to remove the junk from their computer. I quoted $80 w/ a network card that they also needed to purchase and have installed.
Click to expand...

I did that to 3 pc's that wouldn't run at all and charged her $150. Most of my time was spent downloading windows updates @ 2.5KB/s. Next time, I'll have it all on a disk.
 
Originally posted by: jyates
I would say at least $75 and if their drives are big enough put a partition in big enough to ghost to so
if they get a virus or delete a windows file you can boot from a ghost floppy and restore the whole deal
in less than 15 minutes. 🙂

Ghost is the best insurance I've found to cut the reinstall time.
Click to expand...


I am really starting to hate ghost... It sucks when you have to do it to 200 machines twice a year...

I want to go diskless!
 
Originally posted by: jyates
I would say at least $75 and if their drives are big enough put a partition in big enough to ghost to so
if they get a virus or delete a windows file you can boot from a ghost floppy and restore the whole deal
in less than 15 minutes. 🙂

Ghost is the best insurance I've found to cut the reinstall time.
Click to expand...
Any suggestions on a tutorial to learn this procedure?
I just helped the stepdad with a new Compaq Lappy and printer and was thinking I need to learn very type of thing.

 
Originally posted by: AlienCraft
Originally posted by: jyates
I would say at least $75 and if their drives are big enough put a partition in big enough to ghost to so
if they get a virus or delete a windows file you can boot from a ghost floppy and restore the whole deal
in less than 15 minutes. 🙂

Ghost is the best insurance I've found to cut the reinstall time.
Click to expand...

Any suggestions on a tutorial to learn this procedure?
I just helped the stepdad with a new Compaq Lappy and printer
and was thinking I need to learn very type of thing.
Click to expand...

YHPM


 
I voted $50, but now I'm thinking $75 is better. Check with compusa or bestbuy, I know compusa will gladly give you a price schedule of all the services they provide. Make it cheaper than whatever they quote you~

You don't actually know the people, I wouldn't worry about taking their money. Just make sure they know that you are setting them up with a clean os, and that if they break it, its their own fault~
 
I wouldnt do it, you'll just get a buncha headaches after something else breaks and she'll expect you to fix it for free.
 
Originally posted by: OMG1Penguin
I voted $50, but now I'm thinking $75 is better. Check with compusa or bestbuy, I know compusa will gladly give you a price schedule of all the services they provide. Make it cheaper than whatever they quote you~

You don't actually know the people, I wouldn't worry about taking their money. Just make sure they know that you are setting them up with a clean os, and that if they break it, its their own fault~
Click to expand...


Whether I know them or not (unless it's my parents or inlaws period no exceptions) I charge
them because every time you touch someone's computer you become their tech guy for EVAR!
So you might as well break them in right and make a few bucks for your time.

Now, if your time isn't worth anything or you really enjoy reinstalling windows and live to do that
morning, noon and night then don't charge and I promise you the word will get out and you'll be
getting calls from the person's friend's and family about their computer problems because you
WORK for FREE and that's a rare commodity now a days. 🙂
 
If I have to go to their house and pick up the tower - back everything up - install windows with updates - ghost - return to their house and set it up, I charge no less then $125
If any of those steps are missing, I reduce the price accordingly. Follow up visits are $35/ hour - 1 hour minimum.

Where I get screwed is telephone support, helping someone print a picture for 10 min over the phone is hard to bill.

 
$100 for that, depends on what kind of computer it is though. If it is windows 98, drivers can be a chore to find if the drivers disks are not present or just don't work. Dell reinstalls are easy and fast.
 
I charge $50/hr for tech support, no freebies (unless they somehow make it worth my while 😉)

Recently, I installed ad-aware and spybot, cleaned spyware (over 200 found), installed NAV 2K4, ran windows update on a P3 w/ Win ME - all for $100
 
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