You might need a nerd if…

  • Something is wrong with your computer but you can’t figure out what it is.
  • You’ve tried performing your own computer diagnostic but you’re not sure of what you’re doing.
  • Your computer won’t start, frequently freezes or crashes, or seems much slower than before.
  • You’re looking for easy to understood PC diagnostic results, so you can make informed decisions about how to fix your computer.
  • You live in or near Sacramento and you’re looking for a local computer technician to help you diagnose your computer problems.

Sacramento Computer Diagnostic Service

Computers look like they should just keep running on their own forever. On a good day, they’re so quiet and well behaved that a computer diagnostic is probably the last thing on your mind. When something goes wrong, though, the process of figuring out how to fix it can be incredibly frustrating! The Nerds on Call team of skilled computer technicians is based right here in Sacramento, and we have extensive experience in performing computer diagnostic investigations — from a quick PC diagnostic to see if we can squeeze some extra performance out of your gaming computer, to a detailed computer diagnostic to find the cause of an unusual and hard-to-pin-down bug. 

And here’s the great news. Our computer diagnostic service is free! Just drop your computer into us at our Sacramento office. Or we can even come to you if you live in or around Sacramento. A trained tech will run a complete PC diagnostic on your machine and prepare a detailed, no-obligation quote on any repairs or upgrades. Just call us at 1-800-919-6373 or fill out our contact form. 

Trying to figure out what computer is best for you, our Nerds are here to be your PC Consultants.

Need help with setting up that new PC? We can get your data transferred and you’re comfortable with the new computer.

Can you run a PC diagnostic yourself?

The short answer is yes. You can perform at least a basic home computer diagnostic

While a full computer diagnostic is detailed and technically demanding (and will equip you with a lot more detailed information), there are a few quick and simple techniques you can use to get a better idea of how your computer is performing. Here’s a short guide to DIY PC diagnostics. 

The first computer diagnostic task: check your file storage

Inadequate hard drive storage can cause all kinds of problems on your machine. And it’s amazing how quickly a maxed-out hard drive can creep up on you. A lot of newer computer users will run a quick PC diagnostic, see that their hard drive is 90% full, and figure everything is fine. Unfortunately, both computer diagnostics in general and hard drive space calculations, in particular, aren’t that simple. Your computer needs a buffer to operate properly, and without out, you’ll almost certainly notice a performance drop. 

To check your file storage, on a Windows PC, open File Explorer, hit This PC. On a Mac, hit the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then Storage. If you’re hovering above 85%, it’s definitely time for a purge. Two great options to consider are an external hard drive or cloud storage.

Do you have malicious software cluttering your system?

Virusesadware, and malware can cause all kinds of damage to your computer, from mild annoyances like popups to identity theft and lost data. Installing standard anti-virus software on your computer definitely helps, but these products can perform only limited computer diagnostic tests to detect the presence of a virus. A good alternative is Webroot. This product digs much deeper than your run-of-the-mill virus checker, and it’s a good weapon to have in your PC diagnostic arsenal. Consider it nerds-recommended. 

If you even suspect you might have a malware infection, it’s best to be cautious and pounce on it quickly. Call us at 1-800-919-6373; a local Sacramento tech can be at your door — often within one working day — to perform a full computer diagnostic and virus check.

Run a quick PC diagnostic on your hard drive

Does your hard drive sound weird? Are you hearing grinding noises, buzzing, or just a subtle shift in its tone when it whirs into life? Don’t ignore these little acoustic clues about your hard drive’s overall health. While some hard drives fail instantly, it can also happen in slow motion, giving you a precious window of opportunity to back up your data. 

An easy computer diagnostic test you can run at home is a hard drive scan. On a Windows PC, open up File Explorer, click This PC in the left pane, and right-click on the drive you want to scan. Select Properties, then tools, and finally Check. On a Mac, navigate to your Applications folder. Select Utilities and then Disk Utility, and First Aid. Your computer will then perform a physical scan of your disk. The process can take several minutes, so get ready to put on your patience hat.

And remember, if your hard drive does fail unexpectedly, talk to Nerds On Call. We offer a hard drive repair service. You can drop your computer into us at our Sacramento location, or one of our mobile nerds can perform a repair or replacement at your home or place of work. 

A PC diagnostic service you won’t find anywhere else in Sacramento

Our computer diagnostic is extremely rigorous and based on years of troubleshooting experience. We’ll look at everything from potential malware infection to failing hardware, driver conflicts, and software bugs. And it’s free! At the completion of our PC diagnostic, you’ll get a detailed no-obligation quote and we’ll walk you through your options in clear, non-technical language. We’ll even come to your Sacramento location. 

So if you are looking for a detailed picture of your computer’s health, fill out our contact form to schedule a full computer diagnostic. We’d love to hear from you!

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Questions nerds often hear about Sacramento Computer Diagnostic

Is there some kind of computer diagnostic software I can buy that will tell me everything that’s wrong with my computer?

That would be great, but sadly such a tool does not exist. And if a software company claims they can perform a complete diagnostic, they’re probably not all that reputable. A full computer diagnostic typically requires careful physical inspection of your computer by a trained technician.

Is a PC diagnostic expensive?

Some companies might charge you a fee to perform a diagnostic, but we provide that service free of charge. Once you have a full computer diagnostic report at your fingertips, you can make smarter decisions about how to improve your computer’s performance — often saving money.

Common Terms

PC

A PC stands for Personal Computer, it is a type of computer that is designed for personal use and can be used for a variety of tasks such as word processing, web browsing, gaming, and other common computing tasks.

Viruses

A computer virus is a type of malicious software that replicates itself by inserting its code into other programs or files on a computer. It can cause harm to a computer system, such as corrupting or deleting data, stealing personal information, or using the infected computer to perform harmful actions.

Adware

Adware is a type of software that displays advertisements on a computer or mobile device, usually in the form of pop-up windows or banners. It is often bundled with other software and can be installed without the user’s knowledge or consent.

Malware

Malware, short for malicious software, is any type of software that is designed to cause harm to a computer system or network. This can include viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and other types of malware that can steal personal information, corrupt or delete data, or use the infected device to perform harmful actions.