Guides
Computer Help Guides
Straight answers to the problems we get called about most often, written by the technicians who fix them. No jargon, no upselling — just what is actually going on and what to do about it.
01 Latest
Latest guides
- "Your computer has a virus" phone call? It's a scam. Hang up.Scammers ring pretending to be Telstra, the NBN or Microsoft and ask to access your computer. What to do, and what to do if you already let them in. 4 min read
- Supplier changed their bank details by email? Call before you pay.Scammers send real-looking invoices with their own bank details. How payment redirection scams work, how to spot them, and the habits that protect a small business. 6 min read
- Your email has been hacked. Do these things in this order.Friends getting strange emails from you? The steps to lock a hacker out of your email, the hidden setting they leave behind, and how to stop it happening again. 4 min read
- How to back up your computer properly (OneDrive is not a backup)Most people who think they have a backup actually have sync. The simple setup that protects your photos and files from a dead drive, theft or ransomware. 3 min read
- Laptop won't turn on? Check these six things firstA laptop that won't turn on is often something simple: a dead charger, a stuck battery, or a failed screen on a laptop that runs fine. How to tell. 4 min read
- Deleted photos by accident? Where to look before you panicMost "deleted" photos are not gone yet. The five places they hide on phones, computers and cloud accounts — and the one mistake that makes recovery impossible. 4 min read
- Is your old computer worth repairing? An honest way to decideA technician's guide to repair or replace: when a cheap upgrade makes an old computer feel new, and when spending money on it is throwing good after bad. 3 min read
- Spilled something on your laptop? Do this in the next 60 secondsLiquid damage is a race against the power still in the board. What to do in the first minute after a spill, what not to do, and when to call. 3 min read
- Still on Windows 10? The last safety net ends in OctoberWindows 10 stopped getting free security updates in 2025, and the paid extension for home users runs out on 13 October 2026. Your options, in plain English. 4 min read
- Free "PC cleaner" apps usually make slow computers worseDownloaded a free tool to speed up your computer? Most do nothing, many make it slower, and some are malware in a costume. What actually works instead. 3 min read
- That "Microsoft" popup is lying to youFull-screen virus warnings with a support phone number are scams, every time. How to close one safely — and what to do if you already called the number. 3 min read
- WiFi extender or mesh? Read this before buying eitherExtenders are cheap, mesh is better, and the wrong choice makes WiFi worse. How each works, when each is right, and what to check before spending anything. 3 min read
- Your hard drive is clicking. Turn it off now.A clicking or beeping hard drive is a mechanical failure in progress. Every minute it stays powered on reduces the chance of getting your photos back. Here is exactly what to do, and what not to do. 6 min read
- Why is my computer so slow? The six causes we see most oftenA slow computer is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Here are the six causes behind almost every "it used to be fast" job that comes through our workshop — and which ones you can fix yourself in an afternoon. 7 min read
More guides are on the way
We add a new guide whenever a question comes up often enough in the workshop to be worth writing down. If there is something you would like explained, tell us and we will cover it.
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