On Spot Techs

When you should call a professional

By Eric Geier (Our Founder & Owner)

Originally published by Cox Media Group on 5/25/25

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​If you can’t turn on your computer, you obviously think about calling up a computer professional. But you shouldn’t always wait until you have big issues. Like your vehicles or even your health, some routine maintenance and checkups are good. They can help prevent disasters, or at least help reduce some annoyances and stress.

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So here are some reasons you should think about calling up a computer tech:

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If you think you’ve been scammed on the computer: If you think you let a scammer onto your computer, I highly suggest turning off the computer right away and calling a computer pro. Scammers can put monitoring and remote tools on your computer, which a computer tech can look for before you start using the computer again.

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If you still have Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, or XP: Microsoft stopped all updates and support for Windows 8 and older years ago, and support for Windows 10 is ending in October. It’s highly suggested to stop using Windows after the support and updates stop. If you’re concerned about cost, consider buying a good refurbished machine from a local small business.

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If you’re getting popups or ads: If you have pop-ups bombarding you or aggressive ads, it could be a virus, adware, or could just be annoying ads. It’s best to get it checked out. Even if it’s just annoying ads, a computer tech should be able to stop them. However, if get a pop-up or voice on your computer saying you need to call someone for help, don’t call them as they are scams. Call a local reputable computer repair company for their advice or help.

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If your computer is too slow: There are many reasons a computer can be slow, such as age, computer specs, and even viruses. If you feel your computer is too slow, I suggest getting advice from a computer tech. They can take many things into consideration to give you good advice. This might include a computer cleanup, upgrade, or a whole new system.

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If you’re thinking about getting a new computer: I highly suggest getting help from a computer tech when you’re getting a new computer. They can suggest a good system and transfer your files and programs over so you’re comfortable. They might be able to help you save costs on software and the headache in figuring out how to set up the new computer.

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If you’re having issues with your smartphone, tablet, or TV: Most computer techs can also help with other tech gadgets. They can usually set them up and help with issues you might have. For instance, on smartphones or tablets, disabling annoying popups or notifications or configuring your email on them. On smart TVs they might be able to help setup streaming services like Roku and Netflix.

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If your computer hasn’t had a checkup in past year: I strongly encourage getting a full computer checkup each year. A computer tech can check many security, safety and reliability aspects. In my company for instance, we have a checklist with over 40 items to check. Checkups like these can catch issues before they cause problems, and even before the issues might be evident. Techs can also perform cleanup tasks to help increase computer performance and address any annoyances you might be experiencing.

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