Geek Squad sucks.

Post Reply New Topic

http://www.thevarguy.com/2010/01/19/gee ... -warranty/

I've heard bad things about the Geek Squad. I haven't used their services myself, but I've heard they're mostly kids who are studying for the A+ exams and will charge something like $80 for a simple hard drive format.

As for warranties, I've noticed companies like Best Buy are extremely strict about them, and the slightest modification will void them. I know I've voided the warranty on my HP laptop by wiping and partitioning the hard drive, but it doesn't matter for me, because I have the technical knowhow to deal with software problems myself. But what if someone who does not have excellent computer skills does something like defragment the hard drive or install Linux (things that don't take that much skill). Then they're screwed. You can void the warranty on hardware by only touching the software, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I love Best Buy, but I'm tired of this idea that users are not allowed to do anything advanced with their computers, anything outside the office-work/email/games/porn/AOL/facebook/movies/internet-forums realm.

How can they even tell if you formatted the HD? Assuming you're able to install the OS afterwards (not too hard), then surely it'd be impossible to tell unless they do a full forensics thing on the drive?

As for Geek Squad, they're a lot like many mechanics - given the chance, they'd use their knowledge to rip-off their own grandmother. Though, I probably know more about computers than them anyway.

Come to think of it, sounds like a decent job, I might check if they're hiring

Last edited by Asp-Z on 12 Sep 2010, 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

That's the difference between a computer geek and a technician. A technician is someone who has a job repairing computers, and often to do that you only need to know the bare essentials (how to install components, how to alter the Windows registry, etc.). A computer geek has a passion for computers and will study them for years, improving not only their techie skills but also their understanding. A techie can be a computer geek, but they aren't always.

I probably know more about computers than most Geek Squad people do too. I took one A+ course last spring (hardware) and I'm taking another one this semester (operating systems). I have a pretty good idea of what knowledge A+ certification requires, and it mostly boils down to memorizing CPU clock speeds, connector types, etc. The focus is extremely narrow, dealing only with a certain range of problems concerning AMD/Intel-based PCs running Windows.

That explains pretty much all academic subjects these days TBH. In Economics, they told me PR means "getting free advertising." And that's pretty much a direct quote, too.

Yup. They do suck. I used their service once because my laptop's HDD failed while still under warranty. Fortunately it was completely dead and they couldn't tell that I'd installed Linux, and erased reinstalled Windows to remove the Gateway crapware (which is how they can tell stuff like that). Of course the CPU fan failed 1 week after the warranty expired, and the computer didn't shut itself off until it had already fried.

*is so glad he has a Mac*

You just said it all ... and it is a shame when up-and-coming geeks with new computers ready for tweeks must in any way be subjected to mere technicians!

Only experience I've had with the Geek Squad has been indirectly. Someone contacted me saying that my software was no longer working on his computer. After swapping several emails he admitted that he had had a virus on his computer and the Geek Squad had "repaired it". During which they had managed to wipe out all the registry configuration settings for the software. Can't say as I was impressed.

$80 for a simple hard drive format and windows install is a reasonable price, most end users don't have the
knowledge when it comes to running a format or reinstalling windows, as for Geek Squad they have to follow
warranty rules and it is in the small print not to install linux as it will void their warranty, it has nothing to do
with you being more technically proficient with computers then geek squad, besides in most cases it shouldn't
have voided the manufactures warranty. One problem I have with most pc's and laptops is that they use a
recovery partition instead of having a recovery cd, it made my job harder when some noob computer user tries
to install linux wiping out the recovery partition on their new computer chirstmas morning and then expect me to
pull a rabbit out of my butt to fix it for them, not going to happen if they failed to burn recovery disks before said
install, the problem is always rtfm or pebkac

I support this truethful thread! The geek squad did a horrible job on my computer! Do I even need to make levels for the word "pathetic"?

In a couple of cases with Dells and where no system-restore disks were available, I have just grabbed an OEM installation disk and stuck the appropriate OS back in. But from what I am reading here, that could void a warranty, eh?

Oh well.

Both Hp Pavilion and Dell have a OS Recovery CD option in their program menu, which allows you to burn the disks
They will also send you the disks if your computer is still under the manufacturers warranty
HP PC Recovery CD Creator
Dell OS Recovery CD

Yes, I understand.

One system I did was past the warranty period, and another had a dead drive and an impatient owner!

Bad combo, lol

Yeah, and the impatient one was my ex-wife ...

Even worse combo ,lol