656 North French, Suite 2,
Amherst, NY 14228
Computer Repair Without the Runaround
You\'ve probably had a bad experience with computer repair before. The shop that quoted one price and charged double. The "tech support" service that called you and asked for remote access. The big box store that shipped your laptop to a regional service center for two weeks and barely fixed the problem. We\'re trying to be the opposite of those experiences.
We\'re a small drop-off computer repair shop located in Amherst, just off Niagara Falls Boulevard near the UB North Campus. We work on both Macs and PCs, residential and small business. We charge fairly, we tell you the truth about what your computer needs, and we don\'t sell you services you don\'t need. The diagnostic is always free, the quote is always honest, and you can walk away with no charge if you\'d rather take your machine elsewhere.
What we don\'t do: walk-ins, on-site service, remote support, or accepting computers without an appointment. The reason for all of that is simple. Working on a computer properly takes time and proper tools, and the appointment system means every machine gets real attention rather than getting buried in a queue. Customers who come in once almost always come back when they need help again.
What We Fix
Common problems we handle every day. Tap any service for details, or call to talk through what\'s going on with your machine.
Virus & Malware Removal
Pop-ups everywhere, browser hijacked, computer crawling, ransom note demanding bitcoin. We clean it off properly and tell you how to avoid the next one. Mac and PC.
Data Recovery
Failed hard drive, deleted files, computer that won\'t boot. Free evaluation, honest assessment of what\'s recoverable, no recovery no charge.
SSD Upgrade
The single biggest performance improvement available for older computers. Boot in seconds instead of minutes. We migrate everything over for you.
Computer Tuneup
Slow computer that probably doesn\'t need replacing. We figure out what\'s actually slowing it down and fix it. Mac and PC.
Screen Replacement
Cracked or broken laptop screen. We replace the panel and the laptop comes back the way you remember it.
Battery Replacement
Laptop battery that doesn\'t hold a charge anymore, or worse, has started to swell. We replace it with a quality battery that lasts.
OS Upgrade
Windows 10 to Windows 11. macOS to a current version. We handle the upgrade properly so you don\'t lose anything.
Cloud Backup Setup
Real backup, not just iCloud sync. So the next data scare doesn\'t happen. We configure it, run the first backup, and walk you through restores.
Small Business IT
Office computers, network setup, file sharing, printer configuration, business email. Drop-off support for small businesses without full-time IT.
Why People Drive From Across Western New York
Free Diagnostic
We don\'t charge to look at your machine. We figure out what\'s wrong, tell you the truth, and quote a real number before any work begins. If you\'d rather take it elsewhere, no charge.
Honest Quotes
Real prices, quoted upfront. No "we found extra problems" surprises. No upsells you didn\'t ask for. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Mac and PC Both
We work on both platforms every day. MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio. Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, Surface, custom builds, gaming rigs. Whatever you\'ve got.
The Work Happens Here
Your computer doesn\'t get shipped to a regional service center. We don\'t subcontract. The shop you talked to is the shop doing the work, on our bench, in Amherst.
Drop-Off Only, By Appointment
No walk-ins, no on-site, no remote. The appointment system means every machine gets real attention. Most appointments can be set up within a day or two.
Residential and Small Business
Home users with a stubborn laptop, small businesses with a network of machines. We handle both, with the same honest approach to each.
How a Visit Works
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Call to schedule
Call 716-771-2536 and tell us briefly what\'s going on. We\'ll set up a drop-off time, usually within a day or two.
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Drop off the machine
Bring your computer at the appointment time. Drop-off takes 10-15 minutes. We talk through the symptoms, take down your contact info, and give you a realistic timeline.
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Free diagnostic
We figure out what\'s actually wrong. Real diagnostics, not a checklist. We call you with what we found and what it would cost to fix.
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Honest quote
You get a real number before any work happens. If you want to proceed, we proceed. If not, you can pick up the machine with no charge.
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The actual work
We do the repair on our bench, in our shop. We test thoroughly across multiple boots before saying it\'s done.
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Pickup and walkthrough
You come back to pick up the machine. We walk you through what we found and any habits that prevent the problem from coming back.
Where Our Customers Come From
We\'re located on North French Road in Amherst, easy access from I-290, Sheridan Drive, Maple Road, and Niagara Falls Boulevard. Customers regularly drive in from across Western New York. The shop\'s in a spot that\'s convenient for North Buffalo, the UB North Campus area, and the surrounding Amherst neighborhoods.
What People Ask Before They Come In
Do you fix Macs?
Yes, every kind currently in use. Apple Silicon MacBook Air and Pro (M1, M2, M3, M4), older Intel MacBooks, every iMac generation, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and the older Mac Pro towers. Some Apple Silicon Macs have soldered storage that can\'t be upgraded, but everything else we can usually help with.
How fast can I get an appointment?
Usually within a day or two. Genuinely urgent cases (lost wedding photos, business document due tomorrow) sometimes get same-day. Call and tell us what\'s going on; we\'ll work with you.
How much does a typical repair cost?
Quoted after diagnostic. We don\'t post flat rates because the right price genuinely depends on what we find. A simple adware cleanup is one price; a full Windows reinstall after a deep infection is a different price. The diagnostic is free and the quote is honest.
Do you sell computers?
We don\'t carry inventory of new computers, but we offer free purchase consulting if you\'re thinking about buying. We\'ll help you figure out what makes sense for your needs and budget without trying to sell you anything.
Are you certified to work on Apple products?
We\'re not an Apple Authorized Service Provider, which means we don\'t handle warranty work for Apple. For out-of-warranty Macs (which is the vast majority of Macs that need help) we work on every kind. For machines still under Apple warranty, you\'re probably better off going to Apple directly so warranty isn\'t affected.
What if I need help with something not on your services list?
Call and ask. The list covers what we do most often, but we handle plenty of one-off problems too. If it\'s not something we do, we\'ll tell you honestly and often suggest where to go instead.
Signs Your Computer Needs Help
Some problems are obvious. Others build up gradually until you realize the machine has gotten unbearable. Worth bringing the computer in if you\'re seeing more than a few of these:
Speed and responsiveness
Boot times have grown from a minute to several. Programs take noticeably longer to open. The fan runs constantly even when you\'re not doing much. The computer freezes for several seconds when you switch between programs. Web pages load slowly even when your internet is fine.
Pop-ups and weird behavior
Pop-up ads on your desktop, including in apps that aren\'t web browsers. Browser homepage or search engine has changed by itself. You\'re being redirected to websites you didn\'t click on. Programs you don\'t remember installing showing up. Friends getting messages from your account that you didn\'t send.
Storage and drive issues
"Low disk space" or "low memory" warnings. Files that suddenly won\'t open. Drive making clicking or grinding noises (spinning drives only). Computer that won\'t boot, then does boot, then won\'t boot again. Files copying partway and then failing.
Hardware concerns
Battery life on a laptop has dropped well below what it was originally. Battery has visibly swelled (this is dangerous, bring it in). Cracked or damaged screen. Keyboard with stuck or non-working keys. Computer that runs much hotter than it used to.
Update and login problems
Windows or macOS updates that won\'t finish installing. Login screen that stopped accepting your password. Accounts mysteriously locked out. Two-factor authentication codes that aren\'t arriving. Email setup that broke after a recent change.
Suspected infection or compromise
Pop-up demanding payment to "fix" your computer. Phone call from someone claiming to be Microsoft support. Files renamed with strange extensions and ransom note demanding bitcoin. Antivirus that\'s been disabled and won\'t turn back on. Account activity you don\'t recognize.
Who We Help
Home users
The single most common type of customer we see. Family computers that have gotten slow, laptops with virus problems, retired-couple desktop that\'s started acting up, college student\'s MacBook before finals. We treat home users with the same honest approach as business clients. The diagnostic is free. The quote is real. We don\'t upsell. If your computer doesn\'t actually need a major repair, we tell you that and quote the small fix it does need.
Small businesses
Owner-operator businesses, professional offices, small retail, restaurants, and similar. Drop-off support for businesses that don\'t have full-time IT but need someone reliable to handle computer problems when they come up. We don\'t do contract IT relationships, but we do provide one-off and as-needed work that\'s often a better fit for small businesses than the alternatives. Common scenarios: a workstation acting up, a new computer that needs to be set up, a network printer that won\'t cooperate, an email setup that broke after a router change, a computer that needs to be cleaned and resold to a new employee.
Students from UB and surrounding schools
The North Campus is a five-minute drive away, and we see plenty of UB students during finals weeks especially. Laptops that won\'t boot the day before a paper is due. Macs that need data recovery before a defense. Random infections from sketchy software downloads. We can usually turn around urgent student cases quickly because we know the calendar pressure is real.
Older customers who want patience
Computer repair shops sometimes treat older customers as either a nuisance or a mark. We don\'t do either. We explain things clearly, we don\'t use jargon for no reason, we don\'t pressure anyone into upgrades they don\'t need, and we give honest advice about whether a 12-year-old laptop is worth fixing or whether the right answer is replacement. We\'re happy to spend extra time on the phone explaining what\'s going on.
Mac users who don\'t want Apple\'s service prices
Apple\'s out-of-warranty service costs are often more than the Mac is worth. We can do most Mac repairs for substantially less. Mac SSD upgrades, MacBook battery replacements, Mac data recovery, Mac tuneups. The exception is Apple Silicon Macs with logic board failures, which are genuinely expensive to repair anywhere. For everything else, we\'re a real alternative.
What Makes Us Different From Other Repair Options
The big-box store difference
Best Buy\'s Geek Squad and similar big-box services follow corporate procedures with national pricing. Sometimes you get a great tech who really digs into your problem; sometimes you get a script. Your computer often ships off to a regional service center for several days. The work happens far away, by people you\'ll never talk to. We\'re the opposite: the work happens here in Amherst, on our bench, and you\'re dealing with the same person who took your machine in.
The remote support service difference
You\'ve probably seen ads for "fast PC repair" services that connect to your computer remotely over the internet. Some of these are legitimate. Many are scams designed to find imaginary problems and charge for fixing them. Even the legitimate ones have real limitations: they can\'t see hardware issues, they can\'t boot from clean external media, and they can\'t verify a thorough cleanup the way working on a physical machine allows. We don\'t do remote support, and we don\'t recommend it.
The "tech support" cold caller difference
Sometimes you get a phone call from someone claiming to be Microsoft, Apple, your ISP, or "Windows technical support." They tell you your computer has been compromised and they need remote access to fix it. This is the scam, every time. Real tech support never works this way. Microsoft does not call you. Apple does not call you. If a caller asks for remote access to your computer, hang up. We\'re happy to look at any computer that fell victim to one of these scams; we treat them as fully compromised and clean them properly.
The independent shop difference
Western New York has a number of independent computer repair shops, and we genuinely respect what most of them do. The differences between us and other independent shops are usually small, but worth mentioning: we focus specifically on drop-off work rather than mixed walk-in and appointment, which means every machine gets dedicated time. We don\'t do contract IT relationships with businesses, which keeps us focused on the kind of one-off help most home users and small businesses actually need. And we work on both Mac and PC every day, which not every independent shop does well.
What We Don\'t Do
Worth being upfront about so you know whether we\'re a good fit for your situation.
On-site service
We don\'t come to your home or business. The work happens at our shop. This is intentional: working on a machine on your kitchen table doesn\'t allow the same depth of diagnostic and repair as working on it on a proper bench with all the tools available.
Remote support
We don\'t connect to your computer over the internet to fix it. Real fixes for serious problems require physical access. We\'re also wary of remote support given how often it\'s used as a scam vector by less reputable operators.
Walk-ins
Drop-offs are by appointment only. The reason is simple: we want every machine to get real attention rather than getting stuck behind whoever walked in earlier. Calling ahead means we know you\'re coming and have time set aside for you.
Phone repair
We don\'t fix iPhones, Android phones, iPads, or other tablets. Phone repair is a specialty with different tools and expertise. We\'ll refer you to shops that do this work well.
Console repair
We don\'t fix PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo systems. Game console repair is its own world.
Apple warranty work
We\'re not an Apple Authorized Service Provider. If your Mac is under warranty or AppleCare, you\'re better off going through Apple so the warranty isn\'t affected. For out-of-warranty Macs, we\'re a real alternative.
Selling new computers
We don\'t carry inventory. If you need a new computer, we\'re happy to help you think through what makes sense (free purchase consulting), but you\'ll buy it elsewhere.
Subscription "maintenance plans"
We don\'t sell monthly subscription plans for ongoing maintenance. A healthy machine doesn\'t need much ongoing service. When you need help, you call us and pay for the help. No recurring charges.
Practical Advice We Wish More People Knew
Real backup matters more than you think
The single most painful conversations we have are about data loss that could have been prevented with backup. iCloud, OneDrive, and Dropbox are sync services, not backup services. They replicate deletions and ransomware encryption to the cloud. Real backup keeps versioned history so you can recover from problems. Backblaze, Carbonite, and similar services run for less than $100 a year and quietly protect everything. We can set this up for you.
An SSD upgrade extends a computer\'s life by years
If your computer is more than 4-5 years old and feels slow, the most likely culprit is the storage drive, not the rest of the hardware. Replacing a spinning hard drive with an SSD is the single most impactful upgrade available. Boot times drop dramatically, applications open instantly, and the machine feels new. Often dramatically cheaper than a new computer.
Microsoft Defender is good enough for most home users
The built-in antivirus that ships with Windows 10 and 11 (Microsoft Defender) has gotten genuinely good. For most home users, paying for additional antivirus is throwing money away, and the third-party products are sometimes worse than the malware they\'re meant to protect against. Same on Mac: macOS\'s built-in protection is generally sufficient for typical home use.
Real Microsoft and Apple don\'t call you
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be Microsoft, Apple, your ISP, or "Windows technical support," telling you your computer is infected and they need remote access, hang up. This is the scam, every time. We see victims of these scams regularly. The cleanup is messy and the bank dispute process takes weeks.
Free software bundles are how home PCs get adware
The "free PDF converter," the "free Roblox helper," the "PC speedup tool" you found through a search ad. The actual software (if it works at all) almost always comes bundled with adware that takes over your browser, changes your homepage, and starts showing ads. Always pick "custom install" rather than "express install" and uncheck things you don\'t recognize.
Don\'t panic about deleted files
If you accidentally deleted important files, don\'t panic and don\'t download random recovery software. Stop using the drive and bring the computer in. Files deleted recently are usually recoverable as long as nothing has overwritten them. Continued use of the drive (and downloading "free recovery" tools that write to it) reduces the chances of recovery.
About the Shop
The shop is on North French Road in Amherst, in a building that\'s easy to find from any of the main roads in the area: I-290, Sheridan Drive, Maple Road, Niagara Falls Boulevard. Parking is right at the building. The North Buffalo, Eggertsville, Snyder, and UB North Campus areas are all within a quick drive. Williamsville is just minutes away. Tonawanda and Kenmore are reasonable trips. Hamburg, Orchard Park, and West Seneca customers find the shop accessible via the I-290 and surrounding routes. Most customers find the location convenient enough that they regularly drive in from across Western New York.
Inside, the shop is set up for the work we do: bench space for working on multiple machines, proper diagnostic tools, anti-static workstations, secure storage for customer data, cameras for security and accountability. We\'re not flashy. The focus is on doing the work properly rather than on looking impressive.
Hours are by appointment, which works for both us and our customers. You schedule a time, you bring the machine in, you pick it up when ready. No standing around waiting for someone to be free. No "we got buried so it\'ll be another week" surprises. The appointment system means we can give every machine real attention.
If you\'ve never been in before, the experience is straightforward. You call to schedule. We\'ll ask a few questions about what\'s going on with your computer so we know what to expect. You bring the machine at the appointed time. We talk for 10-15 minutes about the symptoms, take down your contact information, and discuss a realistic timeline. From there, we do the diagnostic, call you with what we found, and you decide whether to proceed with the work. Most customers say the process feels less stressful than they expected. The only surprise people occasionally have is that the cost ended up being lower than the estimate, which is the kind of surprise we like to deliver when we can.
What we hope to be is the kind of computer repair shop that you mention to your neighbors when their laptop starts acting up. Honest pricing, real work, no surprises, and a fair shake. That\'s the goal every time. We\'re a small business serving other small businesses and home users in our community, and we treat every customer the way we\'d want to be treated if we were in their shoes. Most of our work comes from word of mouth from satisfied customers, which is what we want. The best advertising is doing good work and not screwing anyone over. We hope to earn the chance to be your computer repair shop too. We look forward to it.
Ready to Stop Fighting With Your Computer?
Call 716-771-2536 or send a quick message through the contact form. Tell us what\'s going on. We\'ll set up a time to look at your machine and give you an honest answer about what it\'ll take to fix.