“It takes forever to start up”
Usually an ageing hard drive, a machine full of software that starts itself, or an update that never finished. An SSD and a thorough clean-up will often make a six-year-old laptop quicker than it was when it was new.
Home computer support in Farnborough & Hampshire
Is your computer running slowly, or refusing to cooperate?
Computers can be frustrating when they don't work as expected. We offer friendly and affordable support for home users, helping resolve issues quickly and efficiently, and we never make anyone feel silly for asking.
Not everyone is comfortable with technology
And that's perfectly fine. It's our job to know this stuff, not yours.
Not everyone is comfortable with computers, smartphones, smart TVs, Wi-Fi or online services. We provide friendly, patient support for customers who simply want their technology to work as it should, without the frustration.
A lot of the people who call us have been putting it off. The laptop has been getting slower for months, the printer stopped talking to the tablet some time last year, and nobody wants to be the one who admits they don't understand the message on the screen.
You'll speak to Darren, who has been fixing computers in Farnborough since 2003. He'll tell you what's wrong, what it takes to fix, and whether it's worth fixing at all, because sometimes the honest answer is that a machine has had its day.
What we cover
If it's in the house, we'll have a look at it
From slow Windows PCs and laptop repairs to virus removal, hardware upgrades, printer issues, email problems and smart devices that have stopped behaving, we provide straightforward solutions without the technical jargon. Many issues can be resolved remotely, saving both time and money.
- Windows PC and laptop repairs
- Virus and malware removal
- Slow computers made usable again
- SSD and hard drive upgrades
- Laptop screen replacement
- Printers that won't print
- Email and software problems
- Home Wi-Fi and broadband
- New computer setup and file transfer
- Alexa and smart speakers set up
- Smart TVs and streaming sticks
- Doorbells, cameras, plugs and heating
- Tablets, phones and video calling
In more detail
The jobs we're called out for most
Viruses, pop-ups and scam calls
We remove what's on there, check what it touched, and set up ESET so it doesn't happen again. If someone has been on your machine remotely, tell us, because that changes what we check and how urgently.
Printers and devices that won't connect
The printer that worked until the router was replaced. The tablet that can't see it at all. We get everything talking to everything else again, and write down what you press next time.
New computer set up ready to use
Out of the box, updated, protected, and with your documents, photos, email and bookmarks moved across from the old machine. You get it back looking familiar rather than facing a fresh Windows setup on your own.
Wi-Fi that doesn't reach upstairs
Thick walls, a router in the wrong corner of the house, or a broadband fault the provider hasn't admitted to yet. We find out which it is before anyone spends money on equipment that won't help.
Patient one-to-one help
Sometimes nothing is broken and you'd just like someone to show you how it works. Video calls with the grandchildren, photos off a phone, a tablet you've never quite trusted. That's a perfectly good reason to call.
Alexa and smart speakers
Echo, Google Nest and Sonos speakers set up on your Wi-Fi, linked to the right account and grouped room by room. We'll sort the ones that have stopped answering since the broadband changed, and show you the handful of commands worth knowing.
Smart devices around the house
Video doorbells, cameras, plugs, lights and heating controls. We install them, get them onto the network so they stay connected, and put everything in one app instead of six. If a device has dropped off after a router swap, that's a quick job for us.
How we work
Three ways we get to the problem
Most things don't need a visit. When they do, we come to you. And when the machine has to come to us, we collect it and bring it back.
Remote support
You call, we connect to your screen with your permission, and you watch what we do. Software faults, email problems and Microsoft 365 are often resolved in that one session, without anyone travelling.
On-site visits
For networks, Wi-Fi, cabling, servers, NAS and new equipment we come to you anywhere in Hampshire and Surrey, and we don't leave until it works and you know how to use it.
Collection & return
Repairs, drive upgrades and data recovery are handled at the bench. We collect the machine, work on it, and bring it back set up exactly as it was, with your files intact.
Home customers
What they say about working with us
“Darren is a magician! He returned my pc the next day fully working - i am beyond thrilled.”
“I was recommended Darren by a friend. Very helpful and super speedy. I was so pleased that he could help me out so quickly. I'll be recommending him to anyone that needs tech support!”
Common questions
What people ask us first
Do you come to the house?
Yes, across Hampshire and Surrey. A lot of problems are solved remotely without anyone travelling, which is quicker for you. When the job needs hands on the machine (a screen, a drive, a router) we come to you, or collect the computer and bring it back.
Is my computer too old to be worth fixing?
Often it isn't. A solid-state drive and more memory transform most machines that feel hopeless. When a repair genuinely doesn't make sense we'll say so rather than sell you one, and we'll tell you what to buy instead if you'd like us to.
Will I lose my photos and documents?
Not if we can help it. Your files come first on any job, and on upgrades and new machines everything is moved across and checked with you before the old one is wiped. If files are already missing, see backup and data recovery. there's no charge unless recovery succeeds.
I don't really know what's wrong. Is that a problem?
No. “It's slow”, “it keeps switching off”, “a message keeps appearing” is exactly how most calls start. Describing what you see is genuinely all we need; working out what it means is our job.
Do you support Apple as well as Windows?
Yes. Macs, iPads and iPhones alongside Windows PCs, laptops and Android devices. Most households now run a mixture, and they all have to work together.
Someone rang saying my computer had a virus. Was that real?
Almost certainly not. No legitimate company, not Microsoft and not your broadband provider, rings out of the blue about a virus on your machine. If you let someone connect to your computer or gave out card details, turn the machine off and call us, then call your bank.
More from us
Other things we look after
Get help at home
Tell us what it's doing
You don't need the right words for it. “It's slow”, “it keeps switching itself off”, “I can't print”. That's plenty to go on, and nobody here will make you feel silly for asking.
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07971 690187
Ring Darren directly. If we're on another job, leave a message and we'll call back.
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support@realitycs.co.uk
To confirm: Darren's support address goes here.
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Farnborough, Hampshire
On-site across Hampshire and Surrey. Remote support anywhere.