Gadget Rehab - how we manage your repair

The Best Repair Management Software

We know how important your tech is to you and how quickly you need to have it back. That’s why we offer many same-day repairs where possible. Whatever you need in terms of repair, we always keep you up to date using dedicated software called RepairDesk. In this blog, we explain how we manage your repair with our repair management software.

How we manage your repair

RepairDesk*is designed specifically for tech repair specialists to enable professionals like us to keep our customers up to date. The advanced capability means that your updates are also in real-time. At Gadget Rehab, we have been operating this repair management software for eight years. This is key to how we manage your repair.

As a customer, your first experience with this software is when we book your repair. The ticketing system means you receive a unique ticket number. This allows us to allocate the right time, technician and completion date for your repair. We can also take a photo of your device before we start any work as a record for us and you. Which is saved to the software.

 

Creating a Repair Checklist

The next step is to create your repair checklist, which we also complete using the RepairDesk repair software. This checklist allows us and you to see the progress and status of your repair. The status changes as we go through the repair process. We will even email you at key stages of the process, so you know where we are.
Once the repair has been completed, you will receive a notification by email of its completion. This will be updated on your ticket and reflected on the job status. We also provide you with the option to sign digitally creating a record for both you and for us. This allows us to build a full history of our customer experience and a reference point for future appointments and repairs. At Gadget Rehab, how we manage your repair is the first step to building a positive customer experience.

 

Real-time reporting with RepairDesk

Internally the customer management software enables our team to view all our current work schedules and the allocation to technicians. By having this transparency of service, it means any one of our team members can let you know the status of your order. All information is stored securely, and notes are added if additional parts or work is required. For us, it is an essential part of our business. We use the software to manage all of our workflows and ensure we offer the very best levels of customer service.

This repair shop software was initially designed for those working in the mobile phone repair industry and so is the perfect fit for our business. Now, the software has grown in popularity and is used by repair professionals across many industries. Trade professionals using this software in addition to tech repair specialists include plumbers and electricians.

Try the software today!

Repair Managment Software

 

 

Do you work in a field that you feel would benefit RepairDesk?

In our opinion, the best repair management software is RepairDesk. Click here to give it a try today*.

Need a repair?

If you need a repair to your mobile phone, tablet, laptop, PC, Mac, drone or DJ equipment contact us to book your appointment or use our quote form.

 

*Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, whereby we may receive a commission on referring products and services. There is no extra cost to you but does help support our site and could entitle you to exclusive offers. We only recommend products and services we would use ourselves. All opinions expressed here are our own.

Macbook - where are my missing files

Macbook – where have my files gone?

At Gadget Rehab, we carry out many repairs to Macbook and Macbook Pro machines. We often see the same problems affecting many of our customers. For this blog, we review the problem of the disappearing act – where have my files gone?

 

Back it up

We always recommend the regular backing up of files on your device. Whether this is with Timemachine or via cloud storage or an external hard drive, this is good practice and allows you to reset your device to a previous version should you encounter any issues following an update. Updates to the machine can often be the trigger for your files to vanish from your machine so it is always advisable to have a back up prior to carrying this out.

 

Check your settings

As there are lots of useful features within Macbook and to be helpful many sort and arrange your files. This assistance may not be needed, and it is a good idea to check the settings on Terminal and Stack as they may have moved your files to declutter your desktop and other folders.

 

Trash folder

If your files are no longer visible, carry out the basic checks first such as looking in your trash folder. Items will be stored for 30 days on the standard setting which should buy you some time. If this doesn’t locate them, we would suggest carry out a search.

 

Conduct a search

To carry out a search, hold the command and space to open the spotlight functionality. Once opened, type the name of the file you are looking for and search. This should bring up a list of files which you can inspect further by holding down the command key and clicking on the file directory. This will take you directly to the file’s location. If the file you are looking for doesn’t appear in the list, then a broader search is necessary.

Conducting a broader search also known as a text search is by typing relevant or subject content into spotlight. This can be part of a sentence or a phrase you know is within the content of the document. If found, this will also appear within a list which can be investigated further by following the filepath.

If you are still struggling to find your files, another option is to purchase data recovery software. This of course has a cost associated with it and if you are not confident in applying the software can leave you confused. We would recommend that before you do this, call into one of our two sites, and book an appointment with one of our engineers. We offer competitive rates and an efficient service. Contact us to find out more.

Is a cracked screen really that bad

Is a cracked screen really that bad?

So, you have cracked the screen on your phone, but is it really that bad? The simple answer is, it could be. In this blog, we look at the issues surrounding a cracked screen.

Visible Damage

When you have a cracked screen, even if the damage looks small, the phone is at risk of further harm as the cracks can move further across your screen. The break will not repair itself and so will only get worse over time. Most at risk is the touch screen function which will stop responding. This is a sensitive area of the phone and may also indicate the damage has gone beyond the casing. Another indicator of internal damage are groups of pixels which are “dead” and look like misty blurs on the display. They can also look like dark or white patches. This will need specialist repair and should not be used until rectified by a qualified engineer.

The screen contains elements which are also responsible for the colours that you can see on your device. Cracks affect this functionality and so the overall look of the device will be changed and make some elements difficult to read. This is not the ideal situation when browsing, selecting images or looking at social media.

Screen Cracks

The cracks also create gaps within the surface of your phone which leaves the device at risk of bacteria and dirt developing within them. Not only is this unhealthy for you but can cause damage inside the phone or within the small elements such as wires. Moisture from the air or on your hands can create all sorts of problems with the navigation functions of your phone or can cause your phone to cut out completely.

Cracks on part of the screen can spread and splinter quickly creating a “web” across the device. This will make the phone unusable as well as increasing the possibility that some shards may come loose and cause scratches or cuts on your hands. If your phone has cracked in this pattern, then it needs to be repaired as soon as possible as the device and you are at risk of serious harm.

Our Advice

Overall, a cracked screen impacts on the enjoyment of your phone, making it difficult to read and communicate which not only slows your interaction but makes the phone more frustrating to use. This can cause eye strain as you try to de-code what you are trying to look at.

At Gadget Rehab, we have repaired many cracked mobile screens and work on all makes and models. We would advise you to get a cracked screen fixed as soon as possible, the process is simple and cost effective. Contact us to book your repair here.

Gadget Rehab Team Member Dan Tilley

For this "Get to know the Gadget Rehab Team" blog it is the turn of our Motherboard Technician/Head Technician Dan Tilley.

How long have you worked at Gadget Rehab?
5 Years as of November 2021

What is your specialist area of expertise?
Advanced repairs of electronics such as smartphones and laptops.

Describe your typical day at Gadget Rehab
Firstly, I prepare the devices and tickets that are assigned to me for that day so that I know should anymore be coming in I have the capacity to do so. Once prepared I then complete the tasks for the devices such as a screen replacement on a smartphone or a diagnostic on a laptop. For each ticket I will update any relevant notes and update the customers whether the device is ready or if we then have a quote for the repair. I may also assist with seeing to customers when they drop off or collect if our sales assistant is with another customer. During the day I will also order any parts that are required so that we are stocked and ready for any booked repairs that are upcoming. At the end of the day all my tickets would then be up to date. This means that either the task is complete, and the device(s) are ready to collect, or the customer has been updated if we require approval to continue with a repair or more information on the issues that they were having.

What do you enjoy most about working with electronics?
I would have to say that it’s because there is so many devices now and there is always something new coming out it brings on new challenges. It’s exciting how far these gadgets have come in the last 10 years and where we could be in the next 10.

What is the most complicated repair you have carried out?
There is quite a few! However, it must be a MacBook I repaired that was a newer model which has integrated storage and the customer needed the data. The board had suffered some liquid damage and we did not have any spare components and we could not source each of them, so we had to source another board in order to diagnose and repair it. Once I was able to identify the failed components, I could then use the donor board to get this working or at least powered so that we could back up the customer data for them. Fortunately, I did get this up and running so that the data was saved.

What is the strangest tech request you have ever had?

There is a few, but the most recent one from memory was a customer asking us to repair their broken iPhone SE 2020 camera by swapping with the one from their iPhone 6. Not only are the cameras completely different in specification but also the connectors would not fit if we tried.

Do family and friends always ask you questions about tech?
Yes, of course. At least once a week I am asked something technical, it could be something as simple as one of my parents asking how to send a document on their email. I also get asked now and again by friends quite technical questions whether it is computer or gaming related.

Are you Apple or Android?
Apple. For me personally it is because it’s what I am used to now. However, both Android and iOS have come so far and are very easy to use now.

What will be your next tech purchase?
I recently upgraded the graphics card in my personal computer and so the next purchase would probably be adding some RAM to upgrade it to 32GB of memory. The next gadget however may be an iPad or laptop as I would like something more portable but is bigger than my phone.

Which tech product would you put in room 101 and why?
The Samsung Fold or Flip phones as the repairability is near impossible and very costly. I like the idea of them, but they just aren’t good in my opinion.

If you would like to contact Dan or anyone else in the Gadget Rehab team click here.

A woman with iphone camera issues

If you have an iphone you know the camera quality is exceptional, so you also know how frustrating it is when the camera just won’t work. So, if you are experiencing iphone camera problems, read on.

Camera Lens

Firstly, the obvious reason you are experiencing iphone camera problems is the camera lens is covered or blocked. Make sure it isn’t being masked by a case or cover or even your hand when you are taking a photo. We know this may sound patronising but you would be surprised how many times it happens!

Restrictions

Your first thought might be that it is a hardware issue preventing the camera from functioning properly, but it could simply be down to permissions. The first thing here to check are the restrictions. To navigate to this menu visit settings, then general restrictions and ensure the camera icon is turned on and highlighted green.

Reset the Device

Not fixed it?, don’t panic yet. The next thing to try is resetting your device. In settings, navigate to general and then select “reset” from the menu. This should clear any unwanted content from apps and cookies from the phone acting like a detox for your device. Furthermore, at this point, it is also a good time to check for system updates and install them if you are using a previous version and remember to back up your phone before resetting it to prevent loss of data.

Hardware Problem

Finally, if none of these fixes work, then it is likely you do have a hardware issue preventing your iphone camera from working, and that is where we come in.

At Gadget Rehab we have been repairing iphones for almost ten years and have seen almost every camera problem there is. Our highly trained and experienced technicians can work on any model of iphone to repair the damaged camera including:

• iPhone 5S
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone 6S
• iPhone 6S Plus
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE
• iPhone SE (2nd gen)
• iPhone X
• iPhone XR
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max

Find out More

Details of all our iphone repair services and pricelists are available on our website at www.gadgetrehab.co.uk

Call us today to find out more or to book your phone in for repair. We offer a quick service so that you can get back to your apps as soon as possible.

Repair Cost (Labour Rates)

At Gadget Rehab we repair a large variety of electronic devices. These include Smartphones, Laptops, Tablets, Consoles, PCs, Drones, Audio Equipment and much more. Below you will find indicative prices for our labour charges on the different repairs that we do.

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DeviceLabour Cost
Incl VAT
Other information
Smartphones£18.00Smartphone labour charges starts from £18.00 this excludes parts and other associated cost. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
Laptops£60.00Laptop labour charges starts from £60.00 this excludes parts and other associated cost. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
Tablets£48.00Tablet labour charges starts from £48.00 this excludes parts and other associated cost. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
PC Builds and Repairs£60.00 - £180.00PC repair labour charges starts from £60.00 this excludes parts and other associated cost. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
Console Repairs£36.00 - £120.00We repair most faults on XBOX, PS4/PS5, Nitendo Switch. Labour charges starts from £36.00 this excludes parts and other associated cost. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
Audio Equipment £60.00 - £90.00Audio equipment covers items such as amplifiers, speakers, turntables, mixers etc. Labour cost excludes part cost and other associated charges. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
Headphones£60.00Headphones labour charges starts from £60.00 this excludes parts and other associated cost. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
Drones£90.00 - £180.00Drones labour charges starts from £90.00 this excludes parts and other associated cost. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
Microsoldering £36.00Microsoldering on circuits labour charges starts from £36.00 this excludes parts and other associated cost. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
Other Electronics£60.00 - £90.00We repair a wide range of electronics. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your repair or call us on 01494534008
Smartphone Diagnostis £0.00Excludes motherboard diagnostics (see below)
Tablet Diagnostics£0.00Excludes motherboard diagnostics (see below)
General Diagnostics £36.00Quotes are always free when the fault is obvious. If fault finding is required we charge a £36.00 diagnostics which will be factored into the actual repair cost.
Macbook Diagnostics£60.00Quotes are always free when the fault is obvious. If fault finding is required on a Macbook we charge a £60.00 diagnostics which will be factored into the actual repair cost.
Motherboard Diagnostics £36.00Motherboard Diagnostics labour charges starts from £36.00.
PC Diagnostics£60.00Quotes are always free when the fault is obvious. If fault finding is required on a PC we charge a £60.00 diagnostics which will be factored in to the actual repair cost.
Liquid Damage Diagnostics£36.00We can assess your device and provide diagnostics of the extent ot the damage and assosiated cost for repairs. As part of the liquid damage diagnostics we will ultrasonic clean all compatible components.
Macbook Liquid Damage Diagnostics £60.00We can assess your device and provide diagnostics of the extent ot the damage and assosiated cost for repairs. As part of the liquid damage diagnostics we will ultrasonic clean all compatible components.
Data Transfer £36.00 - £60.00Data transfer starts from £36.00 - £60.00. This could be for cloning a phones, tablets or laptop storage data from one device to another. Please use the get quote button below for an accurate price for your device or call us on 01494534008
Data Recovery£80.00 - £550.00Our data recovery services starts from £80.00. This covers smartphones, tablets, laptops, PCs and hard drives and most other storage devices. We have the ability to take on advanced data recovery processes.
Antique/Collectors Electronic Repairs£120 - £320.00

*Prices shown on this table are based on our half-hourly, hourly labour rates or minimum service charge. Your total repair cost will vary depending on the device and parts required for the repair. For an accurate quote please use our quote form by clicking the button below. A member of our team will respond within 24 hours with a quote. Alternatively, you can call us on 01494 534 008.

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Multiple Repairs: on the same device at the same time can be given a discount of up to £10.00 off the total repair cost. We also offer a 10% discount (maximum £10.00) for keyworkers.

Turnaround Times: To know the turnaround times for your repair please click hear or ask a member of staff.

Our Warranty: We offer up to 12 months limited warranty on all repairs. See our warranty terms.

Business customers with more than 10 devices please call to speak with Daniel Beckford to discuss trade prices and discounts.

If you are unsure of your device or have any questions please call us on 01494534008 and a member of our team will be able to assist you further.

All Prices include VAT (Updated August 2021)

Our terms and conditions can be found here.

Low Battery Life

If you are experiencing the fast draining of your phone battery, it could be for various reasons. Spending time scrolling, liking, and taking pictures all takes a toll on the battery life of our phones. There are things however we can do to maximise the battery life and extend the time between phone charging.

We would always recommend you use an original charger, avoid overheating your phone and always keep your apps and system current by updating to the latest version when notified.

The first step to sorting the problem is to get the facts by checking your battery usage. On an android phone this is by going to settings, device care and then battery. Here you will be able to see the status of your phone and how your battery is being used, next you should carry out the following checks:

1. Phone Display
The brightness of your screen affects your battery use, so we recommend you set it at a low level. You can then adjust the brightness when you need it rather than always having it at a higher level. Next, check the length of time before your display goes into sleep mode and make sure it is on the shortest time setting. Making sure your phone display is not live for longer than it needs to be can save you some battery.

2. Phone Sounds and Notifications
Having keyboard sounds active so that you can hear taps or vibrations when you are using your phone drains the battery. Turn off keyboard sounds and vibrations and make sure your notification settings are for active apps only.

3. Apps
Apps are the greatest offender for battery use, but we also know they are the most convenient functions of your phone, so only have those you use set to active and uninstall apps that you don’t use. For the apps which you use often but drain a lot of battery power, check the notification settings, and reduce the frequency to a low level.

As apps are updated often, it is also advisable to check apps that continue to run in the background and change the settings to ensure only necessary functions remain active.

Some apps have location services active which run continuously and use the battery. Check this setting on all your apps and amend accordingly. Most location services run to send you localised ads and therefore will not affect the performance of the app.

If your phone offers you a “dark mode” for apps this will also reduce battery use and can make it easier to read text.

4. Connectivity
If you use your phone in the car, chances are you have your Bluetooth always set to active. Check this setting and only activate it when needed to prevent unnecessary battery usage.

If you have tried all of the above and are still experiencing battery issues, then we can help. Call us today on 01494 534008 to book an appointment for us to investigate the issue or contact us.

macbook liquid damage repair

Waterproof Devices – The Real Truth!

Are electronic devices waterproof?

Most newer devices boast to have waterproof functions - however this is quite misleading it seems. Whilst some newer devices are built to handle liquid better than previous models they are certainly not waterproof. 

So why do manufacturers say that they are?

Large manufacturers can be quite misleading with their marketing approach when promoting the waterproof function of their devices. The truth is no commercial mobile phone or tablet to date is fully waterproof. 

How is water resistance measured?

Water resistance is measured by its IP rating (Ingress Protection).  IP ratings take into account the level of resistance to dust and liquid. With regards to the liquid element of the rating this is scored from 1 - 9.

An IP rating of 1 would indicate a device that can withstand vertical droplets of rainfall falling onto its surface for 10mins. The amount of water corresponds to 1mm per min rainfall. That’s the equivalent of 10mm of water in 10 mins. A very tiny amount. 

A level 9 water resistance rating can withstand powerful water jets at close distances of 0.1 - 0.15m. This is also tested at high water temperatures above 70 degrees celsius. This is your highest electronic water resistance rating. 

How they get away with it?

The play is on the word waterproof. If a device has an IPX1 rating, legally this device is water resistance so you can market your product as being waterproof or water resistant. However as detailed above a device with an IPX1 rating can only withstand 10mmn droplets of water over a 10minute period on its surface. 

So you go to the beach or into the shower with your device, mislead that your device is waterproof.  Lo and behold your device stops functioning properly. You are now left shocked and confused. You even start to think the fault is unrelated to the fact that the device was immersed in liquid. 

Below is an  iPhone 8 that has come into contact with liquid. Waterproof according to the manufacturer so explain how liquid has penetrated through to the logic board?

iPhone 8 liquid damge repair
Unrecoverable iPhone 8 Logic Board.

What do I do if my device comes into contact with liquid?

Well first of all DO NOT put your devices in rice. The rice tale is a myth that I wish I could pull from every blog and video on the internet.

Take your device to a reputable repair company that has good experience and understanding with how to assess, diagnose and repair liquid damaged devices. I know of one called Gadget Rehab if you would like a recommendation.

Gadget Rehab has huge success rates (approx 80%) recovering data from liquid damaged devices and can often also recover the device itself depending on the extent of the damage. 

Lastly, read our blog Liquid Damage - The do's and the dont's. This will give you a firm understanding on what to do immediately after your device has been in contact with liquid. 

Have you cracked the back glass on your Apple iPhone. Apple iPhone devices from 8 upwards have the been fitted with glass on the front and back glass. Not to worry we have the cure and can have your iPhone looking fresh again within no time.

We complete these repairs on a same day service so you wont be without your device for too long. Prices start from £90.00 so get in touch and have your devices looking great again.

iPhone X back glass repair

Check our back housing prices by clicking here or click on the get quote button below.

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By Dan-The-Tech-Man / Apple iPad RepairsApple iPhone Repairs / 0 Comments

Tablet Repairs

All Tablet Repairs Are Us.

Here at Gadget Rehab we do repairs on all devices across the board including tablet repairs.

Types of repairs:

  1. Screen Replacement
  2. Charging Issues
  3. Mute Switch
  4. Touch Issues
  5. Battery Problems
  6. Software Issues
  7. Motherboard Repairs

The above are listed common issues and repairs that we deal with here at Gadget Rehab. We work on all different devices including: Samsung, Android, Apple, Nexus, Lenovo, Acer, HP, Asus, Amazon amongst many many more.  

If your device issue hasn’t been listed above, or you aren't sure that we do repairs on your devices don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email on:

Phone - 01494 534008

Email - info@gadgetrehab.co.uk