Justin Drake Carroll Apple

Standard Apple Watch Repair Guidelines

Did you know that Apple sold about 43 million Apple Watches in 2020? This isn’t surprising, considering all of this tiny device’s incredible features. It has fitness tracking, health monitors, navigation, texting, and even calling without the need to pull out your phone. 

Owning an Apple Watch can make your daily routine a lot easier, so when you run into issues, you likely feel frustrated and annoyed. This post is here to help, offering Apple Watch repair tips for some of the most common issues users face. Keep reading for the troubleshooting guide! 

Doesn’t Unlock

If your Apple Watch doesn’t unlock, there are several things you can try before taking it to a repair shop.

First, check to see if there is a new iOS update available. If so, install it as soon as possible since it will possibly correct the issue. 

If this doesn’t work, try unpairing your watch and phone. Then, power them both down. Upon restarting them, repair your devices and see if your Apple Watch will unlock. 

Keeps Requesting Passcode

Once you’re wearing your Apple Watch, you shouldn’t have to reenter your passcode unless you’ve removed it at some point. Some people have this issue, and the best way to fix it is by updating your software and pairing your watch with your phone again. 

If this doesn’t solve the problem, we recommend seeing whether your standard AppleCare plan covers repairs and, if not, taking it to a local repair shop.

The Screen Doesn’t Turn on When You Lift Your Wrist

As an Apple Watch user, you expect your device to turn on when you lift your wrist to see the time. If this isn’t happening, you may need to adjust the settings on your watch. Pay special attention to the Wake Screen option in the General section of your phone’s Watch app. 

Another setting that prevents the screen from turning on is Theater Mode. You can deactivate this option in the Control Center by tapping the icon with two masks. 

Digital Crown Unresponsive

The Apple Watch’s Digital Crown is the only part that you can rotate and press, making it susceptible to damage, whether through wear or an accident. If the Digital Crown stops working, we recommend trying the following fixes before taking it to get it repaired. 

  1. Unpair your iPhone and Apple Watch
  2. Power down your Apple Watch
  3. Remove the band and clean your Apple Watch with a soft cloth 
  4. Attach the band again and restart your Apple Watch

If this doesn’t solve your Digital Crown issue, it’s likely in need of professional repair. 

Doesn’t Pair With Your Phone

Often, Apple Watch users have trouble pairing their phones. Before you start worrying, make sure your Wifi and Bluetooth are turned on on your watch and phone. Even if one of these settings is off, it could cause your Apple Watch and iPhone to stop pairing. 

Usually, the solution is as simple as repairing the phone and watch. Ensure the devices are close enough to prevent difficulties. However, if this doesn’t work, you should restart your watch. 

Inadequate Battery Life

The Apple Watch has an extremely durable battery, so it should have no problem lasting all day. However, certain settings, such as the Always On Display, can cause it to drain faster than it should. Try these solutions to preserve your Apple Watch’s battery.

  • Close open apps 
  • Reset your Apple Watch
  • Turn on Power Reserve in the settings

If your watch is still dying faster than it should, it may need a new battery. 

Won’t Turn On

There are several reasons why your Apple Watch no longer turns on, but it’s likely that your battery needs replaced or there is another hardware issue. Before you take it to the repair shop, be sure that your charging cable functions properly since a faulty cable may be the real culprit. Thus, we recommend testing the charging function on your watch with a different cable.

Screen Coming Loose

A loose Apple Watch screen is an especially concerning issue since the entire screen can fall off. If this happens, it may break and you may even need a new one to replace it. Loose screens are often the result of battery swelling, which causes the screen to pop off as it expands. 

If your screen comes loose, you can try to put it back in place, but this should be only a temporary fix. You should seek professional help from a repair technician.

Broken Screen

Apple Watches are made to endure everything you do, including intense exercise and hard work. Still, they are not completely resistant to breaks or cracks. 

There are many online tutorials that show you how to replace an Apple Watch screen yourself, but we don’t recommend going this route. Many people find it overly complicated and you need the right tools. If you make any mistakes, you can cause damage to other parts of the watch. 

Most repair shops charge less than $100 to replace an Apple Watch screen, so it’s likely worth it to go ahead and seek a professional’s services. That way, you’ll know it’s done right and don’t have to stress about getting the right parts.  

Get Help With Your Apple Watch Repair!

We hope you were able to resolve any of your Apple Watch problems with the help of this brief post! If not, we recommend seeking the assistance of a repair technician in your area. 

If you live in Virginia, give us a call or stop into one of our repair shop locations. We offer a speedy Apple Watch repair service that will have your device running like it’s new again!

Justin Drake Carroll Gaming Systems

How to Tell If Your Console Needs a Professional Nintendo Repair Job

Everyone loves Nintendo. Even in an age where quality game consoles are all over the market, Nintendo is still one of the most popular gaming brands in the world. It’s no wonder that the Nintendo Switch surpassed 111 million sales worldwide!

Unfortunately, these amazing consoles aren’t indestructible. The fun stops when they break down and you might need to get a Nintendo repair if you want to keep gaming. 

There are a few signs that can tell you when you need the help of an expert technician.  Want to learn about some of the most common signs to look out for? Read on for everything you need to know! 

The Console Won’t Turn On

If your console won’t turn on, you could be facing a major problem with your console. Of course, there are some simple things you should check before visiting the repair shop. Is the console plugged in and is it fully charged?

If the console still isn’t turning on after you’ve made these basic checks, it’s time to get some expert help.

The fault could be caused by any number of complex issues, from electrical problems to mechanical errors. You need someone who’s confident in taking apart Nintendos and dealing with the problem.

Random Power Offs

If you’re playing your console and it switches off abruptly, this could be a sign of an underlying problem. Even if the console turns on right after, you should probably still take your console for repairs.

When the power goes out randomly, it’s an extremely annoying issue that could cause you further problems. If your console powers off in the middle of a game, you could lose progress or rankings. If the console switches off while you’re saving the game, you could find your save files corrupted. 

A random power outage for your console could be caused by several different issues, so you’ll need the help of an expert to avoid the problem. 

Physical Damage

If your console sustains heavy physical damage, it might be time to get a professional to poke around. If you drop your console or spill something on it, you could do all kinds of damage. 

Physical damage can include:

  • Scratched screen
  • Cracked case
  • Controller damage

Of course, it’s better to try and prevent this damage from occurring in the first place. Try to be careful with your console and prevent anything from damaging the screen and buttons in particular. But try not to worry if something goes wrong and your Nintendo does sustain damage since a specialist repair technician can probably make the repairs you need. 

Controller Connection Issues

If your controller won’t connect, it might be time to bring your console in for repairs. This could be a simple problem with the controller itself and you may simply need a replacement. If multiple controllers fail to connect, you might be facing an issue with your Switch gaming console. 

Your controller ports could be damaged, or you may be facing a hardware issue. Either way, find a quality technician to help so you can get back to gaming as quickly as possible!

Unreadable Cartridges

You might notice your console is failing to read cartridges when you insert them into the system. 

Before getting repairs, there are a few things you can try. First, clean off the cartridges themselves, making sure they are clear of dirt and dust. You can also run some thin pieces of tissue paper over the cartridge readers on your console. This will ensure it’s not a simple matter of dirt build-up causing the issue.

If these simple remedies don’t work, the problem could be more deep-rooted. The cartridge reader could be damaged, requiring total replacement. If this is the case, you’ll need to get the help of an expert technician who can complete this tricky job for you. 

Dead Pixels

Dead pixels occur when parts of the screen fail to change. This could be caused by physical damage to the console or a factory error. Either way, it could spoil your enjoyment of some games or even make you less effective. 

Some people avoid taking their console in for repairs for this issue. If only a few pixels are affected, you might think it’s not a big deal. But your immersion in the game world will be lessened by this issue, so it’s well worth asking a technician to help. 

Sound Issues

Is your Nintendo still producing sound? If the audio from games is distorted or, worst still, non-existent, you won’t be able to get the maximum enjoyment from these games. This is a particular problem for those who like to play story-driven games like RPGs. 

Without sound, you could also be less effective in action and shooting games. If you’re playing Fortnite, for example, you won’t be able to react to the sound of an opponent creeping up behind you. 

Sound issues could be caused by a damaged speaker or issues with the console’s sound chips. Either way, you likely need to hire a technician to make these repairs, since it involves specialist part replacement. 

Get Expert Nintendo Repair Today

A broken game console is no good to anyone. You need your Nintendo in full working order so you can have lots of fun gaming. When you notice one of these major problems, it’s time to find an expert Nintendo repair technician to help you out. 

Whether you’re playing anything from a Switch to an N64, we can help. Let us know what you need to and we’ll work with you to get you back to gaming and having fun. Find out more about our console repair today!

Justin Drake Carroll Android Phone

How to Find a Qualified Sony Repair Technician

Sony as a brand was first founded way back in 1946. Ever since then, Sony has become a very well-known technology brand that produces everything from televisions to speakers, earphones, and more. If you have a particular piece of Sony equipment, you likely know that it is high-quality. 

However, that doesn’t mean that it is indestructible. If something is in need of repairs, you should hire a Sony repair technician. But how can you make sure you find the right repair technician for your needs? 

Keep reading and learn more about what you should consider when choosing the right repair technician for your Sony device. 

Check the Online Customer Reviews

If you want to make sure that you find the right repair shop to fix your device, one of the first things you should do is check online customer reviews. These days, most shops that have a website have at least a few reviews from previous customers laying around. These reviews may not seem very important to you, but in reality, they can tell you a lot about a particular repair technician. 

This is because the reviews will either be mostly positive or negative regarding the technician’s service. If you find a repair technician with mostly negative reviews, this is a sign that you shouldn’t bother to hire that option. If a technician has mostly negative reviews, this means that the technician doesn’t care about doing a good job fixing a device but instead cares more about making a quick buck. 

The Details

On the other hand, if you find a technician with mostly positive reviews from previous customers, you may be in luck. This is a sign that the technician actually cares about doing a good job and making sure that their customers are happy. This, of course, is exactly what you want from a repair technician. 

If you hire one that is less than ideal, he or she might end up doing more harm than good to your broken device. Reading the individual reviews can also help you better understand what you can expect from a particular technician. For example, if many reviews say that the technician was rude and unhelpful or took a long time to fix the problem, it will be a good idea to avoid that technician. 

On the other hand, if you find reviews enthusing over the technician’s speed and quality, you’re likely on the right track. 

Choose an Experienced Technician

Besides checking the customer reviews, you should also make sure that the technician you choose has plenty of experience. If you find that a technician has only been working for one or two years, that may not be a good technician to choose. While they might have a baseline of knowledge regarding how to repair certain devices, they might not have a lot of hands-on knowledge yet. 

For that reason, such a technician may have trouble fixing particular devices or uncommon problems that your device may have. Of course, the last thing you want is to have an inexperienced technician messing around with your Sony devices. This is not to mention that inexperienced technicians often take a long time to fix the problem at hand. 

To avoid this issue, you should always make sure that you choose a technician that has several years of experience such as more than three years.

What You Need to Know

The more years of experience the technician has, the better. This is because, over the years, a technician has the ability to learn all sorts of things while on the job. 

That way, the technician will be able to work much faster and more efficiently compared to a technician without as much experience. Also, a more experienced technician will be able to fix even rare problems without any issues. But how can you know how many years of experience a technician has?

Usually, this information will be on the technician’s website. If you can’t find it there, it may be in your best interest to email or call the service to ask a few questions. That way, you can learn more about the service and how it works before you take the plunge and hire the technician. 

Be Sure of the Quality

The last thing you want to do is unintentionally hire a low-quality technician to work on your Sony device. If you do that, the technician might end up making the device worse rather than better. Fortunately, there are several ways in which you can be sure of the repair service’s quality. 

First, as mentioned before, it is a good idea to check the reviews from previous customers as they will give you a better idea of a service’s quality. Besides that, you can explore the service’s website and check what qualifications or previous experience the technician has. Even the customer support system should be high-quality. 

If you ask customer support a few questions and they only give you vague or delayed answers, the service may not be the best one for you. On the other hand, if you get quick and informative answers and get the feeling that the service actually wants to help you, you’re on the right track.

All About Hiring Sony Repair Technicians

Hiring a Sony repair technician doesn’t have to be difficult, but there are certain things that you have to look out for. As long as you do your research and check the quality and customer reviews, you should be fine. 

To learn more about it, click here.

Justin Drake Carroll Gaming Systems

7 Common Gaming PC Building Mistakes to Avoid for Beginners

Did you know that just under a third of PC gamers have built their own computer? Building your gaming PC can help you get the computer you want with fantastic power. However, building a gaming PC can be intimidating, especially if you’re a beginner.

There are some common gaming PC-building mistakes that beginners tend to make. But don’t worry; we’re here to help! In this blog post, we will go over seven common mistakes that beginners make when building their gaming PCs.

Avoiding these mistakes will save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. So whether you’re just starting or you’ve been building PCs for years, be sure to read on to learn more about how to avoid these common mistakes.

1. Not Knowing What You Need

One of the most common mistakes people make is not knowing what they need for their gaming PC setup. There are a few things that you need to take into account when choosing parts for your build.

You first need to consider what games you want to play. Different games require different hardware, so you’ll need to ensure that your build can handle the games you want to play.

Another thing to consider is your budget. You’ll need to set a budget for your build and stick to it. It’s easy to get caught up in buying the latest and greatest parts, but if you’re on a budget, you’ll need to be more selective with your choices.

Lastly, you should think about your level of experience. If you’re a beginner, it’s probably best to start with a simpler build. Once you have a better understanding of how everything works, you can then start looking at more complex builds. By taking the time to consider all of these factors, you can avoid common mistakes people make when building a gaming PC.

2. Not Doing Your Research

Another common mistake people make when building a gaming PC is not doing research. Many different components go into a gaming PC, and it’s important to know what each one does and how it works with the other components. Without this knowledge, it’s very easy to make a mistake that could cost you a lot of money.

3. Buying the Wrong Components

Buying the wrong gaming PC parts can be costly, as the wrong component can cause compatibility issues or not work correctly. 

Make sure your components are compatible with each other before you begin building. Nothing is worse than getting everything put together only to find out that something isn’t compatible, and you have to start over. Be sure to check for updates and drivers, as these can sometimes solve compatibility issues.

When choosing components, be sure to do your research and choose carefully. Check reviews and compare prices to get the best deal possible. However, keep in mind that cheaper isn’t always a good choice.

Another common mistake is buying cheap components in an attempt to save money. While it’s true that you can find some good deals on parts, it’s also important to remember that cheaper doesn’t always mean better.

In many cases, cheap components don’t perform as well as more expensive ones, and they can also cause compatibility issues. Spending a little extra money on quality components that will last longer and provide better performance is usually best.

4. Forgetting About Cooling

Things can get pretty hot quickly with all the components crammed into a small case. That’s why it’s crucial to have an excellent cooling system in place.

There are a few different ways to cool your gaming PC. Air cooling is the most common and typically the cheapest option. This involves using fans to circulate air around the components and keep them cool.

Water cooling is another option that is becoming more popular, especially for high-end builds. This involves using water to carry heat away from the components and helps keep things cool even under heavy loads.

Whichever cooling method you choose, ensure you don’t skimp on quality. Cheap fans will break down quickly and won’t do a good job of keeping your components cool. And if you go with water cooling, ensure you get a quality pump and radiator to avoid leaks or other problems.

5. Not Having Enough Power

Not having enough power can lead to several problems, including unstable performance, crashes, and even data loss.

Without an adequate gaming PC power supply, your system will be unable to run all of the components in your system properly. This can lead to lower framerates, stuttering, and other performance issues. In extreme cases, it can even cause data loss or corrupt files.

To avoid this mistake, make sure you have a power supply that can handle all of the components in your system. If you’re unsure how much power you need, many online calculators can help you. Alternatively, you can always err on the side of caution and get a bigger power supply than you need.

6. Not Budgeting for Extras

Not budgeting for extras can leave you disappointed in your build. Extras can include things like a higher-end graphics card, more RAM, or a larger SSD.

While getting the best components you can afford is essential, you also don’t want to overspend on your build. By not budgeting for extras, you may end up with a build that doesn’t perform as well as you wanted it to.

Make sure you consider everything when you put together your gaming PC budget. Talk to people who have done their builds, and find out what they wish they had budgeted for and what they’re glad they spent a little extra on. 

7. Building in a Hurry

Building a gaming PC can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. There are so many different components and options to choose from, and it’s easy to make a mistake that could cost you time and money.

While we know it’s exciting to start using your PC, take your time. You don’t want to rush it and spend more money replacing things that broke because they weren’t correctly assembled. 

Don’t Make These Gaming PC Building Mistakes

If you’re looking to build your first gaming PC, congratulations! You’re about to embark on a fun and rewarding journey.

But before you get started, there are a few common mistakes that beginners make that you’ll want to avoid. By following our tips, you can be sure that your gaming PC build will go smoothly and end up being exactly what you wanted.

Did you rush your build and make one of these common gaming PC building mistakes? Don’t worry; we’re here to help you get it sorted out. Contact us today for the repairs you need.