PC & Laptop Repair FAQs for Wickford & Essex

Yes. We're based in Wickford and cover South Essex, from Basildon and Billericay to Southend and Chelmsford. We do the work in our workshop, and we can visit too.

Yes, for Wickford postcodes SS11 and SS12. We collect the machine, diagnose it on the bench, and bring it back when the job is done. For Basildon, Rayleigh, Billericay, Southend, Brentwood and Chelmsford, collection is by arrangement. The workshop is 32 Glebe Road, Wickford SS11 8EU, and drop-off is by appointment. Call 07367 652987 to pick a time.

We fix hardware faults and software problems, including:

• Speed upgrades: SSD and RAM upgrades for slow laptops and PCs.
• Physical repairs: screen replacements, charging ports, batteries, keyboards, and dusty fan cleans.
• Software cleanup: virus and malware removal, popup cleanup, and clean Windows or macOS installs.
• Custom builds: gaming PCs and quiet home-office machines.

Hardware fixes start from £49 and software fixes from £45. Diagnostics are free. We give you a fixed quote to approve before work starts. Virus, malware and scam removal is a fixed £69.

For repairs, there is no labour charge if we cannot fix it, a part is not worth fitting, or the job would cost more than the computer is worth.

We can usually tell you what's wrong with an infected PC within a day. Screen, charging port and battery repairs are usually finished and returned within 1 to 3 working days. If we need to order a specific part, we tell you the timescale before we begin.

Panel cost varies — a standard HD panel is far cheaper than a 4K or touchscreen one. A flat rate would overcharge simple jobs or undercharge complex ones. Windows and Chromebook screen fitting is £50 plus the panel. MacBook screen fitting is £85 plus the panel, and Mac panels usually cost more.

Usually 1–3 working days.

Yes — and if it’s still on after a spill, switch it off straight away. Corrosion can develop over hours or days, and sugary or salty liquid is worse than water because residue keeps corroding even when it looks dry. We quote the timing for liquid recovery before any paid repair.

Yes. If the hard drive or SSD inside is still healthy, we can take it out in the Wickford workshop and copy your files to a USB stick — that starts at £79. When a drive needs a lab, we refer it to a specialist partner on their terms, and the cost is quoted before any work starts.

Yes. We fix MacBooks and iMacs out of warranty: batteries, screens, trackpads and slow Macs.

Yes. We do not browse your personal files, and we never wipe a drive or change your storage without your clear permission. If a repair needs a wipe, we say so first and can back up your data beforehand.

Yes. We'll remove any remote-access software, dodgy add-ons and malware, and we can write a short note if your bank asks for one.

We'll check your exact PC against Microsoft's Windows 11 requirements and explain the options before any paid work. Adding memory alone does not make an incompatible processor supported.

We're the people you call when your business IT needs sorting. That includes business email and domain setup, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, password and security basics, GDPR-minded setup, and getting new hardware ready for work.

Monthly support is available if you want it, but there's no contract and you can just pay per job.

No cash needed. We take major UK debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay at the door or in the workshop on our SumUp reader. For business work, remote help, and custom builds we send itemised FreeAgent invoices you can pay by card or bank transfer (BACS).

Yes. LaunchLayer Ltd is VAT-registered. Home repair quotes include VAT so the final bill matches the quote. Business customers get compliant VAT invoices through FreeAgent so you can reclaim input VAT where allowed.

Yes. Workshop work, collections in SS11/SS12 and arranged collections, and on-site business setup are covered by Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance.

An Insurance Damage Report is £40. It covers Windows laptops, desktop PCs and Apple Macs, and the timing depends on complexity. Testing can include multimeter readings. You receive a signed PDF on LaunchLayer headed paper, with photos of the damage, setting out what is wrong, the likely cause, and whether it is worth repairing. If it is not economical to repair, the report includes an approximate cost for a comparable replacement. If your insurer approves the repair and we carry it out, the £40 is deducted from the repair price. The £40 covers the report itself, so it's charged either way.

Your insurer decides the claim, not LaunchLayer, so we cannot promise the report will be accepted. Some insurers reimburse the report fee, so check your policy. If they have told you what the report must cover, send that to us before we start.

Yes. We can only report on a device we have examined ourselves. Drop-off is by appointment. Call 07367 652987 if you still need a time. Free collection and return is for Wickford postcodes SS11 and SS12. The report itself is digital. Bring the charger if you have it — it is not required.

Yes. We will note in the report that another shop has already opened or repaired it, and we can only comment on what we can see now.

Message us via the Contact page or call 07367 652987. Tell us the make, model and what's wrong, and we'll give you a rough price. After the free diagnostic we confirm a fixed price before any paid repair starts.

Yes. Diagnostics are free, with no obligation to go ahead. We find the fault, then give you a fixed quote before any paid work starts.

Outside SS11/SS12, home visits are priced by location; we'll confirm the cost before booking.

We are open Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 22:00. The workshop is at 32 Glebe Road, Wickford, Essex SS11 8EU. Drop-off is by appointment. Call 07367 652987 if you still need a time. Free collection and return is for Wickford postcodes SS11 and SS12.

Diagnostics are free. Hardware repairs start from £49 and a workshop software fix is £45 for up to 60 minutes. Examples: laptop battery from £49 plus the part, charging port (DC jack) £65 when the port is removable or on its own small board (a port soldered to the main board is quoted after diagnosis), laptop screen fitting £50 plus the panel (MacBook £85 plus the panel, and Mac panels usually cost more), SSD upgrade £65 + drive (includes fitting and data transfer), virus removal £69, Windows reinstall £59 and Laptop MOT £60. You get a fixed quote before any paid work starts.

Labour starts from £49 plus the part. The diagnostic is free, so we confirm the battery is the fault before you pay anything.

£65 when the port is removable or sits on its own small board. If the port is soldered to the main board, we quote after the free diagnosis. If your laptop will not charge or the charger only works at an angle, the diagnostic is free and we confirm the fault before any paid work starts.

£69. That covers removing viruses, malware and pop-ups from your PC or laptop. The diagnostic is free, and you get a fixed price before we start.

A Laptop MOT is a fixed-price £60 health check and tune-up for a slow or ageing laptop. If we find a separate hardware fault, such as a worn battery, you get a clear quote before any extra work begins.

Yes, for Wickford postcodes SS11 and SS12. We collect your device, diagnose it on the bench and bring it back when the job is done. For other areas, collection is by arrangement. Drop-off is by appointment. Call 07367 652987 if you still need a time.

Yes. A new screen, charging port or battery we fit comes with a 12-month warranty. It covers those new parts only. It does not cover second-hand or refurbished parts, accidental damage, or software.