PC & Laptop Repair FAQs for Wickford & Essex

Yes. LaunchLayer is based in Wickford and covers South Essex, including Wickford, Basildon, Rayleigh, Billericay, Southend, Brentwood, and Chelmsford. Diagnostics and repairs are done in our workshop. Home visits are also available.

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. Drop-off at the workshop (32 Glebe Road, Wickford SS11 8EU) is arranged in advance - call 07367 652987 or send a message and we'll confirm a time and the address.

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 repairs start from £55 plus parts. A Windows reinstall is £59. Every job begins with a free diagnostic, then we give you a fixed quote — no hidden fees and no surprise extras before we start work.

If we cannot fix it, you do not pay for labour. When a machine is beyond repair, a part is not worth fitting, or the job would cost more than the computer is worth, we hand it back with no labour charge.

Most diagnostics are done within 24 hours of the machine arriving. Standard screen, hardware, and software jobs 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. Fitting labour is a flat £99 for Windows/Chrome laptops and £85 for MacBooks, plus the exact panel price after the free diagnostic.

Often same-day to next-day if we have the panel in stock. Less common panels may take 1–3 days while we source the exact part.

Yes — and if it’s still on after a spill, power it off now. 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. Proper liquid recovery in the workshop usually takes 1 to 3 business days.

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. In-house recovery attempts typically take 2 to 5 days. If a job needs specialist lab work, the timing is quoted case by case.

Yes. We handle out-of-warranty MacBook and iMac repairs, including batteries, Retina screens, trackpads, and slow performance fixes, using quality replacement parts.

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 run a priority scam and remote-access cleanup. We remove remote access tools, clear malicious browser extensions, scan for leftover malware, and can provide a short technical report if your bank asks for one.

Yes. Windows 10 no longer gets standard security updates, so older machines are more exposed online. We check whether your PC or laptop can move to Windows 11, and where needed we can often upgrade memory or other parts so you can keep using the machine you already own.

We act as an on-demand IT contact for startups, sole traders, and growing Essex teams. 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.

Yes. We offer flexible monthly maintenance plans for Essex small businesses, with no long lock-in. You get priority help when something breaks, without the cost of a full-time IT employee.

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 is usually ready in 1–3 working days, depending 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 is charged whether or not the device can be repaired, because No Fix No Fee does not apply to this report.

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 at the workshop (32 Glebe Road, Wickford SS11 8EU) is arranged in advance - call 07367 652987 or send a message and we'll confirm a time and the address. 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 and model (or a rough description) and what is going wrong, and we will give you an initial quote straight away. 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.

Yes. Home visits are free in Wickford postcodes SS11 and SS12. Elsewhere in South Essex a home visit is a flat £49, which includes the diagnosis and the first hour on site. Anything beyond the first hour, or any repair, is a fixed quote agreed before work starts. If we cannot fix it, you do not pay for labour. Workshop diagnostics stay free.

We are open Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 22:00. The workshop is at 32 Glebe Road, Wickford, Essex SS11 8EU. Drop-off at the workshop (32 Glebe Road, Wickford SS11 8EU) is arranged in advance - call 07367 652987 or send a message and we'll confirm a time and the address. Free collection and return is for Wickford postcodes SS11 and SS12.

Diagnostics are free. Hardware repairs start from £55 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, laptop screen fitting £99 plus the panel (MacBook £85 plus the panel), 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. 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 at the workshop (32 Glebe Road, Wickford SS11 8EU) is arranged in advance - call 07367 652987 or send a message and we'll confirm a time and the address.

Yes. New parts we fit come with a 12-month warranty. It covers new parts only. It does not cover second-hand or refurbished parts, accidental damage, or software.