In reply to a post by alext05:

Thanks to all of you for positive feedback about Novatech. I am going to keep this in mind and glad that I have researched PC builders for the future. I'll be definitely keeping Novatech at the top of my list but, oh dear, I have just managed to fix my old computer that xps 8900 was replacing.

It was a faulty graphics card that was causing it not to boot up properly (I should have tried it before really) and getting Dell ready for returning back focused my mind on investigating the problem I had one more time, as I knew there would be some waiting time for custom-built PC.
I�ll now focus on investigating a good, quiet and reasonably-priced custom setup with SSD and Skylake CPU.

That is good news then, the problem is it is not always easy to find out what is wrong with a computer unless you have got a part to replace the part that is faulty.

In reply to a post by alext05:

Dell is a convenience thing and many people not that aware of the small PC builders I guess.

I have bought Dell from John Lewis due to their two year warranty and so the return is easy - I am just going to take it back to my nearest Waitrose. Also I had a mouse missing from delivery which was a bit annoying.

Interestingly, they (JL) have removed the machine from their website now.

But from now on, it's the reputable local PC builders for me for the exact specifications and hopefully better build and service.

I have had a few Dell machines come to me with problems, most of them have been PSU problems, they seem to put the cheapest ones they can find in the machines, I normally replace them with Corsair units, they are a good price and reliable.
I have one in my second computer or I will do when I get it back, the PSU not the computer.

Having your machine built for you is good in that it is tested and if anything goes wrong you go back to who built it.

Deadbeat says about building it yourself, which is great, I do that myself, but if you muck up it could be expensive if it is proved the problem is not with the hardware but with the way you installed it.
I have had a couple of arguments over the years with sellers who say that it is the way it was installed and they tried to get out of giving me a new one. Not bad I suppose over the years just two.

The problem with building yourself is the OS, if you already got Windows or if you are going to use Linux then fine, other wise you are looking at another £75 for Windows oem home, saying that you are better off paying a extras tenna or so and getting the retail version.

One nice thing about building your own is that you can stand back and say I built that.

+1 for Novatech. They also do bundles built in a case and all you need is a HDD and OS. Bought two of these a few years ago, still going and nice and tidy inside.

I haven't used the other two, but can certainly recommend Chillblast!

They helped with the spec, it was built and arrived on time, and their after sales service is superb!

The computer is almost 5 years old now, and still working beautifully.
Just last week they did a remote 'visit' via Team Viewer and created some extra space for me on the SSD - all else is fine!

I bought a laptop from them too, and that was customised somewhat to suit my needs.

Any time I need another computer, I'll go back to them without a second thought.

Remote visit? yuk, i don't like that idea.

They did it once before four years ago when helping set up a very awkward monitor ...it seemed a bit odd then, but this second time, was fine.
I was talking to him on the phone all the time and could see everything he was doing.

I trust the company and people there as much as one ever can.
An unknown/new company with people I haven't spoken to before could be another matter.

Another recommendation for Novatech. Must have been using them for getting on for 2 decades now. Especially good for me as they are 20 minutes drive away so I can also avoid the horrors of missing the home delivery. I also have bought a few laptops from them in the past - they are one of the few that have done really high spec gaming laptops for a reasonable price (although laptops are a rebadge of another manufacturer and can be difficult to find drivers for!).

In reply to a post by TrishaH:

They did it once before four years ago when helping set up a very awkward monitor ...it seemed a bit odd then, but this second time, was fine.
I was talking to him on the phone all the time and could see everything he was doing.

I trust the company and people there as much as one ever can.
An unknown/new company with people I haven't spoken to before could be another matter.

I could not do that, no matter who they are.

I did set up a system to control my own computer once remotely, a mate of mine was using it so I thought I would scare him as he is always worried about people hacking into his computer. So while he was using my desktop upstairs I went downstairs to make a coffee and used the laptop to control my own machine. It was a laugh, he did not think so, but I thought it was funny.,

They closed the nearest store to me, along with many others, a few years ago. I do miss that ability to basically "click 'n' collect".

I thought they only had about 3 stores anyway - my closest store was their first and main store.