How many computer repair experts does it take to fix a laptop?

Only one. But knowing where to track him down is another story.

Faults misdiagnosed. Overcharging for work. Data deleted entirely.

These are, unfortunately, increasingly common occurrences consumers have reported when it comes to their dealings with myriad Fort Lauderdale computer repair groups.

So who are the culprits and who are the good guys? How can you tell the reputable from the disreputable? Sometimes it's hard, but you can never do too much research.

Do see just how bad the situation is, an undercover news crew tried this simple strategy: Create a basic fault on a laptop, load the thing up with spy software, take it into several computer repair shops, then watch what happens.

Would they arrive at the same diagnosis and charge a fair price?

Well, that all depends on the Miami computer repair company.

Under this special investigative report, if the mouse so much as moved, a folder opened or a file looked at, the undercover people would know about it.

Every event would also trigger a screen snapshot to be taken.

They also installed Digiwatcher, a tool that runs on start-up and quietly tells any connected webcam to secretly film whoever is at the machine. The process is invisible, with the video file is hidden on the hard drive and password protected.

The fault that was created in the faux-defective machines was made by simply loosening one of the memory chips so Windows wouldn't load.

To get things working again, one needs only push the chip back into the slot and boot the PC. Any competent computer repair technician should fix it in minutes.

But obviously we don't have to tell you that if that were the case, we would not be sitting here right now writing about it, nor you reading it.

Some of the tales that followed have to be experienced to be believed.

Continue reading these computer repair horror stories here ...