In-Home Computer Repair in Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch

When the computer at home stops working, you should not have to unplug it, load it into the car, and drive it somewhere. I come to your house. My name is Bruno, and I run BRATechSystems here in Lakewood Ranch. When you call, you get me. When I knock on your door, it is me again.

I cover Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Palmetto and Parrish. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available, depending on the schedule.

What I Help With at Home

Most of what I see falls into a handful of everyday problems. None of them mean you did something wrong.

• A computer that has gotten slow. It used to start in a minute and now it takes ten. That is usually fixable without buying a new one.
• Pop-ups, warnings and infections. Strange windows, or a browser that keeps changing your home page. I handle virus and malware removal at your home, so the machine never leaves your desk.
• Wi-Fi that drops or does not reach. Dead spots in the lanai or the back bedroom, and video calls that freeze. I can sort out your home Wi-Fi coverage and setup so the whole house works.
• Printers that will not connect. The printer is on, and the computer says it is offline.
• Email trouble. Mail that will not send, a password that stopped working, or an account you cannot get into.
• New computer setup. I move your files, photos, bookmarks, printers and email across from the old machine, and set the new one up the way you use it.
• Files you thought were gone. Deleted photos, a drive that will not open, a laptop that will not start. Ask about recovering lost files and photos before giving up on them.
• Just understanding the thing. Sometimes nothing is broken and you want someone to show you how it works, at your pace.

Patient help, without the jargon

Many of my customers are retired and tell me they are not good with computers. Nobody ever handed them a manual. If you want someone who explains things in plain words and writes the steps down, that is what patient computer help for seniors is for. No question here is too basic.

Scams Aimed at Older Adults

This comes up often enough that it is worth explaining calmly.

The common one looks like this. A pop-up fills your screen, says your computer is infected or locked, and gives a phone number to call. It may look like Microsoft or Apple. It is not. Neither puts a phone number on your screen and asks you to call.

Another version is the refund scam. Someone calls or emails saying a subscription is renewing, or that you are owed money back. They ask to connect to your computer to process it, then claim they sent too much and want the difference back.

The thread running through all of them is remote access. If a stranger asks you to install something so they can control your screen, stop and hang up.

If you think you already let someone in, or you are not sure what you clicked, I can come out and check the computer over. There is nothing embarrassing about asking.

How a Visit Works

You tell me what is happening, in whatever words make sense to you. I do not need the technical version. I will tell you what it is likely to be before I come out.

Then I come to you. The computer stays plugged into your desk, your printer and your network, which is usually where the problem lives. When I am done, I tell you in plain language what was wrong and what I changed.

If you are looking after a company rather than a household, my business IT support services cover that work.

Common Questions

Do you come to my house, or do I have to drop the computer off?

I come to you. BRATechSystems is a mobile service covering Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, Palmetto and Parrish. Your computer stays plugged into your own desk, printer and Wi-Fi, which is often where the real problem is. There is no storefront to drive to and nothing for you to carry.

Will I deal with the same person each time?

Yes. BRATechSystems is run by one person, Bruno. The person who answers your message is the person who comes to your house and does the work. You will not be passed between a call center, a counter and a back room, or explain your setup from scratch again next visit.

I think I fell for a pop-up scam. What should I do?

Disconnect from the internet if you can, and do not call any number the pop-up showed. Then get the computer looked at. I can check what was installed, whether anyone still has remote access, and what needs removing. If money or account details were involved, call your bank too. Acting quickly matters most.

Is my old computer worth fixing, or should I buy a new one?

Often it is worth fixing. A machine that has slowed down badly is usually suffering from something removable rather than genuine old age. I will tell you honestly which situation you are in. If replacing it really is the better call, I will say so, and I can set the new one up.

BRATechSystems carries $1,000,000 general liability and $1,000,000 technology errors and omissions insurance through The Hartford. A certificate of insurance is available on request.