PC Assistance Ltd

02/03/2026

From one house to the next, from one generation to the next. PC Assistance Ltd stays strong.

03/09/2025

Another beautiful PC from PC ASSISTANCE LTD.

To the specs:

Case
GIGABYTE C102 TEMPERED GLASS ICE MID TOWER CASE

PSU
GIGABYTE GP-UD850GM PG5 V2 - 850W/80 GOLD FULL MODULAR PCIE 5.1 POWER SUPPLY

Motherboard
ASUS PRIME H610M-A WIFI D4 INTEL H610 LGA1700 MIC-ATX MOTHERBOARD WITH DDR4 PCIE 4.0 DUAL M.2 SLOTS INTEL 1 GB ETHERNET WIFI 5 DISPLAYPORT

CPU
INTEL CORE i5-12400 18M CACHE UP TO 4.40GHz LGA1700 DESKTOP PROCESSOR

RAM
TEAM EXPERT(Gray) UD-D4 16GB 8GBx2 3200 CL16-20-20-40 1.35V DDR4 GAMING MEMORY

SSD
KINGSTON 1TB NV3 M.2 PCIE 4.0 NVME SSD R/W 6000/4000 MB/s

Monitor
AOC 27E3QAF 27" FHD Business Monitor With 5 Years Warranty

Operating System
MICROSOFT WINDOWS HOME 11 64BIT ENG INTL 1PK DSP OEI DVD

After one for yourself? Contact me, Jon at PC ASSISTANCE LTD

Mobile Computer Repair & Maintenance Software Support, Internet & Email Setup, Virus & Malware Removal, Computer LAN and Wi-Fi Network Backup.

02/07/2025

The latest build.

The other day a client came to me enquiring about his PC.

He wanted Windows 11, and he wanted a good gaming machine.

His current PC was a gaming machine when purchased but that was some time back.

I advised that we could potentially upgrade his current PC.
The PC was an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU on a ASRock B550 motherboard, with DDR4-3600 RAM.

Very nice hardware, back in 2020, It was time for an upgrade.

I came up with an upgrade option. A Ryzen 7 9700X CPU on a ROG STRIX X870-A Gaming motherboard, with 32GB of DDR5 - 6000Mhz RAM.

This coupled perfectly with his ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3060 Graphics card, M2 1TB Solid-State Drive, NZXT Kraken Liquid CPU cooler and NZXT Case.

The build was clean, and the PC is now very, very fast – With the latest technology.

If you think It’s time to look at your options, perhaps an upgrade of your current PC, call me.

Jon Pattison
PC ASSISTANCE LTD
0800 PCSETUP (72 73 88)

08/06/2025

Time for a new PC? Call me, Jon at PC Assistance Ltd.

03/04/2025

Windows 10 - End Of Life

Windows 10 will reach its end of life (EOL) on October 14, 2025. After this date, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates, bug fixes, or technical support for Windows 10. This will make the operating system more vulnerable to security risks and other issues over time, so it’s recommended to upgrade to Windows 11, before then.
However, if you want to keep using Windows 10 securely, Microsoft offers an Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, but it comes at a cost.
Microsoft hasn’t officially released pricing yet, but based on past ESU programs (like for Windows 7), here’s what you might expect:
• For Businesses & Enterprises (per device, per year):
o Year 1 (2025–2026): Around $50 per device
o Year 2 (2026–2027): Around $100 per device
o Year 3 (2027–2028): Around $200 per device
o Prices could increase each year, as they did with Windows 7.
• For Regular Home Users?
o Microsoft hasn’t confirmed if home users can buy ESU directly.
o If they follow the Windows 7 model, ESUs may only be available to businesses.
Alternatives to Paid ESUs
If you don’t want to pay for ESUs, your options include:
1. Keep Using Windows 10 Without Updates (Risky: No security fixes)
2. Upgrade to Windows 11 (Free if your hardware supports it)
3. Switch to a Different OS (Like Linux, if you want a free alternative)
You can continue using Windows 10 after its expiration on October 14, 2025, but there are some risks and limitations:
What Happens After Windows 10 Expires?
• Your PC Will Still Work – Windows 10 won’t suddenly stop running.
• No More Free Security Updates – Your system becomes more vulnerable to viruses and cyber threats.
• No More Bug Fixes or Support – Microsoft won’t fix any issues you encounter.
• Software & Hardware Compatibility Issues – New apps, games, and hardware may stop supporting Windows 10 over time.
How to Keep Using Windows 10 Safely After Expiration
1. Use Strong Security Software – Install third-party antivirus and firewall protection.
2. Be Cautious Online – Avoid downloading files from unknown sources and clicking suspicious links.
3. Use an Isolated PC – If possible, keep it offline or limit its internet access.
4. Enable Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) (If Available) – Businesses might have a paid option for continued security updates.
Long-Term Risks
Over time, running an unsupported OS can lead to major security risks and software incompatibilities. Eventually, upgrading or switching to a supported system (like Windows 11 or Linux) may become necessary.
If your PC is too old for Windows 11, you might be better off:
✔ Staying on Windows 10 (until 2025).
✔ Switching to Linux (if you want a free & secure OS).
✔ Buying a Newer PC (for the best Windows 11 experience).
For support in upgrading your PC to Windows 11 or purchasing a new laptop or custom bult PC that is compatible with Windows 11 please get in touch with PC Assistance.

10/07/2024

PC Assistance has a new AI Chatbot.

Whether you need technical support, have questions about our services, or want to explore new solutions for your business, we're here to assist you.

Just go to www.pcassistance.co.nz and click on the Chatbot icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

He's a clever litttle fella, have fun. :)

Mobile Computer Repair & Maintenance Software Support Internet & Email Setup Virus & Malware Removal Computer Lan and Wi-Fi Network Backup.

05/04/2024

The importance of regular PC maintenance:

Regular PC maintenance is critical to keep your PC running smoothly, with less chance of damage or loss of data, and to keep it in optimal running condition.

Here are a few reasons why:

Performance Optimization:
Over time your PC can get cluttered with unnecessary cache data, unwanted startup items, damaging Adware and Malware, and harmful viruses. It is important to keep your PC in optimal working condition so as not to impede on your computing environment and experience.

Prevention of Hardware Failures:
Hardware issues can be costly. Loss of data and livelihood can be mitigated with a regular checkup to check for potential hardware issues. Imminent hard drive failure can be detected, and data can be safe-guarded. The build-up of dust can also result in persistent shutdowns and can be remedied.

Data Security and Privacy:
It is important to keep your PC up to date with the latest operating system patches and security updates. Anti-virus software must be functioning properly with the latest virus signatures. The less opportunities for unwanted software to get on to your system the better.

Backup Management:
Loss of data is a threat that all computer users face. It is critical to back up your data. Be it to an external hard drive, or the cloud or both. Regular checks to ensure these data backup solutions are working is advisable.

Software Updates and Patch Management:
Keeping software up to date is critical for your end user experience. Updating software to address flaws or vulnerabilities is important and should be attended to frequently.

Enhanced User Experience
At the end of the day a PC that is running smoothly will greatly improve your computing experience. Less flaws and unexpected shutdowns and a PC that is running to its full potential is achievable and appropriate.

Cost Savings:
Pro-active management of your PC can save you money in repairs and potential loss of data.
In the long run, it’s better to address issues early to minimize loss of data and money.

In conclusion:
Regular PC maintenance can improve your security and save you money in the long run. Regular scans, backups, hardware checks and software optimisation will save you time and money and will lead to a much more desirable computing experience.
PC Assistance can address all these issues and more. If you think it’s time for a checkup, give me a call.

27/03/2024

Check out the new ad from PC Assistance. Have a great Easter.

16/03/2024

PC Assistance Latest custom-built PC

I recently had the privilege of designing a PC for a client that really ticks all the boxes when it comes to power, efficiency, and capability.

It’s a 14 gen Intel i7 with 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 1TB M2. Solid State Drive. Specs below.

Motherboard:
ASUS PRIME B760M-A WIFI MOTHERBOARD

RAM:
TEAM T-CREATE CLASSIC 32GB 2x16GB Kit 5600 DDR5 DIMM with HEATSINK

CPU:
INTEL CORE I7 14700 Up to 5.40GHZ 33M CACHE FC-LGA16A PROCESSOR

Solid State Drive:
TEAMGROUP MP33 PRO 1TB TLC NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 M.2 2280 SSD R/W

Graphics Card:
Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OC 6GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

The rest is fundamentally standard. Windows 11, 24” Monitor, Logitech Wireless keyboard & Mouse Etc.

This is a stunning PC so I’m happy to share it with you.

If you’re looking for a new PC that can and does do anything and everything, talk to me, Jon, PC Assistance Ltd.

Mobile IT Support for the Small Business and Home Office user in Wellington, New Zealand

08/01/2023

Want the perfect computer for you?
Custom Computers. Coming soon...

07/07/2022

ASUS ROG Strix G15 – A Gamers Paradise

I have just recently delved into the domain of Gaming Laptops.
After some lengthy research I discovered the ASUS ROG Strix G15.
This laptop comes at a reasonable price and has many facets that make it a great purchase.
The ASUS ROG Strix comes with a with a powerful AMD Ryzen™ 7 4800H CPU and GeForce GTX™ 1650 Graphics Processor. It can run a large percentage of games at full spec and doesn’t hesitate to provide a captivating user experience.
This Laptop runs LED lights from its keyboard to its base which is nice. The LEDs are programmable, and you can even set them to pulse in time to the music that is playing in the background.
There are varying degrees of performance you can run. You can choose economy mode or performance mode with a turbo mode also available to make things interesting.
This laptop has tonnes of power with the Ryzen 7 4800 8 CORE CPU. Its other credential are winners too: with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB Solid State Drive, multitasking and gaming are easily dealt to.
And here’s the clincher. The ROG Strix is upgradeable. Hence the decision going its way for the final purchase. It has support for two memory chips, with capacity for 32GB RAM. It also has support for another 1 TB Solid State Drive (SSD).
So, I went to work.
There are 14 screws at the base of the laptop. I removed these without hesitation. The base is held together tightly so one must prise it open carefully. Generally, a small tool such as one you’d find for working on cell phones will do the trick. It looks much like a guitar pick and splicing the gap between the back cover and the keyboard, if done carefully, shouldn’t pose to much of an issue. Just beware, the LED lights onboard connect the base to the keyboard with two ribbon cables – be careful not to damage these.
Once the back cover is removed, access to the RAM chips and SSD slots is easy. There are two RAM slots and two SSD Slots. The RAM can be popped out with veritable ease and the SSD slot requires the removal of a small screw head which is used to hold the Drive in place. Sitting a new drive in the slot is straight forward.
Once the laptop is reassembled, the RAM should be active immediately.
To get the SSD working you need to go into ‘Disc Management’ on your PC and format the Drive.
So, there you have it. A powerful machine at a price that doesn’t leave you with a pocket lighter than you’d like. I give the ASUS ROG Strix G15 five stars and would rate it the gaming laptop of choice for its power, presence, and price.
I shan’t look back. 😊