The computer stopped working and you need computer repair quick. How are you going to pay your bills? What about your messages on MySpace.com? Does this mean a week without your favorite online video game? It's amazing to me when I think of what life was like before the Internet. So when you have a computer problem and need it fixed fast, here are a few thoughts on getting back up and running quickly.

Search, search, search! If you have a specific problem or error, chances are you are not the only one and a solution is freely available on a forum online. Try searching the exact error or message. Read the solution from a few different sites to see if there are a lot of variations and then choose one. If the different sites all have a similar or the same solutions, the odds are better it's safe to try. Obviously, there is an inherent risk here because who knows if the information you find is credible and won't make your system worse. But if you don't have the extra money or if you are hard-headed like me and need to fix it yourself, go at it.

Contacting a friend or family member is often another option that many choose to do. After all, we all know of a pseudo tech that will try to fix your computer. Of course, it doesn't always work out and things could always turn out for the worse. I have helped a lot of people out of situations that became worse when Uncle Bill said he could fix it. That being said, Uncle Bill often will work for a 6 pack of beer or maybe even a pat on the back!

Pay for priority service from an on-site company. Many on-site services will give you top priority for an increased fee. Many people want to deal with technicians in person and need them to move computers, install a server or rewire their location. Expect to pay on average 150% to 200% of their normal fee. In fact, I recently called a famous “Geek” company and asked them for emergency support. Instead of being able to come out in 9 days, they could expedite a 911 service in 2 to 3 days. Sounded great, until I was told the charge was 200% of the normal fee. Wow.

Try a remote computer repair service. These companies connect to your computer within seconds using remote screen sharing software and fix your problem from their office. Many online computer repair services offer no fix, no fee guarantees so you'll never get stuck paying and still having your problem not fixed (that is the worst). If you have a hardware problem though, remote computer repair is useless when it comes to fixing this for you. But some will walk you through simple hardware changes etc if you have a screw driver and the moxie!

So there you have it. You can choose to do it yourself for free, call Uncle Bill, fork over the cash to an on-site service or give remote computer repair a try. If none of these options work, consider watching a sledge hammer auction on ebay.