Computers don't always work as they should. Components fail, and operating systems fill up with crap that hinders performance and occasionally brings the whole machine to a halt. Savvy users know that they can fix most PC problems themselves, and use sites like www.techrepairsonline.com to find solutions to their tech problems. Those who lack confidence in their tech skills, however, often fall prey to the rapacious tactics of online and local repair shops. Lest your local geeks-for-hire take you for a ride (or fleece someone you love), we've rounded up a representative sampling of typical repair-shop services to help you sort the rip-offs from the reasonable deals.In this article, I'll explore some of the most common offerings you'll find at repair shops large and small. These aren't scams, to be sure--as far as we know, these are all legitimate services from legitimate businesses. But the actual value of these services--relative to the work involved and the likely benefit to the consumer--can be highly questionable in many cases.

PC Tune-Ups:Just about every repair shop I've encountered offers some kind of "tune-up" service that promises to improve your PC's performance by deleting temporary files, defragmenting your hard drive, removing unused applications, running Windows Update, and (in many cases) cleaning the Windows Registry. These services often cost $50 to $100, but generally they don't do anything useful that you couldn't do yourself with a free download and some utilities that come with your PC.Before you shell out a hundred bucks, think about what this service entails: Windows comes with a utility called Disk Cleanup that will delete temporary files for you with a few measly mouse clicks. Disk Defragmenter--another built-in Windows tool--typically runs automatically on a weekly basis, but you can launch it yourself by going to Accessories, Utilities and clicking Defragment Disk. Windows Update also runs automatically by default, but you can click Start, type Windows Update in the search field, and run it yourself on command.If you have a bunch of programs you don't use, launch the 'Programs and Features' utility from the Control Panel and weed them out by clicking on them and selecting Uninstall from the menu above the main window. Or download RevoUninstaller, a proven freebie that does a bang-up job of pulling out all the detritus that Windows' uninstaller often leaves behind.As for Registry cleaners, we recommend avoiding slnk214422@gmail.c