Getting A New Pc Installed At Home During Lockdown

[barnaclebill58]

Wasn't sure where to post this . I've ordered a new computer from a local supplier who is currenlty building it and was intending to install it next Friday. While I'm hoping he will still do it , strictly speaking can he do so? His trade is selling, fixing and installing computers.


Thanks

[ToraToraTora]

i'm struggling, what "installation" is there?

[JimF]

By installation, do you mean bring it into your house, plug it in and switch it on?

[tonyav]

I don't see why not if it is his work. So long as he wears a face mask and does social distancing.

[Togo]

No sweat. If any busybody asks you tell em you need the computer to order in food and medication, pay the bills, stay in contact with family, cos you are in lockdown/self isolating/vulnerable. Then tell em to Foreign Office.

[Buenchico]

'Installing' my friend's new computer for him involved:
(i) connecting it to his wifi ;
(ii) installing the driver for his printer ;
(iii) copying all of his documents, photos, etc from his old PC to his new one ;
(iv) setting up his email client with his account details and checking that his old mail could still be accessed from his new computer ;
(v) installing his preferred web browser ;
(vi) exporting his profile from the web browser on his old PC to the browser on his new one, so that his bookmarks and personal preferences were maintained ;
(vii) downloading and installing free software (such as OpenOffice) onto his new computer to replace commercial software (such as Microsoft Word) which he's had available to him before but which didn't come pre-installed on the new machine ;
(viii) changing the default settings in OpenOffice to ensure that documents were saved into Microsoft formats ; and countless other things! It took nearly a full working day in total (although that did include a leisurely, and somewhat liquid, lunch!), so I'm surprised that some people here think that there's nothing more to setting up a new computer than simply plugging it in!

However, to actually answer BB58's question: Yes, the guy CAN still visit your home to install your new PC.

Quote:
" . . . you must not leave or be outside of your home except for specific purposes. These include . . .
for work purposes, where your place of work remains open and where you cannot work from home ([i]including if your job involves working in other people’s homes[i])"

Source:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae

[haras2]

Barnaclebill58
Now aren't you pleased that there are heroes like
Buenchico around who can actually answer the question instead of taking the you know what?

[fourteen85]

Haras deserves best answer

[barnaclebill58]

Excellent . And as Buenchico says, it is not as simple as connecting to the printer and internet or I'd do it myself.

[Zacs-Master]

Just out of interest, why did you buy a PC rather than a laptop (where most things are already installed and is ‘out of the box ready’) or a tablet?

[Old_Geezer]

That's more than installation though, isn't it. That's making it part of an existing network, setting up other account aspects too, and copying existing data from an existing PC. I have sympathy with those who wondered why it needed to be installed.

[bobbinwales]

Togos solution only works tho if the installer wants to come in to the house. Off course any rule's can be broken and you can convince yourself that being sellfish and sticking 2 finger's up is more important than cooperating.

[Togo]

//Togos solution only works tho if the installer wants to come in to the house.//

That's why you would ask the "installer" rather than this site. If barnaclebill wanted to share the fact that he was excited about getting a new pc, and who wouldn't be, why not say so instead of a confected "question"?

[Khandro]

There is a programme which can clone the entire contents of one computer to the hard drive of another, but I can't remember what it's called.

[Peter Pedant]

I have never understood why you can plug one computer to another wvva USB cable thingey - double ended
and transfer the files you want

prog files are a different matter

oh jesus and those pesky emails

[barry1010]

Zacs, although I have tablets and laptops I mostly use a pc because it has a massive screen, a great keypad with a numeric pad and a mouse is much easier for me to use than any trackpad.
The user position is much more comfortable with the keyboard several inches lower than the eye level screen.
My very powerful pc was much cheaper than the near equivalent laptop (which was still nowhere as near powerful) and there is plenty of room for expansion and upgrading.

Laptops and tablets have their place but for many people can never replace a pc.

[Zacs-Master]

Fairly comprehensive answer / reason, bill.

[Togo]

Correct Barry. I would not be without my desktop. I built it, with my son, and have upgraded it many times over the years. It now has a touch screen 22" monitor and 1TB hybrid hard drive. I used this tool to clone hard drives for a laptop and so far 2 hard drives for myself and two for family.
https://www.ubackup.com/clone/free-windows-10-hdd-clone-software-6988.html

[Khandro]

https://www.easeus.com/backup-utility/transfer-data.html

[Togo]

Without being a doom merchant I must say that it matters not a jot what we say on here, or to some extent what the actual "rules" of engagement are. If the installer decides that he/she does not want to chance mingling with clients in their homes because he/she is vulnerable or living with someone who is, or indeed has to self isolate because they themselves are infected or showing symptoms then it will need to be done at the computer shop premises. The only person who can honestly answer Bill is the installer.

[barnaclebill58]

Togo . I'm not an installer looking for business. I merely wanted to know if installers could work in the house or not. PC because I want twin screens and proper keyboard and mouse.