Contact Us

Hardware Service Department
970 E. 58th Street, 3rd floor
Chicago, IL 60637
773-702-7171
ccs-service@uchicago.edu

Open 8:30AM to 4:30PM Monday through Friday
Walk-in: NSIT Solution Center

Hardware Repair

Frequently Asked Questions


How long will it take to repair my computer?
Repair time can depend on a number of variables, including warranty status, the workload at the time of drop-off, the time it may take to diagnose, the time it takes for a part to ship, and whether the part is on backorder. Typically repairs take 3 to 5 business days. Upgrades such as memory or hard drive installations can often be done within the same day.

Will I need to drop off anything besides the computer?
Usually no. Most of the time we have the necessary cables and accessories to get a machine up and running. Notebook computers are an exception to this rule; if you are bringing in your notebook for repair, please bring along the AC adapter or power cord for the machine, as we may not have the right cables for your specific model of notebook.

Can I order the parts and put them in myself?
No. If the part is ordered as a "repair part" the vendor expects the faulty part to be shipped back, so for these we have to do the work.

How long is the warranty on a repair?
Service parts have a warranty of 90 days, and we warranty the work and parts for that period of time. The warranty on software issues is 7 days.

Is there a return policy on parts?
For customer installable parts the return period is 15 days. For repair parts there are no returns.

What is a customer installable part?
If the part does not require tools, ESD prevention, or disassembly of the computer of any kind, then it is customer installable. Examples would include notebook batteries, AC adapters, desktop keyboards and mice.

What is a repair part?
A repair part is one the Hardware Service Department installed to replace a faulty part. The faulty part in turn is sent back to the vendor the part was ordered from for credit. Repair parts are usually cheaper then buying one outright; this is because the vendor issues a credit when the faulty part is returned.

What computers do you work on?
The Hardware Service Department is authorized to provide warranty repair on Apple, Dell, HP, andIBM computers, and on HP LaserJet and Xerox Phaserprinters. As a general rule, we can also order parts for any machines from these vendors which are out of warranty. There are some exceptions.

Last updated: 10/25/07