Hi, I'm Mark Parsons.
I repair computers, and I help people make sense of their technology — patiently, and without the sales pitch.
About
A technician with a long-running streak of curiosity.
I've been around computers since my first system — an Atari 800XL — and I've kept tink ever since. These days I work from a dual 27-inch monitor setup and fix machines for people across Brantford and the surrounding area.
I ran Gentoo Linux for years before settling into Ubuntu, and I spent a lot of time with OS/2 back in the day. I have a low opinion of Windows, which is just to say I prefer systems I can look under the hood of.
Off the bench, I'm a board and card game person. Skip-Bo and cribbage are personal favourites — if you're looking for an opponent on a Tuesday evening, my answer is yes.
- First computer
- Atari 800XL. It's where it all started.
- Current setup
- Dual 27-inch monitors. It helps when a client's problem has two parts.
- Operating systems
- Gentoo Linux for years, now primarily Ubuntu. Extensive history with Linux and OS/2; a low opinion of Windows.
- Consoles
- The NES beats the SNES for me, even though both are excellent systems.
- Off the clock
- Board and card games. Skip-Bo and cribbage are the favourites.
- Personal mission
- Computer scammers get on my nerves. I actively try to protect people from them.
What I do
Three things, done properly.
Computer repair
Slow machines, blue screens, no power, no display, no idea what just happened. I diagnose before I fix, and I explain what I find in plain language.
Tech help for people
Setups, backups, printers, passwords, the works. I'll walk you through it on the phone or over the bench — no jargon required.
Scam defence
Free second opinions on anything that smells like a scam. A "your computer is infected" pop-up is one of the most common tricks out there, and it's never what it claims to be.
If a stranger says your computer is infected, it's a scam.
Computer scammers rely on fear. Pop-ups, phone calls, "support agents" who demand remote access or payment — none of it is real support, and none of it is worth paying. I hate this stuff, and I spend real time making sure people around me don't get burned by it.
If you've been contacted and you're not sure, email me first. A free second opinion costs nothing, and it's the best defence there is.
Curious about this page?
This website didn't get written the usual way. It was generated by an AI model — and it gets regenerated every single day, which means it looks a little different every time you visit. Read the story on the why.html page for the full explanation.