Computer repair and setup
Computer Repair in Fort Wayne
I'm Tyler Derouin. I repair computers around Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. Laptops and desktops, Windows and Mac. Whether you have a new machine to set up, an old machine that has slowed down, pop-ups that you don't understand, or you just want to know how to use it better, I can help.
I offer on-site service in your home. I can help you remotely. Or you can drop the computer off with me in Grabill, Indiana for bench repairs. Call or text and tell me what it's doing, in your own words. Talking it through costs nothing, and I'll tell you whether it even needs a visit.
Computer repair and setup
Computer Repair in Fort Wayne
I'm Tyler Derouin. I repair computers around Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. Laptops and desktops, Windows and Mac. Whether you have a new machine to set up, an old machine that has slowed down, pop-ups that you don't understand, or you just want to know how to use it better, I can help.
I offer on-site service in your home. I can help you remotely. Or you can drop the computer off with me in Grabill, Indiana for bench repairs. Call or text and tell me what it's doing, in your own words. Talking it through costs nothing, and I'll tell you whether it even needs a visit.
What do you need help with?
Fix something
What's going on with it?
Set something up
What are we setting up?
Clean up
Should I bring the laptop or the vacuum?
Rescue something
What's the situation?
Recycle something
What would you like to recycle?
I offer electronics recycling, and I make sure whatever's still stored on the old machines is taken care of too. Call for a quote.
What I'll take
- Computers, laptops and tablets
- Phones
- Printers and fax machines
- Sound equipment
- Hard drives and other storage
- Most other household electronics
What I don't take
- Appliances: microwaves, ovens and the like
- Not sure about something? Ask and I'll tell you
Fix something
The computer won't start
Nothing at all when you press the button, or it lights up and hangs before it gets anywhere. This is the one people assume is fatal, and most of the time it isn't.
No power
Nothing happens at all. Often the supply, the battery, or the charger rather than the computer itself.
Power, but no picture
Fans spin and lights come on but the screen stays black. Frequently a display or graphics issue, not a dead machine.
Starts, then stops
It gets partway and gives up, or loops. Usually a drive, memory, or something that changed at the last update.
I'll figure out which of those you've got before anyone spends money. And if what's on it matters to you, getting your files off comes first, before any attempt at a repair, not after.
Fix something
The computer's running slow
It ran fine when you bought it and now everything takes a minute. It's rarely one thing that broke. It's years of buildup. Programs starting with the machine, background services you never see, an operating system carrying a decade of clutter, or simply not enough memory for what you're asking it to do now.
I'll find what's actually costing you the time rather than running a generic cleanup and hoping. Then I'll tell you whether it's worth fixing or whether the money is better spent on the next machine.
Fix something
It freezes, crashes or restarts on its own
It locks up mid-task, restarts without warning, or throws a blue screen with a code you can't read. There's almost always a pattern behind it: a particular program, a particular moment, or something that started right after an update.
Finding the pattern is most of the job. It can be memory, a failing drive, heat, or a driver that doesn't get along with something else. I'll narrow it down rather than guess at it.
Fix something
I think I have a virus
However you arrived at that thought: a pop-up, an odd email, a program you don't recognize, or the machine just behaving differently. You don't need to be right about it to call.
A browser that isn't yours
One you didn't mean to install, quietly set as the default, so you've been browsing through it without knowing.
Notifications you allowed
A site you once clicked “Allow” on can send you alerts even with the browser closed.
Extensions that came along
Bundled in with something else you did want. Antivirus often doesn't flag any of these three.
I'll find what's actually on there, take off what shouldn't be, and figure out how it got in. That last part is what keeps it from happening again in a month.
Fix something
I'm having issues with my printer
Offline while it's sitting right next to you, printing from one computer but not another, or not printing at all. Most of the time the printer is fine and the connection between it and the computer isn't.
The network
Something changed on the Wi-Fi, sometimes by you, sometimes by whoever was there last.
The address moved
A power outage knocks it off; it comes back with a different address and the computer looks in the old place.
The driver
Faulty or half-installed, and sometimes it needs a clean removal rather than just reinstalling on top of it.
I'll get it printing from everything that needs to print, and set it up so the next round of updates doesn't knock it straight back off.
Fix something
I'm having issues with email
Not sending, not receiving, messages landing somewhere you never look, a signature that won't behave, or an account that's stopped accepting a password that worked for years.
Email trouble is rarely where people expect it to be. It can be the provider, the program, a setting, or something that changed at their end without telling anyone. I'll find which one it is rather than starting again from scratch.
Fix something
Something's wrong with the screen
A screen that won't wake up, flickers, shows lines, or stays black while the computer is clearly running.
The first job is working out whether it's the screen, the cable, the graphics, or the machine: four very different answers. I replace screens. If it needs board-level repair or soldering, I'll tell you at the consultation.
Fix something
It's making a noise it didn't used to
Fans roaring, a buzz, a rattle, or a click that wasn't there before. Most of those are dust and heat, and they're cheap to fix.
One of them isn't. A regular clicking from a mechanical drive is that drive telling you it's on the way out, and that one is urgent: files first, everything else afterwards.
Fix something
The sound isn't working
No audio at all, sound coming out of a device you're not using, or a headphone jack the computer has stopped noticing.
Usually a driver or an output setting rather than a fault. Windows updates like to quietly switch your audio to something you've never heard of. Quick to fix once you know where to look.
Fix something
Something won't connect
A USB device, Bluetooth headphones, a webcam, or a drive the computer flatly refuses to see.
Often a driver, a port that's given up, or a device that needs pairing again from scratch. I'll figure out whether it's the thing, the port, or the computer, which decides whether you're buying anything.
Fix something
Upgrade to Windows 11
You might not need to yet. Windows 10 still gets security updates until October 2027 if the machine is enrolled, and most of the Windows 10 computers I see never were.
I'll check whether yours is enrolled, whether it can run Windows 11 at all, and whether upgrading or replacing makes more sense for the machine in front of us.
Set something up
I'm getting a new computer
Out of the box to genuinely usable. Accounts, updates, the programs you actually use, your printer, and your email working where you expect to find it.
Then I'll show you what moved and where it went. Everything sits somewhere different on a new machine, and that's the part that trips people up long after the setup is finished.
Set something up
I need my files and photos moved over
Documents, photos, bookmarks and saved passwords brought over to the new machine.
What trips people up is the software. Programs have to be reinstalled rather than moved, and that raises questions nobody thinks about until they're standing there: do you still have the key, do you own it, and will it even install on a current version of Windows.
Set something up
I need a printer set up
Connected and printing from everything that needs to print: the desktop, the laptop, and your phone.
Set up so it keeps working rather than needing rescuing every time something updates.
Set something up
I need help getting email working
Email working on the computer and on the phone, set up the way you actually use it rather than the way the wizard left it.
Set up so mail isn't stranded on one device and so you can still get in if you change your phone or lose the one you've got.
Set something up
I want my passwords organized
Passwords in one place you can actually find, instead of a notebook, a memory, and three you reset every single time.
I'll get a password manager set up and your recovery details pointing at a phone number and an email address you still have. That last part is the one that trips people up later.
Set something up
I want my desk and the cables organized
The cables behind the desk turned into a nest some years ago and nobody remembers what half of them do.
Routed, labeled and tidied so you can see what's plugged into what. It's the house standard on every machine I build, and it's just as worth doing on one you already own.
Set something up
I want to learn more about what my computer can do
Nothing's broken. You'd just like to get more out of what you already have, or finally understand the thing you've been working around for two years.
That's a different sort of appointment: sitting down together at whatever pace suits you, rather than me fixing something and leaving. There's more about how that works on the tech training page.
Clean up
It's running hot, or the fans are loud
A machine that's running hot slows itself down on purpose to stay safe. It almost always comes down to one of three things, and usually more than one of them at once.
Airflow
A laptop sitting on a bed or a carpet, or a tower pushed up against a wall, and it can't pull cool air in to begin with.
Dust
Over time it builds up and can completely block the fins on your processor or graphics card heat sink, until air can't move through at all. Homes with pets fill up fastest. If you want to stay ahead of it, case filters and a little positive air pressure make a real difference.
Thermal paste
The paste between your processor and its cooler degrades over the years, so it stops moving heat across the way it did when the machine was new. It's a consumable. It was always going to need replacing eventually, and almost nobody does.
I'll figure out which of the three you've got, clear it out, and replace the paste while it's open. It's one of the cheapest things you can do for a machine people had written off.
Clean up
It needs a good cleaning inside
Machines in homes with pets, in workshops, or in dusty rooms fill up far faster than anyone expects. You don't see it until it's opened up.
A full interior clean, fresh thermal paste, and a check on anything the dust has been cooking. It's one of the cheapest things you can do for an older machine, and it buys back both speed and lifespan.
Clean up
It's gotten slower and slower over the years
Startup programs, background services, and an operating system carrying years of accumulated clutter. Nothing broke. It just got heavier.
I'll find what's actually costing you the time rather than running a generic cleanup, and tell you honestly whether the machine needs work or whether it needs replacing.
Clean up
There are programs on it I don't recognize
Things that arrived alongside something else you installed. Some are harmless leftovers, some are watching what you do, and telling them apart is the job.
I'll go through what's actually running and starting up, take off what shouldn't be there, and explain what each thing was doing.
Clean up
My browser keeps opening pages I didn't ask for
Usually a browser that quietly made itself your default, a notification permission you clicked once, or an extension bundled in with something else. Antivirus often doesn't flag any of the three.
I'll find which one it is, remove it, and get your real browser back to opening what you asked for.
Clean up
The pop-ups won't leave me alone
Alerts that look official, countdowns, warnings with a phone number to call. Most of the time that screen is just a web page holding onto your cursor, but the screen was never really the problem.
Clearing it takes a minute. Finding what put it there, so it doesn't come back next week, is the actual job.
Rescue something
I've lost files or photos
Deleted by accident, gone after an update, or a folder that is simply empty now and you're certain it wasn't yesterday.
I'll tell you quickly what's realistically recoverable before anyone spends money on it. Sometimes it's straightforward. If the drive itself has failed, it may need an independent lab, and I can help arrange that.
Rescue something
A drive has stopped showing up
An external drive or a second disk the computer no longer sees at all.
Sometimes it's the enclosure or the cable rather than the drive itself, which is the difference between a cheap fix and a recovery job. Worth checking before anyone assumes the worst.
Rescue something
I'm locked out of an account
A password that worked for years suddenly doesn't, or the code goes to a phone number you haven't had since 2019.
There's usually a way back, and it's tedious rather than impossible. While we're in there we'll point your recovery at something you'll still have next year.
Rescue something
I think I've been hacked or scammed
If you let someone connect to your computer, or gave out card details, then the computer is not the most urgent thing on the list.
I'll tell you what to do first and in what order: the bank, then your passwords from a different device, then the machine itself. It's fixable, and it happens to careful people far more often than anyone admits.
Rescue something
I want a backup so this can't happen again
A real second copy, kept somewhere else. Sync is not a backup. If something gets deleted, sync faithfully deletes it everywhere you have it.
Set up once so it keeps running without you thinking about it, and then actually checked, so you know it works rather than hoping it does.
Something else
I need help with something else
I handle plenty that isn't listed. Most of what I get called about doesn't have a name yet when the phone rings. Tell me what's going on and we'll figure out what it is. That conversation is free.
Notifications on your screen
Some problems never pop up.
There are the problems you call me about, and then there are all the things happening that you don't notice: a computer that's out of date, malware that got installed two years ago, browser extensions redirecting your searches. While I'm working on what you called about, I'm looking for those too.
How I can help
I'll get it working, and I'll make sure you know how to use it.
Computer & laptop repair
Hardware, software, nightmare. I work on pretty much any computer you've got.
Windows · Mac · Desktops · Laptops · All-in-ones · Mini PCs
- Slow computers
- Won't turn on
- Blue screens and crashes
- Hardware repair: screens, keyboards, batteries, part swaps
- Dust and fan cleaning
- SSD and memory upgrades
Security & protection
I make sure your protection is turned on, working, and that you understand it. If something has already gotten through, like a virus, a browser extension you didn't add, or a scam caller who got into your computer, I clean it up.
- Pop-ups and a browser you didn't install
- Virus removal
- Computer cleanup
- Unwanted remote access
- Post-scam cleanup
- Password manager setup and training
- Protection setup
- Password resets
- Data backup
Backup & data recovery
How are you taking care of your photos and files? Do you know if they're backed up? I can help you protect and manage your files, and if something goes wrong, I can help with that too.
Featured: Network attached storage (NAS)
- Automatic backups
- Cloud storage setup and training
- Data rescue
- Moving to a new computer
- Help arranging a lab if a drive has failed
- File and photo organizing, set up and taught
Setup & upgrades
Whether you want a full custom build or just help choosing the right computer, I can take you from the first question to the day it's set up and working. And if upgrading yours is the smarter spend, I'll say so.
- New device setup (computer, tablet, printer and more)
- Help choosing a new device
- Operating system installs
- SSD and memory upgrades
- Cable management
- Printers
- One-on-one training
I also offer service tailored to seniors and the Plain community.
Click to find out more.
Start the process
The first step is free and only takes a few minutes.
Tell me what's going on and I'll tell you how I can help.
- You are here1
Reach out
Call or text (260) 668-2867Prefer to write? Send a message - 2
Consultation
Free consultation. We discuss your needs, your timeline, your budget, and I ask all the important questions along the way.
- 3
Recommendations
I make recommendations based on your needs and my experience.
- Resolved4
Problem solved
I fix it and make sure everything's working before I go, and you've got somebody to call next time.
How I work
More than computer repair
I'd like to be the partner who keeps all of your technology running.
Fixing what you called about is the baseline. What sets me apart is that while we're working on it, I'm keeping an eye on all the stuff you didn't call about, and on the ways I can make your technology work better for you. Here's an outline of an actual appointment, and all of the additional things we found along the way.
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The Wi-Fi was down completely.
Her internet provider had sent her an eero to set up herself, and she'd done it. Everything she needed was there, just connected in the wrong order. I put it back together, got the network up, and went to the computer to check it.
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Then I found malware.
I went through the programs, browsers, extensions and search engines on it, and removed anything suspicious. Then I checked for Windows updates.
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Windows hadn't had a security update in 10 months.
It was Windows 10, and it had never been enrolled in Extended Security Updates. I enrolled it, and the updates started coming in.
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The printer said connected, but it was offline.
After the updates I checked her devices. The printer had never been moved over to the new eero network, so I moved it over.
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Then the phone.
She had duplicate apps and a notification bar so full she'd stopped looking at it. We cleared those out and checked the phone's overall health.
By the end of the appointment, her Wi-Fi was fixed, sure. But more importantly, she felt more confident with every piece of technology we touched along the way.
Support that fits
Which way works best for you?
At your home (or business)
I know it takes a lot of trust to invite someone into your home and under the hood of your technology, and I take that very seriously. When you hire me, I'll treat your home, your devices and you with the utmost respect.
The first hour is charged in full because it covers my travel.
Remotely, with you at your desk
With your OK, I connect to your computer and we go through it together. It works well for software that's behaving badly, a question you've been meaning to ask, or a one-on-one training session.
Billed in 30-minute blocks, so a quick fix can be as low as $25. You watch on your screen the whole time.
Dropped off at my home for bench work
Some repairs need time on the bench. You bring the computer to my home in Grabill, I work on it there, and I'll let you know when it's ready to pick up.
Priced per service, with a quote before I start.
Not sure which one fits? Call or text and I'll help you figure it out.(260) 668-2867
What people around Fort Wayne say
“Tyler Derouin of Digital Linchpin LLC is amazing! He has repaired all of the technical issues with our computers, TVs, Kindle and sound bar. When it comes to technology, I highly recommend Tyler for the job. He is so patient and we love the fact that he will come to our home!”
“Tyler is very knowledgeable and was able to get all my devices back on line. He is very easy to talk to and understands older adults with limited knowledge of electronics. I would highly recommend his expertise.”
“Tyler is a refreshing combination of great customer service, professionalism, and expertise in his field! We took a chance from a social media inquiry and could not have been happier with the outcome. He was very responsive throughout the work, and explained everything he was planning on doing in a down to earth manner. He is one of those guys that, once you have experienced his work, you will use him for other projects without hesitation. Very impressed!!”
“It was such a pleasure to work with Tyler. He helped me with my computer, printer and also helped me set up my TV. Being a baby boomer, it seems I lack technical knowledge that is needed for so many of today's devices. Tyler was polite and had a great sense of humor. Without a doubt I would give him a call again when needing technical help.”
“What great service! Outstanding communication. Quick, reliable, thorough and very friendly. Great pricing. We are happy to have Tyler as our go-to guy for all things IT.”
“Tyler is a great tech guy, especially for an old lady like me. He's kind and explains everything so I can understand.”
“Tyler Derouin is, by far, the most informative and helpful computer adviser I know. He is knowledgeable and shares his expertise every time I have worked with him. He was my Geek Squad tech prior to opening his own business where he advised, researched and set up my computer system which is safe, easy to use and has given me peace of mind. He is also a gentlemen, easy to talk with and will help you in any way he can. Don't hesitate to contact him and help him grow his business. He is the "BEST"!!!!!”
“My business computer wouldn’t boot at a critical moment, and time was of the essence. After going through numerous troubleshooting steps, we determined we were nearly out of options, it was beginning to look like a tech would need to be on-site to further diagnose. Tyler continued to offer every solution he could think of and truly displayed what makes him a “Linchpin”. He didn't have same day availability so he actually called a local computer shop to see if someone could come to my business the same day (and even booked an appointment 2 hours later!) Although not typical, Tyler was willing to walk me through the process of disconnecting the front usb ports INSIDE of my PC and……Vioila! In under an hour, my system was back online— we were able to cancel the on-site visit, saving money, time and my sanity! It’s clear why he calls himself Digital Linchpin; he truly proved indispensable when I needed him most. Highly recommend!”
Common questions
Pricing for my residential clients is simple: in-home support is $100 an hour, with a one-hour minimum, and travel within 45 miles of Grabill is included at no extra charge. After the first hour, I charge in 15-minute segments, so you're not paying for time you didn't use.
Remote support is simply $50 an hour, billed in 30-minute blocks. A quick fix that takes under 30 minutes is $25.
Bench work at my home in Grabill is typically a flat charge based on the service, and I'll tell you what it is before I start.
Business work is quoted per job. Please visit my business IT page for more information.
If you're not sure how a service or repair would be priced, reach out and I'll always give you my best estimate.
I'm a Grabill local, and I cover all of Fort Wayne. Travel is included anywhere within 45 miles of Grabill, which takes in New Haven, Leo, Huntertown, Auburn, Woodburn, Harlan, Angola and into Northwest Ohio. If you're farther out, I'll still come, with a mileage charge past 45 miles, so just reach out.
Usually I can get you an in-home appointment within a week. Between in-home and remote support, I have a few ways to help, and I try to be as flexible as I can with my clients' time. If you're in a hurry, always let me know. I'll work with you as much as I can to get it done in time and make sure you're happy with it. Remote support is usually the quickest way to fix something that can't wait.
Most of my in-home appointments take one to two hours. If you drop off a computer or device for bench work in Grabill, I can usually get it back to you in a couple of days, sometimes sooner. Ordering parts, a longer diagnostic or a big data transfer can add time. I'll always give you my best estimate for the work being done.
Yes, I offer both in-home and remote support, so you can get the right help when you need it. In-home is best when it helps for me to see the whole setup (the printer, the Wi-Fi, the cables) or when you'd rather just show me. In-home is also great for one-on-one training, if you just want to learn about your device or how to use it better. Remote is faster and cheaper for the everyday things: you can't log into your email, a printer Windows stopped recognizing, a slow or cluttered computer, software acting up, or a 'how do I…' question. And if it needs time on the bench, you can drop the computer off with me in Grabill. I'll tell you which one makes sense for what you're dealing with.
Usually, depending on the level of failure. If a computer won't turn on, I start with a diagnostic to find out why, and then I let you know what it would take to fix it. If it's not worth fixing, we can always talk about backing up the data from that machine before it's recycled.
Most of the time, yes. If it's semi-modern hardware from the last 10 years, it's certainly worth a conversation about what can be done to speed it up, whether that's refreshing the operating system and overall system health or upgrading the hardware. Sometimes a new or used computer can be very competitive with the cost of the repair, and rest assured, I consider that. I treat your money as if it were my own, and only recommend what makes economic sense.
Yes. A screen that says your computer is infected and gives you a number to call is usually just a web page holding onto your cursor. The question is what put it there: a browser you didn't mean to install, a website you once clicked 'Allow' on, or an extension that came along with something else. Sometimes it is a real infection, and I'll go through what's running and take off what shouldn't be there. If you already called the number and gave out card or bank details, call your bank first, then me.
Yes. I replace laptop screens, batteries and keyboards, and I'll confirm the cost of the part with you before I order it. If it needs board-level repair or soldering, I'll tell you at the consultation.
In many cases, yes. If the drive hasn't physically failed and isn't locked by encryption you don't have the key for (BitLocker without its recovery key, for example), I can usually pull your files off a computer that's failing in other ways. In some cases, I can try to restore files myself. If the drive itself has failed, it may need an independent lab, and I can either help arrange that or make a recommendation.
It depends on the age, the problem, and what you use it for. Sometimes an SSD upgrade and a cleanup can make a 5-year-old computer feel new again for $150-250*, way less than replacing it. Other times it simply doesn't make economic sense to upgrade a computer. I'll give you an honest answer either way, and I won't push you toward a new computer if yours can be fixed.
*RAM and SSD prices are moving a lot right now, so I'll confirm the cost for your machine before I buy any parts.
Almost anything can be fixed. The question is, is it worth fixing? I'll help you answer that question based on your needs and walk you through the process whichever way we decide. If we end up moving to a new machine, I'll help you figure out a replacement, and I can get your files and settings moved over so the new one feels just like home.
Most of the time. On a desktop, just about anything can be upgraded: the motherboard, processor, memory (RAM), storage, case, power supply and graphics card, plus extra fans or lighting. Laptops are more limited. There it's usually the storage (an SSD) and the memory. I look at the hardware that matters and tell you whether yours is worth upgrading before you buy a part.
Definitely! As a nerd, I'd always love to build you a custom computer that fits your needs perfectly. But I'm just as happy to help with a store-bought or online purchase. Either way, tell me what you'll use it for, the programs you use, a little about your old computer, and any brands you like or want to avoid. During the consultation, I'll interview you a bit, and we'll get you a computer that fits.
A quick call or text for basic advice on what to look for is free. If you'd like me involved through the whole process, even meeting you at a local store to look at computers in person, I'm happy to do that. Reach out for a custom quote on a full buying consultation, which can also include setting the new computer up and moving your files over.
If your computer can run Windows 11, my recommendation is to upgrade. If it can't, for example because the hardware isn't compatible, you'll need a solution so you're not stuck without security updates. Reach out and we can talk about your options. Extended Security Updates are currently set to end on October 12, 2027, and you'll need a solution in place by then to keep your computer secure.
Yes, I do both Mac and PC repair: desktops and laptops, new and old. If you already use a Mac, or you're switching to or from one, I can help make that transition easier, moving your files and photos over and showing you where things live on the new one.
Yes, and if you haven't upgraded your Wi-Fi in a few years, we should really talk about it. A lot of things can contribute to poor Wi-Fi, and it's important to know exactly what's causing it, so you can solve it without throwing money at the wrong thing. I've had so many clients call their internet provider about a poor connection, only to be sold a higher plan. There are two sides of the coin: range and speed. I can tell you what equipment you need to get Wi-Fi that covers your home or business, and what level of service I'd get if it were my own. It has its own page: Wi-Fi and networking.
Yes. If you're a business looking for IT assistance, I'd love to have a conversation. If you don't need a pricey monthly IT contract or an IT person on staff, that's where Digital Linchpin fits in, with things like the office Wi-Fi or the printer everyone shares. I quote all business work per job, so give me a call and tell me what's going on, and I'll put a quote together. Check out my business IT page for more information.
I don't do board-level repair or microsoldering, the component-level work on the motherboard itself. I do replace screens, batteries and keyboards. If soldering is what your machine needs, I'll tell you at the consultation rather than taking it apart to find out. Everything short of that, on Windows and Mac, laptops and desktops, is fair game.
Not sure what you need? Ask me.
I'm here to make your life with technology easier. You don't have to know if it's the hardware or the software, or whether your internet provider or your router is to blame. Call me and we'll figure it out together, with no hold music and no waiting three weeks for an appointment.
Where I work
I'm a Grabill local, and I cover all of Fort Wayne, the towns around it and into Northwest Ohio. Travel is included within 45 miles of Grabill; past that, I'll still come, with a mileage charge.
