PC & IT Support from
Someone Who Learned on DOS.
Brandon has been fixing computers since age 10 — starting on Windows 3 and Windows 95, back when getting a game to run meant learning the command line first. 30+ years of hands-on experience across Windows, Linux, Apple, home networking, and everything in between. Real solutions for real problems — no script-reading, no outsourced support queue.
If You Wanted to Play Theme Park
in 1995, You Learned DOS.
Some people discover computers through school or work. Brandon discovered them the way most kids did in the mid-90s — he wanted to play games, and the games didn't install themselves.
Windows 3, DOS Commands, and 30 Years of Problem-Solving
It started at age 10 on Windows 3 and Windows 95 — an era when nothing installed easily, drivers had to be tracked down and manually configured, and if you wanted to play games like Theme Park, Warcraft, F-22 Lightning, or SimCity 2000, you had better learn your way around a command prompt. DOS wasn't optional — it was the price of admission. IRQ conflicts, memory managers, AUTOEXEC.BAT edits, sound card driver nightmares — all of it was just part of getting a game to run.
That necessity-driven troubleshooting became a lifelong skill. High school brought a real-world accelerator: working at a startup ISP learning server racks and CAT 5 ethernet cable wiring — hands-on networking infrastructure at a time when most people were still figuring out dial-up. That's where the understanding of how networks actually work, from the physical cable to the software stack, became something more than hobbyist knowledge.
Thirty-plus years later, the problems have changed — Windows 10 end-of-life migrations, WiFi dead zones, malware, failed updates, slow machines, home network setup — but the approach is the same: figure out what's actually wrong and fix it, not read from a support script until the customer gives up.
Windows, Linux, Apple —
All of Them. Not Just One.
Most PC support people know one ecosystem well and everything else poorly. Three decades of working across all major platforms means TIV360 can help regardless of what you're running — or what you're migrating to.
Windows 11
Current Windows support — setup, updates, driver issues, performance tuning, account management, security hardening, and hardware compatibility troubleshooting. Windows 11's hardware requirements caught a lot of people off guard; TIV360 can assess whether your machine qualifies and what the options are if it doesn't.
Windows 10 — End of Life
Windows 10 support ends October 2025. If you're still running Win 10, you need a plan — either migrating to Windows 11 (if your hardware qualifies), finding an extended security solution, or transitioning to a new machine or Linux alternative. TIV360 handles all three paths and helps you decide which makes the most sense for your situation.
Linux — Fedora, Mint, Ubuntu
Linux as a practical alternative — not just for developers. Fedora, Linux Mint, and Ubuntu are all solid options for Windows 10 machines that can't run Windows 11. TIV360 can set up and configure Linux for everyday use: office applications, web browsing, printing, and general productivity — with ongoing support for users who are new to the platform.
Apple macOS
macOS setup, troubleshooting, performance issues, software conflicts, backup configuration (Time Machine and cloud), iCloud and account management, and general day-to-day support for Mac users who need help without an Apple Store appointment. Coverage for current macOS versions across MacBook, iMac, and Mac Mini hardware.
Common Problems.
Real Solutions.
The issues people run into with their computers haven't changed much — slow machines, software that won't cooperate, security threats, hardware failures. What has changed is how complex the solutions have become. TIV360 cuts through it.
Virus, Malware & Security Most Common
Malware removal, ransomware cleanup, browser hijack fixes, adware elimination, and security software setup. If your machine is running slow, showing pop-ups, or behaving strangely — there's a good chance something is running that shouldn't be. Full scan, cleanup, and hardening to reduce future exposure.
Slow PC Performance
Diagnosing why a computer is running slow — startup bloat, background processes, storage issues, insufficient RAM, failing drives, or simply needing a proper cleanup. Most slow PCs don't need to be replaced — they need to be optimized. TIV360 identifies the actual cause before recommending any solution.
Windows 10 → 11 Migration
Assessment of whether your hardware meets Windows 11 requirements (TPM 2.0, CPU compatibility), clean installation or in-place upgrade, data backup before migration, driver verification post-upgrade, and configuration of the new environment so it works the way you expect.
Data Backup & Recovery
Setting up a proper backup strategy — local external drive, cloud backup, or both — before something goes wrong. And if something already went wrong, data recovery from failed or corrupted drives using professional recovery tools. Losing data is preventable; losing it twice is inexcusable.
Hardware — Upgrades, Repairs & Full Rebuilds
Hard drive replacement and SSD upgrades, RAM installation and compatibility, full PC rebuilds from components, laptop repairs (screens, keyboards, power jacks, battery replacement), cloud storage setup and migration, and hardware diagnostics across 30+ years of hands-on experience. Before replacing a machine, find out what it would actually cost to fix or upgrade it — often it's less than you think.
Printer, Peripheral & Driver Issues
Printer setup and driver conflicts, USB devices not recognized, external monitors, webcams, audio devices, and the general category of "it worked yesterday and now it doesn't." Driver troubleshooting across Windows and Linux environments where device compatibility can get genuinely complicated.
From RAM and Hard Drives
to Full Rebuilds & Laptop Repairs.
Don't replace a machine until you know what fixing or upgrading it would actually cost. TIV360 handles hands-on hardware work — components, laptops, storage, and full builds — with 30+ years of real bench experience behind it.
Hard Drive & SSD Upgrades
Replacing a failing HDD, upgrading to an SSD for dramatically faster performance, or adding a second drive for extra storage. An SSD upgrade is one of the single biggest performance improvements you can make to an aging machine — often faster and cheaper than buying new. Data cloned from old drive to new so nothing is lost.
RAM Upgrades
Diagnosing whether your machine is RAM-limited, identifying the correct spec (DDR4, DDR5, speed, form factor), and installing compatible modules. More RAM fixes machines that run fine solo but bog down with multiple apps open — and it's one of the most affordable upgrades available.
Cloud Storage Setup
Configuring Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or iCloud so your files are automatically backed up and accessible across devices — including folder sync, selective sync for limited-storage machines, and making sure your most important data isn't living only on a single hard drive.
Full PC Rebuilds
Complete desktop builds from components — part selection for your budget and use case, assembly, OS install, driver configuration, and delivery of a machine built right from scratch. Also full rebuilds of existing towers where the motherboard, CPU, or core components have failed or are being upgraded.
Laptop Repairs
Screen replacement, keyboard repair, power jack fixes, battery replacement, thermal paste reapplication for overheating laptops, and storage or RAM upgrades where the design allows. Laptops are worth repairing more often than people assume — especially for a cracked screen or dead battery on an otherwise solid machine.
External & NAS Storage
Setting up external drives for local backup, configuring NAS devices for whole-home or small office file storage, and making sure your backup strategy actually works before you need it. A backup that hasn't been tested isn't a backup — it's a hope.
Custom Home Networking —
WiFi or CAT 8 Cable.
A bad network is the root cause of more "computer problems" than most people realize. Dropped connections, slow speeds, WiFi dead zones, devices that won't talk to each other — networking issues are often misdiagnosed as PC problems. TIV360 builds proper home and small business networks from scratch or fixes the one you have.
WiFi Setup & Optimization
Router placement, channel selection, band steering, mesh network setup for large homes, and eliminating dead zones that have been a problem since you moved in. Getting the most out of your internet service starts with a properly configured wireless network.
CAT 8 Ethernet Wiring
Custom hardwired ethernet runs using CAT 8 cable — the fastest standard currently available — for workstations, TVs, gaming setups, and any device that benefits from a stable wired connection over WiFi. Cleaner, faster, and more reliable than wireless for stationary devices.
Network Security
Router security settings, guest network separation, firewall configuration, and firmware updates — making sure your home network isn't an easy target. A poorly secured router is an open door to every device on your network.
Device Configuration
Getting printers, smart home devices, NAS drives, streaming boxes, and computers all talking to each other correctly on the same network — the part that usually takes longer than it should and where having ISP-level networking experience makes a real difference.
Small Business Networks
Network design and setup for small offices — separating business and guest traffic, shared storage, reliable wired connections for workstations, and a network that doesn't become a support headache every few months.
Speed & ISP Troubleshooting
Diagnosing whether slow internet is your ISP's problem, your router's problem, or your device's problem — and giving you the information to push back on your provider when the problem is on their end.
Windows 10 Support
Ends October 2025.
Microsoft is ending security updates for Windows 10 in October 2025. After that date, any machine still running Win 10 stops receiving patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities — which means an increasing security risk that compounds every month you stay on the old OS.
This doesn't mean you have to buy a new computer. There are real options — and TIV360 helps you figure out which one makes sense for your hardware, your budget, and how you actually use your machine.
- Upgrade to Windows 11 — if your hardware meets the requirements (TPM 2.0 + compatible CPU)
- Linux Mint or Ubuntu — free, fast on older hardware, and genuinely usable for everyday tasks
- New machine setup — if the hardware is too old to upgrade, help selecting and configuring a replacement
- Extended Security Updates — Microsoft's paid ESU program for businesses needing more time
- Data backup and migration to new OS regardless of path chosen
- Application compatibility check before any migration
Hardware Assessment
Check whether your current machine can run Windows 11 — TPM, CPU, RAM, and storage requirements assessed before any migration work begins.
Linux as an Option
Fedora, Mint, and Ubuntu give older Win 10 machines a real second life — fast, secure, and more capable for everyday use than most people expect.
Data Safety First
Full backup of your files, documents, photos, and application settings before any OS migration — nothing gets lost in the transition.
Post-Migration Support
Help getting comfortable in the new OS — whether that's Windows 11 or Linux — so you're not left figuring it out alone after the installation is done.
Application Review
Checking that your key software — especially older or specialized applications — works on the target OS before committing to the migration.
No Pressure Advice
Honest recommendations based on your situation — not a push toward whichever option costs more or takes longer to implement.
Common PC Support Questions
Do you do remote support or in-person only?
Both. Many PC issues — malware removal, software conflicts, slow performance, update problems — can be handled remotely via screen sharing. Hardware issues, networking runs, and situations where hands-on access is needed are handled in-person for clients in southeast Minnesota and Sonoma County CA.
My computer is slow. Does it need to be replaced?
Usually not — at least not immediately. Slow PCs are most often the result of malware, startup bloat, a nearly full storage drive, or a failing HDD that hasn't completely died yet. TIV360 diagnoses the actual cause before recommending anything. Replacing a machine before understanding why it's slow often just delays the problem.
Can you help me move from Windows 10 to Linux?
Yes. Linux Mint is particularly approachable for Windows users — the interface is familiar enough that most people adapt quickly. Ubuntu and Fedora are also solid options depending on your use case. TIV360 handles the installation, data migration, and configuration, and provides support as you get comfortable with the new environment.
What's CAT 8 cable and do I need it?
CAT 8 is the current top tier of ethernet cable — capable of speeds up to 40Gbps at short runs, though in practice most home internet connections max out well below that. The real reason to use CAT 8 is future-proofing and build quality — it's a better cable that will outlast your current router, modem, and internet plan. For hardwired runs inside walls or under floors, it's worth doing right once.
Can you recover files from a dead computer?
Often yes, depending on what failed. If the storage drive itself is healthy but the OS is corrupted or the machine won't boot, data recovery is usually straightforward. If the drive has physically failed, professional-level recovery tools are used to attempt retrieval — with honest upfront assessment of what's recoverable before any work begins.
Do you work on Apple computers too?
Yes — macOS support is available alongside Windows and Linux. See Windows 11 & Office Solutions → for more on the Microsoft ecosystem, or contact TIV360 directly with whatever you're dealing with.
Computer Problems
Have Solutions.
Whether it's a virus, a slow machine, a Windows 10 migration, a networking headache, or something that just stopped working — TIV360 has been solving computer problems since before most people knew what a browser was. Let's figure out what's going on.
In-Person: SE Minnesota & Sonoma County CA · Remote Support: Nationwide
320-746-0759 · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm CST/PST