this a good idea for a PC business?

[billdotson]

-Builds custom PCs according to what the customer wants to use it for e.g. multimedia, web browsing, work, etc. (buying parts from newegg.com, tigerdirect.com, or another place depending on price)

- possibly building custom PC cases

-data backup

- possibly make custom laptops (either custom cases or empty cases) out of mini-atx/itx parts or laptop parts e.g. http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/itx%2Dlaptop/

-For those custom PCs having the option to choose between a variety of Linux distros (which would make the price of the PC be lower than PC w/ Windows) or Windows.. although I would have to learn what hardware Linux is compatible with..

-home networking (and possibly small business networking.. depends)

- free hardware support for a certain amount of time.. I guess about a year. I do not know what to do though about defective hardware as I don't think I should make the client have to wait a week or two for a replacement product.

- free software/OS support for a period of time.. I don't know how long but if I keep it free too long they won't have to come to me anymore as they will know all of it. If they needed Ubuntu support I would tell them these forums are an option.

-offering some OS/popular application courses e.g.- Windows, Linux, Microsoft Office, Openoffice, Quicken, Tax programs, etc.

-if they do not want a custom PC I will offer paid hardware and software/OS support i.e. no free-for-a-period-of-time.. if they needed Ubuntu support I would tell them these forums are an option.

Granted I do not feel I know enough/know how to do all the stuff above well enough to start a small business. I know how to build a PC but I am not sure if I know enough about hardware compatibilities, building for a certain purpose, etc.

Do you think that is a good idea and would the knowledge needed to run that sort of business be attainable by teaching myself the above through the internet?
I would rather not take community college courses as I am already taking courses full-time, that would be expensive and I would like to learn this stuff in my free time.

I would say that for Windows the biggest support would be for viruses, spyware and adware and as the only thing I know other than using a scanner to scan for the above is using the DOS shell to check outgoing network connections and the processes that are sending data out. Although I do not know what suspicious processes would be so I doubt that would be much of help. I don't know how to find viruses, spyware, adware manually and get rid of them manually.

[moshuptrail]

Consider purchasing from businesses like this:
http://www.ingrammicro.com/us/0,,15177_15162_15163_15108,00.html

[queen_yoshi]

I run a business that does just what you want to do. Firstly KNOW everything you can about MS products as thats where 99 percent of your work will come from. I went out and got myself an MCP in XP (exam 70-270) just for A: advertising I am an MCP (makes your clients realise you know what you are doing) B: Teaches you a hell of a lot about Windows.
You said you want to offer OS support after building a PC. A lot of that will be spyware, virus, trojan removal so consider getting very up to date with whats good and whats not with Windows. Learn how to get rid of those things manually as not every scanner (esp free ones) will find or remove them properly.
I think from the sounds of it if I was you I would make sure you could do everything not only well, but quickly as your clients are (in my case) paying by the hour and dont want to be ripped off a couple of hundred dollars because you cant get in and fix the problem straight away!
As mentioned already dont buy you stuff from a retailer, get it wholesale. There is little or no markup on hardware so most of your money earning will come from support, just make sure its worth it!
There are many many businesses like this out there and unfortunately some of them are run by people who whilst they know all about their own PC, know nothing about others and these are the sorts of "cowboys" that give anyone that has gone out and taken the time to at least look professional!
I guess above all it takes a bit of effort on your part, but personally I find it fun. One thing though, remember to turn off your phone! Last thing you want on a Sunday morning at 3am is a call from a client who has stuffed his new PC that you built him whilst trying to download some pr0n, picked up a very nasty virus and they need to get to their files as a presentation they need for Monday is in it!!
A small one, but something that tends to get to me a bit, is never try and force your own opinions of an OS, anti virus program, or sell dodgy copies to clients. If he wants XP with Norton's installed but you think otherwise (I always mention alternatives but let them make up their own minds) just do it. The client is paying for it!

There are plenty other things involved with this sort of business but that could go on for pages! Best thing is to give it a go and good luck :D

[billdotson]

how would you recommend learning how to find viruses, adware, spyware manually and getting rid of them manually? Also, do you know of any good places to start learning the MS Office Suite without paying for a class or something?

Also, the Microsoft Certified Professional certification.. what does that require to get? Even if my business didn't work out or something having certification in Windows XP would be pretty cool.

[3rdalbum]

Purchasing fully-built computers from Ingram Micro is not a great idea. I work at an electrical store, and I know that Ingram Micro don't give us very good pricing.

[Mateo]

I think PC businesses need to offer different cases for the same "pc". If they give you the option of several different processors or several different hard drives, why is it that you don't have an option on the case? I just find it a bit distressing (as i'm currently looking for a new PC), that I have to basically look at the case first when shopping, instead of looking at the hardware.

[billdotson]

well Mateo want a custom? ;)

yeah I do not know.. that MCP is very expensive and I do not even know if a business such as that can get enough business to keep me afloat in the town I live in. Wouldn't it get extremely boring if the only work you did was jsut taking viruses, spyware and adware off og people's PCs? I think that would get old and I would much rather do things like people custom PCs, networking, application support not just cleaning up viruses all the time. I don't know though.. :\