I can't thank Rich enough! This was honestly the first time I ever sought out technical services for my computer issues, and Rich provided me with the absolute best. He was very honest with me all throughout the process. I had first contacted him because my laptop had started to crash for no apparent reason--I couldn't seem to troubleshoot it myself, like I'd normally do. From what I was able to gather for myself from my own attempts at fixing my computer, it was an issue involving RAID.0, which I had not previously heard of. Rich told me from the start that he was not very familiar with fixing RAID.0 issues, as it is pretty uncommon these days. (And here is when I ramble.) RAID.0 is a configuration that basically bridges two SSDs together, so they act almost as one. The benefit is that it boosts computer performance significantly, and it allowed some computers in the past to carry more SSD storage space during a time when the largest SSDs that existed were 256 GB. But RAID.0 makes use of "disk striping," which means data is saved across both SSDs simultaneously, leaving half the data in one disk and half the data in the other (this is what boosted performance). But RAID.0 is notorious for its data loss risk. If one disk fails, then you lose basically all data across both SSDs. This is essentially what happened to my laptop. Despite his doubts, Rich was gave it a try, and what followed was many days of trial and error (it turned out to be a frustratingly intermittent issue). He was able to confirm that yes, one of two SSDs in my laptop had failed, leaving my computer essentially unusable. Rich had a number of ideas, and we did attempt a few of them. There were some that failed, and some that half failed. But in the end, he was able to get my computer running very smoothly. He even cleaned the inside of my laptop for me without charge! Again, I can't thank him enough! I went in already expecting the worst, and I was prepared to buy a brand new computer. But Rich really saved me a ton of money. I actually felt bad about how little he charged me! I HIGHLY recommend Rich's services. He is honest, diligent, and very very knowledgeable. He is now my go-to tech guy for any of my future computer problems. Definitely check him out! read more

Rich was extremely considerate even though our request didn't fit with his model where he doesn't make house calls. He very kindly offered to talk us through the issues - a generous offer of his time since we couldn't actually hire him. Knowledgeable and very friendly. We will surely be future customers. read more

Honest, reasonable and knowledgeable! Great hrlpful advice and suggestions. Would definitely go back to Rich for repairs and assistance.

I just cannot give enough praise to Rich with Grey Matter Technical Services! He is absolutely amazing! I put off my computer needs for months and months on end because I just did not want to deal with the hassle of finding someone who could really help me. Rich has all the qualities I could have ever hoped for in a computer technician. He is accessible, affordable, patient, and kind! A true genius of a man, humble -- and honest. He is warm and supportive - and knows how to be reassuring and encouraging to clients. He knows his trade - knows exactly what he is doing. He absolutely exceeded my expectations. He got my old computer in perfect shape -- and re-formatted my new computer for use - all in record time. What was the biggest surprise? He did EVERYTHING for about a tenth of what I was willing to pay. I absolutely encouraged him to up his prices - this man is worth his weight in gold -- and then some! If its not too much to add -- Rich absolutely restored my faith in humanity.... the ability to trust a stranger with EVERYTHING -- and come out on top! What a gem! My only hesitation in writing this review is that he will become so popular -- that perhaps he will become difficult to access at some point! Please - bring your computer to him - trust him -- and let him help you! Rich is amazing! I wish I could give him even more stars! Thanks Rich! You are absolutely one of my favorite finds in San Francisco! read more

Rich does amazing work. On two separate occasions, Rich has saved me by saving my broken PCs. At the times I've been most despondent about data loss, hard drive failures, etc., Rich has quickly restored my faith in tech humanity, liberally spreading good PC karma. The first time, on a friend's recommendation, I went to see Rich with a crashed laptop hard drive that held all my personal information, including my Master's thesis, the most recent version of which had not been backed up. (My bad!) The second time, just recently, I returned to Rich with a 5-year-old desktop that had failed so badly that it would not boot up. In both scenarios, Rich worked promptly and tirelessly, getting my systems up and running in no time! Rich recovered data that I'd figured was lost for good. On my desktop, he replaced the hard drive, upgrading parts to new standards as he went along, and invested hours upon hours to resolve my case to his high expectations. He then proceeded to apologize that he went over the quoted estimate and told me that he'd be fine to honor that, despite doing twice as much work. What a guy!! In both cases, Rich invested more time, energy, and expertise to exact a solution FAR better than expected AND for less money than expected! In addition, all along the way, whenever I stopped by, he would provide me with tips, clues, and teach me little work-arounds! Rich is just an all-around PC fix-it wonder! If ever you have a problem with your PC, go see Rich, never hesitate to give him your money, you will always be happy with results!! read more

I recently came in to have my laptop keyboard after spilling juice all over it. I explained to him the problem and he quickly ordered me a new laptop keyboard within a day. He also kept me updated with the shipping information/ prices ( He explained to me how he searched to get the best deal for a new keyboard when I went in to have it replaced). Rich was also very knowledgeable and explained to me the various parts of the keyboard and how it's exactly put together as he opened my laptop, cleaned it up, and put in the new keyboard. Overall, I paid 24$ with shipping for the laptop keyboard (which he ordered for me) and another 8$ to have it installed. I was very impressed at the customer service and small price I had to pay at the end of it! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

Rich is amazing! I dropped my netbook (Samsung N120) on Saturday afternoon and cracked the screen and since it's my owly computer and I can't afford a new one, I was very, very sad. I looked up Yelp reviews and found Rich - and he's every bit as friendly and great to deal with as everyone else says. I'm on a super tight budget so the fact that Rich looks at your computer and gives cost estimates for free is so wonderful! And he explains exactly what he's going to do every step of the way. Rich took a look at my computer right away and gave me a price estimate (roughly $40 for the screen and $40 per hour for labor with a time estimate of 1 hour). He asked me to leave the netbook overnight and told me that he would have to inspect it for internal damage too (turns out there was no internal damage) and that he'd get back to me by the next morning with more info. A few short hours later, he emailed to tell me there was no internal damage (phew!) and that found me a screen on eBay (he doesn't keep them in stock) - for only $36, a slightly lower price than he'd figured. Within a few days, the screen had arrived and he installed it - and everything was all new and shiny and perfect and ready to pick up by Thursday evening! He even went way above and beyond with an added surprise for me - he added space to my hard drive (which was getting dangerously full!). The netbook works great now and I'm super happy and grateful to Rich! read more

My second time having Rich help me fix my HP laptop after a large Windows 10 update somehow made it crash. As always, he is very helpful and kind, taking the time to make sure that the problems are solved. He was able to restore my laptop to its original condition before it crashed, along with all of my files. Rich always goes above and beyond as well, giving me tips and showing me how to back up my files. Rich always suggests alternatives in order to keep the repair cost-effective, and will let you know exactly what kind of computer magic he used to fix your stuff. I highly recommend Grey Matter Technical Services for all of your computer repair needs, due to Rich's thoroughness and reasonable pricing! read more

I called Rich about a problem I had with my laptop after reading all these rave reviews on Yelp. He called me back promptly and calmly talked me through my problem. While he wasn't able to personally help me with my problem, I greatly appreciated his demeanor. He even recommended some other businesses who might be able to work with me on fixing my laptop, which was going beyond the call of duty. I'll definitely call Grey Matter again. read more

Rich is both personable and knowledgeable. My girlfriend's laptop had a hardware issue which was beyond my expertise to fix myself. I brought it to Rich, and he quickly diagnosed the issue, looked on eBay with me to get the best price on the part we needed, and had the laptop back in perfect condition as soon as the part shipped. He explained the work in detail and his price was very reasonable. He had even cleaned the laptop by the time I arrived to pick it up. I would definitely return with any future issues, as well as recommend his services to my friends. Thanks Rich! read more

Wish I could give him more stars! So glad I went to Rich! My hard drive in my 2010 MacBook Pro failed, I went to the Apple Store and they were no help. After this I started looking around on Yelp and found Grey Matter Technical Services. Rich ordered the new SSD hard drive for me and installed it. He did this in only a few days, and kept me updated during the process. My MacBook is working faster and better than it ever has. So happy with it now :) He is very friendly and knows his stuff. Highly recommend him!! read more

Rich is your local friendly (and I mean it) tech guru with a good sense of humor. He operates from his home in Sunset District - no nonsense. Here's the summary of our experience: - 3+-year old Acer laptop (Windows start-up began hanging forever without obvious reason) - spent a day trying to fix it myself - went on Yelp and found Rich (it kinda jumps at ya on "Computer Repair" search SF) - emailed him and got a quick reply back with appointment that worked - got ~30 mins of face-to-face attention (with explanation of potential problems) - got the laptop back in a little over than 2 days with another 15 minutes attention - paid $72 (+tip) - laptop works better than ever (it has been a month since). Well, he became our local go to if a computer should ever malfunction again. Thanks, Rich! read more

This guy is beyond amazing at fixing PCs. You MUST go to him if you have any technical problems, even if it will only take 5 minutes. Because he is SO honest, he will only charge you for that 5 minutes. He is HANDS DOWN the most honest and most affordable. He is so inexpensive for what he does, and he has the best prices of any computer repair service in the city. I found him through Yelp because I called TechCollective, TechBrains and all of the other small business tech services and they were too pricey. They were at least double what Rich quoted me and he did the job brilliantly. He charges extremely fairly (dare I say, almost too fairly; I don't want him to go out of business because he is too fair!) and more importantly, he is very adept and skilled. He told me he's been working on computers since the 70s! So he's got the skillz with none of the attitude. Save your money, save your computer, go to Rich. He is worth hopping onto the N Judah for. Guaranteed. read more

I could write a review of great length, but it would read much like Angelique B.'s review. Rich is a great technical support to have in your life. I really appreciate that the suggestion Rich makes are truly helpful and super cost effective. I like that he is willing to repair versus replace fixable laptops that are still meeting my needs. We are so lucky to have Rich's services available to us. read more

Oh, I cannot think of anything bad to say about my experience! Rich was absolutely amazing! Not only was he extremely accommodating and knowledgeable, his price was fair and he was completely transparent about the price of the part I needed! When I brought my laptop in for repairs, he knew right from my description just was wrong and made preparations right away. The part I needed was ordered right in front of me and, while some places may mark up the price of parts, Rich made sure I got the fastest shipping and best price available! Originally, we had planned for me to leave my laptop overnight after I dropped it off at 6:30pm. This was done the day the part arrived. After a few hours, I get a call and he said he was done! He worked extra diligently and fast to get my new laptop fan installed and I couldn't be happier! This guy definitely went above and beyond what I expected and I will be taking my business to Rich in the future! read more

If I could give 10 stars I would. Rich is amazing, professional and quick. My laptop crashed and I was expecting the worst in needing to re install programs. Nope, Rich was talented enough to save all of my data, got me a faster Hard drive and fixed my cd disc tray that was bent. All in all it was around or less than 24 hours. AMAZING! I CAN NOT STRESS HOW GREAT RICH IS! I will be going to this guy every time now. Not to say other places are not good its just that Rich is very thorough and has very accommodating hours 2-9pm. I dont know any other lap top technician like that. I 100% recommend Rich for all your PC needs. Seriously read more

Rich has a good business model of working from home. That's why the price is very reasonable price. And, if I got it correctly, there is no charge for an easy diagnosis. Meanwhile, another computer repair shop on Valencia charges $35 for the same service. And there is no guaranty if its possible or not to fix your laptop. But the most important for you will be how fast he finds the root of the problem. In my case I had no idea why my laptop had been showing a black screen. Within a few minutes, I've learned what could be the possibilities. We agreed to leave the laptop until he knows what my cause the malfunction. After a few hours later I got a phone call from Rich notifying me what's wrong and how to fix it. I was really glad to hear that, because he found the reason which was a hard drive problem and some court that was disconnected from the screen. I believe it reasonable to have my laptop fixed by a knowledgeable computer repair specialist! read more

Lenovo Thinkpads are supposed to be indestructible, but mine was no match for me. Never mind how, but I completely destroyed the power jack and injured some of the guts inside the laptop. I could peer inside with a flashlight and see how mangled it was. I also chipped a piece off the laptop case. I thought all was lost, but I contacted Grey Matter (Rich Auslander) based on the strength of all these other Yelp reviews. They did not steer me wrong, and I am happy to add my own 5-star review to the collection. I contacted Rich during the pandemic and the SF shelter-in-place order, but he answered my inquiry very promptly, and we had a series of e-mails that enabled him to diagnose the problem(s) and the extent of the damage remotely. I found everything that others have said about Rich's integrity, honesty, and commitment to the customer to be true. My laptop is 5 years old, and Rich laid out and explained a variety of options because he wanted to make sure that any repair he might do would be cost-effective for me. He even researched and sent me listings for used laptops similar to mine in case I wanted to just buy another laptop. Since I preferred the repair, Rich researched and found the right part, and kept me informed each step of the way. The pandemic prevented in-person meeting, so there were quite a few e-mail and text communications back and forth. Throughout the entire process, Rich was very generous with both his knowledge and his time, and I was consistently impressed by his thoroughness and attention to detail. And that meticulousness was also applied to the actual work that Rich did on the laptop after I dropped it off. He installed the part, made sure everything was working, tuned up my system and software, glued the chipped piece of the case back on, and cleaned my laptop so that it was gleaming. And all of this was done with a quick turnaround and for an incredibly reasonable price (or as someone else said, beyond reasonable), which I was more than happy to pay. With the benefit of Rich's care and expertise, my trusty Thinkpad is back, and just about as good as new. Great process (especially under difficult circumstances), great outcome - I highly recommend Grey Matter for all your computer repair or service needs! read more

Went to see Rich unannounced on a late sunday afternoon, because my laptop wouldn't charge anymore. I had tried everything at home ... different power outlets, connecting all parts of the cable again, reboot the computer. After a few minutes "we" found nothing weird and that everything was working fine. Back home it turned out everything did work fine again too. Still can't get my head around it. Anyway, Rich was very friendly and I really appreciate the time he took to help me locate the problem. He did ask me to make an appointment next time tho :). read more

Grey Matter Technical Services - IT Services & Computer Repair Near Me - San Francisco, California

amazing! Rich is a pleasure to work with and he will make sure to take time to walk you through your computer's problems and the potential solutions. He keeps you updated on the progress of repairs and tries to get everything done in a timely manner. He runs the shop from his home so don't be shocked when you arrive and find computer parts in every corner! He is incredibly knowledgeable about different computer problems, but will be the first to admit when he doesn't have the expertise to address your computer's problems. Rich replaced my laptop's motherboard almost two years ago now and everything ha been working great ever since. A couple hundred bucks to give my laptop an extension on life was well worth the investment and I thank Rich for guiding me through those decisions. read more

My Dell laptop is nearly 10 years old (ancient in tech time!)and because of Rich I still have it and it is running like it's brand new! A new larger capacity hard drive and a fast solid state processor have made all of the difference. I recommend Rich highly as he is honest, personable, knowledgeable, charges beyond reasonable pricing, and is very patient! I have moved from San Francisco to Petaluma yet I will easily make that trek for the service Rich provides. Thank you Rich, you're a wizard! read more

Rich was great. I consulted him on a dropped laptop with a black screen. Although he was not able to open it up at the time, he laid out the possibilities and potential cost. He gave further feedback via email when the screen was still not working but not black. The other thing Rich did that I highly appreciated was suggesting a second opinion. I ended up popping it open myself (as he suggested it was not too risky to just pop the back) and reattached some wires. Although I feel a bit of a n00b fir needing help for a loose wire (behind a bunch of screws), Rich was super helpful and informative. He definitely went above and beyond. read more

Several keys on my Compaq laptop had separated from the keyboard (I guess I don't know my own strength) and - being a complete novice - I began a search for laptop repair. I didn't know if I should buy a new laptop or what. Thankfully, I had the great fortune of finding Grey Matter Technical Services and Rich. When i asked about possibly buying a new laptop, he asked me if I was happy with mine - which I am - so, he suggested that i just replace the keyboard. He didn't have the right one on hand, so he ordered it for me. Rich emailed me when it had arrived (quickly) and he switched out my toothy one for the new one and showed me how to do it for myself in the future. Rich knows what he's doing: he doesn't just do computer repair, he also builds them himself. He was friendly, took the time to explain things to me, ordered the part i needed, he let me know - ahead of time - what everything was likely to cost, he installed the part and did it all for a very reasonable price. I couldn't be happier! I'll definitely return to Rich and Grey Matter Technical Services for any of my future computer needs. read more

Rich did a great job fixing our laptop's broken screen. He's very knowledgeable, very experienced, friendly, and committed to his work. He also does a good job setting expectations, and priced his job fairly. He is our new go-to go for PC repairs! read more

For any and all of your cpu/laptop restoration needs I highly recommend this place. The service is outstanding and the work is incredibly honest. Nothing gets done without your permission and they go above and beyond. I would reccomend this place to anyone I meet read more

I've known Rich quite a while, and he has always done excellent work on my laptops--I have always appreciated his calm, considerate manner and his ability not only to accurately diagnose issues and repair computer electronics but also to explain clearly what my options are. He is reliable, competent, and very kind--I highly recommend him! read more

The Best!!! Rich is a fantastic resource for anyone with a PC desktop or laptop who is not tech savvy, moderately tech savvy or just wants someone to take on the time consuming work that comes with PC maintenance. I cannot recommend him highly enough for any PC issues you have, whether repair, general optimization work or installing new drives/chips etc. His hours are a little unorthodox as he is a night owl but his professionalism, informative manner and amazingly fair prices mean I cannot but give him my highest recommendation. Trust Rich with your machine he will work wonders! read more

Rich Rocks! What a multi-talented guy. Anything technical he has the answers. For next to nothing he got my nearly dead PC back on track. It is humming, never remember it being faster. Thank you Rich!!!! read more

Rich is obviously very good at his job, and he's very generous, to boot. I'd been building a PC when I realized that I didn't have a few cables (SATA and DVI) I needed. I called Rich looking for them, and I was able to pick exactly what I needed (for an amazing price) within minutes. Rich is personable (and a NY football giants fan) and extremely competent. I'm going to recommend him to all of my friends in the Sunse read more

I highly recommend Richard.He was so honest to helping me .The service was outstanding .I am very impressed with his work and his personality. If you need to repair your computer or laptops first you need to see Him . Thank you Rich read more

Rich is honest and knowledgeable. Very happy with his service. He is also very friendly. Service priced just right....

I should have written this review a while ago for Rich at Grey Matter Technical. Rich Auslander is a scholar, gentleman and a computer wizard. He has been amazing at resolving my various, separate, PC issues over several years. He is reasonable and charges for only things he can and does fix. The one thing you need to know is that Rich works out of a residential building so getting to him ( dreaded parking) can be an issue. If you persevere your laptop will be in the most excellent hands. read more

OMG! My computer crashed! I had no idea what to do. I was in a panic because I am new to the bay area and did not have anybody to ask for a referral. Of course Yelp came to the rescue. I can't say enough about the service that I received from Rich. I dropped my computer off with him and he called me the next day to deliver the news.I found him to be honest and straightforward. He was not optimistic about being able to restore my files but said he could get things up and running for me. Honestly this was a huge relief because I was convinced I was going to have to fork out for a new computer. I got my computer back 4 days later and that thing was running like new. He cleaned out all of the junk that had accumulated over the years and even replaced the hinges that had broken off during a previous mishap. Bonus #1: He spent about 15 minutes teaching me about the pros and cons of various back-up options so that I would never have to worry about losing my data again. He is a really nice man. He took me step by step through his fix-it process on my device. Bonus #2: I didn't have to take out a loan or promise away my first born child to pay for the repairs. I ended up paying about half of what the local big box store wanted to charge me where they didn't even think they could fix it. Overall, if you want someone that you can trust and is reasonably priced, reach out to Rich. PS, I have been meaning to write this review for a long time as I took my computer to Rich almost a year ago. However, I think this has actually worked out better because now I can say that I have not had a single issue with my computer since Rich fixed it! read more

As a newbie laptop user, imagine my chagrin when I tripped over my recharger cord and crashed my new laptop to the floor. I'm new to the area, an IT idiot and it's a Sunday afternoon....the perfect storm. I called Rich after reading the great reviews on yelp. Not only did he make time to see me on Sunday evening, he stayed up all night, found and repaired the problem (my computer is so new he couldn't even order a replacement part; he had to fix the part that I had destroyed), and even upgraded my driver to make my touchpad work better. All in all, I ended up with a better computer than when I turned it in to him. ALL WITHIN 24 HOURS. He was friendly, courteous, efficient and knowledgeable. His prices are great too. I most definitely recommend Rich. read more

If there should be laptop repair it should be Grey Matter Tech Service! I dropped my laptop from about 3 feet and it just shut off and I couldn't turn it back on at all. It was a huge deal for me since all my work and personal files were only on this laptop, so I panicked a bit but decided to visit Richard! I think he is a magician! Not only he was able to take some time out of his busy schedule but he also fixed it very quick. I was soooo relieved! He is very knowledgeable and trustworthy person. Besides all of that he was very kind and gave me extra materials to make my laptop work faster. So next time I have an issue - without any second thought I know where to bring my laptop. read more

The service Rich provided was literally the best. And his price is more than reasonable! He would really sit down with you and try his best to solve your problem by asking details of the computer usage and coming up with solutions and most importantly, discuss what works the best for your model. Plus, he generously lend his spare HP laptop to me when my PC is on repairing. I was so grateful and could not thank him more. I know that he is the one to go to when I need help with my laptop! read more

Rich is the best. He solved a hardware issue in January and my laptop has been running like a new machine ever since. Recently, he helped solve an issue with a corrupted Microsoft update. Rich is honest, with a common sense approach to problem solving. He is also excellent at explaining technical issues in simple language. I recommend him highly. read more

I recently purchased a mid MacBook Pro 2010 for a decent price. The computer was kind of sluggish so I started researching upgrade options. I stumbled upon Grey Matter through google I think. Rich suggested I put a SSD drive and ram upgrade he showed me what parts to purchase at cost no upcharges and quoted me a extremely fair price for the labor. Overall I am extremely happy with my new MacBook and would recommend anybody to upgrade to a ssd drive if your mac is slowing down. Great Service and upfront straight forward pricing. I would recommend this business to anyone with PC or mac repairs. Thanks! #loyalcustomer read more

Great! Awesome! My new 'computer guy'!!! So happy to have found/met Richard (Rich). My laptop was 'crashing' regularly and became useless. Rich, was a god send and meticulously worked on the problem computer. Straight forward, polite, knowledgeable, professional and most of all ethical. Pricing is great and the work/information is unparalleled. You would be making a mistake going to the Geek Squad or some other service provider, prior to seeing Rich!!! read more

I have dealt with extremely serious computer, systems, software and virus issues over my many years in the IT industry. Without question, Rich is one of the sharpest, most capable and knowledgeable computer wizards I have ever known. If Steve Jobs were here today, Rich would be his "go to guy"!! He has repaired and figured out numerous issues that no other highly reputable firms were capable of solving. I have since directed all of my company's high priority fixes to Rich. He is truly incredibly gifted, talented, knowledgeable and reasonably priced over anyone I have ever dealt with, I recommend him highly. Plus, he's really a nice guy... Igor SIll read more