Backups, as others say, are terribly important. But why aren’t you doing that anyway?

So is copying off and deleting anything you don’t want them to look at, but using eraser is a little paranoid except in the most extreme cases. Any snooping done by a tech is a crime of opportunity. If they don’t open My Documents and see porn or that new CD they want already ripped, odds are they have other stuff to worry about and will move on.

The store level techs under me were all pretty good about resolving issues without requiring a reinstall. But what you should ask yourself, is why don’t you go ahead and reinstall yourself? Nuke it from orbit and start fresh. It’s probably time for it, anyway, and it’ll solve virtually any problem. Good computer hygiene, and saves you a bundle of money.

Removing part of your computer to get it tested sounds impractical in most cases unless you are already knowledgeable, in which case you probably have a friend who would perform the test for free.

I second/third the posts that hovering over the tech while he’s trying to work is a bad idea.

The bottom line seems to be that if repairing the machine yourself isn’t in the cards, you have to find someone you can trust, and you probably won’t have any control over this if you hand it over to a large corporation.

2. Always back up. Always ask that your files are backed up if needed. Often you can save on the labor (and make things easier for the Tech) if you have already backed up and made it clear to the service center. If you need specific info imported after a fresh install of Windows make that clear as well.

3. Treat your Tech like a doctor or mechanic. He’s not a pervert eager to slander your name. He just wants to heal your PC. If you have inappropriate material certainly move it off your PC or use Truecrypt at least.

4. Never, ever expect respect or thorough service if you choose to harass the Technician by staying at the service center and leering over this shoulder. They will do less and often skip tests just to get you out the door. In short, less respect for them equals less value for you.

It’s all about respect and decorum. Respect yourself enough to back up and protect personal info. Respect them enough to understand this is their profession. Make it clear what you want and bring them the items needed to do it.