Sound familiar?
- An installer says you need administrator permission
- Office apps crash on start-up or say they are unlicensed
- Your accounts software will not open after a Windows update
- A new PC needs ten programs installed and configured
- The software vendor says 'it works on our end' and stops replying
- Errors about missing .NET or Visual C++ components
Key facts
- Most installs are done remotely with the user's permission
- Everyday users should not have local administrator rights; we install with a separate admin account
- Intune can deploy Win32 apps, Microsoft 365 Apps and Store apps to every laptop at once
- winget, the Windows Package Manager, can install and update many common apps from the command line
- We check Windows 11 compatibility and vendor support before upgrading older software
- We never install unlicensed or cracked software
- £45 an hour + VAT, 30-minute minimum, then 15-minute blocks
What we install and fix
Every business has its own mix of software. We regularly work with:
- Microsoft 365 Apps: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and the new Teams client, including repairs, licence activation errors and switching between update channels.
- Accounts and payroll: desktop packages that keep a shared data folder on a server or NAS, plus browser-based tools such as Xero and QuickBooks Online, where the work is usually browser, bank feed or permission related.
- Design and documents: Adobe Creative Cloud, Acrobat, PDF editors and font installs.
- Line-of-business software: practice management, CRM, stock control and job management systems, often working alongside the vendor's own support team.
- Drivers and utilities: printer and scanner drivers, docking station firmware, card readers and label printers.
If your software problem is part of something bigger, such as a whole PC that is slow or failing, see PC and laptop support.
Installing the right way
The quickest way to get software onto a PC is to give the user administrator rights and let them click through the installer. It is also how most malware gets in. We install with a separate admin account and leave everyday users as standard users, which is one of the controls checked for Cyber Essentials readiness.
Before installing, we check:
- The software is genuinely licensed, and that the licence covers the number of users or devices.
- It supports your version of Windows or macOS. Older packages written for Windows 7 or 10 sometimes need a newer release before they work on Windows 11.
- Prerequisites such as the .NET runtime, Visual C++ redistributables or a SQL Server Express instance are present and the right version.
- Where data is stored. Shared data on a network drive needs consistent drive letters or UNC paths on every PC.
Deploying software to the whole team
Installing one program on twelve laptops by hand takes most of a day and gives twelve slightly different results. If your devices are managed in Microsoft Intune, we package the software once and deploy it to a group of users or devices. Microsoft 365 Apps and many Store apps deploy natively; other Windows installers are wrapped as Win32 apps with detection rules, so Intune knows whether the install worked and can retry if it did not.
For businesses without Intune, we can use winget, the Windows Package Manager, to install and update common apps such as browsers, 7-Zip and PDF readers consistently. Updates matter as much as installs: outdated browsers, PDF readers and Java runtimes are frequent targets for attackers.
Fixing software that has stopped working
When software that worked yesterday fails today, the cause is usually something that changed: a Windows update, an expired licence, a moved data folder, a new antivirus rule, or a mapped drive that did not reconnect. We look at the application's own logs and the Windows Event Viewer, check whether antivirus quarantined a file, and run repairs before reaching for a full reinstall.
If the problem needs the software vendor, we can log the ticket and speak to their technical team for you. Vendors tend to move faster when the person on the call can give them error codes, log files and what has already been tried.
Removing what you do not need
New PCs often arrive with trial antivirus, manufacturer utilities and games. Removing them speeds things up and reduces the number of programs that need patching. We also uninstall old software left behind by former staff or discontinued systems.
Cost
Software installation and fixes are £45 an hour + VAT, with a 30-minute minimum and then 15-minute blocks. Simple installs often fit within the minimum. Larger roll-outs, such as packaging an app for Intune or moving the whole office to a new accounts system, are quoted. On the Business plan (£50 a month + VAT) or Complete plan (£99 a month + VAT), installs come out of your included hours. See support plans or get in touch. If you need software written for your business rather than installed, our sister company builds bespoke systems at dijitul developments.
What it costs
Support plans from £25 a month + VAT, or £45 an hour + VAT for one-off fixes. Pick a plan if you want it looked after every month, or pay by the hour for a one-off job.
Essential
Keep it updated, backed up and watched.
- Website software updates (core, plugins, themes) applied and checked
- Daily backups
- Uptime monitoring
- Security monitoring
Business
Updates plus an hour of fixes every month.
- Everything in Essential
- 1 hour of fixes or changes every month
- Priority support
Complete
Website and your team's IT, covered.
- Everything in Business
- 3 hours of fixes or changes every month
- IT and Microsoft 365 helpdesk for your team
No plan? The first 30 minutes are the minimum charge, then we bill in 15-minute blocks.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install software on my PC remotely?
Yes. dijitul support installs most software remotely, connecting to the PC with your permission. We check the licence and system requirements first, install with an admin account, and test that the program opens and can reach its data. Remote installs are £45 an hour + VAT.
Why can't staff install software themselves?
Staff who run as local administrators can install anything, including malware disguised as a useful tool. Keeping everyday accounts as standard users is a basic security control and part of Cyber Essentials. dijitul installs approved software for them with a separate admin account.
Will my old software work on Windows 11?
Many programs do, but older versions of accounts, CAD and practice management software sometimes need an update first. dijitul checks the vendor's supported versions and tests the software before upgrading a PC, so you are not left unable to work.
Can you install software on all our laptops at once?
Yes, if your laptops are managed through Microsoft Intune. dijitul packages the software once and deploys it to every device in a group, with detection rules so failures are reported. Without Intune, we can use the Windows Package Manager for common apps.
Do you supply software licences?
We do not resell software licences. You buy licences from the vendor or your usual supplier, and dijitul installs, configures and supports the software. We can advise which edition or licence type you need before you buy.
How much does software installation cost?
Software installation is £45 an hour + VAT, with a 30-minute minimum and then 15-minute blocks. Simple installs often fit within the minimum. Larger roll-outs are quoted, and on the Business or Complete plans the work comes out of your included hours.
Related
Get it fixed
One-off fixes are £45 an hour + VAT. You'll know the likely cost before we start.