New Services Available at Free Geek Toronto
At Free Geek Toronto, our vision is a city where access to technology isn’t limited by someone’s ability to pay. Through computer refurbishment, digital skills, and e-waste recycling, we’ve spent the past 17 years working toward greater digital inclusion while keeping usable technology out of landfills.
As technology changes, so do the needs of our community. That’s why we’re expanding the ways we can help.
Free Geek Toronto is now offering two computer support services: Linux Mint operating system installation and basic computer diagnostics. One is brand new, while the other formalizes the kind of informal support we’ve been providing for years.
Linux Mint Installation
Free Geek Toronto has long been a supporter of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)
With Windows 10 no longer receiving security updates as of October 2025, many people are facing a difficult choice. Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements, meaning some older computers simply can’t upgrade, even if they still work perfectly well.
For many of these devices, installing a free and open-source operating system can be a great way to keep them useful, secure, and up to date.
Free Geek Toronto is now offering a service to install Linux Mint Cinnamon, the same operating system we use on many of our refurbished computers. As part of the service, we’ll:
- Check that the computer’s hardware appears to be functioning properly
- Install Linux Mint Cinnamon
- Perform a quality-control check to make sure the installation was successful
- Make sure you leave with a working device
It’s important to note that this is an installation service, not a repair service. We can’t repair or replace damaged or malfunctioning computer components.
Having Issues With Your Computer?
Not sure what’s wrong with your device? We may still be able to help. While Free Geek Toronto doesn’t currently offer computer repairs, we can provide basic computer diagnostics and guidance. You can come to us if you:
- Have questions about how your computer works
- Aren’t sure where to start troubleshooting a problem
- Want help identifying what might be causing an issue
- Aren’t sure whether an older device is worth keeping or replacing
We can help you better understand the problem and point you in the right direction. There are a few limits to what we can offer. We can’t complete the repair ourselves, replace components, or reinstall Windows.
Why Doesn’t Free Geek Toronto Offer General Computer Repair?
The short answer is capacity.
Our refurbishment, recycling, education, and community programs already take up most of our staff and volunteer resources. While computer repair overlaps with many of the skills we use every day, it also requires additional training, equipment, and processes that we aren’t currently set up to provide.
There’s also an important difference between working on donated computers and repairing someone’s personal device. Training is a big part of what we do, and learning naturally involves mistakes. If something goes wrong with a donated computer, we can responsibly recycle it. When someone has trusted us with their personal device, the stakes are much higher.
For now, focusing on diagnostics and operating system installation allows us to offer useful support while staying within what our team can provide safely and reliably.
Come Visit Us
Whether you need a Linux Mint installation, want some guidance with a computer issue, or just want to see what’s available in the shop, come visit us at 180 Sudbury St.
You can also reach out to book a time for one of our new services.
Pricing details are coming soon, and we’ll update this post as soon as they’re finalized.
