Almost 90% of American households own a PC or laptop computer. If you’re part of that majority then you’re well aware of the headaches these machines can cause.
Don’t get us wrong, computers are extremely helpful. Still, given how complex their internals area, there is a lot of opportunity for malfunction. When you’ve caught your machine on a bad day, it can be tempting to pick it up and throw it out the window.
Don’t do that! At least not yet…
There are a number of common and often simple problems that even novice computer owners can remedy at home that can make their computers operate like new again.
Below, we outline 5 computer troubleshooting tips that you should know so you can save yourself stress next time your system starts acting up.
1. Restart
In our experience, 6 out of 10 computer problems can be solved by simply shutting down your system, waiting 30 seconds, and booting it back up.
A lot of computer users aren’t aware of the fact that sometimes computers run bad scripts that can overwhelm their memory. Keeping your computer running for days with memory issues can lead to slow-downs or outright malfunctions.
A simple shut down and boot up can remedy most of these issues.
2. Run a Heat Check
Restarting your computer didn’t fix the problem? The next thing you’ll want to do is a heat check.
If you’re using a laptop, feel its bottom. Does it feel hot to the touch?
If you’re using a desktop, open up its case. Is it exuding a lot of heat or is a fan not running?
If you’re noticing heat issues, in the case of a laptop, consider purchasing a cooling pad. In the case of a desktop, you may need a professional’s help to deal with faulty fans or other deeper problems.
3. See If There Are Unwanted Applications Running
Sometimes pesky applications give themselves permission to run when you boot up which can slow your computer down. See if that’s happening with your PC by hitting “Ctrl+Alt+Delete”, clicking on “Task Manager”, and then inspecting your computer’s background processes.
If there are applications that you recognize that you did not give permission to run, right click on them and select “end task”.
You may want to uninstall these applications from your system to prevent further issues.
4. Check Your Power Supply/Battery/Cables
If your computer is not starting, the computer troubleshooting advice that we’d give is to make sure your desktop’s power supply is working, that your laptop’s battery is holding a charge, and that your machine’s cords are not faulty.
To get through this process, you’ll need alternate cords/batteries/power supplies to swap in.
If you don’t have access to these things, talk to a computer professional.
5. Blue Screen? Get Help.
One of the most frustrating signs of trouble with PCs is the “blue screen of death”. Seeing this screen is usually a sign of a RAM issue but it can also mean a number of other problems.
If you’re getting this error on your machines, as a business owner, you’ll want to contact a professional IT firm like Preactive IT Solutions or another company in your area to ensure it’s not a virus that’s causing the problem. If the blue screen error is popping up on your personal PC, go to a local repair shop for further testing.
Wrapping up Computer Troubleshooting Tips You Need to Know
Computers have a lot of potential for problems. If you’re running into adversity with your computer often, forgo throwing it out the window and instead, run through our computer troubleshooting tips above.
We assure you that doing so will be a lot more productive and cost-effective than outright destroying your machine.
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