Whether it’s for work or for pleasure, chances are that you use some sort of computer on a fairly regular basis.
Since their inception in the 1970’s our desktops and laptops have come a long way, and we’re now reliant on them for much of our day-to-day lives. But what happens when our computers don’t work properly? Well, that can range anywhere from mild inconvenience to catastrophic chaos!
We understand this better than anyone, which is why we’re dedicated to providing industry leading business and residential IT care and support services. In this handy guide we’ll look at some of the most common computer problems and how to fix them.
Of course, problems are not always as simple as the ones we’ve listed here, and in that instance you’ll need the help and support of an experienced IT department – something we can help with. Find out more about how your business could benefit from our IT support services by calling us today on 01403 290 321.
5 common computer problems and how to solve them
Do you know what to do if your computer freezes? What about if you can’t connect to the internet? What about if you’re connected but experiencing intermittent internet browser performance? We’ve put together this ‘how to’ guide to help you identify, and hopefully rectify common computer problems.
Computer won’t turn on
So, you’ve arrived at work, grabbed a morning coffee (or tea) and sat down to begin your day. You’ve hit the power button on your desktop or laptop and.. nothing! Before you panic, follow these steps:
1 – Check the power supply
The first port of call is to check your power supply.
The problem could be caused by loose connections, faulty power points (plug sockets) or damaged cables. If you’re using a laptop the problem could be as simple as a flat battery.
No luck?
2 – Check your monitor connection (n/a for laptops)
If you’re confident that the problem isn’t the result of a power supply issue, it may be caused by a faulty connection between the central processing unit (CPU) and your monitor.
Try disconnecting and reconnecting it, or attempt to connect to an alternate monitor if possible.
Still no luck?
3 – Disconnect any external devices
Failing or malfunctioning external hardware could be the cause, so unplug any external device(s) and try again.
Still no luck?
4 – Speak to an IT professional
At this point you have two choices. Repeat the process in the hope that something changes, or contact an IT professional who will likely be able to quickly rectify the situation. We offer our business clients an emergency reactive callout service, as well as 24/7/365 proactive support in order to minimise any disruption to your day-to-day operations.
Slow internet
A highly common, and hugely frustrating problem, patchy or slow internet connections can be the result of a number of things (software or hardware related). Before you contact your internet service provider (ISP), try following these steps:
1 – Restart your modem and WiFi router
Quite often WiFi issues can be resolved with a simple reset of your modem and router. By completely powering off (ideally for a few minutes) your caches will be cleared and you’ll be reassigned a new IP address, which will hopefully solve the problem.
No luck?
2 – Take steps to improve your connection and signal reach
If you’ve completed this process and haven’t seen an improvement you should take steps to optimise your connection and signal reach. You can do this by:
- Finding the optimal placement for your router
- Combining frequency bands
- Disconnecting any unneeded external devices
A more in depth look at this can be found in our ‘WiFi Solutions For Your Home and Business‘ blog.
Still no luck?
3 – Contact your ISP
If you’ve reached this point, and have reset, reconfigured and optimised your WiFi system to no avail it may be time to contact your internet service provider. Bad weather, network upgrades and malfunctioning masts can lead to external issues which are, unfortunately, beyond your control.
If you find you frequently have internet issues, it may be time to switch to a more reliable service. Speak to us today if you’d like to discuss your business broadband.
TOP TIP: To keep your internet browser performing optimally you should clear cookies and internet temporary files frequently.
Blue screen of death (BSoD)
The blue screen of death occurs on Windows operating systems in the event of a critical failure of either software or hardware. Best case scenario, it can be a relatively easy fix, worst case scenario it can result in the loss of any files and data you were currently working on. Follow these steps to try to resolve the error:
1 – Update your systems and drivers
The BSoD is in many circumstances caused by a hardware malfunction or issues with the driver software. By accessing Control Panel > Device Manager it’s possible to identify issues with any connected devices by the warning icon. If you see this warning icon it’s likely that the driver is outdated, or was improperly installed.
Search online for the relevant system and driver updates and install. Ensure only to install updates compatible with your particular operating system.
No luck?
2 – Scan for viruses
The BSoD can also be caused by some types of malware or virus. Perform a virus scan to identify whether or not this could be the case. Ensure to use reliable anti virus software. Want to know more? Check out our antivirus offerings for businesses.
Not a virus?
3 – Reset your basic input / output system (BIOS)
An outdated or misconfigured BIOS can sometimes lead to system error messages such as the BSoD. To update your BIOS you’ll need to:
- Download the latest BIOS from the manufacturer’s website
- Restart your computer and enter the new BIOS
- Use the relevant menus to update the BIOS
If this hasn’t worked…
4 – Clean reboot
At this point your last port of call before calling in a professional is to completely reboot your entire system. This can be done by accessing Settings > Update and Security > Recovery and then selecting Reset this PC.
Computer is slow or unresponsive
The dreaded ‘freeze’, which inevitably happens right in the middle of a particularly important task. It might be tempting to just reboot your computer, but doing so puts you at risk of losing any unsaved data. Before you do that, try the following:
1 – Close any unresponsive programs
Too many background programs, a lack of RAM or even spyware can all result in your computer operating more slowly than usual, and even becoming completely unresponsive. Try closing and background programs and applications by Control + Alt + Delete > Task Manager > Select Programs > End task.
Not back up to speed yet?
2 – Clean up the system
The next thing you can do is clean up the disk system. To do this you’ll need to; Disk Cleanup > Select the relevant drive > Select the file types you want to erase > Select OK.
Removing large files, unused apps, software and bloatware can help to improve the speed of your PC.
Still not satisfied?
3 – Speak to an IT professional
As part of our ad hoc IT support services we offer our clients regular network health checks to ensure your computer is always running optimally. We also have an experienced team of experts on hand to provide on site and in office repairs and maintenance for your IT hardware and printers. Read more about our repair services.
Contact IT professionals
If you feel that your business could benefit from any of the services we offer please get in touch. You can drop into one of our branches to talk with one of our experts, or alternatively you can give us a call on 01403 290 321.
No job is too big or too small and we pride ourselves on providing tailored solutions to meet the requirements of your business.
