Everyone who owns a computer experiences technical difficulties at one time or another. If you’re not a tech expert, figuring out what computer problems you have and how to fix them can seem impossible. Fixing your computer doesn’t have to be stressful, and many technical difficulties can be solved without professional help. With that in mind, here are some common computer problems and how to easily fix them.
Blue screen of death
The blue screen of death, also known as a stop error, is considered one of the scariest computer problems. The blue screen of death can appear for a variety of reasons, including failing hardware, damaged software, corrupt files, and problems with drivers. The blue screen of death is typically displayed on a Windows system after a system crash and is a sign that the operating system can no longer operate safely.
Rebooting your computer often works as a quick remedy, but you should consider enlisting the help of an IT support blog. The blue screen of death is often a sign of more serious problems, so it’s important to solve the problem before it worsens.
Slow-running applications
Applications that run slow waste time and quickly become annoying. To make your applications run more smoothly, check to see whether your operating system is missing any updates or whether your computer has adequate hard drive space.
Regularly cleaning your hard drive keeps your computer running fast and your data safe, and is relatively easy to do. Most computers simply require clicking start, then all programs, accessories, select system tools, followed by disk cleanup.
Slow internet
If your downloads, browsing, and streaming of music and videos are taking too long, your internet is probably slow. Run a test to determine whether you’re getting speed advertised by your internet service provider. Your minimum speed should be at least 50 percent of your provider’s advertised speed, and your ping should be under 100.
If your results don’t correspond with these, something might be wrong with your bandwidth or network. Ensure that there aren’t any torrent clients running in the background, because they use a lot of bandwidth. Next, make sure your network card’s drivers are up-to-date and try turning your modem on and off again. If these tips don’t work, the problem is on the end of your internet service provider.
Constant pop-ups
Constant pop-ups are a sign of a form of malware called “Adware.” Malware can steal sensitive data as well as send spam to your computer. To determine whether there’s malware on your computer, run both a virus scan and a malware scan.
Malware and virus scanning software take a comprehensive look at each file on your computer to check for viruses and malware. These programs are often time-consuming, but it’s important to run them regularly on your computer, especially if you’re using Windows.
Programs won’t work
Sometimes, updating your computer can cause old programs to stop working. Old programs may not be compatible with your new operating system, so try searching for a newer version of the program online. Additionally, changing from a PC to a Mac or vice versa also results in incompatible programs.
On the other hand, if you’re experiencing loading errors on your browser, try updating your Flash or Java plug-ins.
It’s tempting to freak out when something goes wrong with your computer, especially if you rely on your computer for work or school. It can seem almost impossible to know where to begin when troubleshooting your computer, but most problems are preventable and have simple solutions.
