Although the vast majority of complex computer issues that we may face at work can be solved by the IT support team that are paid to handle them, there are those much smaller, yet common problems that we regularly face on our computer systems. The good thing about all of it, is that most of these problems are fairly simple to rectify, thus, learning about these various commons, and the many ways of tackling them, will save you on a great deal of time and money. Below are the top 5 most common problems that we face on our computers.
1. Computer Refuses To Start
A computer shuts down suddenly, or refuses to start up, may be caused by a faulty or failing power supply unit. Make sure the computer is properly plugged into the mains, and if that fails to fix the problem, then you should consider testing your power supply unit on another computer, just to confirm whether or not it is to blame.
2. The Internet Is Slow
Are downloads taking an incredibly long time to download? What about your video streaming performance or simple web browsing? The first thing you’ll want to verify is that the slow internet speed is in fact, related to the network. You can do this, by going to Speedtest.net and running a test to see what kind of speed you’re getting with your package.
The minimum speeds that you should get should be 50% of the ISP’s advertised speeds, and the ping should always be under 100. If the results you get are worse than this, then it means there is something consuming your bandwidth, or there could simply be a problem with the network. First, make sure you don’t have any download programs, like torrent client software running in the background. When closed, they will usually minimise and continue to upload, consuming bandwidth in the process. The next thing you should do is check that your network card drivers are most up-to-date. Next, consider rebooting your modem, by turning it off and on again.
If none of these tips succeed at rectifying your speed issue, then you should call your ISP and tell them you’re not getting the speeds you paid for, and they will send someone to repair it.
3. The Computer Keeps Restarting
Whenever there’s a hardware issue, it can be fairly difficult to identify. First thing you should confirm is that the restarting isn’t due to Windows updates, which will usually install and automatically restart the computer, in order to utilise the update(s). Next thing you’ll want to do is make sure all the most important components in your computer, are using the most up-to-date drivers. Your motherboard, graphics card and network card drivers are most crucial.
Sometimes it can be caused by a malicious file, other times it may be overheating, and in other situations, it may be something as simple as an out-dated device driver.
Does your system make unusual sounds? If you’re fortunate, you may only need to give your system a thorough cleaning. Most computers today, will shut down automatically in the event that a component is overheating, which is usually the cause of random restarts, especially if it occurs while using a resource hungry program, or computer game.
4. Random Pop-ups Appear Everywhere
If your web browser is not on, but you’re still receiving a ton of pop-ups on your desktop, then it’s more than likely that you have installed an adware program, which is displaying all those unwanted ads. Although most adware programs are harmless, there are those adware programs that pose a security risk to your system, and it can be quite difficult to get rid of. There are tons of different clean up tools, which are supposedly designed to optimise your system, with names like System Optimiser, or Faster PC, in many cases these programs fail to do what they are advertised to do, which is why it’s important that you always check reviews before installing anything on your system.
The first step to fixing this problem should involve running a full scan of your computer using your current antivirus software. If that program fails to find any adware on your computer, then you should use either SpyHunter or Malwarebytes, which are excellent for finding and removing malicious files. You may want to disable your current antivirus solution before using it, but it’s not necessary, just for performance sake.
Having more than one antivirus program running on your computer at the same time, can adversely affect system performance. Ideally you want no more than two antivirus programs installed on your computer, and have just the one set to real-time scanning. A third on demand virus or malware scanner may also be in order.
If you have some idea of the application you installed that led to the random pop-ups, then you could consider seeking out uninstallation information on the internet. However, if this fails to fix the issue, then you can try a full system reinstallation. Of course, this has its drawbacks, as you will need to back up your data before doing this, but it’s the only way to be certain the virus is gone.
5. Intermittent WiFi Performance
Wireless issues typically occur due to a multitude of reasons (system, ISP, router). If you have a weak WiFi signal, then it can lead to slow internet performance, and random disconnects, so you’ll want to ensure you are within suitable range to the router, to get the best possible performance. Next, make sure your wireless adapter drivers are up-to-date. If none of this manages to fix the problem, then it’s recommended that you call your ISP.
–AUTHOR INFO—
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is a former IT Manager who now runs his own computer support website where he writes extensively on common computer problems.
