While the vast majority of computer issues that occur in the workplace can be solved by the company’s IT department, there are many, much smaller, yet very common issues, that occur quite regularly, during normal computer use. The good thing is that the vast majority of these problems can be solved, quite easily, which is why learning how to identify and repair these problems will go a long way, in saving you both time and money. Below you will find a list of 8 of the more common issues you’re most likely to face with your computer.
1. The Screen Is Blank
If your computer is turned on, but there’s nothing on the screen (monitor), then there could be a problem with the connection between the computer and the monitor. The first thing you should do is make sure the monitor is actually plugged in and turned on, and that there’s a secure connection between both devices. If the problem occurs on a laptop computer, then it’s likely an internal issue, which means, you will need to hire someone who knows what they’re doing, to fix it.
2. Strange, Loud Noises Coming From Computer
After some time, it’s not uncommon for computer users to hear loud grinding or clicking noises coming from their computers. If you hear such a sound, then it’s almost certain that you’re dealing with hardware failure. The sound could signify a number of possible issues, but in most cases, the sound is caused by an issue with your hard drive, one of the main components inside of it. Alternatively, the sound could be caused by your internal cooling fans.
Thus, if you were to open up your computer, and learn that the sound is actually coming from your cooling fan, then it’s probably a good time for you to buy some new ones. Cooling fans are fairly cheap and relatively easy to install. Other possible culprits, of course, is the hard drive, although, changing the hard drive can be a more complex issue. You will need to mirror the drive before buying a new one. A faulty power supply unit is also a possibility, so you want to check that, along with the fans on your graphics card.
3. The Computer Screen Has Frozen
If your computer freezes, then your most effective cause of action is to simply reboot the computer. However, this comes at the cost of losing any and all unsaved work. Constant system freezing can be a sign of many different things, such as data corruption, insufficient system RAM, missing files, or viruses. You’ll want to shut your computer down, by holding down the power button, and then start it back up again. The simplest thing you can do is ensure the system is clean and free of dust.
4. Intermittent Internet Connection
An intermittent internet connection can be the cause of much frustration. In most cases, the issue is caused by a bad cable or faulty phone line, which you should be able to fix. Other possible causes include viruses, or faulty hardware, such as a modem, router, or network card. Driver issues are also a possibility.
5. Blue Screen of Death
There is nothing more worrying and possibly frightening, for you to be working on something, only for the screen to go blue. Blue screen of death errors, are in most cases, the result of a hardware-related issue, and are possible signs of potential system failure. However, there are things that you can do. A system reboot is the most immediate thing that you can do, and in many cases, is all you need to do.
However, in order to find out the root cause of the problem, you will need to carry out additional diagnostics. Whenever the blue screen appears, it should be accompanied by text, which indicates the kind of error you’re dealing with. With this information, you can look it up on the internet, to find out exactly what’s causing it, and thus, pinpoint the problem within your computer.
6. The System Is Slow
If your computer is running much slower than usual, the simplest way of getting things back to normal is to remove any and all unwanted files from your main hard drive. You should also ensure you have the appropriate internet security tools running on your system, such as antivirus, antispyware, antimalware, and a firewall program. Regular registry scans are also helpful. Having additional hard drives, such as an external drive, will give you more places to store your data, which in turn, will help maintain the performance of your system.
7. The Screen Resolution Is Very Low
If after a system restart you notice that the screen resolution has changed, and now everything looks truncated, it’s usually the result of an issue with the graphics card. In most cases, you can fix the problem by updating your graphics card drivers. If you know the exact brand and model of your graphics card, then you should have no problem locating and downloading the correct drivers online.
If after updating the drivers, the problem continues to persist, then the problem is probably much larger than a simple driver issue. In other situations, such a problem could be the result of a faulty graphics card. So you may be forced to purchase a new one. However, in most cases, the issue is software related, so such drastic steps are rarely required.
8. Overheating
If your computer isn’t being sufficiently cooled, then the components within the case will heat up to dangerous temperatures, during common use. To avoid permanent damage to your computer, one thing you can do is simply turn the computer off, and allow it to cool down. However, the long term solution is simply to purchase internal exhaust fans for the computer.
Author: Uchenna Ani-Okoye is a former IT Manager who now runs his own computer support website Compu Chenna.
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