Believe it or not, you can often solve seemingly difficult computer problems on your own. Even poking around in a computer is not particularly difficult if you know what you’re looking for, so it’s often worth fiddling around inside your computer itself to see if you can fix the problem or at least identify it. Note that this only applies to desktop PCs, not laptops; it’s probably best to have an expert look at your laptop as many of the components are specially designed and difficult for the consumer to replace independently.
1.
If you’ve ever run a Windows PC, you know that crashes are virtually a part of life. There’s no chance that your PC will never crash. If it happens once or twice, there probably isn’t anything to worry about. When it crashes regularly, though, you may have a problem on your hands. Diagnosing the cause of a crash isn’t difficult. If you get a blue screen of death, note down every number on the screen. Often they’ll be the key to figuring out the exact problem. You can either Google them or use Microsoft’s website to find a potential solution.
If you’re not getting a blue screen, take note of what you’re doing every time the computer crashes. See if there’s a pattern. If so, there may be a program at fault using up too much of your PC’s memory. If that’s the case, an uninstall and reinstall should fix the problem. If it’s not, make sure to keep an eye on your PC’s virtual memory. Using too much will cause your computer to crash.
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Viruses sound scary and they are certainly a threat to your PC if you’re not vigilant. Some of them are surprisingly easy to fix, though, if you can tell when you have one. The most effective solution is actually to use an antivirus program. The number of people who don’t follow through on this simple task is absolutely astounding. Make sure it’s always updated and run a full scan at least once a week.
If a virus does hit you, disconnect from all of your networks and then run the virus scan. If your antivirus program doesn’t get it, download free trials of others. If no program detects it, have a look for suspicious processes. Technically proficient users will probably see the wrong files quickly; this may be the end of the line for some. If you’re vigilant, though, you shouldn’t have to worry about viruses.
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What if your computer just doesn’t turn on? This can be terrifying at first. All of your data now seems locked into this box that you can no longer access. Don’t worry. If the computer doesn’t work at all (and it’s plugged in), your problem is likely to be your power supply. These are readily available in retail shops and online. Measure your current power supply – you’ll recognize it because that’s where the plug connects – and get a similar new model, possibly with a higher voltage to ensure the problem doesn’t happen again.
Before you reach into your PC, though, make sure to touch metal and get rid of the static on your clothes. If you don’t, you risk ruining all the hardware – definitely not worth it.