Many individuals heavily depend on their computers, making any malfunction feel as disruptive as a power outage or water supply interruption. Naturally, the goal is to restore your computer's functionality promptly, but this task often proves challenging. Given the vast array of potential computer issues, compounded by the uniqueness of each user's system and settings, pinpointing the exact problem can be daunting. However, it's worth noting that numerous issues stem from straightforward causes. Before seeking professional assistance—which is recommended in many situations—it's advisable to attempt these basic troubleshooting steps to potentially resolve the issue on your own.
1. Use Antivirus program
While it might sound straightforward, it's an effective approach: initiate your virus-detection software, opt for the most exhaustive and comprehensive scan, and allow it to perform its task. Keep in mind that the most thorough scan, which examines the highest number of files and consumes the most time, might not be your computer's default setting. Therefore, review the software settings to identify available options. Before proceeding, ensure that your scanner is updated to detect the latest malicious codes effectively.
Recognizing that antivirus tools can occasionally overlook threats or become compromised, seeking a secondary assessment is prudent. Many antivirus providers offer lightweight, on-demand scanners designed to complement your primary security software, adding an extra layer of defense. Examples include Kaspersky Security Scan for both Windows and macOS, Microsoft Safety Scanner for Windows, or Emsisoft Emergency Kit exclusively for Windows.
3. Update your software
Numerous computer issues stem from outdated or unpatched software, ranging from ransomware attacks to keyboards exhibiting erratic behavior. Thankfully, many software updates are now automated due to their critical nature, explaining occasional unexpected system reboots.
Start by prioritizing your operating system. For Windows users, navigate to Settings, then select Update & Security to search for available updates. If you're on macOS, access the App Store either from the dock or the Applications folder in Finder, and head to the Updates section. Ensure you install any available updates.
Additionally, it's crucial to monitor updates for other essential applications, such as your web browser and antivirus software, even if they're configured for automatic updates. Typically, the update option is prominently displayed within each application. However, if you encounter any difficulties, refer to the app's help documentation for guidance.
3. Remove unwanted programs:
Keeping older, unused software on your hard drive might seem inconsequential, but as the number of applications accumulates, your operating system faces increased strain. This accumulation leads to file fragmentation, where files become dispersed across the drive, making storage retrieval less efficient. Consequently, available storage space diminishes.
If you observe your computer exhibiting sluggishness, unexpected crashes, or other erratic behaviors, it could be struggling due to the software overload. To address this, you can uninstall unnecessary applications via the Apps section in Windows Settings or by dragging the application shortcut to the macOS trash. For certain macOS apps, you can delete them from Launchpad by holding down an icon until it wiggles and then clicking the 'X' icon.
Similarly, an overloaded browser, filled with numerous extensions and add-ons, can experience performance issues. To optimize browser performance:
In Google Chrome, click the three vertical dots in the top right, then navigate to More Tools > Extensions.
For Firefox users, access Add-ons from the main app menu.
In Microsoft Edge, select Extensions from the main app menu.
If your system is nearing its storage capacity, it can result in various issues like frequent crashes and reduced speed. After uninstalling unnecessary applications, consider deleting redundant files such as watched movies or duplicated photos, especially if they're already backed up elsewhere. A streamlined system is generally more efficient and less prone to issues.
4. Test your Wi-Fi connection
This troubleshooting technique only applies to internet-related problems—one very specific category of issue. The key to getting your internet up and running again is to work out where the problem lies, and the detective work isn’t as difficult as you might think.
If you can, plug your laptop or desktop computer straight into your router with an Ethernet cable. If you still don’t get internet and nothing connected to Wi-Fi is getting internet (like phones and tablets), then the problem may lie with your router hardware or your internet service provider. If that’s the case, your best option is to get on the phone with the company and ask for assistance.
If some devices can get online and others can’t, that points to problems with those specific devices. We can’t cover every conceivable issue here, but rebooting those gadgets, updating the software installed on them, and switching Wi-Fi off and back on again to establish the connection from scratch are good first steps.
If your computer can get online when plugged directly into the router but not when it’s browsing over Wi-Fi, you might be looking at a problem with your Wi-Fi network. We’ve written before about getting the strongest possible signal around your house, but if that doesn’t get you anywhere, reboot your router and dive into its on-board settings—a quick web search based on the router’s make and model should surface some information about troubleshooting tricks you can try.
5. Reinstall the operating system
Reinstalling Windows or macOS to start anew is an amplified approach to the previously mentioned method of reducing system clutter. This process eliminates problematic software, removes many types of viruses and malware, reverts your internet configurations, and essentially offers a clean start. Prior to initiating this, ensure you've backed up all your essential data.
The convenience of this approach lies in the user-friendly reinstallation processes developed by Microsoft and Apple. For Windows, navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, and choose "Get started" under "Reset this PC." Meanwhile, the procedure varies for macOS depending on whether your device uses Apple silicon or an Intel chip. For newer silicon-based models, power on your device and maintain pressure on the power button until the startup options emerge. Select "Option" and then proceed with "Continue." If you're on an Intel platform, power up your Mac and hold down Cmd+R to access the Utilities program, and then adhere to the installation guidelines.
Resetting your system essentially erases the underlying issue, though there's no absolute assurance of success. Additionally, reintegrating all your applications and files post-reset can be cumbersome, making this approach unsuitable for everyone. Nonetheless, based on our observations, it proves effective for numerous computer-related issues.
Verdict:
While these suggestions might not resolve every issue, they help in eliminating some fundamental culprits. It's also essential to recognize the significance of professional PC repair services—if your computer remains problematic post these steps, consulting a local repair shop is a recommended next step.
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