Whether you love computers or hate them, chances are you’ve been spending a lot more time using them recently.
Since the pandemic began, Americans spend an average of 13 (or more) hours staring at a screen every day. Many of us are working remotely at home, while our kids are attending virtual classes. After hours, the computer time continues with Zoom parties and Netflix binge sessions.
The last thing you need is some unexpected computer problems interrupting your work, studies, or leisure time.
If you’re trying to fix some common computer problems, we’re here to help. Keep reading to learn more about troubleshooting for your computer or laptop.
1. Your PC Overheats
Like all machines, your computer generates a certain amount of heat while it runs. However, serious problems can occur when the cooling system doesn’t work as it should.
If your laptop overheats, it will slow down the whole operating system. You may experience frequent crashes. Worst of all, prolonged heat exposure can damage some of your PC components.
To solve this problem, keep your computer (and the area around it) free of dust and debris. Open it up once a year to remove the dust, or take it to a professional for cleaning. You should also make sure there’s nothing blocking the cooling fans.
2. Your Computer Is Running (Very) Slow
Do you sit there waiting forever for your programs to load or your processes to run? Slowness is one of the most common computer problems for laptop and PC users.
If it happens occasionally, the easiest fix is simply to restart your computer. This will close any background programs or processes that may have been slowing everything down.
If you continue to have the problem, check your C Drive and RAM usage. You may need to defrag the hard drive to clear up some space or increase the available physical memory. It’s also worth shutting down unnecessary programs that don’t need to constantly run in the background, such as Spotify or Steam Client.
What if it’s your personal blog or business website that’s running slowly? Bulky file sizes could be part of the problem. Make sure you’re optimizing all images before you load them on your blog or website.
3. You Accidentally Deleted Important Files
Few things are as disconcerting as deleting a program or file, only to realize it contained important information. In very complex cases, you may need to take your computer to a data recovery professional. Most of the time, though, you can retrieve the deleted data on your own.
First, visit your computer’s Recycle Bin. If you haven’t emptied it recently, you should find the file and be able to “restore” it from there.
If that doesn’t work, check to see if you have data recovery or “undelete” software installed on your computer. Follow the necessary steps to locate and restore the missing data. Businesses who aren’t yet using this type of software should seriously consider installing it — just in case.
4. Your Internet Is Slow or Unresponsive
Troubleshooting internet problems should start with your WiFi or LAN network connection.
Assuming those are up and running normally, the next most likely issue is a conflict in the IP address registration. Reboot the router or modem to see if this solves the problem.
If it doesn’t, your web browser could be to blame. Clear out your cache and online search history. Check if there are any browser extensions that need updating and delete the ones you don’t regularly use.
Still dealing with a sluggish online experience? Try uninstalling and reinstalling your browser (or switch to a different one) to see if the problem persists.
5. You See the Blue Screen of Death
One of the most common computer problems is a STOP error, often called the “Blue Screen of Death.”
Don’t worry — it doesn’t mean your computer has died. It could signal an underlying hardware issue or system failure, but it’s not always that complicated.
Start with a simple reboot to see if this solves the problem. Before you shut down (or if the BSOD reappears), take note of the line of white text that contains lots of zeroes. Consult a list of BSOD error codes to get a clearer idea of the problem.
Depending on the issue, you may need to call a professional for assistance.
6. Your Computer Keeps Freezing Up
Even more frustrating than a computer that’s too slow is one that freezes up and stops working altogether. Oftentimes this is the result of too many programs and processes running in the background.
As always, start with a reboot to see if your computer regains its normal function. If it continues to freeze, there are few different things that could cause the problem:
- Registry errors
- Insufficient system memory
- Corrupted files
- Spyware or malware
Start by running a system check to see how much available memory you have. If that checks out, run your antivirus and malware programs to see if your computer is infected. These programs can find any errors or malware and tell you how to fix them.
Common Computer Problems: Solved!
Computer problems can really give you a headache, especially since they always seem to occur at the worst possible time.
The good news is that there are fast and easy solutions for the most common computer problems. Bookmark this list and refer back to it the next time your PC starts acting up!
Now that your computer is running smoothly again, it’s time to get back to converting files. Read our complete guide on how to convert the most common file types.