How To Repair Pc Problems

If yous know what a USB port looks like, chances are you lot're regularly called upon as the 'IT good' by friends and family whenever a figurer goes bust or a window mysteriously disappears.

Below are some of the well-nigh useful tips I've gathered over many years of troubleshooting PCs and despairing at the number of browser toolbars unsuspecting pensioners install. And no, I'm not going to come around to "have a wait". Piece of work your style through all of these first...

Full general problems

1. Be Google smart
Google tin can be a huge help when information technology comes to specific error codes and very detailed problems. Information technology's less useful for "my PC is running slowly" queries. Include as much detail as you lot can, putting "+" before keywords that must be matched and "-" earlier keywords to exclude.

ii. Organisation Restore
Windows' built-in roll-back characteristic volition undo recent changes to the registry and hardware and software setup of your reckoner, without affecting your personal files and vacation photos. It's a good place to start if something has very recently gone wrong. You'll notice Arrangement Restore via Command Panel.

three. Safety Mode
Tap F8 during boot-up to admission the boot menu. Cull Condom Mode to launch a special stripped-down version of Windows that keeps drivers and background utilities to a minimum and looks like it's straight out of 1995. Prophylactic Style tin be used to uninstall programs or devices, or run fixes, if you can't get into Windows normally.

4. Overheating
If your PC crashes at seemingly random times -- in other words, there'south no detail software programme or hardware device that prompts it -- it'southward possible that your estimator or laptop is overheating. Invest in some other fan or a laptop cooler if you think this may be the cause.

5. On-demand scans
A whole bundle of problems are caused past viruses and spyware, from slow functioning to unexplained reboots. It goes without proverb that you should keep your anti-virus and anti-spyware tools right upwardly to date, but you might desire to run an on-demand scanner as well to get another stance -- Spybot Search & Destroy and Microsoft's own Safety Scanner are ii good choices that won't interfere with your existing security tools.

6. Background noise
Sluggish performance that degrades over time tin can be due to more than and more than programs deciding they'd similar to run in the groundwork. Open up Task Manager (correct-click on the taskbar) to see what's actually using up the RAM and CPU time on your PC -- if any of the entries under Processes and Services don't make much sense, run a quick Google search for details of what they are.

7. Selective startup
If you find any superfluous entries in Chore Director, chances are they're being launched with Windows. Scour the Startup folder on the Kickoff menu to find and remove anything you lot don't really demand all of the time. For more control over the Windows startup procedure, type "msconfig" into the Showtime menu search box and hit Enter -- the subsequent dialog lets you lot make detailed changes to which services and tools can launch automatically at the same time as the operating system.

40 tips for fixing almost any PC problem: startup

You lot might be surprised at how many services get-go up with Windows.

8. Restoring files
When Windows deletes a file, information technology doesn't movement the 1s and 0s, it simply removes the references to them and marks the disk space as gratis. Unless you've overwritten the file with something else, you might be able to get information technology back -- Recuva is one of the best and most straightforward gratuitous tools for the job.

9. Windows won't start
Windows comes with diverse system recovery options (besides Rubber Mode) that you can apply if the operating system won't boot. Tap F8 when booting and choose 'Last Known Adept Configuration' to revert dorsum to the settings in identify when Windows final launched. Another trick y'all tin try is to unplug all non-essential peripherals -- sometimes a badly configured device will crusade the startup process to hang.

x. Motherboard beeps
If your PC gets so far and no further, and you find it beeps at y'all and shuts downwardly before Windows even starts loading, the trouble is at a lower level. Motherboards will alert you to what's gone wrong past the number of beeps -- cheque the user transmission to find out what they mean, or await for a digital copy on the manufacturer's website.

11. No power
If the PC or laptop doesn't get going at all, either you're in the middle of a power cut, your power cable is faulty, or the ability supply unit of measurement/battery is bust. See if you tin source a cheap spare cable or battery first, as a PSU replacement will cost significantly more than.

12. Forums
If you practice have to turn to the spider web, locate the programmer or manufacturer's official back up forums before you turn to Google. You may find there's a detail set bachelor or advice from other users. For smaller freeware programs, you may even find posts from the developer.

xiii. Ask Microsoft
It turns out MIcrosoft does know a thing or two about their own systems -- it offers an automatic Fixit tool, which will try and detect what'due south going wrong and then do something about it.

40 tips for fixing almost any PC problem: fixit

The Microsoft Fixit site offers a number of simple troubleshooting wizards.

fourteen. Registry cleaning
The labyrinthine settings file that is the Windows registry tin cause errors, program crashes and arrangement restarts if something has gone wrong deep within information technology. There are plenty of 3rd-party tools that will scan information technology for bug for you, though not all of them are trustworthy -- Glary Registry Repair is i of the ones you can depend on (though as with any advanced tweaking tool, use at your own risk -- yous do back up, right?).

15. Re-install Windows
This is the scorched earth policy -- but information technology's not as drastic every bit y'all might think. Many PCs and laptops come with recovery discs or a recovery partition on the hard drive that you tin can utilize to return your calculator to the state information technology was in when it arrived from the factory. Of course, it goes without saying that you'll need to install your software again and you'll lose all your personal data, so you'll need copies of your of import files (photos, university essays etc). This process is gear up to be made fifty-fifty easier in Windows 8.

Hardware bug

16. Test on another figurer
Employ another computer to test your malfunctioning mouse/camera/printer, or merely some other USB port, to help y'all work out where the fault lies. If the problem vanishes, it'south not the device itself that'due south to blame.

17. New drivers
Caput to the manufacturer's website and chase down the latest drivers and/or firmware for your device -- installing these updates volition replace damaged files, add the latest bug fixes and improve compatibility with other hardware and software.

18. Old drivers
Windows and devices themselves sometimes install new drivers without asking and these occasionally cause problems. To gyre back to a previous version, find the hardware in question in Device Manager, right-click and choose Properties and open up the Driver tab.

nineteen. Uninstall drivers
Staying in Device Manager -- in that location'southward an Uninstall choice that will remove all traces of the hardware in question from your system. Reboot and reattach the device to launch the installation procedure from scratch, which may resolve your issue.

40 tips for fixing almost any PC problem: drivers

Update, ringlet back and uninstall drivers from Device Manager.

20. Test the memory
It'south not like shooting fish in a barrel to tell when your memory is failing you and it doesn't happen oftentimes -- intermittent organization instability and software crashes are the usual signs. A decent memory diagnostics tester like MemTest86+ tin can assist by scanning the installed modules and alerting y'all to any potential issues.

21. Test the hard drive
Modern hard drives take something known as SMART (Self Monitoring And Reporting Engineering science) congenital into them. It's a standardised technology the disks apply to report their status and full general wellness back to Windows. Plenty of complimentary applications can read and report this SMART data -- HDD Health is one example, which also supports SSD drives -- and they will display warning signs if you need to buy a replacement drive in the virtually futurity.

22. Windows disk checking
Windows has its own deejay-checking tool that looks for problems on your installed difficult drives -- right-click on a drive in Windows Explorer, choose Properties and then the Tools tab to find information technology.

23. Screen issues
Bug with the display tin exist caused by the graphics carte du jour, the monitor itself or the connecting cablevision (if y'all're not using a laptop). Using a spare cablevision (if available) or switching to on-board graphics (again, if available) tin help you work out exactly which link in the chain is the i going wrong. If your monitor or screen is found to exist faulty, in that location's not much you tin can do except dig out the warranty or pay a visit to the local repair store.

24. Open her up
You don't have to be a PC-building expert to take a peek under the case -- just brand sure you ground yourself to remove whatsoever static electricity first, and unplug the computer from the mains. Bank check for loose connections and screws or an excessive build-up of dust (a tin can of compressed air tin can assistance here). Laptops are less like shooting fish in a barrel to poke around in, merely some practice allow access to the retention and hard bulldoze, and then you tin can bank check these connections. You may find more guidance from the manufacturer's website or the supplied documentation.

25. Backup
Unfortunately, in that location are times when in that location'southward just nothing you can do, and you have to have that your difficult drive or ability supply unit is kaput. It'due south vital that y'all take backups of your of import files and folders, and there's no shortage of services willing to help out -- Google Drive, SkyDrive, Dropbox and Backblaze, to proper noun just a few.

Software problems

26. Updates
Has the programme y'all're struggling with made an update bachelor? Perhaps to support new hardware or operating system features? It's worth checking via the programmer'south website or the built-in update tool that most software has, though the majority of updates at present install automatically.

27. Re-install
If problems persist, strip out all traces of the plan in question using a third-party uninstaller -- Revo Uninstaller will exercise the job for free -- then offset the installation process once again from scratch with a fresh download or the original discs. Why? It ensures any decadent or damaged files are replaced and all of the software's settings are reset.

28. Plug-ins
Bear in mind that the problem may not lie with the software itself but with i of the program'due south plug-ins or extensions -- try disabling these add-ons one by one to see if the issue is resolved.

40 tips for fixing almost any PC problem: plugins

Plug-ins and add-ons are at the root of a lot of software problems.

29. Clean up
Many applications will create caches of temporary files that can occasionally interfere with program behaviour -- look for an choice that will wipe these files. CCleaner is a handy third-party freeware utility that cleans up temporary files for many dissimilar applications.

30. Conflicting programs
Is the troublesome application having problems because of another plan on the arrangement? This can be particularly mutual with security tools that endeavor and exercise the same thing at the aforementioned time. Endeavor temporarily disabling other programs that might be causing interference.

Net problems

31. Find the fault
First step: find where the trouble is. Check if you can connect to the web on other computers and devices. Ideally plug a laptop into the router directly and run the router'due south born testing diagnostics -- your Internet service provider may be experiencing problems. If in that location's only one PC that can't get online, at that place'due south likely to be a problem with its network adaptor or settings.

32. Adaptor bug
If you doubtable the adaptor is to blame (a wireless USB dongle, for example), bank check the hardware tips above. Endeavor updating the adaptor's driver, uninstalling and reinstalling, or only plugging it in another USB port.

33. Update firmware
It's possible there's a firmware update for the router that you lot're using, though some ISPs frown on users taking this much command over their network setup. The all-time identify to beginning looking is the client forums for your ISP, where you should observe details of which gratis router y'all've been lumbered with and how y'all can update its firmware.

34. Reboots all circular
The reboot procedure is something of a troubleshooting cliche, but that's because it ofttimes works -- turn the router off for 30-60 seconds to re-constitute the connectedness and reset the router. Reboot your PC for practiced measure to attempt to connect again.

35. Change channels
Routers typically share the aforementioned frequency as other devices, like microwaves and baby monitors, which can slow down your connexion -- either move other wireless devices away, or modify the channel used by your router (see the router settings for assistance with doing this).

40 tips for fixing almost any PC problem: channels

Switching to a different router channel could set up dull broadband speeds.

36. Is it down?
If you're having issues with a particular site, wait it up on www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com -- the problem may not exist at your end. Annotation that if something large scale suffers a failure -- like Amazon'southward S3 storage -- it can affect many unlike sites and services at one time.

37. Network management
Delve into the Network and Sharing Middle in Windows to brand sure there aren't multiple programs trying to manage your wireless connexion. Laptop manufacturers will oft parcel their ain network management software with their machines, which is fine as long as these applications aren't trying to work concurrently with Windows' ain utilities.

38. Browser woes
Switching to an alternative browser is a simple style to exam if your Internet-related bug are being caused by your favourite browser. If the browser is to arraign, effort some of the software tips I mentioned earlier, and take a long hard await at the plug-ins and extensions.

39. Firewall settings
Firewalls tin can exist temperamental and might exist blocking the site, service or plan you're trying to use. Consult the incoming and outgoing settings when you lot've found them (if you lot're using the Windows Firewall, head to Command Console). If you lot're struggling to get online with a detail game or networking tool, y'all might find instructions for allowing firewall access in the supplied documentation.

40 tips for fixing almost any PC problem: firewall

Some networking tools and games will need special firewall permissions.

xl. View connections
Head into the Network and Sharing Centre to make sure your PC is trying to connect using the right connexion (wireless versus wired, for example). While all of this should configure itself automatically, rogue programs or security tools tin make changes they shouldn't. There are also some troubleshooters built into the Network and Sharing Centre, which are surprisingly useful.