If you consider yourself unskilled with computers, knowing what to do when your computer has a problem can be frustrating and overwhelming. But with a few tips, you should be able to fix your computer without any help saving you a great deal of money on IT support. Whether you have Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP, these basic troubleshooting steps solve most computer glitches and freezes. You may want to print them for your future reference, just in case your computer isn’t cooperating.
Reboot, Reboot, Reboot
Sometimes a basic reboot is all your computer needs. Errors are often one-time events and go away after you start up the computer again. Save all of your work first. If possible, attempt to restart by clicking the Windows Start menu in the lower left corner of your computer’s screen. Select “Restart” in the options listed in the “Shut down” menu item. Continue troubleshooting if restarting doesn’t fix the problem or if your screen is frozen and you can’t perform a normal restart.
Frozen Screen
When the Start menu won’t open because your screen is fully or partially frozen, you may still be able to navigate your computer by using your keyboard. Press and hold the “Control” (or “Ctrl”), “Alt” and “Delete” (or “Del”) keys, in that order. Let go of the three keys when the screen changes. Depending on what version of Windows you use, you’ll have several options. Open the “Task Manager,” which lists all of the programs currently running. Look for programs that have a status of “Not Responding” and click “End Task.” If this doesn’t work, press and hold “Control,” “Alt” and “Delete” again and try to log out. Once you return to the Windows welcome screen, try to restart from there.
If none of these steps help, you may have to manually restart your machine. Note that you may lose any work that you haven’t saved, so only do this if you have tried other options. Press and hold the power button on your computer until it powers down. If you use a desktop computer, make sure you press the power button on the main console, not just the monitor. Wait about 30 seconds and then power on the machine again. Your screen will say that the computer didn’t shut down properly. Choose the option to “Start Windows Normally.” The other options are for more advanced troubleshooting, which you don’t need to do yet.
Cord Connections
One troubleshooting step that is often overlooked, particularly with desktop computers, is checking whether all of the cords are connected. Test all of the wire connections between the monitor, console, keyboard, router, power source and other external devices like webcams and printers.
Wireless Connections
Wireless devices can have connection issues too. If you have a wireless device like a printer or mouse, make sure it is turned on and has working batteries, if applicable. If you use wireless Internet, check your wireless connection, which is displayed in the lower right corner of your screen in the form of bars. Clicking on this icon will show you whether you’re connected or not. If you’re not connected, make sure your computer’s wireless access is switched on. Some laptops have wireless switches that accidentally get bumped. Otherwise, try resetting your modem and router. Unplug them, wait about 30 seconds, and then plug them back in. This simple step solves a lot of Internet connection problems. If you continue to have connection problems, contact your Internet Service Provider.
Windows Update
Many computer problems are quickly and easily resolved by running Windows Update. Microsoft’s software developers periodically release software updates that fix common glitches. Your computer needs to be connected to the Internet to install them. Click the Start menu, select “All Programs” and click Windows Update. Look for any “critical” or “important” updates. Select them and click “OK.” Restart your computer once the installations are complete.
Microsoft recommends that you configure Windows Update so it automatically downloads and installs updates. To enable automatic updates, click “Change settings” in the Windows Update window. Make sure “Install updates automatically” is selected in the drop-down menu.
Viruses and Other Harmful Software
Sometimes computer performance issues are symptoms of malicious software that somehow found your computer. This is why it is important to have up-to-date anti-virus software. If you suspect something like a virus is on your machine, open your anti-virus software and download any updates. Make sure that it installs updates automatically in the future. Once it is up-to-date, run a full system scan. The program should find and remove any harmful software. Restart your computer when prompted by the program.
System Restore
Sometimes you may be able to “undo” any changes to your computer that are causing problems. Errors often occur after the installation of a new software program. A system restore removes any major changes to your computer and restores it to a previous condition. It won’t change any files you’ve saved, so don’t worry about losing things like documents or pictures. Click the Start menu and open the Control Panel. Find the command: “Restore your computer to an earlier time.” Where this command is depends on what version of Windows you use. In Windows 7, you can find it in “System and Security” in the “Action Center.” Once you click this option, choose one of the restoration points available. If you recently installed or updated software, choose a point prior to this installation. Then follow the instructions on-screen. If you resolve the problem and know what program installation caused it, contact the program’s manufacturer to report the problem.
Advanced Troubleshooting
If these basic steps don’t resolve your problem, you’re ready to move on to advanced troubleshooting. We offer three convenient support options to quickly get your issues resolved. If you have a working internet connection, try our remote support. You can also bring your system to our shop or schedule an appointment for an on-site visit.
About Garry Wilmeth