How to Fix Common Computer Problems for Average People
The computer technology today is changing faster than ever before. New updates, better hardware and software – all of this is designed to make our lives easier. But in most cases, an average user doesn’t always benefit from this, but often fails to understand common computer problems and therefore doesn’t know how to fix them. This article is here to help those average people by explaining the most common computer problems and providing step-by-step solutions.
Hardware Problems
Hardware problems constitute the most difficult and delicate problems of the computer’s overall performance. Most of these issues are related to the physical characteristics of the device.
Loud Fans
The fans of a computer are necessary to maintain a consistent operating temperature to prevent the device from overheating. Usually, they are relatively quiet, but if they become increasingly loud it may indicate that something is wrong. The most common cause of loud fans is dust accumulation. Over time, dust accumulates in the inner components of the computer and clogs the fans thus reducing their efficiency. To fix this one simply needs to clear the dust from the device’s interior.
Here are some steps you can take to clean a computer:
- Shut down the computer, unplug it from the wall socket and remove batteries from laptops.
- Carefully open up the case and examine its interior. Look for dust accumulations.
- Gently remove dust with the help of compressed air or a vacuum cleaner or a brush.
- Be careful not to damage any of the components while doing this.
- Reassemble the computer and power it on.
Computer (CPU) Overheating
Computer overheating is another prevalent hardware problem that can occur in any type of system. Excessive heat buildup in computers can cause additional stress on its components and result in potential hardware failure and other performance issues.
The reasons for computer overheating can vary:
- insufficient cooling system
- loose or defective fan
- too dusty internal components
- defective thermal paste between CPU and heat sink
The most suitable solutions for this problem depend on its cause but usually include:
- cleaning up your computer’s interior
- replacing old thermal paste between CPU and heat sink
- installing additional cooling components like additional fans or better replacement ones.
Software Problems
Software problems are mainly related to installed applications or the operating system that runs on the device. They are usually caused by a conflict with one or more applications or user settings that lead to performance degradation or complete non-functionality of certain software.
If you encounter any software problems it is usually best to start by resetting the application or OS that is affected.
Here are some basic steps for resetting your Windows OS:
- Open the Windows Settings, then choose „Update & Security“ followed by „Reset this PC“.
- Choose whether to keep your files or completely delete them (if you don’t need any files you can delete them all).
- After everything is prepared, you will be asked to confirm your selection, select „Reset“.
- Wait until the process is completed (this might take several minutes).
This procedure can also be done if your device is affected by a virus affected system files. In order to avoid such damages in future it is best to have reliable third-party antivirus protection installed on your computer.
System Slowdown Problems
System slowdown issues as another common problem for computer users can usually be resolved with common steps such as cleaning up the disk space, checking installed applications for compatibility issues, disabling unnecessary processes and services, running disk defragmentation utilities, updating drivers and using a PC optimization tool such as CCleaner.
The procedure looks like this:
- Check installed applications for compatibility issues by running them in compatibility mode.
- Disable unnecessary startup processes or services that are running in the background.
- Run disk defragment tools (in Windows Settings > System > Storage).
- Update existing drivers (in Windows Settings > System > Apps & features).
- Clean up your hard drive by removing unnecessary files or programs.
- Run CCleaner to completely remove all traces of junk files.
After following all these steps, you should be able to experience improved performance and stability of your computer system.
Table Of Solutions To Typical Computer Problems
| Problem | Solution | Additional Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Loud Fans | Clean up fan and interior | Unplug, clean and reassemble. |
| Computer (CPU) Overheating | Clean up computer’s interior and replace thermal paste. | Unplug and reassemble. |
| Software Problems | Reset application or OS. | |
| System Slowdown Problems | Check installed apps, disable background processes and services, use disk defragmenter, update drivers and use PC optimization software. |
As you can see from the table above, there are several common problems that average people can run into with their computers. Knowing how to fix these basic issues can save time and energy in getting back your PC working properly again.
When it comes to complex hardware problems like over-heating or hardware malfunctions it may be necessary to seek professional help as these cases may be too hard to handle on your own. And lastly, always make sure that you have an up-to-date antivirus program installed on your computer as most virus infections lead to problems that require significantly more effort to resolve.
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