Before You Call For Computer Repair
Whether you use a laptop or personal computer for work, school or recreation, you most likely know how frustrating it can be when your operating system calls it quits. All computer users fall prey to the clichés of a computer system at some point in our life:
- Writing a final term paper when your computer dies, losing countless hours of hard work.
- Sending out invoices to your clients when your finance management program freezes.
- Designing a complete set of wedding invitations for your first customer only to suddenly have your system shut down.
The scenarios are so common. Whatever you spend your computer time on, losing hours, days, or even weeks of hard work is absolutely tragic. And after the initial shock wears off, you are left with just one question: What do I do now?
Before you pick up the phone to call your local computer repair expert, make sure your computer’s problem isn’t caused by an overlooked user error. So many people forget to do some initial assessing to make sure the error isn’t a dumb mistake. Here are a few things to check before you call in a computer IT professional.
Is Power the Problem?
If your laptop or PC has simply shut down or turned itself off, one obvious but often overlooked problem could be its power supply. If you’re using a laptop, the battery may have died and simply needs to be recharged. If you have a desktop, you may have accidently kicked out the power cord. Check all cords to make sure they are properly connected and try to start your computer. You’ll be surprised how often this is the problem.
Does It Simply Need A Restart?
If your computer has frozen or won’t allow you to run certain programs, try rebooting it. Depending on your operating system you can either reboot through the desktop or manually. If you can’t reboot from the desktop, look for a restart button on the computer, usually located on the sides, above the keyword or in the back. One thing to note… you may lose your most recently entered data if you force a restart or reboot. Some programs have an autosave feature that should return you to a fairly recent point in your work; if you are an avid saver than you won’t have much to worry about anyway.
Do you have a Virus?
Is your computer performing strangely; default web pages changing themselves, browsers or software programs turning themselves on and off? This could be a spyware or virus problem. Run a virus check on your operating system using your anti-virus software. There are several software options available to home and office users. Find one that meets your needs by reading reviews online or talking to a local computer retailer or support specialist about what they recommend.
Running Slow?
If your computer is simply running poorly, you might need to update your software applications. Old programs can cause your entire system to run slowly. Most operating systems when connected to the internet will send you notices when a new software update is available. If that isn’t the case for your computer, you can go to a software company’s website and download updates from there. If you don’t have internet access, you will need to go to a computer supply store and buy software update packages in person.
Still Running Slow?
If your computer freezes or you are still experiencing slow performance, clean up and manage your memory and programs. Do you have a lot of large data files like pictures, music, or videos? These large files can take up a lot of memory on your computer slowing up other processes. Erasing old files you don’t need any more or saving them to an external hard drive will bring your computer back up to speed. Do you have more programs on your computer than you need or use? Every program you install or download takes up the space on your hard drive. Depending on the size of your drive, a handful of programs can slow down a system very quickly. Removing applications from your computer that you do not use or need will also free up space and give your laptop room to perform better.
So you’ve gone through this checklist and you still are having problems. Then consider yourself justified in calling an IT help desk or local computer repair service. Look for a company that tailors its help to your unique personal need. A good IT consultant will not only have the tools to fix the problem you’re currently facing, but will provide valuable information to help you prevent more problems in the future. It’s also helpful to find a company that offers free consultations — you don’t want to pay for something that isn’t actually going to help you get back on your feet.
~Ben Nystrom, 2009
