Common computer laptop problems and how to fix them
A huge chunk of the corporate world is mobile, and they need computing power that can accommodate that. Over the years laptops have gone from bulky and heavy to slim and lightweight. But, even with all the upgrades in power, size, capacity, and memory, laptop problems still arise pretty regularly. Here is a quick list of five of the most common computer laptop problems and how to fix them we hear about and how you can address them on your own.
1. Slow Performance
You may start to notice slower performance in applications you use every day. That’s likely a problem stemming from your operating system. Typically, this is a result of fragmentation on your C drive (C :). It’s not a big problem – easily resolved by doing some basic software cleanup. Run a quick system check from your Task Manager to see which applications are taking up the most CPU and RAM resources.
- Solution: Remove any unnecessary programs or processes running in the background that you don’t use. In the unlikely event that there are more complicated hardware issues to contend with, operating systems now come pre-programmed with a suite of free diagnostic and troubleshooting tests you can run to narrow down the problems.
2. Problem: Loud fan or heating up followed by shut down.
Laptops get moved around a lot. This can lead to limiting air intake to the fan. It also gives them plenty of opportunities to drag dust and foreign particles into their cooling system via their fan portal.
- Solution: Use your laptop on hard, flat surfaces; Avoid putting it on soft surfaces that may block the air passage. Clean out your fan with compressed air. Limit how many programs you run at once as well because the more you have running, the harder it has to work.
3. Computer Constantly Freezes
Computers are complex machines that manage multiple processes without you even seeing them. This complexity can sometimes cause your computer to freeze or not respond to your actions. Nine out of 10 times you can remedy this simply by rebooting your system. In the event that you are experiencing constant freezes, it could be a sign of insufficient system memory, registry errors, corrupted files, or even spyware. You should check each of these potential issues one by one until the problem is rectified.
- Solutions: Running system checks in the background will tell you if you don’t have sufficient memory in your system for the applications you use. Antivirus and malware programs can run a more thorough check. They can see if your system’s resources are being impacted by viral infections and registry errors. They’ll help you correct them, too.
4. Computer won’t turn on
This is probably the no.1 problem faced by many of us. To understand this problem, you can compare it to our human body.
When we are sick, we often get a fever. It’s the body’s mechanism to fight infection. In the same way, when the computer faces any problem, it usually won’t turn on until you fix that.
There are hundreds of reasons why a PC won’t boot up. The issues can range from power supply failure to virus infection. Normally, by following the steps given below, your computer should be able to start.
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Solutions:
1. Check the power supply
- If it’s a laptop, a loss of power could result from a battery that has completely run out of charge. So, the first thing to do is to plug it in and leave it to charge for a few hours. If that doesn’t work, it could mean the charger is faulty, so, if you can try a different charger. If the charger has a power indicator, check whether it lights up when you plug it in.
- If your PC is a desktop computer and doesn’t start, check that it’s not the plug socket at fault by plugging it into a different socket. If that doesn’t work, it could be that the power supply in your PC has failed.
2. Make sure the monitor or display is functional
If you can see that your PC has power, because the fans start-up or the power lights come on, but nothing else happens, there are a couple of possible faults.
- If you have a desktop PC connected to an external monitor, it could be the display that’s faulty. Check the power connection to the monitor and that it’s properly connected to your PC. Try disconnecting it and reconnecting it. If that doesn’t work, try connecting a different monitor, if possible. That way you’ll be able to either determine it’s the monitor’s fault or rule it out.
- If you have a laptop, or if you’ve ruled out the external display, it could be that your PC is in sleep mode and is having trouble waking. To check that, shut it down completely and restart from cold. To do that, hold down the power button for 5 seconds and then press it again to start your PC.
3. Eliminate external hardware
If none of the steps above work, the peripherals could be the culprit. This could either happen because of electrical issues or external hardware failures.
After doing this, try restarting the system again to see if it works or not. If it doesn’t, move on the next final step.
5. Reinstall system
If none of the steps work, the last thing you would want to do is to reinstall your Windows. Because till this point, you can be sure that it’s the software and not a hardware issue.
Since you can’t turn your computer on, there’s no way to get access to your file. However, there are methods to backup your files from the hard drive. A clean installation will help to reset everything back to normal, should your system is infected or corrupted.
