You have probably encountered some problems with your computer before. But how to solve them? Here are basic troubleshooting steps that can make your issue disappear. Most of them are easier than you think! Note: If there is a hardware problem, go to step 12. You probably won’t be able to fix it yourself if you have to open up your computer.
Table of Contents
- Wait
- Check and Close
- Reboot
- Update
- Scan
- Use safe mode
- Repair
- Restore
- Reinstall
- Find alternatives
- Wipe
- Contact the device manufacturer
1. Wait
In some situations, like when you’re stuck in an unfinished update, your best solution is to wait. Be patient and expect to wait for hours as the process completes. This also applies to a frozen computer but waiting a couple of minutes is already enough as you don’t want your hardware to overheat.
2. Check and Close
If your computer has returned to normal operations, it’s time to learn about what had just happened. It can help you prevent the same error from repeating in the future. Therefore, you have to look for error codes or events in the Event Viewer. If you don’t understand, you can search the Internet to learn about the issue. You have to choose reliable sources and think if the description fits into your error to enable accurate troubleshooting.
You will need to choose the troubleshooting methods involved based on the problem you have. If you use the wrong way or tool, the problem might linger or worsen.
If your computer becomes slow or partially unresponsive, you have to close the program involved in order to prevent the problem from worsening. These are the apps that take up more system resources than usual. In these circumstances, usually, it must be force-closed because the app is frozen. Use the Task Manager if you are in Windows or the Activity Monitor on a Mac.
3. Reboot
If this doesn’t work, the next best solution is to restart your computer. While it seems like an ineffective fix because it doesn’t involve any changes in code, it works many times.
Sometimes, system resources just fill up. Or the computer encounters an error that cannot be fixed while the operating system is running. These are known infamously as the Blue Screen of Death or a kernel panic. There are exceptions in the error-handling ability of apps and operating systems, and some of them are too dangerous to deal with when the corresponding process is running.
Therefore, we have to initialize the programs and get your computer back to normal since it kills issues that the device is experiencing when the app malfunctions temporarily.
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4. Update
If the issue persists, you will want to check for updates. App developers and manufacturers are continuously finding bugs that may affect user experience or security. If they are found, developers will release updates to fix them. They can have better compatibility with other apps or your operating system, causing it to run more smoothly while occupying less system resources.
You will also enjoy the more modern interface when you update a program, and it can hopefully bring you some security bug fixes, which will protect your data from being stolen.
5. Scan
Malware can cause many computer problems, from the lack of system resources to a corrupted operating system. Therefore, you should regularly look for signs of malware and conduct scans with antivirus software often.
If you encounter a computer problem and suspect that malware is present, disconnect from the Internet and let the antivirus scan your device thoroughly. This should point out any malware that exists on your computer. If the scan results indicate that your device is infected, you’ve found the solution. Go to step 11 (Wipe). If no malware is there according to the antivirus, move on or conduct more scans first.
6. Use Safe Mode
Your next option is to use safe mode, where only necessary apps and drivers are loaded. This is usually used when the operating system cannot start up normally or if an application crashes the system unexpectedly. When troubleshooting in normal mode is not viable, you can use safe mode.
Why is it a great option? Well, starting up to safe mode does not solve the problem on its own. Instead, by only putting the necessary things into memory, you prevent issues caused by third-party apps or optional features. This allows you to try to eliminate the problem, which will be mentioned in the steps below.
However, there are some cases where safe mode won’t work, such as when core system files are corrupted. In that case, you will have to use the Windows Recovery Environment to fix the issue.
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7. Repair
If the solutions above (waiting, checking, rebooting, updating) don’t work, you must repair the program. This step is best performed in safe mode because there are no unnecessary apps to intervene. For instance, four Windows troubleshooters exist to fix Windows Internet connection, audio, printer, and update problems. Moreover, if your Windows computer cannot boot, you can use Startup Repair or insert commands to fix the problem.
8. Restore
If repairs didn’t work, you have to roll back to the previous state of your computer before the problem occurs. A prominent way to do so is to use System Restore, which relies on restore points. If recent changes have been made just before the problem appears, you should undo the action because this is likely the culprit.
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9. Reinstall
If repairing and restoring doesn’t fix your problem, it’s time to reinstall the problematic software. If it’s the operating system that’s at fault, you can use the “Reset This PC” function to reinstall the OS. In that case, you can choose to keep your data, which will let you get moving more quickly.
If the software is an app, uninstall it and use an app store or visit the official website of that app to reinstall the program. If the software is not from official sources, it might contain malware, leading to more problems and data security issues.
Why is it good to reinstall something if you cannot repair it? That’s because of file corruptions which are so severe that repairing cannot solve. This action completely wipes out the program and associated drivers and files, eliminating any file corruptions by obtaining a fresh copy.
10. Find Alternatives
If even reinstalling the software doesn’t work, it might be time to find an alternative. Remember to read the reviews before installing that! If you choose the wrong one, you might end up getting more bugs, fewer functionalities, or even malware!
11. Wipe
If all else fails, you might need to wipe your hard drive and start over. If you made it to this point, we’re sorry to hear that because the computer is probably unbootable at this point. Choose a tool that wipes the hard drive reliably. If you’re using a Mac, you should use the built-in Disk Utility. If you’re using Windows, you can use the Windows installation media.
By wiping the hard drive, you delete all data in it, including those causing the issue. Keep in mind that all files will disappear for good unless you back them up. However, it’s better not to back up entire apps. If the computer contains malware, these apps can serve as a place to reinfect the device when the user restores from the backup. Of course, you have to look for other files that contain code, too! Moreover, reinstalling the apps from reputable sources is easier than obtaining all important documents lost in the incident.
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12. Contact the device manufacturer
Unfortunately, if all else fails, or if you’ve identified that it’s a hardware issue, try replacing the problematic part (like the cable). If doing so involves opening up your computer, you should contact the device manufacturer. Fixing it yourself is too risky as you probably don’t know much about the interior of the computer, and it might cause more harm than good, intensifying your issue or causing your gadget to refuse to turn on.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve walked you through the basic troubleshooting steps to solve computer problems. If you want to know more, you can visit the websites in the references below.
References and Credits
- David Nield. (2021, February 26). How to fix a stuck Windows update. Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://www.techradar.com/how-to/software/operating-systems/how-to-fix-a-stuck-windows-update-1326307
- Whitson Gordon. (2020, September 14). What To Do If Your Laptop Freezes. Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-to-do-if-your-laptop-freezes
- Chris Hoffman. (2018, November 12). Why Does Rebooting a Computer Fix So Many Problems? Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://www.howtogeek.com/173760/htg-explains-why-does-rebooting-a-computer-fix-so-many-problems/
- Techquickie. (2018, July 28). Why Does Rebooting Fix So Many Problems? Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lish5QFp81E
- Tim Fisher. (2020, June 30). Why Does Restarting Seem to Fix Most Computer Problems? Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://www.lifewire.com/why-does-restarting-seem-to-fix-most-computer-problems-2624569
- McAfee. (2017, September 19). Why Software Updates Are So Important. Retrieved May 25, 2021, from https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/consumer/consumer-threat-reports/software-updates-important/
- Andy O’Donnell. (2020, September 21). 10 Things You Need to Do After Being Hacked. Retrieved May 26, 2021, from https://www.lifewire.com/ive-been-hacked-now-what-2487230
- CactusVPN. (2019, June 13). What to Do If Your Computer Is Hacked. Retrieved May 26, 2021, from https://www.cactusvpn.com/beginners-guide-online-security/what-to-do-if-your-computer-is-hacked/
- Techquickie. (2019, February 2). Is “Safe Mode” Actually SAFE? Retrieved May 26, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFP8spuGr6k
- Mike Tee. (2020, November 8). What You Should Do If Windows 10 Fails to Start. Retrieved May 26, 2021, from https://www.maketecheasier.com/windows-10-failed-to-start/
- Kannon Yamada. (2018, July 13). Windows 10 Won’t Boot? 12 Fixes to Get Your PC Running Again. Retrieved May 26, 2021, from https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/windows-10-wont-boot/
- Microsoft Support. (n.d.). What is System Restore? Retrieved May 26, 2021, from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/what-is-system-restore-a9d1b33f-1df9-e0f2-8aa3-d904cd940ee4
- Mauro Huculak. (2020, November 5). How to do a clean installation of Windows 10. Retrieved May 27, 2021, from https://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-installation-windows-10