Our computer influences many areas of our lives. 77 million people use a computer at work, whether it’s their own personal computer or a computer provided by their work. When your computer needs repaired, it’s devastating.
Why do so many computers randomly fail? Your computer will begin showing signs of failure long before your computer crashes.
Many people don’t recognize these signs signal a problem or they simply ignore them. They don’t seek repairs until their computer is at the point of no return.
Prevent computer failure by recognizing the signs your computer needs to be repaired. Here are 7 common signs it’s time to repair your computer.
1. Your Internal Hard Drive Fails
Ideally, you back up all data on an external hard drive. But your internal hard drive should still work. If it begins to fail, this leads to the demise of your whole system.
How do you know your internal hard drive is failing? Your system will start sending you warning messages. If you see this message, do two actions:
- Back up your data (if you haven’t)
- Take your computer to a repair technician
If you act on this repair quickly, your internal hard drive and the overall system will work fine. If you don’t and your hard drive fails, this requires a full computer rebuild.
2. Your Computer Is Slow
Computers run slowly for a variety of reasons. Maybe your hard drive is full.
Certain programs take up too much space and cause your computer to function slowly. Sometimes, it’s the internet or you have too many programs running at the same time.
In other words, a slow computer isn’t the first sign of imminent doom for your device. But you should pay attention to a slow computer.
Does it run slowly when trying to perform simple functions? Is it immediately slow after you turn it on? These are all clues your computer needs to be repaired.
Computers run slowly when they’re old; the hardware is outdated and can’t perform even simple functions. Slow PC performance can also be due to viruses and malware.
Either way, a technician can troubleshoot and diagnose your computer speed issues. Visit this website for more information.
3. Your Computer Is Hot
Computers run hot. For the most part, this is normal. It may be a weird quirk and it may attract your cat (ever wonder why Fluffy loves sleeping on your laptop keyboard?), but excessive and constant hot temperatures signal a problem.
Your computer has a built-in cooling system so the heat doesn’t get too crazy.
But this cooling system can get dirty and even blocked. Fortunately, this is an easy fix — your technician may even be able to teach you how to clean your computer.
For something that is such an easy fix, ignoring this maintenance may result in a failed computer.
4. The Blue Screen of Death
Everyone experiences what is called the “blue screen of death.”
In older PC hardware, your monitor would show up a bright blue screen with the message “a problem has been detected and Windows has to shut down.”
Today, Windows tried to make the blue screen of death friendlier. The message is simple: “Windows detected a problem and needs to restart” followed me a frowning face.
Either way, the blue screen of death appears for a reason. Windows detected a problem and the computer can no longer function.
An occasional blue screen doesn’t require immediate attention. But if you get the blue screen consistently, you should get your computer checked out.
5. Your Computer Acts Weird
After you’ve had your computer for several years, you understand how your computer works. So when it started acting up, it’s especially bizarre.
Not sure what this means? A healthy computer runs smoothly, without any trouble. Any constant issues should receive a diagnosis from a professional.
It’s easy to get alarmed at an error message or even a slight hiccup. It’s best to still take your computer to a pro; however, this probably isn’t a big deal if you rarely experience issues.
Try restarting your computer. If it powers on and works fine, it’s probably no big deal. But if your computer refuses to power off or doesn’t turn back on, your computer requires immediate attention.
6. Software Malfunctions
Software failures and malfunctions can happen on any computer for any reason. If there’s an issue with your software, you’re in need of immediate repairs.
Software usually fails when your computer is infected by a virus, malware, or Trojans. Less commonly, your software fails when you try and install an update.
Look for signs such as your computer starting up slowly or it suddenly starts running slowly. Less common signs are a nonfunctional computer (even while it’s powered on) and constant failures.
If your software fails, you’ll have to reinstall it. If your software fails because of a virus, a computer technician needs to remove the virus from your system first.
Speaking of viruses…
7. Viruses
If you get a virus, don’t let your computer run with that much infection. The sad part is, many computer owners don’t realize they have an infected computer.
Cybercriminals are smart — they know how to install viruses with little symptoms. This ensures you don’t detect the virus.
If your virus persists, it can lead to a serious security breach. In the best case scenario, your computer will eventually become nonfunctional.
If you have a virus, hire a technician to clean your system. Make sure you download anti-virus software and a firewall to protect your computer from future attacks.
If you already have anti-virus software, the programs should inform you of a virus before any damage is done. The minute you receive this notification, hire a professional to remove the virus.
Repair Your Computer: Is It Not Worth It?
Did you try and repair your computer and it’s at the point of no return? Read this post on how to choose a new computer in 2019.