Computer Repair

FAQ About Common Computer Problems From Tech Repair Experts

February 20, 2024

Introduction

As a computer technician with over 10 years of experience, I’ve seen my fair share of common computer problems. In this article, I’ll provide answers to some frequently asked questions about the most common issues people run into with their computers and laptops. My goal is to help you troubleshoot and resolve problems on your own as much as possible.

Hardware Problems

Why does my computer randomly restart or shut down?

This is often caused by faulty or failing hardware, especially if the computer is more than 3-4 years old. Here are some likely culprits:

Faulty power supply. If the power supply is failing, it can cause random reboots or shutdowns. Check for overheating, strange noises, or burnt smells from the power supply.
Overheating. If the CPU or GPU overheats, the computer will shut down automatically. Make sure your fans are working and heat sinks are free of dust. Reapply thermal paste between the CPU and heat sink.
Faulty RAM. Run a RAM test to check for errors. If you get errors, remove each RAM stick individually to isolate the faulty one.
Hard drive failure. As drives age, they can develop bad sectors that cause freezing or crashing. Check SMART status with disk utility software. Replace failing drives.

Why is my laptop battery draining so quickly?

There are several potential reasons for abnormally fast battery drain:

The battery may be old and unable to hold a full charge. Most batteries last 3-5 years. Consider replacing it if older.
Too many resource-intensive programs running in the background like browser tabs, Adobe programs, games, etc. Force quit some programs to lighten the load.
WiFi and Bluetooth use a lot of power when active. Turn them off when not needed.
High screen brightness levels drain battery faster. Turn down brightness to 25-50% to conserve power.
Outdated device drivers can hamper power management. Check for driver updates from your laptop manufacturer.
Virus or malware activity can consume resources and drain the battery prematurely. Run security scans.

My computer is running slow. How can I speed it up?

Here are some troubleshooting steps to improve a slow computer:

Restart your computer to clear any memory issues. Make sure to close all programs first.
Check task manager to identify resource-hogging programs you can force quit.
Run antivirus scans to remove any malware or viruses.
Update device drivers, especially graphics drivers, as outdated ones slow things down.
Disable startup programs you don’t need to improve startup speed.
Clean up the hard drive by deleting temporary files, emptying recycle bin, removing unused programs.
Add more RAM if your system frequently runs out of memory while multitasking.
If the hard drive is consistently at 100% usage, upgrade to an SSD. This will significantly boost speed.

My keyboard or mouse is not working properly. What should I check?

For mouse and keyboard issues, try these troubleshooting tips:

Check connections. Unplug and re-plug the USB cable to firmly re-seat connections. Try different USB ports too.
Remove battery and debris. Flip the mouse over to access the battery compartment. Remove battery and clean out any debris inside.
Check for driver updates. Outdated drivers can cause input issues. Update drivers from device manufacturer websites.
Try a different keyboard/mouse. Swap in a working keyboard or mouse to isolate the problem device.
Test device on another computer. If device also fails on second PC, it likely is faulty and needs replacement.
Disable USB selective suspend in Power settings if device stops working after sleep/hibernate.
Check if disabled. Make sure keyboard/mouse is not accidentally disabled in BIOS or Device Manager.

Software & Operating System Issues

Why does my computer keep freezing or crashing?

Frequent freezing and crashing is most often caused by:

Faulty hard drive that has bad sectors or is failing. Check SMART status and replace if necessary.
Overheating CPU or GPU due to dust buildup or thermal throttling. Clean out computer and reapply thermal paste.
Too many programs open consuming RAM and resources. Close unneeded programs.
Conflicts with drivers, especially graphics. Update or reinstall drivers.
Virus or malware infection overloading the system. Scan with antivirus software.
Registry corruption from improper shutdowns or buggy software. Try system file checker and registry cleaner.
Insufficient PSU wattage for your hardware configuration. Upgrade to higher wattage PSU.

Why does my computer keep showing the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)?

The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) usually indicates serious software or hardware issues:

Faulty system files or drivers. Run SFC scan and update drivers, especially graphics drivers.
Bad RAM stick. Test RAM with MemTest86+ to isolate faulty stick.
Overheating. Thermal paste may need replacing on CPU/GPU. Improve airflow.
Corrupt system files. Repair with System File Checker or reinstall Windows if needed.
Damaged hard drive. Run CHKDSK scan and replace if bad sectors are detected.
Incompatible software. Uninstall recently added software or update incompatible program.
Malware infection. Run security scans to remove any malware present.

Why is my computer running slow despite having an SSD?

SSD performance degradation over time is normal, but here are some other potential reasons:

Nearly full SSD. Performance slows down when remaining space is below 20%. Free up space by deleting files.
Outdated firmware. Check for SSD firmware updates from manufacturer and install if available.
SATA cable problems. Replace SATA data cable, especially if over 2 years old. Try different SATA port.
Fragmented SSD. Defragment the SSD using built-in Windows tools.
Resource intensive apps. Too many active background apps can bottleneck SSD throughput. Close unneeded apps.
Disabling superfetch and prefetch hinders Windows optimizations. Re-enable them.
Windows write-caching disabled. Enable write caching for maximum SSD performance.

Why does my internet browser keep crashing?

Frequent browser crashes suggest an underlying issue like:

Too many tabs open consuming system memory and resources. Close tabs you aren’t using.
Outdated browser and plugins. Update browser and addons like Flash and Java. Remove suspicious plugins.
Corrupt browser files or cache. Clear browser cache and cookies. Reinstall browser if issues persist.
Malware redirection or injections. Run malware scans. Reset browser settings to default if browser was hijacked.
Hardware acceleration enabled. Disable hardware acceleration if graphics card is faulty.
Incompatible browser extensions. Disable or remove recently added extensions one at a time.
Bad RAM. Run MemTest86+ to test system memory for faults.
Full storage. Browser needs space for cache files. Delete unneeded files to free up space.

Malware Problems

How do I remove a virus from my computer?

To remove a virus:

Disconnect from internet to prevent spread and malicious activity.
Boot into Safe Mode to prevent virus from loading.
Install and run a thorough antivirus scan. Malwarebytes and HitmanPro are good options. Quarantine/delete detected threats.
Update and scan again with Windows Defender. Ensure no remnants were left behind.
Check browser extensions, add-ons, settings for unwanted changes. Reset browsers if necessary.
Scan with an antimalware tool like AdwCleaner to remove potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).
Check running processes and services in Task Manager for anything suspicious. Disable if unsure.
Reset system/file permissions which may have been altered. Reinstall affected programs.

Why does my antivirus keep detecting threats after I removed a virus?

If threats reappear after removing a virus, it indicates remnants have been left behind. Here’s what to do:

Restart in Safe Mode with Networking and scan again with antivirus. Infections can be harder to detect when running normally.
Update antivirus and run another full scan. New threat signatures may detect leftovers.
Manually check registry, system folders, rootkits using a trusted scanner. Delete anything suspicious.
Uninstall and reinstall affected programs. Some viruses embed themselves in program files.
Restore system from a clean backup if the above steps fail. This will wipe out the infection.
Reset Windows to factory settings as a last resort. Backup personal data first.

How can I tell if my computer has been hacked?

Signs your computer may have been hacked:

Unexpected pop-ups, web pages opening on their own indicating malicious redirects.
New browser add-ons, toolbars, or extensions installed without your permission.
Sluggish performance, freezes, or crashes. Malware can over-consume resources.
Unfamiliar programs opening at startup. Malware often runs hidden processes/services.
Increased network traffic from malware phoning home or spreading itself.
Disabled security software. Hackers may disable your antivirus.
Unusual hard drive or cloud storage activity. Hackers may have copied your data.
Problems shutting down or restarting. Some malware prevents normal function.
Login issues or changed passwords. Hackers may have compromised accounts.
Missing files. Hackers may have deleted or encrypted data for ransom.
Overheating. Crypto-mining malware works hardware at maximum capacity.

Summary

I hope this FAQ has given you some troubleshooting tips and piece of mind for dealing with many common computer problems. Don’t hesitate to take your device to a professional repair shop if issues become too complex. But trying these steps first can often resolve basic software glitches, malware infections, hardware failures, and other issues without the need for costly technician services. Let me know if you have any other computer-related questions!