Common Computer Problems

Hardware received 13.56% of the vote. Our experience with computer hardware is if the hardware is going to fail it will likely fail within the first couple of months. Budget computers contain hardware from less-reliable sources and can fail quickly after purchase. The most common culprits in hardware failure include bad power supplies, bad RAM and bad hard drives.

Applications received 10.17% of the votes. Applications can vary from office suites like MS Office, graphics programs and games. If an application fails, the quickest and cheapest fix is to uninstall and reinstall the application. A common problem with applications, however, is that they often come pre-installed with computers and reinstalling them is difficult (if not impossible) without resetting the computer to factory condition. This is why it is always best to buy the applications separately and get the installation disk.

Configuration received 18.64% of the votes. Misconfiguration of user accounts, email programs, router and other critical software can render a PC virtually useless. Write down all of your passwords, serial numbers and application key codes and keep them in a secure, safe place. Give children and strangers limited user accounts so they cannot inadvertently make changes to your computer that can cause configuration issues. In addition, occasionally make restore points. Restore points are registry snapshots that allow you to quickly revert the system to that state if there is a driver or system issue. Create a restore point by navigating to the Accessories>System Tools menu and selecting the System Restore option.

Internet received 23.73% of the vote. Common Internet problems include router configuration problems, disabled network adapters, incorrect configuration and broken winsock due to virus and spyware removal.

Virus / Spyware / Adware received 57.63% of the votes. No surprise here. An infected PC can cause problems across all of these categories. Users must be vigilant and use a good antivirus program that does automatic updates and scans, keep Windows up to date and be wary of emails containing links or attachments that can be used to install malware. You must also keep third-party software such as Adobe Reader and Java up to date, as there have been exploits on these platforms, as well.

Operating System received 8.47% of the vote. This seems to indicate that once the system is installed and running normally, it will continue to do so until a hardware or virus causes a problem.

Common Computer Problems Vote Conclusion

Our poll on common computer problems revealed a snapshot of what users experience with their PCs. Common computer problems can be avoided by using the above information to improve and protect your computer. If you want to read more tips, be sure to read our computer troubleshooting articles.

Use these antivirus removal tools and techniques to safely remove an antivirus program from your computer prior to installing a new one. Never run two antiviruses programs at the same time. Some of these solutions will be actual removal programs, and some will be descriptive techniques on how to manually remove the files necessary to rid your computer of the antivirus program. If you have information on additional tools, please let us know.

Antivirus Removal Tools

Uninstall aVast!

Uninstall AVG

Uninstall BitDefender

Uninstall Comodo Internet Security

Uninstall Cyber Defender Early Detection Center

Uninstall ESET

Uninstall F-Secure

Uninstall G Data

Uninstall Kaspersky

Uninstall LavaSoft

Uninstall McAfee

Uninstall Norman Virus Control/Norman Security Suite

Uninstall Panda

Uninstall Sophos

Uninstall Symantec (Norton)

Uninstall Trend Micro

Uninstall Webroot

Uninstall Windows Live OneCare

Uninstall Windows Security Essentials

Uninstall Zone Alarm

Other Antivirus Removal Tools

Hopefully, you have just found the tools necessary to wipe your computer of your current security program so you can begin using your new one. If you require additional antivirus removal tools, be sure and join our forums and ask. While these are some of the more common antivirus programs on the market, they certainly are not all of them. Remember, use antivirus removal tools like these to get rid of any trace of antivirus on your computer, then be sure and immediately install and update a new antivirus program. If you need recommendations for free software, ask in our forums.

Download RegistryBooster and follow the instructions below to run your scan and clean your Windows Registry.

When you download and run RegistryBooster, your Windows Vista or Windows 7 computer will ask you to allow the program to make changes to your computer. Click Yes to proceed.

Read the User License Agreement and click the Agree & Install button to install RegistryBooster on your computer.

The RegistryBooster program will launch and immediately begin scanning your computer. If the scan does not automatically begin, go to the Overview tab in the navigation panel and click on the Start Scan button. RegistryBooster will conduct a deep scan of your registry, checking for errors and useless entries.

RegistryBooster scans three vital areas of your registry: System-related errors, User-related errors, and Third-party-related errors. If your Windows registry contains errors, they will be displayed. At this point, you can choose to close the program or fix the errors by clicking the Register Now button in the lower-left-hand area of the window (recommended).

Once you purchase the program, you can input the registration code you received and click the Activate Now button.

RegistryBooster begins by backing up your registry in case you want to revert any of the changes made. It then proceeds to repair the registry.

Once finished, RegistryBooster will declare your registry clean and error-free.

In addition to removing errors, RegistryBooster also allows you to perform a registry defrag to further optimize your Windows registry.

RegistryBooster Conclusion

The casual computer user was never meant to directly access the registry. It can be accessed and manipulated manually, but at great risk to your PC. A corrupt registry could result in a system that no longer boots or becomes unusable due to system crashes. This is why it is recommended that a third-party program such as RegistryBooster be used to manage your registry errors. So if you’ve noticed your computer running slow, or if you frequently install and uninstall programs, RegistryBooster can help speed up your PC and make it run like-new again. Download RegistryBooster here.

A computer upgrade is not too difficult. Most people can do it relatively easy if they know what to buy. A computer is similar to a Lego set. It has hardware that snaps on and plugs into a main board. This board is the motherboard. You can add RAM, a new video card, a faster CPU or a new power supply in a few easy steps. There is a fine line, however, between the cost of upgrading an existing PC versus buying a new computer.

In most cases you will not upgrade the CPU, the case or DVD drives. With most PCs you’ll get the most performance boost by upgrading your RAM, video card and hard drive.

Learn What You Already Have Installed On Your Computer

Before you start spending money on upgrades, you first need to figure out what hardware and software your computer already has. You can do this by running software that indexes everything on your computer. One such free program is Belarc Advisor. Note the amount of RAM you have, the type of video card, the Operating System and the size of the hard drive, as these are the things we will be focusing on first.

Upgrade Your RAM

Your RAM is often the cheapest and most significant upgrade you can do to your computer. Most newer computer will ship with 2GBs of memory. Some older computers will only have 1GB. Upgrading the memory to your computer’s full potential will give it a tremendous speed boost. The best place to buy RAM if you do not know what to get is Crucial.com. They have a method of either scanning your computer or allowing you to put in your computer’s model to determine your existing RAM and the amount of RAM your computer can take. We recommend you allow it to scan your computer to be safe. The goal is to get your computer up to a respectable 4GBs.

Upgrade Your Video Card

If you’re looking to play the best PC games or ditch your cable box and turn your computer into a DVR, you will want to upgrade your computer’s video card. Your current computer may only have onboard video graphics, which means the video adapter is permanently attached to the motherboard. Or you could have a video card, which means you can remove it and insert a better one. Even if you have an integrated graphics card, you likely have a slot for a new video card. If this is the case, upgrading your graphics will take some of the processing burden off of the CPU and improve the speed of your computer. Refer to the Belarc Advisor sheet to see what type of graphics adapter you have, or open the case and take a look.

Buy a TV Tuner card with HDMI PNY GeForce GT 220 1024 MB PCI-Express 2.0 DVI with HDMI and VGA Graphics Card

Upgrade Your Hard Drive

Upgrade your hard drive? That seems silly. Not really. If your current drive is low on capacity, you should upgrading to a larger drive. Having more space makes your hard drive run cooler and work less, as it has the room it need to move files around. If you’re low on space, your hard drive will chug as it works to managed the data you have on there and the data you’re trying to access. Transfer the data from the first drive to the new drive, then use the original drive as a backup drive after reformatting it. There are two main types of hard drives  based on their connectors: SATA and the older IDE. Make sure you buy one that is compatible with the inputs on your motherboard.

Buy a Seagate Barracuda 7200 1 TB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive

Upgrade Your Power Supply

Often times when upgrading to a new video card or hard drive you’ll also need a better power supply. Most power supplies that ship with major brand name computers are generic, cheap and destined to fail. You can easily add a modular power supply to your computer to improve overall capacity and ensure maximum airflow throughout your computer case. What is a modular power supply? Most power supplies are a tangle of wires–most of which are never used. A modular power supply allows you to add only the cables you need, thus freeing up space for hot air to be pulled up and out of your computer. A cool PC is a faster PC.

Buy a  Corsair CMPSU-650TX 650-Watt TX Series 80 Plus Certified Power Supply

Upgrade Your Operating System

You’re running Windows XP or Vista and it’s time to move on. Windows 7 is by far the best version of Windows to date. Forget the horror stories of Vista. Windows 7 is leaner and meaner and will make your computer more secure and faster than previous versions. If you’re running Vista, you should have no issues upgrading.

If you’re running XP, you’ll want to first run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to make sure your hardware is compatible with the new Operating System.

Buy Windows 7 Win 7 Home Premium Upgrade & Transfer Cable

Upgrade Your Accessories

A new monitor, mouse and keyboard is a simple way to rejuvenate your old PC. If you have an old tube monitor (CRT) it’s time to upgrade to an HD monitor. A large 20″ computer monitor will drastically improve your computing and online experience. In addition, a new wireless keyboard and mouse will give your computer that “new car” smell.

Buy a HP 2009M 20-Inch HD LCD Monitor

Buy a Microsoft Wireless Media Desktop 1000 (Black)

In conclusion,

Your computer may either be too old to upgrade or a prime candidate for an upgrade. Replacing slow, obsolete parts can be a lot cheaper than buying a new computer and can extend the life of your current PC a few more years. The best part is, these upgrades do not require a computer repair technician. If you read the instructions and take your time, your old PC can be upgraded to give you the performance and functionality you’ve been waiting for.

If you have any questions a computer upgrade, just join our free forums and ask.

Wake up.

Okay, that’s better. Now that you’re back to reality, you KNOW computers fail and having a file recovery plan in place is a dirty necessity we all need to live with. Otherwise, you could find your computer–along with all of your expensive programs and baby pictures dead–unresponsive when you press the power button. Follow the steps below to make sure you have a data recovery system in place, so WHEN your computer fails, you can be back up and running within an hour.

Emergency Data Recovery Plan

A good data recovery plan means you have everything you need to get your computer back to the condition it was when it failed in a timely manner. The best way to do this is to have a separate hard drive with a bootable disk image ready to go. You can find recovery software programs to do this on our free software downloads site, PCTechBytesfiles.com. The Easeus ToDo Backup Home program is a great option for this recovery method. Or you can do it the hard way with the steps below:

• Backup and Organize
• Do you even know how to launch the recovery partition on your hard drive? Do you press F8 at boot? Or is it F11? Find out.
  
• Have a Windows Disk ready or create a set of recovery disks for your computer if you do not already have them. You cannot rely on that recovery partition on your hard drive, as that hard drive will eventually fail.
• If you plan on reinstalling using a Windows disk, make sure you also have drivers for the hardware installed in your computer. Burn those drivers to a separate disk.
• Backup your documents, pictures, movies, Internet favorites and email.

We highly recommend an off-site backup scheme such as Carbonite. If your computer fails, you can reinstall your programs from their servers in a few mouse clicks. Or if you do not like the off-site option, we really love the Clickfree Automatic Backup 250 GB because all you need to do is attach it to your computer and forget about it.

In addition to having a complete backup to your data,  you  should have the disks for any programs you have installed on your PC. If you downloaded them, confirm you have the emails with those download links and serial numbers so you can quickly reinstall those programs once you reinstall the Operating System.

A while back we created a handy computer information form for writing down all of the important information about your computer. You should download it and fill it out. Gather all of your disks, the backups and the completed form and put it in a shoebox at the top of your closet. We cannot guarantee unicorns exist, but we can guarantee you will need to perform data recovery sooner or later, so be prepared and have a file recovery plan in place.

Increase PC Speed With Computer Maintenance

If you were happy with the way the computer use to run, some simple maintenance might help increase PC speed. Over time, a computer will slow down because of temporary files and hard drive fragmentation. Your hard drive might even be going bad. Perform the follow basic maintenance and see if your computer speed improves:

• Uninstall unnecessary programs from within the control panel. In older versions of Windows you can do this from Add / Remove Programs. In Windows 7 it is called Uninstall A Program.
• Run Disk Cleanup by going to Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup.
• Run Disk Defragmentor from the same location.
• Run Error Checking. Open My Computer, then right-click your C drive. Under the Tools tab, look for “Error Checking” and click the Check Now button. Check the boxes for Automatically fix errors and scan for bad sectors.

If maintenance didn’t quite get your PC back up to original speed, it might be time for a System Recovery. This is the act of inserting the recovery CDs you were given by the manufacturer and using them to erase your hard drive and revert it back to original factory condition. If you opt for this method, be sure to backup everything of importance.

Upgrade Your Hardware

If your computer is running as fast as it always did, but is still not fast enough to play games or surf the web, It might be time for a hardware upgrade. Upgrading a PC is a slippery slope, as you might ultimately find yourself paying as much to upgrade as it would cost to buy a newer, faster computer. Everything is dependent on the motherboard–the type of RAM you use, the type of CPU and even the kind of graphics card you can install. If you’re looking to increase PC speed, the first upgrades should be the RAM and the video card.

Upgrading your computers RAM – Visit a site like Crucial.com and search for your computer’s brand. Crucial’s memory configuration script will tell you what memory your computer currently has, and how much it can hold. RAM is cheap, so try and get it up to at least 4GBs, if possible. In most cases, 2GBs will also be fine. Adding RAM is one of the best ways to increase PC speed.

Upgrading your video card – You’ll need to determine what type of slot your motherboard has in order to buy a faster video card. You will also need to check the specs on your power supply to make sure you have enough power to drive it. If your computer is only a couple of years old, you most definitely will have a PCI-Express video slot. If it’s older, you might have an AGP slot. The video card slot is at the top of the row of slots. An AGP slot is a short, brown slot. A PCI-E slot is white and longer than the others. Be sure to read the system requirements for the video card you want to buy, as video cards can be very demanding on your computer. A good video card can help increase PC speed by taking the burden off of the CPU.

Increase PC Speed: Make The Internet Faster

A slow computer can make the Internet slow, too, because your computer needs to be able to process the information it is receiving. If you’re sure your computer is not the bottleneck, your next step will be to improve your network and Internet Service Provider. There are several options for Internet, and we’ll list them in order of our favorites:

• Verizon FiOS
• Cable
• DSL
• Wireless 4G
• Wireless 3G
• Satellite
• Dial-up

If you want blazing speed, Verizon FiOs or your local cable company are the best option. Compare speeds and rates, because not all cable companies are as reliable or as fast as FiOS. A good resource for checking speeds in your area is Broadband Reports.

You might also want to look at your network infrastructure. 802.11n is the latest standard in WiFi. This Gigabit router can drastically speed up your network. So if you’re looking to improve your network speed, upgrade your router and the network adapters in each of your computers to take advantage of the speed and range an 802.11n router can provide.

In conclusion, there are several factors that can help you increase PC speed. Before you spend money on upgrades, determine where the money will be best spent. If you’re not sure how to increase PC speed, be sure to ask and we’ll try and help. Or read our other computer tips.

So why don’t you have one yet? The cases are cheap and the hard drives are even cheaper. Now is the perfect time to buy. We’ll show you a few examples, so you can decide which solution is best for you.

Network Attached Storage Drives

You’ll want to get a model from a well-known manufacturer, with reliable hard drives you trust to run for a very long time. We like the Western Digital Cavalier Black hard drives, but you can use any make and model your trust. The NAS might already have a drive installed, or you can buy cases that are empty, which allow you to add and swap out drives on the fly. If you have nothing and are one a budget, you might want to start with the self-contained NAS with a single drive. If you have a business or if your home network has data you simply cannot lose, you should invest in a multiple-bay NAS case and configure it for RAID. All of these backup solutions come with detailed instructions on how to set them up. The best part is, these devices are not Operating System specific. Your Mac and Windows computers will have no issue finding and saving data to the NAS device.

Single NAS Drives

Western Digital My Book World Edition 1 TB Network Attached Storage

The Western Digital My Book World Edition 1 TB NAS is an affordable, single-drive solution that is very easy to setup. Plug it into your existing network and instantly have an additional 1TB of storage for the computers in your home. It comes with software, to assist you in backing-up, but we don’t like it. Use something like SyncToy to automatically backup your data.

Read more about the Western Digital My Book World Edition 1 TB NAS here.

Seagate BlackArmor NAS 110 1 TB Network Attached Storage

If you prefer Seagate drives, this Seagate NAS is a great Network Attacked Storage device you can integrate with your home or office network. It also has FTP capabilities and backup software that allows you to save and share your data with anyone on the network.

Read more about the Seagate BlackArmor NAS here.

Multiple Bay NAS

D-Link DNS-323 2-Bay Network Attached Storage Enclosure

The D-link DNS-323 is a very affordable 2-bay case that allows you to quickly add and remove hard drives. It has all of the advantages of the drives above, but you can setup Raid 1, which provides data redundancy. If one drive fails, you do not lose any data. Simply add a new drive and continue backing up to both drives at once. Again, you’ll need to buy hard drives for this, as it is only the case.

Read more about the D-Link DNS-323 2-Bay NAS here.

Drobo FS 5-bay Gbe Storage Array

Drobo is an industry leader in NAS devices. While it’s a little more expensive than the others, it does have a 5-bay storage array that provides file sharing for the home or office. Drobo FS features automated data protection, dual-drive redundancy, self healing technology. How cool is that? Two drives can fail and you will not lose any data. Just put two new drives back in and your back to normal.

Read more about the Drobo FS 5-bay Gbe Storage Array here.

No matter what backup solution you choose, you need to make sure it provides the proper backup solution for you. We like the multiple bay NAS devices, as they will grow with you, and provide data redundancy that’s important for the computers on your network. Let us know what you use or recommend for a NAS if you’re already running one.

Computer Hardware Maintenance

Before you begin, you’ll want to take note of the computer’s surroundings. Is it in an enclosed area? Is it sitting directly on the floor where it can pickup hair, dust and other debris? Is it sitting in direct sunlight or in an area that can experience extreme temperature shifts? If this is a client’s computer, explain the importance of keeping the computer in a clean, temperature controlled environment.

• Check to make sure the computer, monitor and printer are all plugged into a surge protector.
• Take a moment to jot down all makes, models and serial numbers of the computer components so the client has them in case a repair is needed or there is some other type of emergency.
• Wipe down the monitor, keyboard and mouse with cleaner specifically used for this task. An example would be these alcohol-free screen wipes.
• Flip keyboard over and shake out debris. Blow out keys and mouse using canned compressed air.
• Clean external intake grills in the front and in the back of the PC with compressed air. Be sure to get the power supply grill and exhaust fan.
• Unplug and open the case. Use a computer vacuum or compressed air to remove dust and debris from internal fans and case.
• Check connections to devices, make sure cables provide unobstructed airflow.
• Clean optical drive using a CD / DVD lens cleaner.

You want to be careful not to cause any problems when performing computer maintenance on hardware. Moving a PC around, not properly grounding yourself, or causing damage to a wire or card can all cause problems that did not exist before.

Computer Software Maintenance

Now that the outside of the case is clean and the PC is running cool, log into Windows using an account that has administrative access. By performing the following software maintenance, you can be sure Windows will be secure and optimized for speed.

• Run Windows Update if the computer is not already configured to obtain these updates automatically.
• Update virus definitions or install an antivirus if the computer needs one. Our free recommendation is Microsoft Security Essentials.
• Locate and remove old programs or trial software.
• Update web browser to the current version.
• Clean browser temp files. In IE, open browser and click Tools, then Internet Options. Under the General tab, click Delete under Browsing History for more options.
• Run Disk Cleanup to remove temporary files and empty Recycle Bin. Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup.
• After Disk Cleanup, run Disk Defragmentor from same location.
• Backup data–pictures, movies, music and email to an external device.

Technicians should always perform this maintenance on new client’s machines upon first visit. Home users can run this checklist monthly. Having a computer maintenance checklist is an essential way to make sure you are doing all of the things necessary to keep your computer secure and performing at peak speeds.

For your convenience, we’ve created a PDF of this checklist for you to print out and use. Download the computer repair checklist.