Fix Computer Problems
Having the skill to fix computer problems, or at least the basic ones, is something that you will be glad of over and over again. The common PC is a complex machine. Much of the time it runs well enough and we can rely on it. But it is only a machine, and even the best of machines do malfunction occasionally. For this reason it’s always useful to know how to fix computer problems.
The most common problem is the system freezing up. Suddenly, and often for no apparent reason, the computer system will occasionally freeze. Nothing will work no matter how many keys you press in desperation. Usually there is only one solution; reboot the system.
Of course, you will lose all the work you haven’t saved, which is a real bummer. On the bright side, it will teach you the value of saving your work every few minutes as an insurance against such an eventuality. Complacency and computers are not a good mix!
Sometimes a tap of the Escape key can free a frozen system, but usually it takes more dedicated effort. Sometimes it may be just one program that has frozen while the rest are working normally. In this case if you are running Windows XP, hit Control, Alt and Delete at the same time. This will open the Windows Task Manager.
Under the Applications tab, look in the Status column. Any program that is frozen will have Not Responding against it. You will need to highlight the frozen program and click on End Task to close it. Sometimes it may be reluctant to close. Just repeat the action of clicking End Task until it closes. Usually the program will open normally again immediately after.
One of the best ways to avoid the need to fix computer problems is regular maintenance. Set aside some time at least once a week for this. Scan the registry and all the disk drives. You will need proper software for this and some good software for this can be obtained free. Be guided by what the software tells you.
You need software that will scan for viruses, spyware and malware of all kinds. Don’t be too surprised at what turns up; most computers these days have spyware on them, though usually it is not the seriously damaging types. Clean out all the unnecessary programs and files the software finds.
Occasionally it is a good idea to also defragment the hard disk. Windows has a built-in program for doing this. From the Start menu go to All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and choose Disk Defragmenter. This operation can take a long time, so allow for that.
Your registry also can benefit from being defragmented occasionally. There are plenty of software tools that will defragment and rebuild the registry. Sometimes the difference in performance that you gain is very surprising indeed. This is effectively a way to fix computer problems before they happen!
You should not be overawed by the complexity of your computer. The way it works is not particularly difficult to understand, and you can save a lot by learning it. Then when anything goes wrong, you will be the one on hand to fix computer problems as they arise.