Top 5 Computer Problems

Problem No. 1 - Spyware, viruses and other malware.

Underlying Cause - There are many companies and individuals that try to infect vulnerable computers. They may wish to spy on your behaviors, want to vandalize the computer or they may just want to use your computer for their own means.

Preventative Measures - The number one preventative measure that you can take is to keep your computer up-to-date. Most malicious software (AKA malware) "sneeks" onto a computer through a vulnerability in the software that came with your computer. These vulnerabilities allow your computer to become tricked into doing something they wouldn't normally do (like install software without your consent). Keeping your computer up-to-date (or "patched") will fix these vulnerabilities. Almost all software, from your operating system to your web browser, comes with an automatic update feature. Use it often.

Make sure you are running an anti-virus program and make sure that it is up-to-date as well. Anti-virus programs keep a blacklist of all known viruses and scan the files coming into your computer against that list. They can delete any dangerous files before you can get yourself into trouble.

The third, though just as critical, step is run anti-spyware software like Ad-Aware. Because spyware does not "spread" like traditional viruses it has long been considered outside of the jurisdiction of anti-virus programs.

Problem No. 2 - Internet Connectivity Issues

Underlying Causes - The first step in troubleshooting your Internet connection is to "power cycle" your broadband modem and, if you have one, your router. "Power cycle" is a fancy term that means: "Unplug, wait 30 seconds and plug back in again." This process will reset your physical equipment and cause it to re-sync or re-aquire its Internet signal. This is the first thing your ISP will likely have you do and solves a majority of problems.

Preventative Measures - If you have to power cycle your router on a frequent basis there may be updated firmware (programs stored directly on the microchips) you can download. Updating your router's firmware is generally a more advanced procedure but most routers come with a utility to help you do this yourself. That being said: don't upgrade your firmware if you don't have to. There is a non-negligable chance that the firmware update procedure can fail. In this case you will, most likely, be left with a device may be totally unusable and unrepairable. Only upgrade firmware if the newer version fixes serious security vulnerability or a problem you are specifically having.

Problem No. 3 - "It won't boot".

Underlying Causes - This, along with "When I turn it on nothing happens.", is one of the more frequent complaints we here. To better understand this problem we have to be more precise about just how much "nothing" is or isn't happening. If you push the power button do you hear beeps and/or fans? Do you see any of the indicator lights flash? If not then you may have a failed Power Supply Unit (PSU). If you do hear the fan in the back of the case running but you don't hear any beeps then the system is likely failing the Power On Self Test (POST). In the case where you do hear beeps but you desktop does not appear then the problem is with Windows itself.

Preventative Measures - If your PSU has failed or if your computer does not complete the POST process it is very likely that it has suffered damage due to inadequate surge protection or an overheated power supply. We recommend that you get a small (~300VA) Uninteruptable Power Supply (UPS) battery backup system for your computer. These are much better than standard surge protectors because of the quality of line conditioning they perform on the power supplied to your computer. If the fan in the PSU fails the computer will generate enough heat to literally have a melt-down. This will not only cause irrepairable damage to your computer but is also a fire hazard.

Problem No. 4 - Printing issues and compatibility with other peripherals

Underlying Cause - Check for a secure connection between your devices. Remember that a kinked cable may be damaged on the inside and should be replaced. Frequently these devices don't expect that being disconnected could ever happen to them and give strange messages when it does. Also, check if your peripheral vendor has updated the drivers for your product.

Preventative Measures - Keep your cables tidy. Use a modest ammount of zip-ties, don't go overboard, to keep the cables away from your feet or anywhere that might get bumped. Do periodic checks with your product vendor's web sites to see if there are any updated drivers.

Problem No. 5 - Frequent system crashes

Underlying Cause - All software, including Windows, will become corrupt after a period of time. This causes the computer to slow down and "crash" or "freeze".

Preventative Measures - Regular maintenance including applying operating system updates and patches, running spyware defenses and organizing software programs will improve the speed and operation of computers. Sometimes reformatting and reinstalling all software from scratch is necessary, but not recommended without professional assistance. This is a last resort and should only be done if data is backed up and tested properly.