Fix Common Computer Problems in 3 Step

By tay121222, . Permalink Computers

 
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1. Update Your Computer and Software

Many computer problems can be caused by outdated and/or unpatched software and firmware, from viruses/ransomware to broken peripherals like your keyboard/mouse. Fortunately, many updates now occur automatically, because they’re so important to the security of your computer. Which is why your computer might suddenly reboot when you weren’t expecting it to.

Focus on your operating system first. On Windows you can look for updates by opening Settings, then clicking Update & security. On macOS, launch the App Store from the dock or the Applications screen in Finder, then switch to the Updates tab. Make sure you apply any updates that are pending.

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Focus on your operating system first. On Windows you can look for updates by opening Settings, then clicking Update & security. On macOS, launch the App Store from the dock or the Applications screen in Finder, then switch to the Updates tab. Make sure you apply any updates that are pending.

After applying all the updates you can find, your issues might be fixed. If they are, maintain this process as a way to prevent future problems in addition to fixing existing ones. Make sure as many of your installed applications are updating themselves automatically in the background, and you should run into fewer computer issues as a result.

Lastly, it is always a good idea to reboot your computer regularly, say every Friday at the end of the day. This allows for certain programs to finish their updates and windows to finish any installations that may be pending reboots from update Tuesday or new firmware pushed by your computer manufacturer.

2. Virus and Malware Software Scans

It’s important and effective: Start up your virus-scanning software, launch the deepest and most thorough scan available, and leave it to do its work. Note that the most comprehensive type of scan (which looks at the most files and takes the longest time to complete) may not be the scan that your computer is set to run by default, so check the program settings to see what’s available. You’ll also want to make sure your scanner is up to date first, so it can catch the most recent wave of malicious code.

Modern antivirus utilities handle Trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, ransomware, and more. Some good free and paid options are Malwarebytes, Superantispyware, Sentinel One, Carbon Black, Sophos and more. Some of which work on both MacOS and Windows while others are primarily for Windows (SuperAntisypware)

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You’ll find more antivirus programs around for Windows because it has a history of being attacked by the greater proportion of malware. While macOS is quite comprehensively locked down, especially if you stick to the Mac App Store for your applications, you can never be 100 percent sure you’re safe, so it’s always worth having an antivirus program or two on hand to troubleshoot system problems.

All kinds of computer crashes and slowdowns can be caused by viruses and other malware. It’s worth running a scan if your system has become sluggish, is suddenly behaving strangely, or seems overrun with advertising. If threats are found, your antivirus program will know how to combat them; if you get a clean bill of health, you can try some other troubleshooting options to fix whatever issue you’re having.

3. Remove Program Bloat

You might think that leaving older, unused programs on your hard drive is pretty harmless, but as more and more applications mount up, your operating system has to work harder and the files on your computer get broken up more often and spread out further as your computer tries to save them, something known as fragmentation. As a result, the amount of free storage space can quickly become sparce.

If you’ve noticed your computer is running more slowly, crashing at odd times, or showing some other kind of buggy behavior, it might be that it’s simply creaking under the weight of all the software you’ve got installed. You can uninstall applications you no longer need from the Apps section of Settings in Windows, or by dragging the app shortcut into the trash on macOS. Some macOS apps can be removed from the Launchpad by clicking and holding on an icon until it shakes, then clicking the X icon

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The same goes for your browser, having too many extensions and add-ons can lead to a serious slowdown or some erratic behavior, so limit your extensions to the ones you actually need and use. In Google Chrome, click the three dots in the top right, and go to More Tools, then Extensions; in Firefox choose Add-ons from the main app menu; and in Microsoft Edge, choose Extensions from the main app menu.

Protip: Do not keep too much on your Desktop. Keeping a large amount of files on your Desktop can cause your computer to run slow as it tries to keep them in memory for quick use.

If your computer is running low on disk space, it can lead to a number of problems, including occasional crashes and slow performance. Once you’ve removed unneeded apps, try removing unneeded files too, like movies you’ve already watched or duplicate photos you’ve got safely backed up somewhere else. Generally speaking, the less bloated your system, the fewer problems you’ll run into. Don’t forget to empty your trash and reboot your computer to make sure you are seeing the right numbers.

Source: techguy.tips

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