Tips for Diagnosing Common PC or Laptop Issues

Battery won’t charge or gets drained too quickly

This is one of the most common laptop problems. It is quite straightforward too. In nearly all the cases, it’s the battery that is causing the problem. There is a way you can find that out. First you can find out if the battery has gone bad by detaching it from the laptop and then plugging the charger to the laptop. If the laptop still switches on and works fine, then it means your battery has issues. In that case, you’ll need to buy a new battery for your specific laptop model. You can inquire with the brand’s service center.

If the laptop doesn’t turn on with the charger connected and the battery removed, then it could be a charger problem. Try using other wall plug points just to be sure. With the battery back in the laptop now, and it not getting charged, you might need to get a new laptop charger. If the battery drains quicker than it should, then it’s also worth looking at what software are running in the background. You can check that by going into the Windows ‘Settings’ and then ‘System’. Go to ‘Battery saver’ mode then select ‘Battery use’. This will give you a list of apps that are consuming battery. If you see some unusual software that shouldn’t be here or ones you don’t want to run in the background, just click on them and then turn off the ‘Allow this app to run in the background’ option.

People rely on machines more than ever these days, which means that when something goes wrong with your PC or laptop computer it can seriously hinder your ability to work, play, and be entertained. While there are certainly some issues that require the help of a professional to diagnose and correct, there are a few common issues that you may be able to troubleshoot on your own and avoid a trip to the repair shop.

General Issues

It might seem so easy that it couldn’t possibly help, but a good first step for trying to figure out a problem with a computer is to restart it. Try to avoid turning it off by holding down the power button if possible; use the navigation buttons to initiate the restart. There could be a software update that was downloaded to your computer and needs to be installed. In other cases there could be something running in the background that is slowing you down or causing issues. A restart hits the “refresh” button on those things.

Slow Speeds

If your computer is running slow, the first step to figure out what’s wrong is to determine what’s causing the slowdown. Check what programs are running (some may be running in the background) first, and shut down any that you’re not actively using. If you have a browser window open you may want to shut it down to close out sites trying to load videos and ads.

You can also check if it’s your internet connection, especially if the problem is a slow browser or slow downloads. Websites like speedtest.net allow you to run a test to see your current upload and download speeds for your broadband connection. At any given time your speeds should be at least 50% of what your internet service provider advertises. It will also give you a readout for the “ping” time, which should be under 100 milliseconds.

If these readings come back low, it could be an issue with your ISP-check their website, call customer service, or check Twitter for updates on outages or problems in your area. Otherwise it could be a problem with your connectivity. Try disconnecting and resetting your modem and your router. Wait about 30 seconds before plugging it back in and restarting it.

Pop-Up Ads

Another common concern is pop-up ads, especially if it’s not clear where they’re coming from. Sometimes these ads appear on certain websites, but if they are persistent or coming up on your desktop while you’re using other programs, there could be adware or malware that you need to get rid of right away with a quick virus scan. If you don’t have virus protection software, you can buy it online and download it. Just make sure to go through the manufacturer’s website or a link from a trusted site.