Top 10 common computer problems & Solutions

Common computer problems arise due to some small malfunctioning, either in the software or hardware.

Their solutions are often easy to apply.

I will point out the top 10 common PC problems and how to fix them by yourself.

1. Computer won’t turn on

This is probably the no.1 problem faced by many of us. To understand this problem, you can compare it to our human body.

When we are sick, we often get a fever. It’s the body mechanism to fight infection. In the same way, when the computer faces any problem, it usually won’t turn on until you fix that.

There are hundreds of reasons why a PC won’t boot up. The issues can range from power supply failure to virus infection. Normally, by following the steps given below, your computer should be able to start.

Solution:

1. Check the power supply

2. Make sure the monitor or display is functional

3. Eliminate external hardware

4. Reinstall system

2. Slow Internet

Nothing can be more frustrated than a slow internet connection. I know, you can’t enjoy that famous Netflix show or stay connected on Facebook.

But this problem is usually pretty easy to deal with. The problem lies in 2 areas, i.e. internal issue (issues related to your internet appliance) and external (related to your Internet Service Provider)

Solutions:

1. Restart the modem

2. Fix your wi-fi signal

3. Kill any unwanted background software

4. Contact your ISP

3. PC Becoming Slow

I know that kind of feeling you feel when it takes like 5 minutes to open just an app. Well, this is another common computer problems people face in their daily lives.

The root cause is usually due to the duration of how long you have been operating the PC. A computer that is older than 2 years will experience this, regardless of their specifications.

Solutions:

1. Find resource-hungry program

2. Disable startup program

3. Scan for malware and adware

4. Windows Update Problem

Windows update errors can occur due to a bunch of reasons. Causes include Windows piracy, core files missing, license issues, etc.

The problem is, however, not that serious. But if you still want to have the latest software and security installed, you have to fix it.

Solutions:

The solution is quite straight forward. With an in-built error detection and troubleshooting, Windows has its own mechanism to fix this.

But if you still cannot fix it, I recommend going through the official Microsoft Windows update errors fixing

5. Noisy Hard Drive

Hard drives are usually nearly silent, but some do make a muted clicking sound when they’re being accessed or turned off — this is completely normal.

On the other hand, if you start hearing noises only occasionally or noises that you’ve never heard before — like clicking, grinding, vibrations, or squealing — your hard drive may be failing.

Solutions:

1. Make sure the sound comes from the hard drive

2. Run a diagnostic software

3. Replace the hard drive

6. PC Fan Not Working

Another common computer hardware problem here. However, people usually get panic when the fan stops working.

In reality, that it is normal behavior for the CPU fan to stop spinning when the CPU temperatures are low, or  you are not running any power-hungry applications.

In most cases, it’s happening due to the motherboard, and not the fan itself.

Solution:

1. Determine the root cause

As mentioned, the motherboard is usually the main reason why the fan stops spinning. This could happen because the fan isn’t installed well on the board or there’s a problem on the board wires.

To check this, simply connect the fan to the external power source and see if it’s still working. If not, then the problem is with the fan itself.

2. Assess the fan

Three common issues related to the fan are:

1. CPU Fan Save dusts.
2. The Bearing of the CPU Fan is stuck.
3. CPU Fan is broken.

For the first case, you can simply clean it with a cloth. For the second and third cases, which are the more serious case here, you need to hire professional computer repair service to replace the part.

7. Printer Isn’t Printing

There are many reasons why your printer won’t print, so start with the basics, such as checking to see whether there is an error message or warning light on the printer.

Make sure there is paper in the tray(s), check the ink or toner cartridges aren’t empty, the USB cable is plugged in, or the printer is connected to Wi-Fi.

The solution provided below will help you solve most of the underlying issues.

1. Restart the printer

2. Check for issues on the computer- reinstall the printer drivers.

8. Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD)

A Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) — also referred to as “blue screen,” “stop error,” or just “system crash” — will happen after a critical error that the system is unable to process and repair automatically.

Usually, you may see a blue screen while upgrading to a new version of Windows, during startup, or suddenly while actively using the computer, and the most frustrating thing is that it’s just a screen with a blue background and a sad character face without enough information to figure out the problem.

Solutions:

1. Check that there is enough space for updates

BSOD is usually a problem occurring due to corrupted files, file system failures and system spaces.

Sometimes, your system space may get filled during the update, causing some  files to be missing, hence resulted in a corrupted file.

2. Scan your system for viruses

Some viruses can cause a Blue Screen of Death, especially ones that infect the master boot record (MBR) or boot sector.

3. Update your hardware drivers

Most Blue Screens of Death are hardware or driver related, so updated drivers could fix the cause of the STOP error.

4. Return BIOS settings to their default levels.

An overclocked or misconfigured BIOS can cause all sorts of random issues, including BSODs.

5. Perform diagnostic tests on all hardware you’re able to test

It’s highly likely that the root cause of any given Blue Screen of Death is a failing piece of hardware

9. Computer Freezes

A slow or aged computer can freeze from time to time. The main reason behind this is due to lack of enough resources.

Before regularly encounter this problem, your Windows should start becoming slow first. To fix that, you can read the above point.

10. System Automatically Restart

Last but not least for common computer problems here, and quite the most frustrated one too!

There are many reasons for this problem. It can be a result of various issues, including corrupted drivers, faulty hardware, and malware infection, among others.

It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what keeps your computer in a reboot loop. In most cases, it usually happens after the Windows update.

Solutions:

1. Deleting bad registry files

Before you do this, you have to be completely confident that you can complete the process without making any mistake.

Keep in mind that the Windows Registry is a sensitive database. Even misplacing a comma can cause damages to your computer! As such, I suggest you opt for a one-click solution like Auslogics Registry Cleaner.

This freeware automatically searches for duplicate or corrupted registry files.

2. Updating drivers

When your drivers are outdated, it is possible for your computer to get stuck in a reboot loop. This is because your devices are not able to properly communicate with your system.

As such, it is important to check if your drivers are up-to-date

3. Checking hardware issues

In some cases, a computer may keep on restarting because of faulty hardware. The three main hardware to check on are:

1. RAM
2. CPU
3. External Devices

4. Scanning for viruses or malware

It is possible that your computer has been infected by a virus or malware – that is why it keeps on restarting. You can run a complete virus scan by using Windows Defender.

On the other hand, you can also opt for 3rd party programs like AVG antivirus or Trend.

Recap

Here are the 10 computer problems and solutions:

1. Computer won’t turn on
2. Slow Internet
3. PC Becoming Slow
4. Windows Update Problem
5. Noisy Hard Drive
6. PC Fan Not Working
7. Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD)
8. Computer Freezes
9. Printer Isn’t Printing
10. System Automatically Restart

Conclusion

And that’s all for the top 10 common computer problems and their solutions. These problems can occur in day-to-day life and can be very frustrating.

Some of them can be easily fixed by yourself, whereas in some cases, these common problems can prove to be serious ones.