How to Solve the Most Common Computer Issues

I know this picture is you sometimes. I saw you doing it! That may even be why you’ve stumbled upon our page. You are so frustrated with your computer – you want to take that thing and throw it out the window of a ten story building! Unfortunately, you can’t afford a new computer right now, so you just have to deal with the one you’ve got. Let us help you resolve some of the most frustrating computer problems you are likely facing.

1. It’s SOOOO Slow! You click a link on a website, and then go make your family a four course gourmet breakfast with all the time you have waiting for everything to load up. There are definitely some things that are typical culprits of slow computers:

• Malware. Solve this by running a scan with ChicaPC-Shield™.
• Registry Errors. Solve this by running a scan with ChicaPC-Fix™.
• Low Disk Space. Solve this by deleting files or moving them to an external hard drive.
• Memory Intensive Programs. Solve this by closing the large program, or only running the large program.
• Fragmented Hard Drive. Solve this by running a defragmentation on the hard drive.
• Not Enough RAM. Solve this by adding more RAM, just write down the model of your computer and bring it into an electronics store to make sure you get the right kind. You can tell if you need more RAM if your computer continues to slow down the more things you have running.

2. Specific Error. If every time you go to save a file an error pops up at you instead of saving the file, that can be REALLY frustrating! Do a little research on Google for the exact error message. You may just find a step-by-step method for fixing your error. If you are uncomfortable attempting the fix yourself you can take it to a professional.

3. Internet Doesn’t Work. Sometimes when you have cleared an infection using tools like ChicaPC-Shield™ you are no longer able to pull up websites, it just goes to an error screen. Often this is caused by a specific piece of malware that has changed a setting; you simply need to change it back. Best place to check is to go into your Control Panel (located in the start menu) and select Internet Options. Click the Connections tab, and then LAN Settings. The only thing that SHOULD have a check mark (but doesn’t necessarily have to) is Automatically Detect Settings.

4. Takes Forever to Boot. This goes along with the slow computer, but it’s more specific to the items you have booting up with the computer. Click on the Start button and then type “msconfig” and hit Enter. Click on the tab that says “Startup”. Listed in this area will be all of the programs that start when your computer starts. Often the list doesn’t need to be as long as it is. Many things can be unchecked. If you are unsure if you need the item to start up, best bet would be to leave it alone and uncheck some of the other items you know for sure can be run on an as needed basis instead of when your computer is booting. Once you are done unchecking items, click Apply and reboot. You will get a warning when it comes back up that you have changed the startup configuration. Just click the checkbox to not show you again, and enjoy the new speed in which your computer boots.

5. Hardware Issues. This can be harder for a non-professional to diagnose, but a little common sense can get you pretty far. If the other computers in the house can access the internet just fine and one computer can’t — even though no settings have changed — likely the network card on that machine has failed. If you suddenly can’t use your mouse, or your keyboard, try a different one. If whatever doesn’t seem to be working is easily replaceable for testing, go ahead and swap it out with something that you know works just to pinpoint the actual failure.

Obviously there are hundreds of more reasons you can be frustrated with your computer, but hopefully this will help you prevent and fix some of your current frustrations. Good luck!