If your computer develops a fault before you fork out for professional computer repair, here are some easy tips to try yourself. None of our suggested solutions below risk further damage to your computer if you follow the steps carefully. We’ve focused on repair tips for Windows PCs rather than Macs, as Windows PCs tend to be prone to more glitches – though some of the tips will also work for Macs. Need to replace a faulty laptop? Find the right laptop for you and avoid the worst with our best laptop recommendations. If your computer starts up If your computer starts up normally, but then has a problem once it has started, such as the screen freezing or it is running very slowly, there are a number of tricks you can try.
1 Restart your computer This has become a cliché but it solves many desktop and laptop problems. It’s quick and easy so is always worth trying first. If your computer screen has frozen you can usually force a shut down by holding down the power button until the computer turns off, then start up again. If it won’t turn off, you can force a complete shutdown. With a desktop PC do so by turning off the power at the mains, and with a laptop do so by removing and replacing the battery.
2 Back up your files Even small problems, such as your computer running slowly, could be symptomatic of a bigger issue. To avoid losing important files and photos if the problem escalates, back up all your files to an external hard drive or to online cloud storage.
3 Run computer security checks If things aren’t working as smoothly as they should or you’re frequently experiencing problems, run a security scan. Some particularly malicious malware or viruses can stop your computer from starting, but more commonly they will just make your system sluggish. A security scan will put your mind at rest and will let you rule out malicious attacks at an early stage. If you don’t have security software installed, or are unhappy with your current security, installing Which? Best Buy security software will help keep your computer safe from attack.
4 Remove recently installed programs If your computer has problems just after you’ve installed a device or a software program – whether you’ve installed it from a disc or downloaded it from the internet – uninstall the last piece of software you put on your system. To do this safely and fully, go to the Windows Control Panel (accessed from your Start menu) and select ‘Add or remove programs’. Once you’ve uninstalled the program, check for improvement. If everything’s working OK again, you can try reinstalling.
5 Check for duplicate programs Problems can arise if you have two versions of the same program running (for example, if you’ve reinstalled a piece of software to get the latest version rather than using the program’s update option). You can check if you have multiple versions of the same program running using the Windows Control Panel, which lists all programs you’ve downloaded to your computer. If you spot duplicates, uninstall both versions, and then try reinstalling (if you’re installing from a disc, you may also need to check online for updates).
6 Don’t use more than one antivirus program It’s vital to protect your computer with appropriate security software. But running two antivirus programs on your computer – for example, running Microsoft Defender, which comes free with Windows 8 or 10, and then installing an extra antivirus program from a company such as McAfee or Norton – can cause conflicts on your computer. This can make your computer sluggish and at worst can cause computer crashes. If you have two different antivirus programs installed on your computer, make sure only one of them is active. Find out which security software Which? recommends in our security software reviews.
7 Check for and install Windows updates This is a straightforward way to ensure you are up to date and should improve the performance and reliability of your computer. You can set your computer up to check for and install Windows updates automatically. If you haven’t already been running updates regularly then it may take some time to download all updates, but it’s worth it.
8 Carry out a system restore This is a powerful and effective tool and will fix many PC problems by reverting your computer system to the last state in which it was working well. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System tools > System restore or just enter system restore in the Windows search box and press Enter. Once you are in the main window if you have an available restore point the date will be highlighted in bold. Click that date and simply follow the step-by-step wizard that will take you through the process and will even restart the computer for you. If it has restored successfully you will get confirmation.
9 Conduct a system repair You will need your original Windows operating system disc for this. Put your disc in the disc drive and restart your computer. When the computer turns on, you will see an on-screen menu with a number of options. Select the Repair option. WARNING – DO NOT select the option to install Windows – if you do so and proceed with a full Windows installation, it will wipe your drive and re-install Windows from scratch. This will lose all of your data. Using the repair option will not affect your data, but to be on the safe side, backup your files before trying this method. If your computer won’t start up Even if your computer won’t start properly – or at all – you may still be able to fix the problem yourself.
10 Check your connections If you’ve got a desktop computer, you may be having computer problems because one of the cables inside the machine has become loose, particularly if you’ve moved your computer around recently. Open up the desktop casing (not the monitor) – you’ll need a small screwdriver. Check that all the cables are firmly pushed into their appropriate sockets. Laptop loose connections are less likely, but if you’ve recently installed new memory it’s worth making sure that you’ve firmly connected it.
11 Check your laptop battery If you’re running your laptop off its battery, try plugging it into the mains power – if it works fine off the mains, it’s probably time for a new battery.
12 Start up in Safe Mode Try starting up in Safe Mode. To do this, as soon as you switch on, repeatedly press the F8 key. You will be presented with an on-screen menu. Select Safe Mode – this should allow you to start up your desktop and in most cases will allow you to investigate further, including running a security scan. Get expert computer help from MiC Computers? If none of the computer repair solutions above work, it could mean some of your computer hardware is damaged – for example, your hard drive or motherboard. If you’re unsure what to do contact us.
