As of January 2020, there are 4.54 billion internet users all over the world. Some of them are using mobile devices and IoT devices, but the majority of them are still using desktops and personal computers (PC). This is because there are only things that only PCs can do, such as video games, work applications, video and photo editing, and others.
Our dependency on personal computers is not going to lessen just because mobile devices are getting popular. PCs continue to be an indispensable part of the work, school, and everyday environment. We rely heavily on them for our everyday tasks, such as typing, researching, printing, designing, computing, and communicating.
But what if the computer breaks down or some of the functions stop working? What if your programs are not working correctly or if a virus has found its way into your system? You won’t be able to complete your tasks if your computer is malfunctioning and needs to be repaired.
What is PC Repair?
Computer repair is defined as the process of identifying, detecting, and troubleshooting hardware, software, and network problems and issues in a faulty PC. Computer repair, also known as PC repair, is a complicated field encompassing many PC repair tools, techniques, and processes used to fix problems with the various components of a computer.
Computer repair is generally handled by a computer repair technician. If the problem lies with the hardware, the technician conducts a physical review of the PC and tests for abnormalities. Hardware components, such as random access memory (RAM), hard drive, motherboard, processor, or optical drive should be individually checked, fixed, or replaced once an error is detected. Fixing a computer usually requires special tools and equipment to take apart and reassemble the computer.
Computer repair software, on the other hand, deals with issues that are generally related to the operating system, system settings or updates, installed programs, malware, and other software services.
Types of PC Repair
There are different types of computer problems that users often encounter, and it is important to understand which category your problem belongs to in order to know the proper troubleshooting steps.
Here are some of the common types of PC repair:
Malware Removal
If you feel your computer has become sluggish or weird ads keep on popping up all of a sudden, your PC might be infected by malware. When this happens, the computer technician uses anti-malware tools to remove malicious software without losing the important data or apps on your computer. You also have the option to get virus removal services online or install the antivirus yourself and get rid of the malware.
PC Hardware Repair
When one of your computer’s hardware components suffers physical damages, you need to get it diagnosed by the technician immediately. You might need to install new hardware, repair, or update hardware. Some of the components you need to consider include the CPU, power supply, chip, hard drive, graphics card, memory, fans, monitor, and others.
PC Software Repair
Aside from software problems, PC users also have to deal with software issues, such as BSOD errors, outdated drivers, installation or upgrade failures, software incompatibility, program crashes, sluggish computer performance, malware infection, corrupted files, and others. Software-related computer problems can be fixed by diagnosing the cause of the error and using a PC repair toolkit to address the problem. There are many computer repair software tools in the market, but the trick in fixing software problems is to find the right PC repair tool for that specific error.
Accessories Repair
Aside from the computer hardware, there are also times when computer accessories, such as scanners and printers, might need to be repaired due to damage. A skilled computer technician specializing in computer hardware should be able to fix such issues. However, some errors that involve computer accessories are sometimes software-related, such as outdated drivers or incorrect network settings.
Data Recovery and Backup
What makes computer errors scary is the possibility of data loss, especially when you can’t open your computer. For example, if your computer crashed due to hardware failure or a virus, your important documents and files might get deleted. Unless you have a backup, getting back your data might be impossible. If you don’t have a backup, you can also bring your computer to a computer technician to retrieve your data for you. The computer technician can also help you set up an automatic backup system to prevent future data loss.
Network Troubleshooting
When you can’t connect to your network or your Wi-Fi doesn’t work, you need to do network troubleshooting. This includes network setup, port configuration, network fixes, and other related problems.
Maintenance Services
Your PC requires constant updating and tune-ups to enhance the speed and performance of your computer. Regular maintenance also increases your computer’s lifetime. Computer maintenance service includes system and file cleanup, upgrading and installing new programs, and general inspections.
Customization
If you want to upgrade your computer to a gaming PC or you want to change a specific component of your stock computer, a computer technician can easily build a customized computer for you. The customized PC will include specific features that you want to add or change.
Computer Training
If you installed a new software that you are not familiar with, you can hire a computer expert to teach you how to use it. Computer technicians, especially those who specialize in computer software repair usually have in-depth knowledge of how programs work. This training will help you save time by bypassing the learning curve.
Common Hardware Problems and How to Fix to Them
When your computer hardware breaks down, they are easier to diagnose and fix because it is easier to determine where the problem lies. For example, you can easily find out that you have a faulty keyboard, mouse, or monitor when you notice these components are not working as they should. If you’re having trouble playing your video game, it could be due to some GPU problems. A noisy fan is a dead giveaway that need to get fixed. If you have a problem booting your computer, you might need to check your hard drive for bad sectors.
Generally, fixing hardware problems is a simple process. Find out which hardware component is faulty, then have it fixed (if possible) or replaced. Here are some of the common troubleshooting steps for computer hardware problems:
Computer Overheating
When your computer reaches a very high temperature, it causes your device to slow down and leads to frequent crashes. Constant exposure to heat may also cause permanent damage to other PC components.
Overheating can be caused by a cooling system that is not working properly. It is also possible that your computer is heating too fast to the point that your cooling system cannot handle it anymore. To cool down your computer, you can improve ventilation by cleaning the fans, clearing out the vents, and cleaning up the inside of your CPU. You might also need to reapply thermal paste in case it has dried up.
Malfunctioning USB Port
When your USB ports stop working, this doesn’t automatically mean that your ports are faulty, though we can’t discount the fact that this is also possible. You first need to rule out that incompatible hardware, system glitch, incorrect power settings, and other factors are not causing your USB ports to misbehave. To start, reboot your computer, reinstall the driver of the USB port, and disable the USB selective suspend feature. If your USB ports are still not working after doing all those steps, then the problem lies with the hardware.
Beeping Sounds
Whenever you hear any unnatural sounds coming from your computer, this indicates that something is wrong with your computer. This is especially true when you hear beeping sounds. These beeps are your motherboard’s way of warning you that there are problems with some components you need to address immediately. For example, a beeping sound could mean that the computer’s memory is not properly inserted so you need to reseat the RAM and clean up any dust or dirt inside the slots. A loose RAM would cause your computer not to boot up properly. You might also hear a computer beep when you wrongly installed a new hardware component.
Fans Are Not Working
When you hear noises when the fan is running or you notice that the fans are running slower than they used to, it’s time to clean up the dirt inside your computer. You will need to open up your computer and use a compressed air spray to remove the dirt and dust inside.
Crashes During Startup
If you get a blue screen error or any other error that causes your computer to crash before it is able to load the operating system, you should take a look at your computer’s RAM or hard drive to figure out what’s going on. It might be that your RAM is corrupted so it is not able to hold the boot loader or that your hard disk is damaged so the data can’t be retrieved. You can try to fix your hard drive using the CHKDSK utility, but if it is way beyond saving, you might need to replace it with a new one. The same goes if the culprit is your RAM.
Computer Won’t Turn On
If your PC doesn’t boot up, doesn’t make a noise, or doesn’t light up when you press the power button, then you have a problem with the power source. Check your power outlet, power cable, extension cord, and other wires if you’re using a desktop PC. If the wires are not the problem, then your power supply should be defective. You need to have it replaced to be able to use your computer.
If you’re using a computer, take out the battery and try plugging it directly to the power source. If it works, then you need to ditch your battery and get a new one.
Noisy Hard Drive
If the noise that you’re getting from your computer does not come from the fans but the hard drive, then that’s bad news. Defective hard drives or those that have reached the end of their lifespan often emit clicking or grinding sounds, which is indicative of a hard drive failure. This means that your hard drive is in a bad shape and you need to have it replaced as soon as you can. But before you do so, make sure to back up your data first to avoid losing important files.
Blue Screen of Death
BSOD errors are dreaded by most users because they are usually a sign of a big problem. Some BSOD errors are software-related, but the majority of them are caused by a hardware problem. You need to take note of the error message to identify what the exact error is and to find the best solution. BSOD errors are usually caused by corrupted drivers, too much pressure on the RAM, damaged hard disk, or overheating PC.
Blank or Flickering Monitor
If your computer screen is showing a blank display or is flickering, it could be due to a problem with the monitor itself or your graphics card. You can check this by connecting the monitor to another PC to see if it will work. If it doesn’t, you need to get a new monitor. But if it works on another PC, you need to check the graphics card to see if the issue is related to it.
Keyboard Problems
Noisy keys, unresponsive keys, and double letters are some of the common problems related to the keyboard. Adjusting the keyboard settings and cleaning up the keyboard should easily resolve most of these issues.
Common Software Problems and How to Fix to Them
Once you’ve ruled out that your computer problem is not related to any hardware component, that’s the time to consider the software side of things. Windows is a very complicated operating system, though it may not look like it because of its user-friendly interface. Any problem that occurs with any of its components can cause a wide variety of computer problems.
We’ll discuss below some of the most common software-related problems and the steps to deal with them.
Missing DLL Files
A missing DLL error is one of the most common computer errors that plague Windows users. DLL files are critical system files necessary for the operating system to work properly. When any of these DLL files gets corrupted, deleted, damaged, or moved from its original location, it could lead to various issues, such as apps not working properly, app crashes, and even BSOD errors.
The best way to deal with missing DLL files is to find a PC repair tool that is able to restore these problematic DLL files. Once they are restored, the error will go away and your system will be working smoothly once again.
Blue Screen Errors
As mentioned earlier, BSOD errors can be caused by either hardware or software issues. Some of the software-related causes of BSOD errors include incompatible or outdated drivers, damaged or deleted system files, corrupted boot.ini file, and incorrect boot sequence. You can easily fix these software issues by using proper computer repair software tools, updating any outdated software, and resetting some settings.
Programs Freezing or Running Slowly
When apps slow down or become unresponsive, this could be due to a number of reasons. But the most common cause is related to the computer’s memory. The RAM or random access memory stores data temporarily while the programs are running. The more programs are running, the higher the consumption of the RAM. If your computer doesn’t have enough memory, your apps and the whole system begin to slow down. You can either add more RAM to your computer or limit the number of apps running simultaneously on your computer.
Malware
Malware can bring you serious trouble, depending on the type of malware that has infected your device. Worms, Trojans, ransomware, adware, viruses, malvertising, and spyware are just some of the common types of malicious software that could invade your system. Getting rid of malware requires running a good anti-malware software and completely deleting all the infected files.
Wi-Fi Problems
Problems with your internet connection can stem from a lot of things. There could be something wrong with your ISP (internet service provider) or your router. You might also encounter issues with the DNS servers or the ports you are using. Adjusting your network configurations could help resolve your Wi-Fi problems.
Installation Problems
It can be frustrating when you can’t install the apps that you want or need on your computer. If this happens, you need to check several factors that might be causing the installation failure. Compatibility is the first factor. Is the app compatible with your hardware? Does your computer meet the minimum requirements for the app to work?
Another factor to consider is storage space. If your computer does not have enough space, the installation won’t push through. Check the size of the installation file, then compare it with the available space on your hard drive. If you have insufficient storage, you can delete some old files and clear some space using a PC repair tool.
A corrupted or incomplete installation file can also lead to installation failure. Make sure to download the installer from reputable sources to prevent installation issues.
App Crashes
When your program suddenly stops working and crashes, this could lead to data loss and other nasty consequences. Sudden crashes are usually caused by insufficient power, outdated drivers, or corrupted files. Updating the app and adjusting its settings should help fix this problem. If it doesn’t work, reinstalling the app should do the trick.
Windows Update Issues
Windows regularly releases system updates through the Windows Update utility. Installing updates should be easier because most of the downloads happen in the background, but there’s still a lot of things that could go wrong somewhere. Missing update files, license issues, Windows piracy, and installation bugs are just some of the problems you might come across. You can use Windows’ built-in troubleshooting tool or use a PC repair toolkit to fix any Windows Update problem.
What is a PC Repair Software?
A PC repair software or computer repair software is a set of tools designed to fix common software-related computer problems. Some PC repair toolkits are designed for specific purposes, such as dealing with malware, managing your computer resources, or restoring corrupted system files. Others are created for general maintenance tasks to prevent future problems, such as cleaning up your computer and checking the overall health of your system.
A PC repair software can be free to download, but these free apps are often laden with ads or malware, which would further compromise your computer.
How Does a PC Repair Software Work?
Most PC repair software tools are simple and can be used even by ordinary computer users. These tools are designed for those users who are not so tech-savvy. All you need to do is download the tool, sign up for an account, and pay for a subscription or one-time fee, depending on the tool you want to use. Once you have installed the app, just run it and follow the instructions to fix any software problem you might be experiencing. Instead of looking for tutorials on the internet or on YouTube, you can simply use your computer repair software tool to deal with common computer problems.