PC Keeps Crashing? Problems with Computers? Time to Call Computer Professionals
Summary: Some problems with computers are beyond most users' basic knowledge and should be addressed by IT experts. A professional IT technician can also tell you if repairs are worth doing, or if you are better off replacing the computer.
As computer technology evolves, many previously difficult tasks have been streamlined and automated. There is no question that computers have made our lives much more manageable. However, as automobile repairs have become more complicated for DIY mechanics, so have computer repairs. Sure, there are still many minor repairs and installations that the average PC user can handle. But for some of the more serious issues, it’s prudent to know when they are beyond your DIY knowledge and it’s time to call in a computer repair service. Some issues, like a hard drive crash recovery are simply not a DIY job.
The good news is that you can troubleshoot many computer problems without help. Computer hardware and software developers have built many user-friendly diagnostic tools that are more and more intuitive. However, it is crucial that you know when a repair job is beyond your expertise. For example:
The Dreaded Computer Blue Screen
Practically every computer user has encountered a blue screen event. Often referred to as “The Blue Screen of Death,” a blue screen is a breakdown for which the repair is far beyond a novice’s skill level. When faced with a blue screen and a computer that will not boot, consider it a sign of one or more severe problems that prevent the system from booting (or rebooting). In addition to the screen being blue, there is usually a STOP or ERROR code displayed. Whether or not you feel tech-savvy enough to work on the problem, writing down the code is a good idea. When you call an IT expert for a repair, the code will give them a head start on diagnosing the problem. Generally, a blue screen error is caused by driver or hardware issues. But there are many blue screen error codes, and many require additional diagnostic tests to ascertain the source of the problems. As a rule of thumb, it is best to call in IT computer professionals if you receive a computer blue screen error message, especially if your pc keeps crashing.
Black Screen
Another terrifying event is starting up your computer only to have the monitor screen remain black. This problem could be a simple computer or internet connection problem between your PC and monitor. First, carefully check the cabling and plugs that connect the monitor to the computer. If everything looks OK, the problem could come from a bad graphics card. A black screen is another issue that is best addressed by a computer repair service.
Graphics Gone Wild
Everyone takes computer graphics for granted. Most users do not have any idea how complex it is to be able to see anything on a computer screen. But have you ever booted up your system and found that images and texts are jumbled or distorted? It is like your computer woke up with a hangover. Generally, a graphical error is related to a bad video card driver, software conflict or corruption. These issues are not DIY repairs.
Sluggish Operating System Caused by Malware
The most common causes of a slow or unresponsive operating system are malware and viruses. Best practices related to not clicking on or opening suspicious email attachments or embedded links can decrease the chances of falling victim to a cyberattack. Investing in up-to-date anti-virus software and running a complete scan is the first step that anyone can take to diagnose a system slowdown. The right anti-virus software (not the free versions) can help prevent future attacks.
Hard Drive Crashes
Hard disk drives (HDDs) are local storage devices. They hold all your programs and, more importantly, your private data. HDDs are mechanical and have moving parts that wear out over time. They also contain hard digital data storage disks that can become corrupted and lose data. Backing up your computer regularly to other external storage media or the cloud is important to ensure data can be restored if your hard drive stops working. Even so, hard drive failure is frustrating and requires more expertise in hard drive crash recovery. IT experts should be contacted to help with data backup and file recovery and repair or replace your hard drive. If simple recovery is not possible, your IT technician can recommend a trusted data specialist to help with complicated file recoveries.
DIY computer repair is an alluring idea for some users, and knowledgeable tech users can resolve many issues on their own with a bit of research. However, there is significant value in using IT computer professionals with the knowledge and experience to assess the status of your computer’s health holistically. Technicians can fix related problems and identify warning signs of possible problems to come.
By their nature, computers are interconnected systems, and what affects one component or function can affect others. Also, one must weigh the cost of DIY repairs vs. a professional computer repair service. DIY computer repair might take 2 hours to find a bad video card, then another hour to research new video cards and then another hour to install the card and close your machine. Is it worth four or more hours of your time to find out the problem with a computer is unresolved? Maybe not. So, know when to put your ego aside and call in the pros.