Solving Computer Problems

There is no rule that says only “professionals” are good at solving computer programs. In fact, most computers have systems in place that let you fix your computer problems yourself! Here are a few hints and tips to help you when you are solving computer problems:

1. First of all, you have to believe that you can actually solve the problem. Do not be afraid of your computer. You are bigger than it is. It will not magically come alive and eat you (unless you are a mad scientist and have doctored it in some way). You control the machine, not the other way around.

2. Learn how to figure out what is wrong with your computer. Most computer programs are easy to diagnose, but the best way to figure out what is wrong is to work backward. Start with what is going wrong and then ask yourself what you were doing before that and so on. Did you recently install a program that could have an adverse affect on your system? Did you open an email and click on a link that your instincts told you that you shouldn’t? Did you bump into your computer and possibly knock something loose? If you are getting an error message, write it down and then perform an internet search on it. Chances are that you will find more than enough resources that will walk you through the solution step by step.

3. Make sure that you perform maintenance regularly on your machine. Sometimes solving computer programs boils down to a simple routine maintenance task that you might have forgotten to do. Make sure that all of your software is up to date and that it is as bug free as possible. Whenever that little message that tells you are updates available pops up, go ahead and install them. It might take a few minutes, but if you don’t do it immediately there is a big chance that you will forget to do it later.

Run your anti-virus and spyware detection programs at least once a week. These programs will detect and tell you how to fix any malware that might be in your system. Malware can include spyware, viruses or cookies that could potentially be harmful to your system. You will also want to regularly clean out your temporary internet files, your history, your cache and your cookie folders. Individually the files are small, but after a few days of working on the internet, these files could be full to bursting. Every couple of weeks (if not more frequently) you will also want to defrag your hard disk and run a system sweeper. These programs will not only clean up and purge any files that are no longer necessary (straggling files from programs you thought had been uninstalled long ago), but they will make sure that everything is located in the correct folders.

Solving computer programs sounds like something you have to have a lot of knowledge to do, but really all you need is enough time to perform some routine maintenance and research.

Slow Computer Problems Tip #1

Check your internet cache. Not only does every single page you look at on the internet get stored into a history folder in the depths of your computer, but every single part of those pages gets saved as a separate file in what is known as the cache folder. Yes, every single tiny graphic gets stored in its own file. That green dot that repeats twelve times as an illustration of bullet points? Twelve separate gif files in your cache. Make sure you clean out the cache often.

Slow Computer Problems Tip #2

Ad ware is the devil. Ad ware can be attached to your computer by any number of sites (though it is most famously used by sites of an "adult" nature). This ad ware keeps track of where you go online like a cookie does, but ad ware is typically a covert program that slows down the computer to make it easier to track where you go. Run a spy ware or ad aware program on a regular basis to keep these programs and files at bay.

Slow Computer Problems Tip #3

Defragment your hard drive regularly. Sometimes parts of your files get corrupted. The more files that are corrupted or "fragmented," the more slowly your computer will run. A defragmentation of your hard drive should be done on a regular basis. It is a long process, so the defragmenting program is best run overnight.