Computer problems always strike at the worst times possible. You are either in the middle of an important project, you need to respond to that important email or need your computer for some reason or another when you are hit with a screen that is filled with jargon you do not understand. Like many others who aren’t completely sure how to troubleshoot their computer problems, you might fiddle around with it until you have driven yourself up a wall without finding the answer. It is at this point that you hire an IT support service that will charge you an arm or a leg to make a repair that takes minutes in some scenarios.
Many people do not realize that the solution to their computer woes may be at their fingertips or at the very least, within their reach if they know how to search for it properly. Whether the issue is that of a spyware or malware infection, hardware failure or one or more corrupted system files, the means necessary to solving the problem can be acquired without the frivolous use of an IT support service. With a proper knowledge of where to search for solutions to computer issues and a little ingenuity, you should be able to solve the majority of your computer problems on your own if you follow these steps.
Don’t Panic
The natural urge to panic about seemingly complicated errors on your computer is how an IT support service gains its customers to begin with. Your fear could be completely irrational and upon further investigation, you could find that the solution is simpler than you expected. If you remain calm and attempt to find logical solutions, your chances of solving your problem for free are much higher.
On the other hand, do not try to be a hero. If your computer is infected with any form of malware such as a virus or scareware, your most effective first step toward ridding it of the infection is to turn the computer off after you record a few observations. As your computer runs with a malware infection, the virus or scareware will work itself deeper into your system and continue to cut off your paths to solving the issue. If you let the infection work itself deep enough, even the greatest IT support service on Earth will not be able to help you.
Pay Attention to the Details
The moment you notice an error or problem with your computer, pause and pay attention to everything that comes up on your screen. You simply cannot troubleshoot your computer problems unless you have the proper information. Write down any error codes that you see along with which programs and files are running at the time of the problem as you will need this information later. If you suspect that the problem is malware or scareware related, turn your computer off as soon as you have recorded your observations.
Error messages that appear on blue screens or when your computer boots are vital pieces of information that can reveal the source of your computer problems; especially if the issues aren’t related to malicious software. Write down the entire code as it appears on the screen and keep it for later when you begin to search for your answer. Now that you have taken note of the details surrounding your problem, you are able to find the solution.
Use Alternate Devices
An IT support service would not attempt to fix your computer with an infected or broken machine and neither should you. If at all possible, you should try to gain internet access on another machine whether it is a backup computer you possess or a machine that a friend or family member will allow you to use. Along with a secondary computer, you will need a portable USB drive to transfer files to the troubled computer, if necessary.
Search for Solutions Efficiently
Use a search engine or well-known technology forums to search for the solution to your computer problems. Type the error code or the name of the malicious program that appeared on your screen into the search and browse through the results to find credible answers. Some of these forums provide all of the information that an average IT support service has access to and include step by step instructions to resolve a plethora of computer problems. Be sure to find information from credible forums such as a reputable antivirus and anti-malware company’s forum or technology forums such as www.tech-forums.net.
Your search results will usually direct you to threads on these types of forums that serve as a community IT support service for their members or as a database of knowledge that is shared by programmers and computer gurus. Read the threads thoroughly and pay attention to what solutions worked as well as which ones failed. Keep in mind that your own solution could be different than another person’s and you may need to use a system of trial and error to resolve your computer issues.
Follow Instructions
If you need special programs to resolve an issue caused by malware or scareware, download the software’s executable files to your portable USB drive and run them on the infected computer through USB. In the case of corrupted system files or hardware problems, simply follow all of the instructions as they appear on a thread that resolves your particular problems. Most of the time, you will find that the problem was not as severe as you anticipated or that the resolution wasn’t too difficult to implement.
Keep in mind that this method is not guaranteed to resolve all of your computer problems. It will save you money, however, by giving you an opportunity to resolve the issue without an IT support service. Preventing the problems to begin with is the most ideal option and can be achieved by installing and running an anti-malware program on your computer such as MalwareBytes along with a reputable antivirus program.