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14 Most Common Windows Problems and How to Solve Them

This tutorial includes a list of the most common problems in Windows 10 and 11 and basic tips to solve them. Nearly any Windows problem can be fixed using its own tools: system utilities and troubleshooters, advanced booting, Command Prompt, Control Panel, and the latest hardware drivers. Are you experiencing any of the issues below? There is a solution for each one.

1. Unresponsive Applications

3. blue screen errors, 4. hard disk/ssd failure, 5. mouse and touchpad issues, 6. registry errors, 7. audio not working, 8. windows login problems, 9. bios issues, 10. usb ports not working, 11. monitor/display problems, 12. bluetooth not working.

• 13. Windows Won't Download or Install Updates

14. Wi-Fi Disabled Suddenly

Frequently asked questions.

When a Windows application freezes, nothing moves on the screen, and even other programs feel unresponsive. Apps mostly behave like this because of overheating in the cabinet/laptop bottom and memory issues.

• To unfreeze the stuck applications, open the Task Manager using Ctrl + Alt + Del or from Run command Win + R followed by taskmgr .
• Right-click to end those tasks in “Processes.” If you managed to save your work, perform a clean reboot.

To determine an external cause of overheating, verify there aren’t any power supply issues. Check your laptop’s battery and AC adapter for any signs of trouble: if they have swollen in size, it’s time to replace the hardware.

Cleaning up the cooling fan may be required for a very old computer. If you have insufficient RAM, consider adding more of it .

Close on the heels of applications freezing, a slow PC is the bane of every Windows user. It can make completing the most basic tasks torture.

You can speed up your Windows 11 or 10 device even if you aren’t planning to upgrade the RAM anytime soon.

• Replace any antivirus with Windows Defender, the only antivirus you’ll ever need .
• Open the Windows tool, Disk Cleanup, in the search bar, which frees up space on your computer by erasing Windows updates, Windows upgrade log files, temporary files, Recycle Bin, and memory dump files.

• Disable startup apps from “Settings -> Apps -> Startup.” The only startup tasks you really need are services, such as Intel Graphics Command Center and Realtek Audio driver. Everything else is optional.

• Consider a cloud download of your Windows operating system. It downloads the latest system files from Microsoft’s servers to give you a fresh Windows installation. Once you click “Reset PC” in “Settings -> System -> Recovery options,” the option is displayed in a key step as shown.

• Periodically clearing the browser cache for Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge can also give you a slight boost in performance. If you’re using an older PC, consider uninstalling any RAM-intensive software and games.

There is no simple explanation for blue screen errors, but they do cause annoyance. Also known as bug check or stop code errors, they expose the fault lines of third-party software, hardware, Microsoft code, or some corrupted memory.

Each blue screen error has its own stop code that is displayed on the screen, such as “0x000000xyz.” They can be viewed in Event Viewer, which opens from Win + R by typing eventvwr.exe or eventvwr.msc .

After you see a blue screen, analyze dump files generated by the crash using Debug with Windbg . The best way to fix these errors is using Windows advanced startup menu (aka boot menu). To launch this, go to “Settings -> System -> Recovery -> Advanced Startup -> Restart.”

Use one of these options in the advanced startup menu:

• Uninstall Updates : usually, the blue screen is caused by incompatible drivers or third-party software.
• System Restore : reverting the operating system to an earlier date and time when the problem wasn’t there.
• Startup Repair : use if you havea blue screen due to boot issues.
• Factory Image Restore: reverting the PC back to the condition in which it was shipped (to be used only in extreme cases).

Outlined below are many other ways to deal with blue screen problems, depending on the stop code error source:

• Kernel data in page error
• Critical process died error
• WDF_violation error

In rare cases, the blue screen crashes may be caused by hardware. Look under the hood in motherboard and the power supply for the exact reason.

Whether you use a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD), they can fail due to short circuits, data corruption, physical damage – or could just wear out.

To get a hardware health report for your HDD/SSD, run the following code in Command Prompt (Admin mode). If the answer is “OK,” the hard disk failure is down to software errors that can be easily fixed.

For any hard disk errors you’re facing, employ the following holy trinity of Command Prompt fixes (Admin mode).

This command does a complete health check of the hard disk. For more specific disk drive checks, modify it as chkdsk C:/f/x/r or chkdsk D:/f/x/r .

You should see a message similar to “Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems. No further action is required.” If not, move on to the next tool.

System File Checker

You can use sfc/scannow , which repairs the Windows-protected files and replaces corrupted drivers.

Next up, execute the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) commands in the order below:

SSD users should set their Power mode for “Best performance” in “Settings -> System -> Power & battery.” You don’t want your laptop to power off every time, as frequent discharging is not healthy for your SSD.

Moreover, defragment your hard drive disk (HDD) if you use one. This will eliminate any problems due to bad sectors in your disk drive. For SSD users, there are comparable disk optimization tools.

Another annoying issue is the mouse lagging behind in receiving inputs, or the touchpad freezing for no reason.

If you’re using a touchpad on a laptop, go to “Settings -> Bluetooth & devices -> Touchpad.” Leave the Touchpad toggle on when a mouse is connected. Enable all default touchpad sensitivity options.

You can correct your mouse settings from “Settings -> Bluetooth & devices -> Mouse.” Make sure “Left” is the primary mouse button and that the mouse pointer speed is at a comfortable level. Keep all the default options enabled.

After clicking on additional mouse settings, select a desirable pointer speed from the “Pointer Options” tab.

If the mouse or touchpad just aren’t working properly, they can be fixed via Device Manager. Open it by typing Win + R followed by devmgmt.msc . Select the desired mouse or touchpad hardware drivers. Right-click it to view its “Properties” and update or reinstall the drivers.

A corrupt registry in Windows 11 or 10 is a den of future troubles, as it spells DLL errors and crashes. It may occur in the course of using a computer frequently.

The best way to keep the Windows registry healthy is to clean boot your Windows device.

• Open the “System Configuration” app from the search bar or by typing msconfig in the Run menu.
• Head to “Services” and check “Hide all Microsoft services.”

• Click all third-party services, such as Google and other apps. They will need to be disabled. After a restart, Windows will offer a clean boot environment.

• The DLL errors in the registry can be traced to one of the key classes in the Registry Editor. Open it from Run command by typing regedit .
• Navigate to the exact path of any software causing trouble and create new keys or DWORD (32-bit) values by following troubleshooting requirements.

• The issues due to a corrupt registry are generally resolved after a simple Windows update. You can also use the sfc/scannow and DISM.exe commands in Command Prompt for additional protection.

If a laptop or desktop PC fails to produce any sound, you can no longer listen to music, movies, and YouTube or attend videoconferencing calls. Follow the steps below to troubleshoot.

• Go to “Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Sound.”
• This will open a pop-up where you can see a checkmark next to the playback device you’re using. If it’s headphones, you will not receive any audio on the laptop speakers and vice versa. Do check for issues with wireless headphones .

• Windows 11 and 10 offer a default troubleshooter for each error source. Search for the “Find and fix problems with playing sound” troubleshooter option and enable it to apply repairs automatically.

• After running this troubleshooter, the audio problems should disappear. You can fix audio driver issues by restarting audio services from services.msc in Run.
• Turn off the option for sound effects and enhancements by going to “Settings -> System -> Sound -> Speakers.”

The most probable causes for sign-in problems in Windows are forgotten passwords or PINs. Therefore, it’s essential to store them safely. (Consider using a password manager for web, desktop, and mobile .)

If you still can’t log in, you might have multiple accounts on your Windows device. You can access them using netplwiz in the Run menu. Removing unnecessary accounts can fix login problems immediately. Restart the computer to ensure the problem is fixed.

To avoid login problems in the future, instead of shutting down from the Lockscreen window, go back inside the logged-in desktop for a proper shutdown.

For repeat troubles with login, sign in using Safe mode and run the Startup Repair tool as covered above. You can also “Disable fast startup” from “Power Options” in the Control Panel.

While a corrupt BIOS is enough cause to replace your computer or hard disk, in most cases, it’s a simple maintenance issue. You can access the BIOS menu by pressing the boot keys repeatedly after a Windows reboot. Depending on your PC manufacturer, the boot keys could be F2 , F6 , F12 , or Esc .

Once inside the BIOS Settings menu, look for an option that says “Load defaults” (ours is at the bottom under “Maintenance”), as it will load the BIOS defaults specific to your computer.

Once you set Factory or the current BIOS defaults, your Windows device will restore its settings after a quick restart.

Note : you will never face any BIOS issues if you have enabled UEFI mode .

When you notice errors such as “This PC can’t run the current version of Windows,” or the computer is stuck in the BIOS boot screen forever, you have to check and update the BIOS information. Otherwise, you shouldn’t handle BIOS settings.

Sometimes your PC or laptop won’t respond well to inserting or removing a USB device. If there is nothing wrong with the USB drive, it would indicate the USB ports may have malfunctioned.

• If there is no physical damage to the USB port, but it isn’t working properly, go to the necessary driver in Device Manager and check its “Properties.”
• The status may show “This device is working properly.” If it doesn’t, restart your computer and check it one more time.

• Right-clicking the USB driver in Device Manager leads to other options that let you install and update the drivers.

Are you facing issues in your monitor or display such as black screens, blank screens, haziness, or a distorted view? Just as with mice, keyboards, and other peripherals, these issues can be resolved from Device Manager.

Go to the monitor you use and right-click it to view the driver properties. If it shows a status such as “This device is working properly,” you’re good to go. However, if the drivers are shown as outdated, you need to update and reinstall those as in the previous example.

Here’s a simple trick to ensure there is no conflict with the monitor display. As it depends on the Power supply, you can accelerate it to ensure a timely display of graphics. Go to “Shutdown settings” from “Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Power Options -> System Settings.” Check “Turn on fast startup.”

If you’re using multiple monitors on Windows , ensure that the primary and secondary monitors are properly marked. The scale of display resolution should be according to computer screen size recommendations.

Bluetooth is an integral part of the Windows experience. Whether it is mice, touchpads, headphones, USB devices, and smart gadgets, things don’t feel the same when Bluetooth stops working.

• Go to “Settings -> Bluetooth & Devices” and ensure your target Bluetooth hardware is paired successfully . Keep the Bluetooth toggle on for your device.

• If there is continued trouble with Bluetooth pairing, run a troubleshooter for Bluetooth. In Windows, this option is available by going to “Settings -> System -> Troubleshoot -> Other troubleshooters -> Bluetooth.”

• After running the Bluetooth troubleshooter, you may notice a few changes to your system. It will fix small issues, such as troubles with Bluetooth radio.

Following a simple restart, the Bluetooth pairing will be successful. If you continue to face problems, uninstall and reinstall the secondary Bluetooth device. You may additionally have to fix a few drivers from the Device Manager.

13. Windows Won’t Download or Install Updates

This problem can surface when you’re upgrading from a current version of Windows to something higher. You may find that Windows is taking way longer to download or install the updates.

• In most cases, the problem can be fixed with a simple PC restart and by refreshing the update screen. Go to “Check for Updates” and see whether the glitch is gone.
• If you still can’t pursue the necessary updates, run a troubleshooter for Windows Update from “Settings -> System -> Troubleshoot -> Other troubleshooters.”

• Running the Windows Troubleshooter can help you fix any security settings, missing files, or service registration problems. The same results can be achieved using SFC, DISM, and other file path correction tools.

Your computer Wi-Fi is what makes everything come together. If the Wi-Fi stops working suddenly, you can’t connect to the Internet. To fix Wi-Fi issues in Windows, follow the steps below.

• Go to “Control Panel -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center.” This will open a Network Connections window.
• Choose your desired Wi-Fi connection to disable and enable it.

• Ensure that the Wi-Fi router has not been giving you any trouble recently.
• Make sure you didn’t turn the Airplane mode on by mistake. You can disable it from “Settings -> Network & Internet.”
• If your Wi-Fi fails to show up altogether, try enabling SSID broadcast and a few other things.

What are the most common Windows error messages?

The most common error messages in Windows 11 and 10 are:

• Boot device not found
• Update errors
• Security certificate errors
• Blue screen of death (BSoD) errors
• Access denied
• Slow or no Internet connection

Why does Windows 10 sometimes become unstable?

Windows 10 is unstable because it lacks support for cutting-edge features, such as Trusted Platform Module (TPM), Virtualization-based Security (VBS), and UEFI Secure boot. While Microsoft intends to support Windows 10 until the end of 2025, you should consider migrating to Windows 11 , as it offers more stability thanks to an error-free user interface and several advanced functionalities.

How do I know if my Windows apps are faulty?

If you keep the SmartScreen filter on in Windows Security, it will alert you whenever downloaded apps cause trouble. It will also prevent you from installing such apps.

Image credit: Pixabay . All screenshots by Sayak Boral.

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Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.

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• Services & Software

Windows 10 Troubleshooting: The Most Common Problems and How to Fix Them

We've got solutions for your Windows 10 problems, whether you're suffering from uncontrollable scrolling, update issues or your cursor moving on its own.

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Got Windows 10 problems? We've got answers. 

If you're running into problems on your Windows 10 machine, we promise you're not alone. Microsoft does release monthly  security patches and larger feature updates twice a year for the more than  1.3 billion devices worldwide  running on its software, but annoying problems still pop up. (And with support for the Windows 10 OS ending in a few years, now is a good time to consider upgrading to Windows 11 , which is free for all Windows 10 users.) 

Don't worry, though -- we've got you covered. Here are instructions for how to troubleshoot 10 common Windows 10 problems, collected from CNET's forums and other sites and message boards. One thing to note: There are often multiple ways to fix a Windows 10 issue, and what works for you may depend on your device's make and model and several other factors. (If you're still on Windows 7, you can still download Windows 10 for free with this trick . Just make sure to check out our guide to  everything to know before moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10 .)

Read more : Windows 10 tips: Secret Start menu, taking screenshots and more

Issues updating to the latest version of Windows 10

Microsoft's major feature updates arrive twice a year, the most recent being the May 2021 update , which included changes like multicamera support for Windows Hello and improvements to Windows Defender Application Guard. (The Windows 11 launch replaced what would have been the second major update this year.) Normally, though, you should get a notification when an update rolls out to your device. (Here's why you might still be waiting for the Windows 11 notification .) Or you can go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update  and click Check for Updates . If available, you'll see Feature update to Windows 10, version 21H1 . Click Download and install . 

If you're running into a problem or error updating, you can try the following, according to Microsoft: 

• Make sure your device is connected to the internet (you'll need an internet connection to update).
• Try to install the update manually, by following the instructions above. 
• Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter: Select Start  > Settings  > Update & Security > Troubleshoot . Under Get up and running , select Windows Update .

If the Troubleshooter doesn't fix the problem, check out Microsoft's guide for dealing with update issues . 

Not enough storage space to complete an update

Updating Windows 10 does require storage space, so you may need to free some up.

Windows 10 updates can require a good amount of drive space. If you run into an error due to a lack of drive space, here's what Microsoft suggests you do: 

• Save files you don't need on your desktop on an external hard drive or thumb drive, or in a cloud account like Google Drive or OneDrive. 
• Consider turning on the Storage Sense feature, with which Windows will automatically free up space by getting rid of files you don't need, like temporary files and items in the Recycle Bin whenever you're low on disk space or at certain intervals. To turn on Storage Sense, go to Start  > Settings  > System  > Storage , open Storage settings and turn on Storage Sense. Select Configure , or run it now. 
• If your device doesn't have Storage Sense, you can use the Disk Cleanup tool to delete temporary and system files. In the Taskbar search box, type disk cleanup , and select it from the results. Check the boxes next to the type of files you want to delete -- by default, Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files and Thumbnails are selected. 

Read more : The best antivirus protection for Windows 10  

Mouse cursor starts moving on its own

Sometimes your Windows 10 laptop or desktop cursor will start moving on its own, disrupting your work or browsing. Here are a couple of potential ways to fix it from Microsoft .

Run hardware troubleshooter . Press Windows + X , and select Control Panel . Go to Troubleshooting , and on the left panel click View all items . Select Hardware and devices troubleshooter and follow the instructions. 

Update the mouse and other pointing device drivers . Press Windows + R , type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter . Expand Mice and other pointing device drivers . Right-click on the driver of your mouse, and click update . 

Uncontrollable scrolling... and scrolling...

Your device keeps scrolling to the bottom of every menu and page even when you aren't moving the mouse. There are a few different ways to troubleshoot this. First, try unplugging the mouse or turning off its Bluetooth connection, and plugging it back in. 

You can also see if it's an issue with your browser. For example, in Chrome, you can try going to Preferences > Advanced > Accessibility , and turn on Navigate pages with text cursor . 

You may also need to update your mouse or touchpad driver. Go to Device Manager , and see if there are any warnings next to the names of your mice. If so, you'll be able to repair them there. 

Another potential fix: Try creating a new local user. This comes up often on message boards as a fix for a number of problems. You don't have to move all of your items over to a new account, but the act of creating a new user (or logging into another local account that already exists), logging into that account and then logging back into your account seems to help. To create a new user, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users . Click Add someone else to this PC , and click the "I don't have this person's sign-in information" link. Click Add user without a Microsoft account  and enter a new username. 

Files opening in the wrong apps 

If your Windows 10 files start opening in different apps, there are a couple of fixes to try.

When you update Windows 10 your apps and files might go back to their default settings or switch settings. One way to change this is to go to Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps . Select which default you want to set, and then choose the app.

When you go to open a file, you can also right-click it to see your options. You can choose Open with and then Choose another app , and find which one you want. You'll see an option asking if you always want to use that app when opening that type of file. 

Trouble setting up 3 monitors 

After upgrading from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10, many users have reported that they are no longer able to connect three monitors. A user on CNET's forums recommended this fix: Plug in all monitors, and go to Control panel > Display > Change display settings . You should see all three screens displayed there. If one shows as disconnected (the screen is a darker color than the others), click that screen and choose Extend desktop to this display . (You might need to restart your machine once you plug all three monitors in, and then try this.) 

Bluetooth not working 

If you suddenly can't connect your Bluetooth headphones, mouse or keyboard, there are a few things you can try : 

Make sure Bluetooth is turned on . You can do this by going to the taskbar and selecting  Action Center (it looks like a message square). If you don't see Bluetooth, select Expand . You should then see Bluetooth, and be able to select it to turn it on. If your device isn't paired with any Bluetooth accessories, it will say "Not connected." Your other option is to go to Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth  and turn it on there. 

Check your Bluetooth device . Make sure your accessory is turned on, is charged or has fresh batteries and is close to your Windows 10 device. You can then try turning off the Bluetooth device and turning it back on after a few seconds. If it's still not working, make sure it's not too close to any other USB device plugged into a USB 3.0 port, since those can interfere. 

Check your Windows 10 device . Make sure airplane mode is turned off ( Start > Settings >  Network & Internet  > Airplane mode ). Try turning Bluetooth on and off (see above). Finally, try removing the device and adding it again ( Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices . Select the device you're having trouble connecting, and choose Remove device > Yes ). 

If none of this works, Microsoft has some other tips for troubleshooting Bluetooth problems . 

Read more : How to pair Apple AirPods with your Windows 10 PC in less than a minute

Make sure you can connect your Bluetooth mouse and other devices.

Printer connection issues

Windows 10 supports most printers, but connection issues happen. To install or add a printer (whether it's networked, wireless or Bluetooth), go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners . Select Add a printer or scanner . Your device should find the printer (assuming it's on and connected to Wi-Fi or the network) and let you select Add device . 

If your printer isn't in the list, select "The printer that I want isn't listed," and then follow the instructions to add it manually using one of the options.

If you're trying to install a local printer, you can typically just plug it into your USB port and follow the same instructions. If your printer stops working, you can try doing the process again.

Too many notifications

Windows 10 can be a little notification-heavy at times. If these pop-ups are interrupting your workflow, you can adjust them by going to Start > Settings > System > Notifications & actions . There, you can decide which notifications you want on or off. 

Cortana stops working 

Is Microsoft's virtual assistant Cortana not assisting you? A bunch of different things could be going wrong. Start by going to Start > Cortana > Settings and turning it off and on again. Then, check your microphone under Settings > Sound -- if you aren't using the default computer one, it may have been disconnected. 

You can also try restarting your device and checking for updates that may be in place to fix the issue. 

When you're ready to upgrade, check out the our favorite new features in Windows 11 . Until then, don't miss these six simple security changes all Windows 10 users need to make .

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17 common Windows 10 problems and how to fix them

Tips and tricks to help you solve the most common Windows 10 problems, whether that's freeing up storage or handling safe mode

Encountering Windows 10 problems can be a highly frustrating experience. From basic error alerts to the dreaded ‘blue screen of death’, these situations can prove detrimental to your productivity and cause serious issues for businesses and users alike.

Despite being an incredibly popular operating system, there are plenty of Windows 10 bugs. Whether that's issues with booting, upgrading, privacy protection, storage management , or fixing a stuck Windows 10 update , you will still find yourself running into problems that seem insurmountable.

We've pulled together some of the most common Windows 10 problems, and steps you can take to fix them. It's worth noting that if a system has become sluggish, it's worth consulting our list of ways to speed up Windows 10 , as that may solve many issues not listed here.

1. Can't upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8

A frequent issue many users have with Windows 10 appears right at the start when they upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8. This tends to be a warning which notifies a user that the 'Get Windows 10' (also known as GWX) app is not compatible.

Alternatively, users could find that the application isn’t showing up at all. Rather annoyingly, this will cause the update to fail, but there’s no need to worry as there are a couple of ways to solve this problem:

• Open Control Panel and then run Windows Update and ensure that the PC is fully up to date. If updates fail, run the Windows Update Troubleshooter (see below, number 3)
• Head to Microsoft's Media Creation Tool . Click 'Download now', save the tool, and run it on the PC you want to upgrade. If this didn't work for you back when Windows 10 launched, try it again now - the tool has received a number of updates since.
• Make sure that hardware Disable Execution Prevention (DEP) is switched on in the BIOS, referring to your motherboard manual for help if you need it. If you still have problems, use the Start Menu to search for 'performance', run Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, click the Data Execution Prevention tab and turn DEP on for all programs and services, then reboot and try again.

2. Can't upgrade to the latest Windows 10 version

Every now and then, Microsoft releases a new update for Windows 10 . Updates tend to provide various bug fixes to help the operating system run smoother but can also introduce new and exciting features to Windows 10.

Even though Windows 10 is known as one of Microsoft’s more stable releases, sometimes users of the operating system find it troublesome to update to the latest Windows 10 update available.

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Unfortunately, not all users will be able to see if this update is ready, meaning that you’ll have to investigate how the OS update can be installed using a more manual method.

Ahead of carrying out the upgrade, you should see which version of the operating system you’re currently using. This is an easy piece of information to find out, simply head to the 'About Windows' screen where it should tell you the necessary information.

Once ready to upgrade to the latest Windows 10 version, you’re able to use the Windows Update Tool. Despite this, it’s worth pointing out that some users see the Media Creation Tool alternative as a better and more reliable option. To access it, simply download and install it before using it to upgrade your device to the latest version.

One thing to bear in mind is that if you run the Media Creation Tool, it may not immediately display any kind of reference of upgrading to the most recent version of Windows 10. Additionally, it might not tell you which version of the upgrade it will install in your system. The tool asks you if you want the Home or Business version of Windows 10 and, if you have one of these installed on your device, the newest build should hopefully be installed.

Also, make sure you've opted to keep the personal files and apps and click 'Install' to keep your data, apps, and most of your settings untouched. Now, when you hit 'Install', it should start installing the most up-to-date version of the operating system.

3. You have a lot less free storage after upgrading

This is because, following a successful Windows 10 installation, the previous OS may still be lingering in your system and consuming hard disk space.

Unlike many other tech companies, Microsoft lets users upgrade their devices and keep a backup of the important files that comprised the previous OS version. This is embedded deep in the C:/ drive. If, for instance, you had upgraded to Windows 10 but wanted to roll back for any reason, the system allowed you to do that using this backup.

If, however, the new OS takes your fancy and you're happy to wave goodbye to its previous iteration, there's a way to clear that backup. Click the Windows Start button and type 'cleanup' to search the system for the right up. Disk Cleanup should appear. Click on the search result to open the app.

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Next, a drive selection option should appear, and all you need to do is select the drive your OS is installed on. The C:/ drive should appear first, as it's more often than not the default drive. Hit OK if you're sure this is the drive your OS was installed into. Windows 10 should then scan your system for a short period before another prompt appears.

You will now be faced with two choices, which look like a list of files to delete immediately. One option is 'Previous Windows Installation(s)' and the other will be 'Clean up system filesæ option on the bottom left if this first choice isn't available.

The OS performs some more calculations, at this stage, and offers a similar-looking prompt window, but this time presents the option to delete previous Windows installation(s). You might have to scroll down to find it, but it should be taking up a sizeable bit of drive space, in our case, 5GB. Tick this option and click OK. In the separate message box that appears asking if you're certain you want to send this, click Delete Files, and you're done.

4. Windows Update isn't working

Many people have reported issues with Windows Update, whether that's the update getting stuck or simply failing. Check first that you've upgraded to the Windows 10 Fall update (see above, number 2). If you're still getting problems, download and run the Windows Update Troubleshooter, then reboot and try to update again.

If the problems remain, you might need to get a bit more stuck in. First, check that System Restore is configured (see below, number 7) and create a restore point. With this done, use Win+X and select Command Prompt (Admin), then type 'net stop wuauserv' (without the quotes) and hit Enter, followed by 'net stop bits' and Enter. You should see confirmations that each service was either stopped or wasn't running. Next, open Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. Delete its contents including any sub-folders. Now reboot, open Windows Update, and click Check for updates.

5. Windows updates when I don't want it to

If you're anything like us, you set up previous Windows releases so that they wouldn't install updates automatically - one forced reboot is one too many.

There is a workaround for users running Windows 10 Pro: from the Start Menu , search for 'gpedit' and run the Group Policy Editor. Expand Computer Configuration in the left-hand pane and navigate to Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Update.

Double-click Configure Automatic Updates in the list, select the Enabled radio button, and in the left-hand box select 2 - Notify for download and notify for install. Now click OK, and you'll be notified whenever there are updates - unfortunately, they'll be a daily irritation if you're using Windows Defender .

The Group Policy Editor isn't available on Windows 10 Home, but we'd recommend you at least open Windows Update, click Advanced options, and select Notify to schedule restart from the Choose how updates are installed list. While you're here, all Windows 10 users might want to click Choose how updates are delivered and ensure that Updates from more than one place is either off or set to PCs on my local network.

6. Too many unnecessary notifications in Windows 10

The Action Centre panel, which debuted in Windows 10, is located in the right-hand side of the taskbar. This collects the many and various notifications you might amass so you can handle them in one location and through one interface. While it sounds useful in principle, this can become overloaded with pings and notifications if you neglect to handle these.

You shouldn't ignore these, as they tend to include a handful of very important messages, but can also include inane social media updates. You can, thankfully, separate the wheat from the chaff and configure the Action Centre to only bother you with the most significant messages.

Open Settings and head to notifications & actions. From there, you can access toggle buttons that allow you to tweak each and every app and the information it presents you with.

7. Windows 10 shares too much data

The data-sharing settings in Windows 10 enabled by default aren’t ideal, and all users should review these occasionally, making tweaks where appropriate. Users can access the Start Menu to search for the Settings app. Navigate to Privacy and, in the left-hand side of the pane, you’ll find a number of ways your device is sharing data.

Make sure to review all these areas and ascertain whether you’re open to letting your apps use services like the camera, microphone and account information, where applicable. This is useful for making sure there are no apps that are able to access data that you’re not aware of.

By default, incidentally, the Feedback & diagnostics setting beams ‘enhanced data’ to Microsoft – so turn this off if you’d rather not.

Widows Defender users should also click the back arrow and choose Update & Security, before navigating to Windows Defender. Make sure the default settings of enabling cloud-based detection and automatic sample submission are suitable for your preferences and change if necessary.

Wi-Fi Sense, which is designed to connect your Windows 10 device to networks much more quickly, is also something which raises red flags for some. If your device has Wi-Fi enabled , click the back arrow to enter the Settings menu, choose Network & Internet, then Wi-Fi, and choose Manage Wi-Fi Settings. Connect to suggested open hotspots is one setting we’d recommend turning off, alongside connect to networks shared by my contacts. It’s also worth disabling the button under Paid Wi-Fi services.

Wi-Fi Sense might also lead to you sharing your network’s wireless credentials between all the devices nearby, including those you don’t control. It could, for example, allow a guest to log in quickly, but poses a privacy risk. The only fix is to rename your network's SSID so it ends with '_output'.

The recommended networking hygiene is to allow guests to connect to a guest wireless network separate from the main one. It's also important to configure all devices not to use Wi-Fi Sense, and asking staff to do the same before they bring their Windows 10 hardware onto the primary network.

8. Can't access safe mode using keyboard function keys

Safe Mode can be a life-saver in many system-critical problem situations, especially when your device is finding it difficult to start correctly. However, what if one day, you find out that you can no longer activate Safe Mode by pressing the F8 or Shift+F8 keys at boot?

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Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to boot into Safe Mode. We've put together a guide on how to boot Windows 10 Safe Mode , which provides alternatives to using the F8 shortcut, or bypassing shortcuts entirely. These include access a boot option inside the Update & Security settings, or using the Left Shift button as part of a restart.

You should also consider setting a Safe Mode as an option in the boot menu, although your system will first need to be configured to support it. 

To set this up, you can do the following:

Setting Safe Mode as a boot option

• Press the Windows button + X
• Select Command Prompt (Admin) - (may be shown as Terminal (Admin)
• type bcdedit /copy {current} /d 'Windows 10 Safe Mode'
• Press Enter
• Next, click the Windows button
• Type msconfig, and then click on the System Configuration app in the results window
• Navigate to the Boot tab
• Find your newly created Windows 10 Safe Mode option
• Highlight it and select 'Safe Boot' option below
• Select 'Minimal' under Boot type choices
• Select 'Make all boot settings permanent'

If you ever want to get rid of the Safe Mode entry, you can do it easily by returning here and deleting it.

You can repeat these steps, substituting suitable names in quotes at the Command Prompt, to create shortcuts for Safe Mode with Networking (tick Network rather than Minimal in System Configuration) and Safe Mode with Command Prompt (Alternate shell).

9. System Restore isn't turned on

By default, System Restore isn’t enabled in Windows 10, we can’t think why that is, it is such a useful and essential feature everyone should have.

To turn this on, it must be enabled manually using Control Panel. Search for Create a restore point and click on the first result to open the System Properties page. Under the 'Protection Settings' section, select the main 'System' drive, then click 'Configure'. Then Select the 'Turn on system protection' option. Click the Apply button and then the OK button.

Once this is done, Windows 10 will always create a restore point when applying a new update or when particular system changes are carried out.

10. Files open with the wrong default apps

Sometimes when there’s a major operating system update, it can affect your settings. This includes settings which determine which third-party apps should be used to open certain files. Instead, the software update reverts the settings to Window 10’s default settings.

This change can be particularly annoying and may frustrate users. The good news is that there’s an easy way to restore the setting to what it was previously instead of remapping all file types to your third-party apps.

To accomplish this, head to Windows 10’s settings app and select the ‘Systems’ tab. Search for ‘default apps’ and choose which app you want the system to use depending on its file type. You might choose Groove Music for music files instead of Windows Media Player, for example.

In this section of the settings app, you’re also able to customise which apps open specific file extensions. For example, you can open MP3 files using a piece of software like VLC, but choose to continue using Windows Media Player for M4A or other formats. These little adjustments help to improve your overall user experience so are worth taking the time to do.

11. Windows 10 is using 4G data

If you have a Windows tablet or laptop that can use a SIM card, you’re able to use mobile internet on Windows 10 if Wi-Fi isn’t available. Be aware, however, that this may cause you problems when it comes to how much data you use, as if it isn’t set up in the right way you might be using it without realising, especially if you're using a portable hotspot .

To stop this from happening, and protect your monthly data allowance, head to ‘Settings’, and find ‘Network & Internet’. From here, choose ‘Wi-Fi’, followed by ‘Advanced Options’, and click the ‘Set as metered connection’ option. This will prevent the operating system from downloading non-essential data in the background, which includes Start screen tile updates and app updates.

12. Bad localisation, Cortana 'not available'

Windows 10’s localisation options can be a little confusing. There are reports where localisation has been wrong, including those from machines where localised Windows 7 or Windows 8 installations were upgraded correctly. Sometimes Windows can report that Cortana isn’t available, including in geographical regions where it is available. The most common problem around this seems to be that it’s down to the system date set in the US format of MM/DD/YY.

To fix this, make your way to the Start Menu and search for ‘region’ and find the ‘Region & Language’ settings. From here, locate ‘Country or region’ and it should say 'United Kingdom'. Then, make sure that the language setting lists the right language. Select your primary language, click on options, and choose ‘Download’ below the language pack and speech options if they appear. You can also check if the keyboard option is correct in this area of settings, if it’s wrong then select the right one and delete the incorrect one.

After, navigate to ‘Additional data, time & regional settings’ by clicking on the back arrow. Choose the ‘Change input methods’ under ‘Language’ and choose your language. Make sure you put it at the top of the list if it doesn’t appear there straight away, and then select ‘Options’. For the Windows display language setting, it might show as ‘Enabled’ or ‘Available’. If it’s ‘Available’, then hit ‘Make this the primary language’. If neither option appears, then download and install the language pack first, and then select your primary language.

From here, you can head back to language preferences by clicking on the back arrow as before. Then, click on ‘Change date, time, or number formats’ in the left-hand pane and ensure the format displays the correct language. Once you’ve done this, find the ‘Location’ tab, or view ‘Home location’, and choose the ‘Administrative’ tab to check your ‘System locale’. In this section, you’re able to click on ‘Copy settings’ to apply the setting to any new user accounts and Welcome screen.

13. I can't save a webpage as an HTML file in Microsoft Edge

Unfortunately, you’re not able to save web pages as a HTML file on Microsoft’s Windows 10 web browser. Previously, you were able to get around this by using Internet Explorer 11, but this has now been forcibly removed from most Window 10 PCs.

Instead, you’ll have to use a different web browser which has this functionality, like Chrome for example. In Chrome, locate the three dots in the top right corner of the browser, find ‘More tools’ in the menu, and then hit ‘Save page as’.

A Windows popup box will appear and you can rename the file and choose to save it as a HTML file. Finally, press the save button and it will be downloaded to your computer.

14. The lock screen gets in the way

If you find the Windows lock screen annoying or getting in the way, you will be pleased to know that it can be disabled. Search your ‘Start Menu’ for ‘regedit’, which leads you to the Registry editor, and can quickly help you solve this problem.

Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows . You should see a key named ‘Personalisation’. If you don’t, right-click the Windows key and choose New>Key which will create a new key. Now you can rename it to Personalization (sic). Once again, right-click this key, select New and choose DWORD (32-bit) Value. In the pane on the right-hand side click on New Value #1. Now you can use the F2 button on your keyboard to rename it to NoLockScreen. From here, double-click it and you should be able to change the value data to 1, then select OK. Once you’ve rebooted your system, your lock screen should have gone.

15. Can't find the Pop-Up Blocker in Edge

Are you a fan of Microsoft Edge? Sometimes, you might find that pop-up ads interfere with your experience of using the web browser . The good news is that you’re able to disable these distracting ads by heading to the three-dot icon on the right of the address bar. From here you can choose ‘Settings’ followed by ‘View advanced settings’. There should be a setting called ‘Block pop-ups’ which you can set to ‘On’.

16. Boot times are too slow

In Windows 8, Microsoft made use of hybrid boot to shorten its start-up times. Thankfully, it did the same for Windows 10. Usually, your processes are terminated once your machine turns off, but the Windows kernel hibernates to help Windows restart quicker when you turn it on again. This can be too slow for many IT professionals, even though it sounds useful.

You can disable the hybrid boot function by finding ‘Power Option’ through the ‘Start Menu’. Then run the Control Panel applet, which is located in the window pane on the left side, and locate ‘Choose what power buttons do’. Select ‘Change settings that are currently available’, and then find ‘Turn on fast start-up’ and make sure it is deselected.

Don’t forget to save your changes, and now your PC should turn on a little faster. A number of users have reported that the problem can be solved by re-enabling fast-startup. After following the instruction and deselecting the function, simply restart your system and repeat the process, but this time select the setting.

For those booting between both Windows 7 and Windows 10, disabling fast start-up might also resolve the issue of Windows 7 scanning the disk each time you turn on your machine. With fast start-up enabled, the legacy OS cannot seem capable of recognising the disks have been fully shut down in Windows 10.

17. I can't play a DVD

If you love to watch films on your PC or laptop, it was probably frustrating to realise that Windows 10 was released without a specific app to play DVDs on.

Fortunately, Microsoft finally released an app that users can download. The bad news is that it costs £11.59. On the other hand, you can just download VLC - which should save you some cash and works just as well, if not better.

Rene Millman is a freelance writer and broadcaster who covers cybersecurity, AI, IoT, and the cloud. He also works as a contributing analyst at GigaOm and has previously worked as an analyst for Gartner covering the infrastructure market. He has made numerous television appearances to give his views and expertise on technology trends and companies that affect and shape our lives. You can follow Rene Millman on  Twitter .

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100 common Windows 10 problems and how to solve them

Easy fixes for widespread issues

• Getting started with Windows 10
• Edge issues
• Improving Windows 10
• Speed up Windows 10
• Hardware and software issues
• Protecting your PC

Now that Windows 10 has overtaken Windows 7 as the most popular operating system , it’s bigger than ever. The sequel to Windows 8.1 has been out for more than three years now, and has given users plenty of time to figure it out. 

Luckily, most Windows 10 problems have been patched out by Microsoft over the last few years. There are still some security exploits and other bugbears that have either lingered or have been caused by recent Windows updates. This is in part because Windows 10 updates are still kind of a mess , the most recent of which, the October 2018 Update, caused all kinds of issues , including Blue Screen errors on Microsoft’s own Surface devices. 

That could be why the adoption of that update is only now starting to take off, just in time for the next one. 

If all of these problems are any indication, Microsoft has a lot of work to do. Plus, there are still a lot of Windows 10 problems that are still around, like printer connectivity issues. But, who knows, maybe Microsoft will actually fix some of these problems in the Windows 10 May 2019 Update , which should be out soon . 

Still, if you’re having a hard time with the operating system , we’ve compiled a guide to 100 of the most common Windows 10 problems, and how to fix them – whether it’s a Windows 10 problem with a printer or connectivity issues. So, if you’re trying to troubleshoot your device, keep reading.

1. Having enough space to install Windows 10

If you're planning to move to Windows 10, actually installing the OS is the first area you could potentially run into problems with. Installing a new operating system requires a certain amount of free space on your drive so that it can be downloaded and certain elements can be run successfully.

For Windows 10, the space requirement is 16GB, which should be kept free on the main system drive the computer uses. This is actually the same as previous versions of Windows, so if you've upgraded before you can most likely do it again.

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If you want to check how much space is left on your PC, go to My Computer (or This PC, depending on which version of Windows you’re running) where any drives you have will be listed. You can see the remaining space indicated beneath each drive, or you can right click and select Properties for a better overview (your system drive is usually C:)

2. Checking you have a powerful enough PC

Just as with space requirements, your PC will also have to be capable of running Windows 10. This means that it must reach certain minimum system requirements.

The requirements for running Windows 10 are relatively low: A processor of 1GHz or faster; 1GB (32-bit) or 2GB (64-bit) of RAM; 16GB of free drive space; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphic device; and a Microsoft account combined with internet access.

To find out your PC's spec, go to Control Panel and select System and Security, then System.

However, keep in mind that these are the minimum requirements, and you should shoot for higher specs to have a smooth and enjoyable experience. 

3. Activating Windows 10

Some users have reported issues with activating their copies of Windows 10, which could have been down to a number of different reasons. In some cases, the easiest way to get around the problem is to purchase a legitimate copy of Windows 10.

Unlike previous versions of Windows, the latest one is almost exclusively available online, which means that official Microsoft websites are the best bet for your purchase. The company was giving the OS away for free, but that promotion ended quite a while ago.

Microsoft has a helpful website that provides a downloadable copy in either 32-bit or 64-bit versions.

If you do find that you're unable to activate Windows 10 successfully, handily Microsoft introduced a new activation troubleshooter feature way back in the Anniversary Update. You'll find this in Settings, then click Update & Security, go to Activation and select Troubleshoot (you won't see this option if the OS has been activated).

4. Avoiding inconvenient software update reboots

Windows 10 is, in many ways, a truly internet-based operating system. Mostly, this is a bonus but there are times when it isn't – and Microsoft's attitude towards operating system updates is one such time.

The most annoying part of automatic updates is the restarting, which can seemingly come at random (and inconvenient times). The simplest way to counteract this is to head to Windows Update (in Settings > Update & Security), click on Advanced Options and then Notify to Schedule Restart, which means the OS will request a reboot instead of interrupting everything you’re working on.

5. Updating old software to work with Windows 10

Each version of a new operating system comes with its own set of backwards compatibility issues and Windows 10 is no exception.

The transition from Windows 8 .1 to 10 is far less jarring than the move from Windows 7 to 8 was, but there are still certain applications that can become broken and, in some cases, cease to work at all.

If a program isn't working with Windows 10, try looking in the Windows Store for an update and, if that doesn't work, delete and reinstall it. 

Now that Windows 10 has been out for a few years, most programs should be compatible with the operating system. If they aren't, then they likely never will be.

Consider moving to a newer version of the software, or if it's stopped being developed, it may be time to look for alternatives.

6. Changing privacy and Wi-Fi Sense settings

Data security is incredibly important, especially as hackers become increasingly sophisticated and the number of cyber-attacks is on the up.

Windows 10 comes with a decent set of built-in protection measures, but you can never be too careful. One such feature that should be disabled by privacy-minded individuals is Wi-Fi Sense, which automatically shares the Wi-Fi password across Windows 10 devices on the same account.

Microsoft updated Wi-Fi Sense to share less data, but switching it off is the ideal way of preventing anything you don't want happening. To turn it off, go to the Start Menu, select Settings and click on Network & Internet, then Wi-Fi, and head to Manage Wi-Fi Settings – turn off all the options in here.

Also in Settings, it's possible to get an overview of everything else happening on Windows 10 in terms of privacy – unsurprisingly, under the Privacy section. In here, you'll be presented with a bunch of toggles that adjust some privacy options to help keep everything under control.

7. Printer compatibility

If you have an older device, printer compatibility can turn into a real problem. If you’re upgrading from Windows 7 (or earlier) to Windows 10, you need to update all available printer drives, which will prevent them from not working post-upgrade.

Luckily, this couldn’t be easier. Just search for the name of your printer in the search engine of your choice, and download the latest Windows 10 compatible drivers – make sure you’re downloading them from the actual manufacturers website, though. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install them, and you’re good to go.

8. Grappling with the touchscreen

Microsoft ships Windows 10 with Edge, the successor to its Internet Explorer browser (although IE is still present in the OS). For many people, however, using Chrome or Firefox is the norm, no matter what Microsoft wants.

To install Chrome or Firefox – and get back to normality – open Edge, search for either, and find a Windows 10 version. Download it, install it, and make sure it's set as the default browser option so that Edge doesn't keep reappearing. To do this, head to Settings, System, and click on Default Apps – click under Web Browser and you can then select your preferred default browser.

But, now that Microsoft Edge is moving to Chromium , you may have less of a reason to switch over. 

9. Grappling with the touchpad

Having a touchpad-enabled laptop is also good for Windows 10, but some users have reported that the upgrade from Windows 7 (and sometimes Windows 8) breaks it.

One of the ways to solve this is by first checking to see if your keyboard has a key that turns the touchpad off. If it doesn't – or the right setting is toggled – then head to Devices > Mouse & Touchpad > Additional mouse options.

A new window will appear. From here, select the tab that says Device Settings, then Devices, and then make sure the touchpad is enabled.

If none of these options work, press Windows Key + X, select Device Manager, then the option for Mice and other pointing devices, and update the driver. This should fix things.

10. Finding Safe Mode

Safe Mode is just what you'd expect – a safe way of booting up a PC and running the system with no startup apps and only essential drivers, which should hopefully allow the computer to boot successfully when it won't otherwise due to some issue or other.

With Windows 10, to access Safe Mode, hold down the Shift key during boot-up (or select Restart from the desktop while holding down Shift).

11. Making sure Windows 10 knows where you are

Location-based apps are fairly prominent in Windows 10 which makes it a good idea to let your PC know (roughly) where you are. Cortana, for example, can give far more information if it can accurately pinpoint where in the world it's being used.

To update your computer's location settings, head to the Start menu, click Settings, Time & Language, and click Region & Language – then make sure the correct country is selected. To turn on Location services, go to Settings > Privacy > Location, and flick the Location switch on.

12. Setting up Windows Hello

Windows Hello is one of the most innovative features that Microsoft has built into Windows 10. Essentially, it lets a user login just by using facial recognition (or a fingerprint) virtually instantly.

The software, which is available to all Windows 10 users, does require special hardware (and most likely won't work on older computers). Assuming you have the necessary hardware, how do you set up Windows Hello?

You need to go to the Start menu, click on Account, and select Change Account Settings. Select Sign-in Options and set a PIN. Once you've done this, there will be an option to Setup under Face. Select this and follow the instructions.

13. Finding files with tags

If you’re forever having trouble finding files on your PC, one way to keep track of them is to use ‘tags’ in Windows 10.

To tag a file, right click it, select Properties, go to the Details tab, and if you click on the Tags section (under Description) you can add a tag from there – simply type it in. You can then use those tags when searching – for example, you could tag a few files as a specific work project, all of which would come up when you searched for that term at a later date. 

14. Installing apps you’ve downloaded from the web

The move from distributing apps via the web to the Windows Store means that unfortunately it’s sometimes not such a straightforward matter to install software grabbed from the former. Programs like Windows Defender and Firewall, which we’ve talked about earlier, can try to combat potential malware by only allowing certain apps to install. 

If you’re having trouble, to get around this and install an app from the web, you may have to fine-tune Defender’s settings. 

To do this, go to the Cortana/search box (bottom-left, next to the Start menu), search for Windows Defender and you’ll need to access its Settings menu. You’ll be presented with a home page of sorts, so click on Settings. Once you’re in Settings, you’ll see a list of options related to various functions Defender performs. 

Tweaking these options is easy, and the one that will yield results for our purposes is Exclusions, which dictates the areas of the system that are left unchecked by Defender. You can click ‘Add an exclusion’ to add the file you’re installing and make sure that Defender doesn’t interfere with the installation.

15. Using Windows 10 gestures to work quickly

Is working with the keyboard and mouse too sluggish for your liking at times? Well, Windows 10 is a touchscreen-optimised operating system (just as Windows 8 was), and that means it can do a lot of cool stuff rather swiftly with just a finger prod.

For example, swiping in from the left will bring you to Task View, an overview of all the apps running currently. Swiping in from the right brings up Action Center, where notifications are displayed and settings can be changed. Swiping down from the top produces a title bar complete with minimisation tools.

To see the full range of gestures available, go to the Cortana/search box, and search for ‘touch’.

16. The power of virtual desktops

One desktop not enough for you? Well, handily enough, Windows 10 lets you run multiple virtual desktops so you can work across different projects on just the one monitor screen.

To fire up a fresh virtual desktop in Windows 10, click Task View (on the right of the Cortana/search box on the taskbar) and select the New Desktop option in the bottom-right corner of the screen. It’s as easy as that – and moving apps across virtual desktops is equally simple: just access Task View again and drag the app from one desktop to another. 

To close these desktops, go back to Task View and hit the cross. There is no limit on how many virtual desktops you can create, incidentally.

17. Work faster by ‘peeking’ at desktops

Productivity tips don’t just extend to keyboard shortcuts, especially in Windows 10 – there are other ways of accomplishing things more swiftly for those frustrated at their inability to get around the OS fast. One of the niftiest tools in this respect is ‘peeking’ at desktops, which can save time if you’re working across many virtual desktops (which we just discussed above). 

To do this, right-click on the thin button at the far right end of the taskbar and choose ‘Peek at desktop’. Now when you roll the pointer over it, it’ll show you a quick preview of the desktop and revert back when you move away.

18. Hover don’t click

Here’s another time-saving little trick that Windows 10 is capable of in order to smooth the path of those who get frustrated with sluggishness and want to speed up and streamline their usage of the operating system.

Say you have the Settings app and an Edge window open side-by-side. Settings is in the foreground but you want to scroll the Edge window. In Windows 8.1, you’d need to click on the window to do it. Not anymore. Microsoft changed how Windows 10 works so that just having the mouse pointer over Edge is enough. Pretty neat. 

19. Use Cortana to the max

Cortana is a virtual assistant of many talents, and can help Windows 10 users out in many different ways. However, you may not be aware of the full range of functionality Cortana offers – but there’s an easy way to find out.

Simply go to the Cortana box in the taskbar and type in:

Cortana help

This will list all of the commands and functions Cortana can take care of, which includes setting reminders or calendar alerts, creating lists, getting directions, working out sums and calculations, checking the weather, or your stocks, flight times and so on.

You might also want to check out how to fix a stuck Windows update .

Current page: Getting started with Windows 10

Max Slater-Robins has been writing about technology for nearly a decade at various outlets, covering the rise of the technology giants, trends in enterprise and SaaS companies, and much more besides. Originally from Suffolk, he currently lives in London and likes a good night out and walks in the countryside.

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6 common computer problems... and how to fix them

No one likes it when your computer suddenly stops working, so we’ve listed the most common computer problems and explained how to fix each one.

The most common computer problems might be something a lot of people have to struggle with, but that doesn't mean you have to. Now you're here, you no longer need to worry about that spinning wheel of doom or the jolting error messages that come with a blue screen of death. You've found the fix.

A computer crash, when everything freezes, can be annoying at best but may be catastrophic if you're working and you end up losing your efforts. Yes, cloud storage is a great way to work to help offset this, but even that can have issues.

You may have already wisely invested in the best home computers or the best laptops , but there can still be issues. Often those issues are in the form of error messages which make little to no sense to a normal human being. That's why we're going to get ahead of the problems before they arrive, or at least know how to fix them should we run into trouble. While this guide will help you it's also worth checking out the best repair software for PC should you need to take this even further.

1. WiFi is slow or patchy

The most common issue these days that really grinds our gears is WiFi connectivity problems. Since most cloud-based programs now rely on that WiFi bandwidth to work, it has become the bottleneck through which everything else must pass. As a result, slow or inconsistent WiFi means much of what you're running can be backed up.

Slow WiFi can mean poor video chat connections on Zoom, it can mean buffering wait times for video and audio streaming, it can even mean documents are not saved properly leaving you at risk of losing work. That's all without even considering large file downloads which take up even more bandwidth. 

The fix While WiFi is a complicated beast, and everyone's setup is slightly different, the classic go-to first fix is one you probably already know and the one that works best: turn the WiFi off and on again. But there is an art to doing even this correctly. The key here is to make sure your connection is totally down, before you power on again. This means you'll be assigned a new IP address and any of your caches will be cleared. 

To do this right, go to your WiFi router and unplug it. That's a total power off, guaranteed. Then wait at least one minute. Ideally, if you can spare it, wait five for good measure. Then plug the power back in and wait for everything to get back online. This can take a good five minutes and may need a while to 'settle', so it's worth giving 10 to 15 minutes before you jump back in, ideally.

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Another good move is to restart any devices you're using, regularly. For laptops, phones and desktop computers, that means a shut down and power on at least once a day. You get to sleep and refresh, why shouldn't your hard working gadget?

To see how well this all works, carry out a speedtest first, then go through the process and do a speed test again. You may be surprised to see how much faster everything is running after this refresher. 

2. Blue Screen of Death (BSoD)

The 'blue screen of death' is one of the most recognisable computer errors that can occur, and if you’ve ever used a PC there’s a good chance that you might have encountered a blue screen of death error already.

What usually happens is that your PC will become unresponsive for a few seconds, and then the screen will turn completely blue and an error message (that’s sometimes completely indecipherable) will appear. Your PC will then restart, and if you’re lucky you won’t have lost too much work. 

While the name ‘blue screen of death‘ started off as a bit of a joke, it hints at how scary this error message can be. If you get a blue screen of death without saving your work, the resulting reboot of your PC can make you lose any changes you've made to a document.

While some blue screen of death errors are one offs, most of the time they are an indication that there’s something wrong with your PC, and there are a number of reasons why you may get a blue screen of death error. Failing hardware, corrupted software, missing DLL files or problems with drivers can be the main culprits. 

The fix The way to fix a blue screen of death error will vary depending on what caused it to appear. The good news is that in Windows 10, Microsoft has made the blue screen of death error message more useful than the baffling codes of old. 

There will also be a QR code that is displayed along with the error message. Use your smartphone to scan the QR code and you should be taken to a webpage that will explain the error message in more detail, and offer advice on how to fix it.

3. Windows is slow to boot

A slow-booting PC is one of the most common - and annoying - computer problems you can encounter. Luckily, it’s also one of the easiest to fix. There are several reasons why your PC will take a long time to load up - but the most common cause is that there will be too many programs trying to load up in the background when Windows starts.

You may notice when you install a new program that it sets itself to load when you first log into Windows. While this can sometimes be useful, as a means those programs open up quickly when you need them, when too many of them try to start up once it can slow your PC to a crawl. The easiest way to fix this problem is to identify what programs are loading up when Windows starts and disable any programs that you do not need.

The fix To fix this, open up the Task Manager in Windows 10 by pressing CTRL + Shift + Esc on your keyboard. In the Task Manager window, click on the ‘Start-up’ tab at the top of the window. This lists all the apps and programs that load when Windows 10 starts up. If this is a long list, that will be the cause of your PC being slow to boot.

In the Task Manager, you’ll see the name of the app followed by the publisher, its status and the start-up impact. If it says “High” in the ‘Start-up impact’ column, then that means the program is slowing down Windows 10’s boot-up speed. If you don’t need the app to load when Windows starts, then right-click on its entry and select ‘Disable’. This will prevent the app from loading when Windows 10 starts.

Remember, this doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use the app when you need it, it just means it doesn’t preload with Windows. Hopefully, disabling a number of these apps will make a noticeable difference to the time it takes for Windows 10 to load.

If you find that your PC is still slow to boot, there may be other issues affecting it. For example, you may want to check that you have the latest updates and drivers installed for your hardware. If you really want to give your PC a speed boost when it comes to boot times, then you may want to think about installing an SSD in your PC and running Windows 10 from that. An SSD (Solid State Drive) is a much faster drive than a traditional hard drive and installing Windows 10 on one can make a huge difference to how fast it boots.

4. Applications won’t install

Another common computing problem that many people face are applications not installing. The main reason for this is a lack of hard drive space. If your hard drive has become full, it may mean that you are no longer able to install new applications. If this is the case, then you’ll need to do a bit of spring cleaning.  

The fix First of all, you can delete any large files that you no longer need. Open up File Explorer and then navigate to your Downloads folder. This folder often holds lots of large files that you no longer need, so feel free to delete any large files from there. 

You can also free up hard drive space by uninstalling any programs that you no longer use. In the search box in the Taskbar (this is the bar that runs along the bottom of your screen in Windows 10) type in “uninstall”, then click on ‘Add or remove programs’. Scroll down the list of programs that is displayed and click on any that you no longer need. A button will appear saying ‘Uninstall’. Click it to remove the program from your PC. 

You can also get Windows 10 to clean up your hard drive for you. Again, in the search box of the taskbar, type in “disk cleanup” and then press return on your keyboard. From the window that appears, select the drive that you want to clean up. By default this will be the C: drive, which is where Windows 10 and the majority of the programs will be installed. Click ‘OK’, and Windows 10’s Disk Clean-up tool for scan your drive and find files that you can safely delete to free up disk space. From the window that appears you’ll see how much space you can save on your hard drive. Tick the box next to each type of file that you want to remove then click ‘OK’.

5. Windows Update problems

It’s important to keep Windows 10 updated to ensure that your PC runs as well as possible, whilst also being protected against the latest security threats. Even the best antivirus software won't keep you safe if your version of Windows is out of date. However, there are times when you may encounter a problem when updating Windows 10. 

One of the most common problems with Windows Update is when an update fails to install. You will usually see an error message appear explaining that the update has not been successful. Most of the time, this error message is quite good at explaining what the problem is and how to fix it, and one of the most common reasons for Windows update not installing is incompatible software. This means you may have an old version of an app or program that is preventing the Windows update to install. If this is the case, the error message should explain which program is causing the issue. 

The fix Either uninstall the program which is causing the error, or visit the developer’s website to make sure you have the latest version installed. Afterwards, try installing the update again. 

Another reason why a Windows update may fail to install is due to a lack of hard drive space. Each update requires a minimum amount of hard drive space to be available to install correctly, and if your hard drive is too full, then the installation will fail. To fix this problem, free up hard drive space using the methods we outlined in the step above.

If you find that your computer is behaving erratically after installing a Windows update, then it could be that the Windows update itself is causing the problem. To fix this, you will need to uninstall the update. To do this type in “Windows update” into the Taskbar search box and select ‘Windows Update settings‘. In the window that appears, click ‘View update history’. Then, select either ‘Uninstall updates’ or ‘Recovery options’ and follow the steps to uninstall the problem update. Make sure you check Microsoft’s support website to see if Microsoft has released a permanent fix for the problem update.

6. Apps behaving badly

Another common PC problem is when apps and programs start acting strangely. Perhaps they suddenly close down without warning, or maybe documents look a bit strange in Word. 

Once again, there is a wide range of reasons why an app may not be working correctly. 

The fix The first thing you should do is save your work, then restart your PC. Load up the app, and see if it is now working as intended.

If there’s still an issue, you next port of call should be an internet search engine, where you can type in the name of the program and a description of the issue. Hopefully, other people will have had similar issues, figured out how to fix it, and shared their solutions online. 

It’s also worth checking the website of the developers of the app to see if they have released a fix. If the developer’s website has a forum, that can be a good place to look for fixes. While you’re there, make sure you have the latest updates installed. If that fails to fix the problem, it may be worth contacting the app’s support team for more help with fixing the problem.

Luke is a veteran tech journalist with decades of experience covering everything from TVs, power tools, science and health tech to VPNs, space, gaming and cars. You may recognize him from appearances on plenty of news channels or have read his words which have been published in most tech titles over the years. In his spare time (of which he has little as a father of two) Luke likes yoga, surfing, meditation, DIY and consuming all the books, comics and movies he can find.

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Home » Tech Tips » Windows » 11 Common Computer Problems with Solutions

11 Common Computer Problems with Solutions

No matter whether you have a brand new Windows 10 laptop or an old Windows 7/8 PC that your dad used, there are some problems you will face with all kinds of computers. Some would be problematic while some other would due to misunderstanding. In this article, we will explain some common computer problems you face with possible solutions.

Try These First

Problems in computers can happen due to malfunctioning of program or due to the Windows operating system itself. Whatsoever is the reason below three tips would resolve most of the common computer problems.

• Close and reopen the application. Right click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager”. Here you can view and close any program running on your computer. Learn more on how to close unresponsive programs in your PC or Mac .
• If you suspect the problem is with your computer system, the quick fix would be shutting down or restarting the computer.
• Similarly, if the problem is with an external device connected to the computer, unplug and plug it again.

Shutting down the app/computer or disconnecting the device will help to terminate all the running processes in Windows operating system. This could potentially resolve all unresponsive problems by restarting the services again.

Now, let us dive in to frequently facing computer problems.

11 Common Windows Computer Problems with Solutions

• Computer is very slow
• Running on low disk space
• Long download time
• Automatic restart
• Pop-up advertisements
• Computer Hijacked
• Unstable Wi-Fi connection
• System clock setting
• Printer not working
• Unable to open email attachments
• Old programs not working suddenly

1. Runs Too Slow

Everyone complains this common issue after working with a new computer for few years. Remember, new desktop computer or laptop always works faster compared to any old computer. It could be due to outdated software or hardware problem. Following are the top reasons for slow running computer:

• You have installed too many program – check and remove uninstall unnecessary program from your computer. Best example is to delete high-resolution graphics games and big applications like Photoshop or Microsoft Office. If you are not using a program for 6 months, consider whether you really need for daily use. It is also a good idea to find alternatively. For example, you may only need Word, Excel and Outlook instead of using entire Microsoft Office package that includes OneNote and Access.
• Check your antivirus and firewall – these programs scan each activity and slow down the computer. Easy way to find this issue is to disable your antivirus, firewall protection, and check the computer operations.
• Slow at startup – many users wrongly choose the option to launch the app at startup. Launching too many applications when booting the computer will ultimately increase the starting time. Unless you need to launch the program at startup, disable all unnecessary apps to speed up the initial starting time when booting.

There could be other reasons your computer runs slow, checkout the complete list and how to fix slow PC .

2. Low Disk Space

Many users do not understand the need of having sufficient disk space and install big programs leaving few MB size in C drive. Always, make sure you have sufficient space in the Windows installation disk. This will help programs to use the needed space in runtime. For example, gaming apps need more space and memory during run time. Insufficient space may cause crashing of other applications and Windows OS.   

Depending upon the size of your hard disk, make sure to have at least 1GB of free space and relative RAM size installed on your PC. If you are running out of space, consider using OneDrive or other cloud platforms. Otherwise, delete unused files and programs to release free space.

3. Downloading Takes Long Time

Downloading files from internet has many factors influencing the process. In most cases, the problem may not be with your computer. Therefore, you have to check and confirm the root cause of the problem before acting to resolve it.

• Similar to files on your computer, website content is also physically stored in web server. Slow web server can delay the download time regardless of your computer’s performance. You can test by downloading files from different websites to find the problem comes from your computer or from the website’s server.
• Internet connection speed is another factor you should check. Slow internet connection obviously need long time for file downloads. You can use the free tools like speedtest.net to find your connection speed. Contact your ISP, if you find the internet connection is slower than expected.
• If the speed is good, check the size of the file you are downloading. Large file like movie videos maybe long time even with high-speed internet connection. Avoid downloading files with GBs of size and try to use the source file like viewing the video in YouTube.

4. Automatic Restart Problem

Automatic restarting is another popular issue with Windows computer. It will be annoying, if your computer restarts unexpectedly when you are doing some important task. You can try few tricks if this frequently happens to you.

• Make sure your computer’s graphics card, motherboard, and network card are updated with latest drivers.
• Check whether your computer is infected with virus, malware or adware.
• Your motherboard may be hot triggering the restart. First, terminate the power supply and remove the CPU cover box to check the small fan mounted on it. Cleanup the dust on the fan and make sure the fan rotates. Proper functioning of the fan can help to reduce the heat and protect the CPU components from overheating.

5. Pop-up Ads on Unexpected Occasions

Did you notice advertisements are popping up even when your browser is not running? This means that an unwanted program called Adware is sitting on your computer. Generally, third-party sellers install their own adware programs on their customer’s laptops. Though, these advertisements are of no harm they will annoy you popping up unexpectedly.

In order to remove this, run a special antivirus package and scan all the files on your computer. If suspected files exist, you can delete them. Alternatively, you can find the executable file for the adware and uninstall or delete to get rid of the ads.

6. Computer Hijacked

In extreme case, hackers may hijack your computer and take control of the activities. For example, you will see an unrelated website when opening the browser. It will prompt you to provide your login or personal details to proceed further. If you do not know what is happening avoid browsing with your computer. Disconnect from internet and run an antivirus program to delete the malware programs. If this does not work, contact your seller, probably you need to format your hard disk to get rid of the malware.

In order to avoid virus and malware attacks, make sure you are browsing legal websites and avoid clicking the susceptible links on the emails and websites.

7. Wi-Fi Connection Disconnecting

It is difficult to identify the Wi-Fi problems as multiple programs and devices help your computer to connect with internet. Anything could cause problems like your computer, router, modem, browser or your ISP.

• Right click on the Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar and choose “ Troubleshoot problems ” option.
• Windows will run the network diagnostics and help you to find the problem in your computer.
• If there are no issues in your computer, then contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for help. They can confirm the problems from the server and router side.
• At the same time, make sure your computer is running within the Wi-Fi connection area. The connection often get terminated when the signal is too low.

Learn more on how to fix Wi-Fi intermittently disconnecting problems in Windows 10 .

8. System Clock Settings

Sometimes you can resolve a big problem with a small setting on your computer frontend. Good example is facing security problems when viewing websites in browser. The security certificates of websites have a validity and your computer will validate it with the system clock time. The certificate will not work, in case if your clock is not working or having different time. Make sure you have correct time showing in the clock so that the validations work properly.  

9. Printer Does Not Work

Assuming you have no problems with toner, cartridge, paper settings and hardware, check the print queue to see the status of the files you have printed from your computer. If there is a problem with any file, the printer may be waiting behind your command and may not print. Also, make sure to disable “Use Printer Offline” option to avoid the documents not being printed.

10. Unable to Open Email Attachments

Most common issue with email attachments is that your computer does not have an application to open the file. For example, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader for opening PDF files. Check the file extension of your attachment and make sure you have an associated app to open such files .

11. My Old Program is Not Working on New Computer

Microsoft has different Windows versions and releases updates frequently. This may lead to incompatibility and some programs may stop working after upgrade. For example, programs running on a 32-bit system can work on 64-bit system. However, programs running on a 64-bit system will not work on a 32-bit system . Sometime, you will also see a warning message in browser for installing Java or Flash for the website to work properly.

In general, you have to update the program to the latest version so that it is compatible with your Windows version. If that is not possible, you will have no other option to find alternate program or check with the developer to get an update.

Final Words

Working with old PC not only kills your productivity but also put you with high security risk. In most cases, you have to upgrade the system or replace if upgrading cost you more money. If you have a new computer, check out whether you have incompatible programs that you can replace with alternatives. If the computer is under warranty, do not hesitate to contact your seller to fix the problems.

About Editorial Staff

Editorial Staff at WebNots are team of experts who love to build websites, find tech hacks and share the learning with community.

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10 Common Computer Problems and How to Troubleshoot Them

Computers have become an indispensable part of our daily lives, whether we use them for work, education, or entertainment. However, like any complex machine, computers can encounter issues from time to time. Understanding and troubleshooting common computer problems can save you time, money, and frustration. In this article, we'll explore ten common computer problems and provide practical tips on how to troubleshoot and resolve them.

1. Slow Performance:

Problem: Is your once-speedy computer now crawling at a snail's pace?

Solution: Slow performance can be caused by various factors, such as too many startup programs, lack of disk space, or a fragmented hard drive. Begin by disabling unnecessary startup programs and performing a disk cleanup to free up space. Additionally, optimize storage by using the built-in disk defragmenter (for traditional hard drives) or TRIM command (for solid-state drives).

2. Blue Screen of Death (BSoD):

Problem: A blue screen with error messages suddenly appears, and your computer crashes.

Solution: The BSoD is often triggered by hardware or driver issues. Check if any new hardware or drivers were recently installed. If so, revert to the previous version or uninstall the problematic driver. Running a memory diagnostic tool can also identify and fix potential RAM-related issues.

3. No Internet Connectivity:

Problem: Your computer can't connect to the internet.

Solution: Start by checking your network cables and router to ensure everything is properly connected. Restart the router and modem to resolve temporary connectivity glitches. If you are using Wi-Fi, ensure you have the correct network password. If the issue persists, try updating your network adapter drivers or contacting your internet service provider.

4. Unexpected Shutdowns:

Problem: Your computer shuts down suddenly without any warning.

Solution: Overheating is a common cause of unexpected shutdowns. Check if the cooling fan is working correctly and clean any dust or debris obstructing the vents. Additionally, examine the power settings to ensure your computer is not set to shut down automatically due to inactivity.

5. Loud Fan Noise:

Problem: The cooling fan in your computer is excessively noisy.

Solution: Dust and debris can accumulate inside the fan, causing it to work harder and produce more noise. Turn off your computer and use compressed air to clean the fan and vents. If the noise persists, consider replacing the fan or seeking professional help.

6. Unresponsive Applications:

Problem: Certain programs or applications freeze or stop responding.

Solution: Press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" (or "Cmd + Option + Esc" on Mac) to open the Task Manager and force quit the unresponsive application. Check for any pending updates or reinstall the program if the problem continues.

7. Strange Noises from the Hard Drive:

Problem: You hear clicking or grinding noises from your computer's hard drive.

Solution: Strange noises from the hard drive may indicate an impending failure. Immediately back up your important data and consider replacing the hard drive with a new one. Seek professional assistance if needed.

8. Distorted or No Audio:

Problem: The sound on your computer is distorted or not working.

Solution: Check the volume settings and ensure the audio is not muted. Verify that the speakers or headphones are properly connected. Update the audio drivers or reinstall them if necessary.

9. Virus or Malware Infections:

Problem: Pop-ups, slow performance, or unusual behavior indicate a possible virus or malware infection.

Solution: Install and run a reputable antivirus or antimalware software to scan and remove any infections. Regularly update your antivirus software and be cautious when clicking on unknown links or downloading files from untrustworthy sources.

10. Printer Connectivity Issues:

Problem: Your computer is unable to connect to the printer.

Solution: Ensure the printer is powered on and connected to the computer. Check for any error messages on the printer display. Reinstall the printer drivers or update them if required. If the printer is connected via a network, verify the network settings.

Conclusion:

Knowing how to troubleshoot common computer problems empowers you to keep your system running smoothly and efficiently. By following these simple tips and techniques, you can often resolve issues on your own, saving time and frustration. However, if you encounter more complex problems or are unsure about the solutions, don't hesitate to seek help from a professional computer technician. Keeping your computer in good health will enhance your overall computing experience and ensure your productivity remains uninterrupted.

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Is your PC acting up? Here’s how to fix it

Whether you have one of the best desktop computers or a 10-year-old PC, things can go wrong sometimes. Freezes, crashes, overheating, or even the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) — there are plenty of issues that sometimes plague PC users, and when it happens to you, you might feel at a loss as to what to do.

PC issues? Start here

Freezes and poor performance, overheating, storage and ram problems, gaming problems, blue screens.

Good news — not every malfunction requires taking the PC to a professional repair service (although some of them definitely do). If you’re unhappy with the way your PC performs, start by checking out our comprehensive guide to troubleshooting a PC, because it might turn out to be the only thing you need to get it all fixed. On the other hand, if your computer won’t turn on at all, we have a separate guide for you .

There are a few things that can be helpful in the majority of scenarios, so let’s start with them. Freezes and performance drops might be the result of a bogged-down system, a background process that didn’t shut down correctly, or having too many programs open at once. In those instances, there are a few safe bets to try out.

Restart the PC

“Have you tried turning it off and on again?” You might be surprised to find out that it’s a legitimate problem-solver. If your PC is misbehaving, make it a habit to restart it.

Your microphone doesn’t work? Your frames per second (fps) dropped? Your Task Manager won’t load? Just restart and see if that helps.

If your PC is entirely frozen and you can’t restart it the proper way, simply press down the power button and hold it until the PC turns itself off. Keep in mind that doing this will not let your PC save any of your previous work, so beware of potential data loss.

Update your drivers

When is the last time you’ve updated your drivers? Admittedly, it’s easy to forget, but it’s better to remember.

In theory, if you’re running a modern PC with Windows 10 or Windows 11 , your computer will check for drivers every so often and update them automatically. This has made life a lot easier, but sometimes, a driver might slip through the cracks and not be updated.

Start by checking Windows Update -> Optional Updates . Windows will show you a list of possible drivers. Other than that, you might need to search for the manufacturer of a certain part and look up the drivers yourself. The most common drivers to search for include the graphics card, the chipset ( motherboard ), and audio drivers.

Stay away from programs that promise to update your drivers for you. There are some decent ones, but more often than not, you’ll run into trouble — either through bad driver updates or straight-up malware .

Sometimes, you may need to roll back a driver or uninstall it and install it all over again. In those cases, type Device Manager  into the Windows search bar and pick the hardware you want to do this for (for example, the display adapter, also known as the graphics card ).

Next, navigate to the  Drivers  tab and either roll back or uninstall the driver. Keep in mind that this could have adverse effects on your PC, so be ready to perform a clean driver install right away.

Use the Task Manager

The Task Manager in Windows keeps tabs on a lot of different things, from CPU, GPU, and RAM usage to all the processes and applications that are currently running. Sometimes, all you need to do to fix your PC is to kill a couple of particularly heavy processes.

Enter the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard. In the Processes tab, look through everything and see if any are marked as Not Responding — those should be the first to go. Next, you can sort by either CPU or Memory and see which ones are hogging most of your PC’s resources. Click on the ones you want to shut down and then press End task in the bottom right corner.

Be mindful, however. Some of these processes will be necessary for your PC to run and shutting them down might make it completely unusable — at least until after you restart it. Moreover, you will lose data when closing programs like this. If you’re not sure what to close, it’s better not to close anything.

Common culprits behind bad performance here will include all kinds of browsers, games, and programs. Those are usually safe to close, too, but you may lose your progress if you haven’t saved.

If none of this helped, no worries — it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty and try to fix your PC based on the issue.

System Restore

Perhaps you’ve recently installed a new app and all of your problems can be traced back to that moment. If that’s the case, using Windows System Restore might be a good option for you, provided that you’ve got any restore points to go back to. Remember that going back in time may also revert any and all changes you’ve made since that point, meaning that you might lose some files.

Here’s how to perform a system restore in Windows 10 and 11:

• Type  Control Panel  into the Windows Search bar.
• Once in the Control Panel, type  Recovery into the search bar at the top right.
• Select  Recovery and then  Open System Restore .
• In the pop-up window, click  Next and then pick a restore point that you want to go back to, and then click on  Scan for affected programs .
• Windows will tell you which items and programs will be removed if you use a particular restore point.
• If you still want to proceed, click  Close -> Next -> Finish to restore your system.

Your PC could be freezing or performing poorly for any number of reasons. Hardware problems, software issues, having too many programs open all at once, or driver conflicts are just some of the possible causes. Diagnosing the problem will lead you to a fix, but you can start by trying some of the most common solutions first.

If you’ve already restarted your PC, updated your drivers, and shut down the processes that might have caused this, here’s what you can do.

When running certain apps

If opening a certain program or game always ends in your PC (or the app itself) freezing up, or your PC simply becomes really slow, here are a few steps to try:

• Restart the program by killing it in Task Manager ( Ctrl + Alt + Delete ) and opening it again.
• Reinstall the program. The best way to do this is to do a clean install, meaning remove all related files (usually found in C:Program Files or on another drive) and then install it again from scratch.
• Make sure that you have the correct version of the program. Windows users can type System information into the Search bar to check which version of the operating system they’re running, then compare it to the program in question.
• Close background processes and apps and let the program run without any issues. Browsers with many tabs open are common culprits.
• Check whether the program is compatible with your system — for instance, older computers use an old Microsoft .NET Framework, and that can cause issues.

Random freezes or bad performance

If your PC freezes or underperforms seemingly for no reason, you’ll probably need to dig deeper to find the cause. However, you can try the steps outlined above and see if any of them help, and here are a few more that could work.

Reset this PC

This is a functionality in Windows 10 and 11 that lets you start fresh without losing all your files, or even format your PC and lose everything, but hopefully, also be rid of any potential software-related issues.

If you’re able to, back up your data to an external drive. Remember that some versions of Reset this PC will also uninstall all of your programs, so you may lose app settings and other files, too.

We don’t recommend doing a full format unless it’s necessary. Go through the options in Windows and see what works best for you.

Unplug external drives and peripherals

Something as simple as a conflict between your PC and an external drive or even a mouse can make it freeze. This can especially happen if you’re installing a new device and it’s adding its own drivers. Try to unplug these devices one by one and see if you can find the cause. A good idea is to first shut down your PC, unplug any external drives and things you don’t need to keep it running, and then turn it on again.

Change your power plan in Windows

If you feel like your PC is underperforming but it shouldn’t be, the power plan might be the cause. If you’ve got your PC in power saver mode (especially common for laptops), it might be throttling itself to save energy and/or battery, but at the cost of performance.

To navigate to the power settings easily, simply type in  Power into the Windows Search bar and then navigate to the  Power & Sleep Settings . You can adjust if and when your PC will go to sleep when inactive here, but the more important parts are hidden under  Additional power settings  on the right side of the window.

Here, you can pick the power plan. If you’re in power-saver mode, you should probably swap to a balanced plan. However, if you’re already running that, it’s usually safe to try the high-performance plan. Be mindful that it might put more of a strain on your PC and will use more energy.

Once you’ve picked out your power plan, you can fiddle with it a little bit more by clicking on  Change plan settings -> Change advanced power settings . If you have an HDD, you can adjust it here to make it always stay on, potentially improving performance.

Overheating is a computer’s greatest enemy. If the components inside your PC don’t get enough air, they may deteriorate faster, perform poorly, or even break down entirely. If you suspect your PC might be heating up a bit too much, you should first check whether that is true.

To check the temperatures of certain components, such as the GPU or the CPU, it’s best to download a utility tool like HWiNFO or NZXT Cam . While the latter was made by a manufacturer of various PC parts, you don’t need to have any NZXT products to use it.

Both programs are fairly straightforward — just install them and let them run for a bit when your PC is idle, and then when you’re doing something resource-heavy, such as playing a game.

CPU and GPU temperatures are the ones you want to pay the most attention to. An idle temperature of 30 to 50 degrees Celsius for both of those components is usually okay, and this applies to both high-end CPUs or GPUs and budget options. When your PC is working hard, you might see temps reaching 80 degrees Celsius or above — but anything beyond that is a worrying sign that could be impacting the performance of your PC.

If you feel like the temperatures are beyond what’s reasonable, and, most importantly, your PC is struggling while those high temps are happening, you’re in luck — we have a comprehensive guide to addressing overheating problems in your PC .

While the CPU is the heart of your computer, your storage drives can wreak havoc on the performance of your PC if they’re not doing well. This is especially true in the case of the SSD or the HDD that your system is installed on.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to check the health of your SSD/HDD. We also have a dedicated guide on how to test RAM , so you might want to start there, and then circle back here for some tips on testing your storage drives.

Check your PC health

While Windows has its own, fairly limited PC health checker, it’s best to use a program like CrystalDiskInfo to diagnose any possible issues with your storage drive. Run it and scan your PC, then keep an eye out for any errors or warnings about drive failure.

If anything is amiss, it might be time to replace your SSD  but feel free to consult a professional first if you’d rather salvage the drive. In any case, backups are more necessary than ever now as your drive may be headed toward failure.

Use Chkdsk and SFC

Chkdsk, or Check Disk, is a utility that you can use within the Windows Command Prompt . It can scan and repair your drives for you, and while it might seem a little barebones compared to some software (such as the aforementioned CrystalDiskInfo), it’s easy to use and can help in diagnosing and fixing common issues. It’s among the most useful commands to learn and keep in mind in case of PC problems. Use it in the event of system crashes, shutdowns, file corruption or loss, and similar issues.

Before we begin, a word of warning — running Check Disk on a failing drive and attempting to fix it could potentially result in data loss. If you’d rather be safe than sorry, we recommend backing up before doing this.

Here’s what to do:

• Type in  Command Prompt into the Windows Search bar.
• Right-click it and then select  Run as administrator .
• In the Command Prompt, type in chkdsk followed by the drive you want to check (usually C: for system drives). Example command: chkdsk C:

If Windows doesn’t find any problems, you’re in the clear. If it does, you can try to use chkdsk [drive letter] /f to have it fix errors on the disk or chkdsk [drive letter] /r for it to locate bad sectors and repair them. The /r command also performs the same tasks as the /f command, so you don’t need to run them one after another.

There’s also one more command that could prove to be helpful, so try it while you’re already here. Type in  SFC /scannow  for your PC to scan through all of your Windows system files and attempt to repair potential errors.

Other solutions

If you still suspect that your SSD or HDD may be the root of the problem, here are a few other things worth looking into:

• Defragment your HDD , which could help optimize file storage and improve your PC’s performance. If you have an SSD, this doesn’t apply.
• Free up some storage space. A drive that barely has any space left will begin to perform poorly over time. Consider buying an external drive for backup and storage purposes.
• Format your SSD as a last resort, hopefully restoring it to its former glory. This will delete all of the data on the drive.

Playing games is only as immersive as your PC allows it to be. If you’re experiencing frame rate drops, screen tearing, or crashes, the whole experience goes down the drain. Running games at 60 fps is often considered to be the sweet spot, if only because many people use standard 60Hz monitors. However, the better your PC build , the higher the expectations, and if your computer can only output 60 fps on a 144Hz monitor, you might want to improve its performance.

Troubleshooting gaming-related issues is often easier to fix with a simple Google search, as people on various forums and communities often come up with ideas to fix game-specific problems. However, here are a few things to try that can be done in most games.

Tweak the settings

Some of the most demanding games require a beastly PC to run. Adjusting the settings might, therefore, be your best bet to win back some performance — provided you’re not on a $3,500 PC equipped with an RTX 4090 , in which case you should be able to play everything at maximum for the years to come.

Here are some of the settings that might give you the best fps boost if turned down or disabled:

• Texture Quality and Projected Textures
• Water Effects
• Lighting effects
• Anti-Aliasing
• Ambient Occlusion
• View Distance

In addition, if you’re playing with ray tracing enabled, disabling it should drastically improve performance in most games.

If you’re experiencing screen tearing, enabling V-Sync or Adaptive Sync should help, but it will also take its toll on overall performance and frame rates. It’s also worth checking whether your monitor’s refresh rates align with those in the game because if there’s a discrepancy there, screen tearing is likely to happen.

You might also consider lowering the resolution, but in all honesty, this should be an absolute last resort. In fact, running the game at a different resolution than your monitor’s native resolution might make screen tearing even worse. If you’re currently playing at 4K or 1440p, dropping down to 1080p might improve performance, but the game will look considerably worse. In all fairness, if you already have a 4K monitor , there’s no reason to play at a lower resolution — it’s more likely that hardware upgrades are in order instead.

Update your GPU drivers

We’ve already covered updating your drivers in general, but graphics drivers are especially crucial to gaming performance. Nvidia, AMD, and Intel all have tools that make updating your graphics drivers easier.

If you’re using an Nvidia GPU, we recommend downloading GeForce Experience to manage your driver installs. In addition, you can record your gameplay and track performance with this tool. Those with AMD cards can check out AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition , while Intel owners can turn to Intel Arc Control .

Other things to try

The truth is that the majority of this guide can also apply to gaming issues, so there’s no use in me repeating these things in this section. If you’re experiencing frame rate drops, overall low fps, or crashes, try the following (most of which I’ve covered above):

• Check temperatures of your CPU and GPU while gaming and see if temp spikes coincide with times of poor performance in the game.
• Perform a clean install of the game.
• Buy an SSD (if you don’t have one) and install your games on it instead of an HDD.
• Make sure that your PC is powerful enough to handle the title. Most computers without discrete graphics may struggle with AAA games.
• Close all background processes and programs that aren’t necessary. Watching movies or browsing the internet at the same time as gaming is quite taxing on your PC.
• Make sure that you have enough RAM — monitor RAM usage with the Task Manager while gaming and buy some extra memory if your PC is struggling.

While the actual Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is a lot less intimidating now than it used to be, the sad smiley leaves no room for doubt — if your PC gets hit by a BSOD, that often means trouble. When you get a BSOD, your entire operating system crashes, and you lose everything you’ve been working on after the last time you saved. It’s sort of a cry for help from your PC, but on the surface, it might seem like nothing much has happened to cause this problem.

Microsoft itself refers to blue screens as stop code errors sometimes. They’re essentially a preventative measure that is meant to keep your PC from being damaged even more. In short, something bad enough has happened to your PC that made it think that it’s time to call it quits and restart before things get even worse. Both hardware and software problems can be the culprit here, and sometimes, there’ll be no rhyme or reason as to why you’re hit by a BSOD at that particular time. However, it’s crucial to investigate these errors.

In modern PCs (Windows 10 and 11), BSOD simply lets you know that your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. Before it does, it’ll investigate the issue and will usually leave a crash dump file (.dmp) in a designated folder. Looking through this later can help point you in the right direction, although it can be pretty confusing. It’s usually easier to search for the stop code assigned to your particular BSOD, which you’ll find at the bottom of the screen. Newer PCs may also get a QR code that you can scan with your smartphone to look up the problem immediately.

Troubleshooting a BSOD

Don’t panic — the majority of BSODs can be fixed without any professional help, and for the rest of them, you might need to swap some hardware or dig deeper into troubleshooting. Start by writing down the stop code that came up with your blue screen and look it up in Microsoft’s tutorial to troubleshooting BSOD errors .

Your first step will always be trying to revert any recent changes. This can mean new hardware, be it inside the PC or external drives, but also new software. Depending on the situation, you may need to start Windows in Safe Mode and uninstall the problematic software or roll back drivers. We have handy guides for entering Safe Mode for both Windows 10 and Windows 11 .

Assuming you’ve gone through Microsoft’s guide and haven’t found a solution, there’s one more thing you can safely try: Windows Event Viewer. You can access it by typing  Event Viewer  into the search bar. Event Viewer keeps track of everything that happens to your PC, including critical events such as a BSOD or a crash, errors, and warnings.

Check out the critical errors that occurred on your PC. A lot of the information that you’ll get here is quite technical, but a quick Google search with the right terms could help you find a solution. Look up the event source, such as Kernel-Power, as well as the error code, and try the solutions you’ll find.

Keep in mind that some of them could get your PC in even more trouble, though. For instance, advanced users may recommend that you alter the Windows registry, but deleting the wrong file in the registry can make your PC completely refuse to boot. Approach with caution.

PC issues are almost unavoidable. If you use a computer long enough, you’ll run into some problems with it at one point or another, be it network issues or complete crashes. However, if you take steps to protect your data and keep your PC healthy, you’ll avoid some of the most common pitfalls. Here’s what you should do on a fairly regular basis to keep your PC in shape.

Scan for viruses and malware

Cybersecurity threats are more common than ever in this day and age, but our PCs are also a lot better equipped to handle a lot of them. Windows 10 and Windows 11 come with their own Windows Defender, and it’s decent enough to the point that many people stopped using antivirus software altogether.

With that said, it’s still safer to use one of the best antivirus programs to protect yourself. More advanced users might also want to use a malware scanner, such as Malwarebytes , or programs like Spybot Anti-Malware to add an extra layer of protection.

Stay up to date

Keep your drivers up to date, but also run regular Windows Updates, as they often come with new security measures that could prove to be helpful. They also offer fixes to known problems. However, fresh updates can sometimes impact your PC’s performance , so that’s yet another thing for you to check if you’re not happy with the way your computer performs. (On another note, if your PC is currently downloading a Windows Update in the background, that’s probably why it’s suddenly super slow.)

Back up your data

You’ve probably heard this a hundred times before, but it’s always worth repeating — regular backups are crucial. If you’ve got all your data safely stored on an external HDD or in the cloud, even a worst-case scenario is not so bad. For example, a full format can sometimes help tremendously, but it’s out of the question if your data isn’t backed up.

Similarly, don’t forget to set up system restore points. That way, if you need to use System Restore, you’ll have a safe point to go back to. Check out our guide if you’re not sure how to set it up.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Here’s how Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4o stack up in a direct comparison
• Here are the 10 best gaming keyboards I’d recommend to anyone in 2024
• How to build a budget gaming PC build for under $500
• Air cooling vs. liquid cooling: Which is best for your PC in 2024?
• A friendly reminder that your PC power supply will eventually destroy itself

HDR is about to get a big upgrade on PC. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), the nonprofit group behind standards like DisplayPort and Adaptive Sync, is releasing a new specification for its DisplayHDR standard. DisplayHDR 1.2 not only introduces several new tests for validation, but it also raises the baseline requirements for monitors to earn the coveted badge.

Nearly every aspect of the certification has been tweaked, and several new tests are now a part of the process. VESA tells me this change is meant to reflect where displays are in 2024. DisplayHDR was first introduced seven years ago, and the price of monitors with the badge has more than halved during that time. DisplayHDR 1.2 raises the bar.

Picking between a gaming laptop and a desktop is often pretty straightforward: You either need the portability or you don't. But if you're fine with or without it, then what's the best option?

Even when equipped with the same model of graphics card and processor, laptops and desktops are vastly different. We'll tell you everything you need to know to choose the one that suits you best. Gaming laptop vs. desktop at a glance

If you want to choose the best RAM for your PC, you'll be faced with a lot of terms that may not sound familiar at a glance. DDR? DIMM? CAS? XMP? When you just want something that goes well with the rest of your PC, having to pull out a dictionary before you shop can be pretty daunting.

Fortunately, picking RAM is fairly straightforward once you understand what you're looking for and what it means. In our RAM buying guide, we'll walk you through the process so that you can be happy with your choice. Understanding RAM The thing about RAM is that you don't need to fully get what each and every spec is responsible for -- not unless you want to. If you're building a barebones office PC, even sub-optimal RAM will make it run; the problem is that it won't run nearly as well as it could.

How-To Geek

How to make windows troubleshoot your pc's problems for you.

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6 Lesser-Known Built-in Windows Features You Should Use

Now is the time to buy a laptop portable monitor, why i never adjust the difficulty before starting a game, quick links, windows 7 and 8.

Windows includes a variety of "troubleshooters" designed to quickly diagnose and automatically solve various computer problems. Troubleshooters can't fix everything, but they're a great place to start if you encounter a problem with your computer.

Troubleshooters are built into the Control Panel on Windows 10, 8, and 7, so practically all Windows users can take advantage of them. On Windows 10's Creators Update , most troubleshooters are now available through the Settings app.

If you've installed Windows 10's Creators Update, you'll find these in Settings. Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About the Blue Screen of Death

As of the Creators Update, the following troubleshooters are available here: Blue Screen , Bluetooth, Hardware and Devices, HomeGroup, Incoming Connections, Internet Connections, Keyboard, Network Adapter, Printer, Playing Audio, Power, Program Compatibility Troubleshooter, Recording Audio, Search and Indexing, Shared Folders, Speech, Video Playback, Windows Store Apps, and Windows Update.

If something isn't working properly on your PC, the associated troubleshooter may find and fix the problem for you.

Select the troubleshooter you want to run and click "Run Troubleshooter". Many troubleshooters will run automatically and fix problems they find, while some troubleshooters will suggest various fixes you can choose whether to apply.

The Settings interface doesn't list every available troubleshooter. For example, it omits the Background Intelligent Transfer service, Windows Media Player DVD, Windows Media Player Library, and Windows Media Player Settings troubleshooters.

These are still available if you need them---they're just buried in the Control Panel. To find them, open the Control Panel, type "Troubleshoot" into its search box, and click the "Troubleshooting" icon.

Click "View all" at the left side of the Troubleshooting pane and you'll see a full list of available troubleshooters.

You'll find these tools in the Control Panel on Windows 7 and 8. You'll also need to use the Control Panel if you're using  Windows 10's Anniversary Update  or an earlier version of Windows 10.

Navigate to Control Panel > System and Security > Troubleshoot Common Computer Problems. On Windows 7, click "Find and Fix Problems" instead.

You'll see a list of the most common troubleshooters you might need.

These aren't the only available troubleshooters. Click "View All" in the sidebar to view a full list of troubleshooters. Here's a list of the troubleshooters you might find, although not all versions of Windows include the same troubleshooters:

• Background Intelligent Transfer Service : Finds and fixes problems with the Background Intelligent Transfer Service, which Windows Update and some other services use for background downloads.
• Hardware and Devices : Checks your computer for issues with hardware devices. If a hardware device--particularly a recently installed one--isn't working properly, this troubleshooter can find and fix problems with hardware detection and drivers.
• HomeGroup : Looks for problems with your HomeGroup network and file-sharing settings.
• Incoming Connections : Checks if the Windows Firewall is blocking incoming connections you need and help you unblock them.
• Internet Connections : Detects and fixes problems with your Internet connection and loading websites.
• Internet Explorer Performance : Identifies problems that can slow down Internet Explorer and fixes them.
• Internet Explorer Safety : Identifies settings that can cause security and privacy problems in Internet Explorer and fixes them.
• Network Adapter : Finds and fixes issues with your Wi-Fi adapter or other network adapters.
• Playing Audio : Scans for problems that can prevent sound from playing properly.
• Power : Identifies and fixes problems with power settings to increase your computer's battery life.
• Printer : Checks for and fixes problems with printers and printing.

Related: How to Make Old Programs Work on Windows 10

• Program Compatability Troubleshooter : Helps you choose the best compatibility settings for running programs designed for older versions of Windows.
• Recording Audio : Scans for problems that can prevent microphone audio recording from working.
• Search and Indexing : Fixes problems with Windows Search and the indexer.
• Shared Folders : Identifies issues that can prevent shared network folders from functioning.
• System Maintenance : Finds and fixes broken shortcuts and performs and system maintenance tasks, including checking if your clock is the correct time.
• Video Playback : Detects problems that can prevent videos from playing back properly and fixes them.
• Windows Media Player DVD : Fixes issues that can prevent DVDs from playing in Windows Media Player.
• Windows Media Player Library : Fixes issues with Windows Media Player's media library.
• Windows Media Player Settings : Fixes issues with Windows Media Player's settings.
• Windows Store Apps : Repairs problems that can prevent Windows Store apps--in other words, Windows 10's new Universal Windows Platform apps--from working properly.
• Windows Update : Identifies and fixes issues that can cause Windows Update to not work at all, or fail to install some updates.

To run a troubleshooter, just click it in the Troubleshooting pane. To quickly find a relevant troubleshooter, you can perform a search from the Troubleshooting window.

The troubleshooter will launch after you click it. Just click "Next" to begin troubleshooting.

Most troubleshooters will run automatically, looking for problems and fixing any issues they find. To prevent the troubleshooter from automatically making changes to your system, click the "Advanced" link at the bottom left corner of the troubleshooter window and uncheck the "Apply Repairs Automatically" option. You'll be prompted with more information before the troubleshooter makes any changes to your system.

While most troubleshooters run automatically, some troubleshooters will give you options you need to click. For example, the Program Compatibility troubleshooter will walk you through choosing a program that isn't working properly and changing its compatibility settings. The Incoming Connections troubleshooter will ask you what you're trying to do so it know what type of incoming connection to troubleshoot.

That's about it. There isn't a troubleshooter for every issue you'll encounter, and the troubleshooters that do exist won't be able to fix every problem. But troubleshooters are a good place to start when you encounter a problem with something.

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5 easy fixes for common computer problems

By David Nield

Posted on Jan 3, 2021 3:04 PM EST

7 minute read

Many of us are so reliant on our computers that it’s a serious problem when something goes wrong—akin to the power going out or the water getting cut off. Of course you want to get your system back up and running as quickly as you can, but that’s often easier said than done. It’s no exaggeration to say an almost limitless number of things can go wrong with a computer, because everyone’s system and settings are different. It can seem almost impossible knowing where to begin when it comes to troubleshooting your way back to a working machine.

That said, you’d be surprised by just how many issues have the same simple root cause. Before you get professional help—which we’d still advise in a lot of cases—run through these simple measures to see if you can get the problem fixed yourself.

1. Run a thorough virus scan

It’s obvious, but it’s effective: Fire up your virus-scanning software, launch the deepest and most thorough scan available, and leave it to do its work. Note that the most comprehensive type of scan (which looks at the most files and takes the longest time to complete) may not be the scan that your computer is set to run by default, so check the program settings to see what’s available. You’ll also want to make sure your scanner is up to date first, so it can catch the most recent wave of bad code.

Antivirus scanners can sometimes miss threats or be disabled by them, so it’s worth getting a second opinion. A lot of antivirus developers make lightweight, on-demand scanners you can install alongside your main security software as a second layer of protection—applications like Kaspersky Security Scan for Windows or macOS , or Microsoft Safety Scanner for Windows, or Emsisoft Emergency Kit for Windows.

You’ll find more antivirus programs around for Windows because it has a history of being attacked by the greater proportion of malware. While macOS is quite comprehensively locked down, especially if you stick to the Mac App Store for your applications, you can never be 100 percent sure you’re safe, so it’s always worth having an antivirus program or two on hand to troubleshoot system problems.

All kinds of computer crashes and slowdowns can be caused by viruses and other malware. It’s worth running a scan if your system has become sluggish, is suddenly behaving strangely, or seems overrun with advertising. If threats are found, your antivirus program will know how to combat them; if you get a clean bill of health, you can try some other troubleshooting options to fix whatever issue you’re having.

2. Update your software

Many computer problems are caused by outdated and un-patched software, from outbreaks of ransomware to glitchy keyboards that refuse to spit out the correct letters when you tap them. Fortunately, many updates now occur automatically, because they’re so important—which is why your computer might suddenly reboot when you weren’t expecting it to.

Focus on your operating system first. On Windows you can look for updates by opening Settings , then clicking Update & security ; on macOS, launch the App Store from the dock or the Applications screen in Finder, then switch to the Updates tab. Make sure you apply any updates that are pending.

It’s important to check for updates to your other applications, including your web browser and your antivirus program, even if you’ve set them to update automatically. The update feature should be fairly prominent in any app, but consult the built-in help options if you get stuck.

After applying all the updates you can find, your issues might be fixed. If they are, maintain this process as a way to prevent future problems in addition to fixing existing ones. Make sure as many of your installed applications are updating themselves automatically in the background, and you should run into fewer computer issues as a result.

3. Cut down on the bloat

You might think that leaving older, unused programs on your hard drive is pretty harmless, but as more and more applications mount up, your operating system has to work harder and the files on your computer get broken up more often and spread out further as your computer tries to save them—something known as fragmentation . As a result, the amount of free storage space can quickly become limited.

If you’ve noticed your computer is running more slowly, crashing at odd times, or showing some other kind of buggy behavior, it might be that it’s simply creaking under the weight of all the software you’ve got installed. You can uninstall applications you no longer need from the Apps section of Settings in Windows, or by dragging the app shortcut into the trash on macOS. Some macOS apps can be removed from the Launchpad by clicking and holding on an icon until it shakes, then clicking the X icon

The same goes for your browser—having too many extensions and add-ons can lead to a serious slowdown or some erratic behavior, so limit your extensions to the ones you actually need and use. In Google Chrome, click the three dots in the top right, and go to More Tools , then Extensions ; in Firefox choose Add-ons from the main app menu; and in Microsoft Edge, choose Extensions from the main app menu.

If your computer is running low on disk space, it can lead to a number of problems, including occasional crashes and slow performance. Once you’ve removed unneeded apps, try removing unneeded files too, like movies you’ve already watched or duplicate photos you’ve got safely backed up somewhere else. Generally speaking, the less bloated your system, the fewer problems you’ll run into.

4. Test your Wi-Fi connection

This troubleshooting technique only applies to internet-related problems—one very specific category of issue. The key to getting your internet up and running again is to work out where the problem lies, and the detective work isn’t as difficult as you might think.

If you can, plug your laptop or desktop computer straight into your router with an Ethernet cable . If you still don’t get internet and nothing connected to Wi-Fi is getting internet (like phones and tablets), then the problem may lie with your router hardware or your internet service provider. If that’s the case, your best option is to get on the phone with the company and ask for assistance.

If some devices can get online and others can’t, that points to problems with those specific devices. We can’t cover every conceivable issue here, but rebooting those gadgets, updating the software installed on them, and switching Wi-Fi off and back on again to establish the connection from scratch are good first steps.

If your computer can get online when plugged directly into the router but not when it’s browsing over Wi-Fi, you might be looking at a problem with your Wi-Fi network. We’ve written before about getting the strongest possible signal around your house, but if that doesn’t get you anywhere, reboot your router and dive into its on-board settings—a quick web search based on the router’s make and model should surface some information about troubleshooting tricks you can try.

5. Reinstall the operating system

Reinstalling Windows or macOS and starting from scratch is a more extreme version of the “cut down on the bloat” solution we mentioned above. It wipes out troublesome programs, erases many viruses and types of malware, resets your internet connection settings and generally gives you a blank slate. You’ll want to make sure that you have all your data backed up before starting the reinstallation process.

What makes this worth trying is that Microsoft and Apple have made reinstalling their operating systems so straightforward. On Windows, you can head to Update & Security from Settings, then choose Recovery , and select Get started under Reset this PC ( more here ), whereas on macOS your process will vary depending on whether your computer uses Apple silicon or an Intel processor . For the few new models with silicon, turn on your device and continue to hold the power button until the startup options window appears. Choose Option , then hit Continue . If you have an Intel processor, turn on your Mac and continue to hold Cmd+R to launch the Utilities program ( more here ). Then follow the installer’s instructions.

By setting your system back to square one, you’re theoretically wiping away whatever was causing the issue you’re having, though there’s no guarantee it’ll work. You’ll also need to consider the hassle of getting all your applications and files back on the system afterwards, so it’s not the right choice for everyone in every situation. In our experience though, we’ve found it to be an effective fix for a lot of computer ills.

We can’t promise that these five tips will solve every problem you’re having but they will at least enable you to rule out some basic possibilities as far as root causes go. We’re also not trying to diminish the importance of your local PC repair shop—and that should be your next port of call if your computer’s still struggling at the end of this guide.

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Top 10 fixes for common PC problems: The best of PCWorld’s Answer Line

I’ve been answering questions from PCWorld readers since 1997, and I think I’ve read about every problem that Windows and PC hardware can provide.

But some questions pop up over and over again. Others rarely come up, but nevertheless involve important issues that every user needs to know about. Still, others are unanswerable, and the only advice I can give is to have a professional look at the PC.

Here are 10 Answer Line articles from the last two years that every Windows user should read.

1. Attack of the Blue Screen of Death

You’re working on an important project, and suddenly your screen displays nothing but white text against a blue background. If it happens once, you curse, reboot, and hope for the best. But if you’re getting these BSODs frequently, you’ve got a problem that needs fixing.

Brewski13 had such a problem, and I provided advice for diagnosing, and hopefully fixing, the underlying cause.

2. How to recover deleted files

Now you see them, now you don’t. Files are like that sometimes. 

So where are they? Are you sure you don’t have a backup somewhere? Files can hide in the Recycle Bin and “empty” sectors of your hard drive, even if you’ve deleted them.

Megan Aitken’s partner lost “a load of photos.” I walked her, and other readers, through the steps toward recovery .

3. Introduction to backup

I don’t get a lot of questions about backup. I sure get a lot from people who should have backed up, though.

Scarcely a week goes by without at least one email from a terrified reader with a crashed disk or an overwritten file. I remember a grad student who lost a laptop with all the notes for his dissertation.

Rickaber asked the right question. Before disaster hit, he wanted someone to explain the basics of backing up . I was happy to oblige.

4. Protect your privacy while you browse

What once sounded like paranoia is now common sense. Steve asked for safe and secure ways to access the Internet without being tracked by crooks, corporations, and governments.

While there’s no such thing as complete,  perfect privacy or security, you can use plenty of tricks to provide a reasonable degree of anonymity. You can use your browser’s private mode, then supplement that mode with the right add-ons. You can also replace that browser with one designed to keep your real self a secret.

When Steve asked, I explained the options.

5. Speed up a slow PC without buying new hardware

If a once-fast computer has slowed to a crawl, you can’t really blame the hardware. Sure, you can speed things up by adding RAM, upgrading the CPU, or replacing the hard drive with an SSD. But none of those solutions—all of which cost money—address the underlying problem. Your hardware isn’t necessarily underpowered. It’s probably just overloaded.

Gamersim17 complained that his PC was “moving extremely slowly and not performing like it should.” I provided advice for identifying and removing the software that slowed it down.

6. Is one antivirus program really better than two?

Arcticsid made the mistake of installing one antivirus program on a new PC that already had another.

Running two antivirus programs is a bit like mixing a fine, vintage Cabernet with breakfast cereal. Each is good in its own right, but the combination may have unpleasant side effects.

  My original article explains the issues and offers a better way to get a second opinion on your system’s health.

7. How to securely wipe sensitive files—or your entire hard drive

When you delete a file, the data doesn’t actually go away—even after you’ve emptied the Recycle Bin. The actual bits remain written on the drive until some other disk activity writes over them. Even when you format a drive, the files are still there for those who want and know how to read them.

That’s good news if you’ve lost some files. It’s not so great if you truly want a file to go away, or if you’re giving away an old PC and to want make sure that your private records won’t be accessible. You have to take special steps to protect yourself.

I give Rommel advice on how to remove files so that no one can get them.

8. An obscenely slow Internet connection when you’re paying for a fast one

Interronator was paying Time Warner for 20mbps Internet service, but was only getting about 0.7.

Almost no one gets the Internet performance that their ISP advertises , but the difference between advertised and real speed should be reasonably close. 

Is the fault in your equipment, or is your ISP to blame ? I provide step-by-step diagnostics to help you identify the bottleneck.

9. How to archive files so they’ll stay around for years

Nothing lasts forever, but you want at least some of your files to last a very long time. So it was no surprise when Daisky asked about making family photos available to future generations.

No one is really sure how long you can archive digital files so that your great-grandchildren will enjoy them. In fact, no one is really sure if it’s possible.

If you follow my suggestions , you’ll increase the odds of preserving your precious digital memories. But you won’t really be sure of your success for a few decades.

10. Actually, you do need to share your passwords

As I just said, nothing lasts forever. And that includes you and me.

When we die, loved ones will need access to our bank accounts, email accounts, and the encrypted parts of our computers. So, despite the generally good advice about not sharing passwords, there is one big exception. You must find someone you can trust with that information, and make sure they can access your various passwords.

No reader ever asked about this issue. Nevertheless, I shared these tips with readers.

The Best Free Windows 10 Repair Tools to Fix Any Problem

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3 Ways to Open MSConfig in Windows 11

This new browser is a productivity miracle, i've switched to apple's password manager, and i'm never going back.

Windows 10 is actively used in around one billion devices, essentially capturing the biggest share of the operating system market. And it's constantly on improvement as well.

It isn't without fault, though. There are still plenty of issues with Windows 10, and the frequent nature of updates and fixes illustrates that perfectly. However, you can attempt to fix the majority of Windows 10 problems using nothing more than a few free tools. Let's take a look.

First, Ensure Your PC Is Updated

Before you start installing these best programs to fix Windows 10 problems, make sure you have done something vital: update your Windows to the latest version . Yes, we just said updates can introduce unexpected issues. But that isn't always the case. More often than not, Windows updates can obliterate a swath of annoying bugs.

Press Win + I to open the Settings panel and head to Update & Security > Windows Update . If there is an update waiting, save your work, bookmark your browser tabs, and hit Restart now .

Aside from updating your system, you should also check out our list of the best computer security and antivirus tools , closing off another common source of issues when using Windows 10 (i.e. malware).

Now, on to the best programs to fix almost any problem in Windows 10.

1. IOBit Driver Booster

Windows 10 tries to handle driver updates, but it isn't perfect. Sometimes it'll leave some essential driver updates behind. So, when a hardware issue strikes, it's always worth checking if you need to update your drivers.

One of the best ways to check the status of your Windows drivers is by using a free driver update tool, and IOBit Driver Booster is one of the best Windows 10 driver update tools, claiming to fix and update over 1,000,000 drivers.

Follow these steps to install and use the tool:

• Download and install Driver Booster, making sure to deselect any additional software offered to you.
• Open Driver Booster. You'll spot three tabs: Outdated, UpToDate, and Action Center . The first two are fairly self-explanatory, containing the lists of your system drivers and their status. The Action Center tab contains download links for other IOBit utilities.
• Select the Outdated tab. You can choose to Update Now using the big red button, or head down the list and update individual drivers as you see fit. You can also choose to ignore specific drivers, roll them back to their previous state, or uninstall them entirely. Driver Booster automatically downloads and applies the drivers to your system, but you may require a system reboot to finish the installation process.

Driver Booster creates a system restore point before updating your drivers, as well as including options for automatic shutdown or reboot after the driver installation process completes---handy for leaving the tool running just before bed!

Download: IOBit Driver Booster (Free, paid version available)

Alternative: Snappy Driver Installer

Snappy Driver Installer (SDI) is a free and open-source driver updater with a vast driver collection for offline use. Microsoft keeps Windows 10 up-to-date, but sometimes your drivers get left behind—and outdated drivers can often cause weird issues.

Head to the Snappy Driver Installer download page. Download and unzip the SDI Lite version, then run the SDI application. Select Download Indexes Only to let SDI to quickly scan your computer to see which drivers need updating or installing (and then marvel at the "grass" theme, and change it if you see fit!).

After SDI scans your system, it offers a list of potential new drivers. Head down the list and select the drivers you want to install (or click Select all in the left-hand option menu), make sure to select Create a new restore point , then select Install. The download and update process can take a while, depending on how many drivers need updating.

Once the download and installation process completes, restart your system.

Download: Snappy Driver Installer (Free)

2. FixWin 10

FixWin 10 isn't just one of the best Windows 10 repair tools, it's portable! You can use FixWin 10 to repair a huge variety of operating system issues.

The program is divided into six neat sections, each representing problems with a specific component (File Explorer, System Tools, etc.). Each section contains at least ten fixes (see the full list on TheWindowsClub site ). Some fixes may require a reboot, but you'll be informed of this when you click the Fix button.

Fixes vary from common irritants, such as the Recycle Bin icon failing to automatically update after emptying, to more advanced fixes like restoring access to the Registry Editor.

The Additional Fixes section contains novel-but-useful tweaks, such as restoring the Sticky Notes delete warning dialog box, while the Troubleshooters section directs you to the relevant Windows 10 troubleshooter tool on your system. The integrated troubleshooters are sometimes the easiest option, at least before delving into the depths of your system.

Download: FixWin 10 (Free)

3. Ultimate Windows Tweaker

Ultimate Windows Tweaker has the same developer as FixWin10 (The Windows Club). This is immediately evident because both programs share the same easy-to-use interface.

Unlike FixWin 10, which addresses Windows 10 issues and lets you fix them, this program enables you to quickly enable, disable, hide, or remove specific features from Windows.

You can make each change listed in this program using the Windows 10 Settings app, the Registry Editor, or the Group Policy Editor. However, Ultimate Windows Tweaker puts all the options within neat sections that list relevant issues, which you can then address quickly.

Click the Create Restore Point button at the bottom left before you start, tick the changes you want to make, then click Apply at the bottom. The Additional section lets you bring back Windows 7's Windows Photo Viewer with one click.

TheWindowsClub offers over 200 Windows 10 tweaks at the click of a button. Modifying your OS has never been easier.

Download: Ultimate Windows Tweaker (Free)

4. Windows Repair

Windows Repair (All in One) is another free and useful Windows 10 repair tool you can use to repair numerous Windows 10 issues. The Windows Repair developer strongly suggests you should boot your PC in Safe Mode for maximum effect. The Windows Repair tool has its own Reboot to Safe Mode button for a quick reboot.

The repairs cover registry permissions, file permissions, Windows Firewall settings, Winsock and DNS cache fixes, Windows Update issues, and much more. The Windows Repair tool guides you through a fixing process that automates the Windows Check Disk (chkdsk) and System File Checker (sfc) utilities.

If the utilities don't fix your Windows issues or errors —and you know what you're doing and understand the risks—you can head to the Repairs tab. Here you have six options. The Open Repairs button opens the repair panel containing the numerous fixes available. The other options are preset to fix specific issues such as malware cleanup, broken file permissions, and Windows Updates.

Download: Windows Repair (Free)

5. Windows Repair Toolbox

Windows 10 is a great operating system, and despite some well-documented irritations, most users seem to enjoy using it. And while we don't necessarily disagree with the often repeated advice of using specialist tools, there's a case to be made for the ease of usability that an all-in-one tool gives.

Because let's be honest, who has the time and money to go out and look up fixes for every other PC problem that pop-ups—especially when an alternative exists.

With Windows Repair Toolbox , you get a complete package of pretty much all the important repair tools you'll need for your PC. When you open up the application, you'll see a host of other tools on the home screen, arranged in separate sections like Hardware, Repairs, Uninstaller , and more.

So, when you have, say, a PC rife with generic Windows 10 errors, you'll have with you a plethora of useful applications to choose from, available in the Repairs section. To use any of these applications, simply click on one, and it'll be downloaded and ready to use.

The tool has other handy features as well. For instance, the Malware Removal tab offers a multitude of malware scan and removal solutions. RKill, Kaspersky, Microsoft, and even Ccleaner—it's all here. There's also a Run Unattended option that lets you run a scan without downloading any specific tool.

All in all, we believe you won't go wrong with this application as your first choice for a free Windows 10 repair tool.

Download: Windows Repair Toolbox (Free)

6. O&O ShutUp10

Windows 10 has privacy issues, and Microsoft knows it. Windows 10 privacy control has improved slightly since its 2015 release, but the core issues of tracking, telemetry, and data gathering remain.

While some users believe this is a necessary evil for the operating system development to continue with lashings of user-data, you don't have to give up your data. Several tools curtail Microsoft and Windows 10 data gathering tendencies, and O&O ShutUp10 is one of them.

The program has nine sections offering various privacy settings, many of which are not directly available in the operating system. ShutUp10 makes turning off the unseen options as simple as flicking the numerous switches.

Most importantly, each option comes with a brief description, so you know what you're turning off and what functionality it might affect. Unfortunately, there are some downsides to turning everything off, so move slowly and check each option out.

O&O ShutUp10 has a handy Apply only recommended settings option, as well as the Recommended and somewhat recommended settings option that goes even further.

Download: O&O ShutUp10 (free)

You can think of DISM++ as a GUI ( Graphical User Interface ) version of DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management)—the free Windows command line utility tool that can help you prepare, modify, and repair system images.

So, DISM++ is the tool you turn to when you’re experiencing crashes or errors on your Windows 10, and all the other tools have been unable to help you.

Since the app doesn’t need to use a command line, all you’ve to do after the installation is complete is launch the app and choose the utility you’d like to use.

For example, if you click the Disk Clean-up option, you can choose various clean-up options. From there, you must click on Clean Up to begin the cleaning-up process. You can then remove everything from download history, search history, and error reports, to your cache files.

Download: DISM++ (Free)

How Do You Fix Windows 10 Problems?

These are some of the best programs that will fix (almost) any problem in your Windows 10. Hopefully, though, you found the one that's most relevant to your needs right now. Of course, there are tons of free and paid programs out there that cater to different Windows problems; be it corruption, data loss, or something else.

But, in some cases, no matter how many tools you try, your Windows just won't work as before. For situations like that, we always recommend more potent solutions like Windows Restore or Factory Reset.

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How to Diagnose a Computer Problem

Last Updated: May 1, 2024

This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls . Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 761,566 times.

If your computer is slow, not starting, or throwing errors, there are simple steps you can take to diagnose the problem. Use Task Manager to find apps consuming too many resources, run a malware scan, check Device Manager, and listen for hardware problems.

Quick Steps

• Watch for boot errors, and search the web for any that pop up.
• If it's running slow, use Task Manager to identify problem apps.
• Use Device Manager to check for hardware errors and update drivers.
• Listen for constantly-running fans, grinding sounds, or other strange noises.
• Run an antivirus scan to check for malware.

• If an error message appears as you boot your computer, type the exact error message into a Google search to find more information about the error. Use your mobile phone or another computer, if needed. If you hear a series of beeps as your computer starts up, make a note of the pattern and visit https://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm to see what error the pattern indicates. [2] X Research source

• Click the Windows Start menu in the lower-left corner.
• Type Control Panel .
• Double-click the Control Panel in the Windows Start menu.
• Click Hardware and Sound .
• Click Device Manager below "Devices and Printers".

• If your computer CPU graph is running at 80%-100% most of the time, you may be able to upgrade your computer processor .
• If your computer is using too much memory, close all unneeded programs and browser tabs and see if your computer's performance improves. Limit the amount of multi-tasking you do on your computer. If your computer doesn't have enough memory to do basic operations, some computers allow you to purchase and install more RAM.

• If you suspect you have a damaged hard drive, be sure to backup all important data from the drive immediately and shutdown your computer. Each time you boot up a computer with a damaged hard drive, it will damage the hard drive further. If you are unable to backup your data, remove your hard drive and take it to a professional for data recovery.

Common Questions

How do I find out what's wrong with my PC?

Use Windows troubleshooters to identify hardware and software problems. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters . [4] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters .

How do I test a PC for failing hardware?

Test RAM by pressing Windows key + R , typing mdsched , and pressing Enter . To test a hard drive or SSD, use a free tool like CrystalDiskInfo. For a free all-in-one hardware tester, try HWinfo.

Will I lose everything if I reset my PC?

When you reset a Windows PC, you'll be given two reset options: Keep personal files and Remove everything . Selecting Keep personal files ensures your files and documents won't be deleted.

Why does my laptop keep whirring?

Dust and debris (like pet hair) may have accumulated in the vents, making the fans work harder. Your fan will also run more often if your laptop is overheating due to resource-intensive software or operating in extreme temperatures.

• If you do not feel comfortable diagnosing or repairing a computer problem, it is best to take the computer to a certified technician and have it repaired for a moderate fee. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 8
• These procedures will begin to narrow down common problems, but to find a specific problem, tools or specialized techniques may need to be used. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 4

• Always consult a competent computer technician, whether you are going to do the troubleshooting on your own or under supervision. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Do not attempt to repair problems unless you are sure you know what you are doing Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Luigi Oppido. Computer & Tech Specialist. Expert Interview. 31 July 2019.
• ↑ https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/POST-Power-On-Self-Test
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-a-fix-it-tool-with-windows-10-cc3cb85b-91d7-7e56-8ce1-db50b4d18d0b

About This Article

1. Check that all cables, cards, and memory chips are secure. 2. Check for any error messages or beep patterns as your computer boots up. 3. Check if it takes longer than usual for your operating system to boot. 4. Check for any graphics problems. 5. Use the Device Manager in the Control Panel to check for any device errors. 6. Uninstall any recently installed programs. 7. Limit the number of programs that startup with Windows. 8. Listen for any loud noises with the hard drive or CPU fan. 9. Run a virus and malware scan. 10. Boot your computer in Safe Mode and see if the problem persists. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Computer Basics  - Basic Troubleshooting Techniques

Computer basics  -, basic troubleshooting techniques, computer basics basic troubleshooting techniques.

Computer Basics: Basic Troubleshooting Techniques

Lesson 19: basic troubleshooting techniques.

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Troubleshooting

Do you know what to do if your screen goes blank? What if you can't seem to close an application, or can't hear any sound from your speakers? Whenever you have a problem with your computer, don't panic! There are many basic troubleshooting techniques you can use to fix issues like this. In this lesson, we'll show you some simple things to try when troubleshooting, as well as how to solve common problems you may encounter.

General tips to keep in mind

There are many different things that could cause a problem with your computer. No matter what's causing the issue, troubleshooting will always be a process of trial and error —in some cases, you may need to use several different approaches before you can find a solution; other problems may be easy to fix. We recommend starting by using the following tips.

• Write down your steps : Once you start troubleshooting, you may want to write down each step you take. This way, you'll be able to remember exactly what you've done and can avoid repeating the same mistakes. If you end up asking other people for help, it will be much easier if they know exactly what you've tried already.
• Take notes about error messages : If your computer gives you an error message , be sure to write down as much information as possible. You may be able to use this information later to find out if other people are having the same error.

• Restart the computer : When all else fails, restarting the computer is a good thing to try. This can solve a lot of basic issues you may experience with your computer.

Using the process of elimination

If you're having an issue with your computer, you may be able to find out what's wrong using the process of elimination . This means you'll make a list of things that could be causing the problem and then test them out one by one to eliminate them. Once you've identified the source of your computer issue, it will be easier to find a solution.

Let's say you're trying to print out invitations for a birthday party, but the printer won't print. You have some ideas about what could be causing this, so you go through them one by one to see if you can eliminate any possible causes.

First, you check the printer to see that it's turned on and plugged in to the surge protector . It is, so that's not the issue. Next, you check to make sure the printer's ink cartridge still has ink and that there is paper loaded in the paper tray . Things look good in both cases, so you know the issue has nothing to do with ink or paper.

Now you want to make sure the printer and computer are communicating correctly . If you recently downloaded an update to your operating system , it might interfere with the printer. But you know there haven't been any recent updates and the printer was working yesterday, so you'll have to look elsewhere.

You check the printer's USB cord and find that it's not plugged in. You must have unplugged it accidentally when you plugged something else into the computer earlier. Once you plug in the USB cord, the printer starts working again. It looks like this printer issue is solved!

This is just one example of an issue you might encounter while using a computer. In the rest of this lesson, we'll talk about other common computer problems and some ways to solve them.

Simple solutions to common problems

Most of the time, problems can be fixed using simple troubleshooting techniques, like closing and reopening the program. It's important to try these simple solutions before resorting to more extreme measures. If the problem still isn't fixed, you can try other troubleshooting techniques.

Problem: Power button will not start computer

• Solution 1 : If your computer does not start , begin by checking the power cord to confirm that it is plugged securely into the back of the computer case and the power outlet.
• Solution 2 : If it is plugged into an outlet, make sure it is a working outlet . To check your outlet, you can plug in another electrical device , such as a lamp .

• Solution 4 : If you are using a laptop , the battery may not be charged. Plug the AC adapter into the wall, then try to turn on the laptop. If it still doesn't start up, you may need to wait a few minutes and try again.

Problem: An application is running slowly

• Solution 1 : Close and reopen the application.

Problem: An application is frozen

Sometimes an application may become stuck, or frozen . When this happens, you won't be able to close the window or click any buttons within the application.

• Solution 2 : Restart the computer. If you are unable to force quit an application, restarting your computer will close all open apps.

Problem: All programs on the computer run slowly

• Solution 2 : Your computer may be running out of hard drive space. Try deleting any files or programs you don't need.
• Solution 3 : If you're using a PC , you can run Disk Defragmenter . To learn more about Disk Defragmenter , check out our lesson on Protecting Your Computer .

Problem: The computer is frozen

Sometimes your computer may become completely unresponsive, or frozen . When this happens, you won't be able to click anywhere on the screen, open or close applications, or access shut-down options.

• Solution 3 : Press and hold the Power button. The Power button is usually located on the front or side of the computer, typically indicated by the power symbol . Press and hold the Power button for 5 to 10 seconds to force the computer to shut down.
• Solution 4 : If the computer still won't shut down, you can unplug the power cable from the electrical outlet. If you're using a laptop, you may be able to remove the battery to force the computer to turn off. Note : This solution should be your last resort after trying the other suggestions above.

Problem: The mouse or keyboard has stopped working

• Solution 2 : If you're using a wireless mouse or keyboard, make sure it's turned on and that its batteries are charged.

Problem: The sound isn't working

• Solution 1 : Check the volume level. Click the audio button in the top-right or bottom-right corner of the screen to make sure the sound is turned on and that the volume is up.
• Solution 2 : Check the audio player controls. Many audio and video players will have their own separate audio controls. Make sure the sound is turned on and that the volume is turned up in the player.
• Solution 3 : Check the cables. Make sure external speakers are plugged in, turned on, and connected to the correct audio port or a USB port. If your computer has color-coded ports, the audio output port will usually be green .

Problem: The screen is blank

• Solution 1 : The computer may be in Sleep mode. Click the mouse or press any key on the keyboard to wake it.
• Solution 2 : Make sure the monitor is plugged in and turned on .
• Solution 3 : Make sure the computer is plugged in and turned on .
• Solution 4 : If you're using a desktop, make sure the monitor cable is properly connected to the computer tower and the monitor.

Solving more difficult problems

If you still haven't found a solution to your problem, you may need to ask someone else for help. As an easy starting point, we'd recommend searching the Web . It's possible that other users have had similar problems, and solutions to these problems are often posted online. Also, if you have a friend or family member who knows a lot about computers, they may be able to help you.

Keep in mind that most computer problems have simple solutions, although it may take some time to find them. For difficult problems, a more drastic solution may be required, like reformatting your hard drive or reinstalling your operating system. If you think you might need a solution like this, we recommend consulting a professional first. If you're not a computer expert, it's possible that attempting these solutions could make the situation worse.

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Top 10 Common Computer Problems and Their Solutions

Common computer problems are brought on by minor flaws in the hardware or software. They frequently offer straightforward solutions.

Admit it, using a computer brings them into our daily lives for all of us. So, don’t worry. In this article, we’ll list the top 10 frequent PC issues and explain how to resolve them on your own.

Table of Contents

10 Common Computer Problems

Slow internet, windows update problem, pc fan not working, blue screen of death, system automatically restart, computer freezes, the printer isn’t printing, noisy hard drive, pc becoming slow, the computer won’t turn on.

There is nothing that can aggravate you more than a slow internet connection. I am aware that you can’t watch that well-known Netflix show or maintain your Facebook connection.

But this issue is typically quite simple to resolve. The issue is divided into two categories: internal (problems with your internet appliance) and external ( related to your Internet Service Provider ).

Fix your wifi signal

Speaking of wifi, you might discover that while your internet and router are working well, your wireless connection is subpar. This might slow things down or, at the very least, make for choppy browsing. In that situation, you might need to use a few cunning techniques to move, adjust, and increase your router.

Contact your ISP

If none of the aforementioned solutions resolve your issue, your internet service provider may be to blame.

This can be due to a network upgrade, poor weather, fixed cables, etc. They will undoubtedly evaluate your internet signal and let you know what has to be done.

Restart the modem

The approach to this solution is the same as it would be for any gadget. The internet modem might occasionally get overloaded due to power fluctuations or excessive use.

Simply turn off the modem, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on to restore everything to normal. Most of the time, you ought to be all set.

Kill any unwanted background software

Background tasks like software updates or other applications that use the internet may occasionally draw your data and slow down your internet speed.

You may easily kill off this software by checking your task manager to get a list of it. This should help if you disable automatic updates in the settings.

There are numerous causes of Windows update issues. Windows piracy, missing core files, license problems, etc. are some of the causes.

However, the issue is not that serious. However, you need to fix it if you still desire to have the most recent security and software loaded.

The answer is rather simple to figure out. Windows includes a built-in method for detecting errors and troubleshooting them to resolve this.

Here’s another typical issue with computer technology. However, when the fan fails, people typically panic.

When the CPU temperature is low or no power-hungry apps are running, it is quite typical for the CPU fan to stop spinning.

The motherboard is typically to blame, not the fan, in the majority of cases.

Assess the fan

The following three issues with the fan are typical:

• CPU Fan Dust Removal
• The CPU fan’s bearing is stuck.
• CPU Fan is Damaged.

In the first scenario, you can easily wipe it down with a cloth. You need to engage a professional computer repair agency to replace the part in the second and third scenarios, which are the more critical ones in this instance.

Determine the root cause

As was already established, the motherboard is frequently to blame when the fan stops spinning. This could occur if the board’s fan isn’t installed properly or if the board’s wiring has an issue.

Simply plug the fan into an external power source to see whether it’s still operating to verify this. If not, the fan itself may be the issue.

A significant issue that the system is unable to process and automatically fix will result in a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD), also known as “blue screen,” “stop error,” or simply “system crash.”

The blue screen typically appears when upgrading to a new version of Windows, during startup, or unexpectedly while the computer is in use.

The most frustrating aspect is that there isn’t enough information provided by the blue background and dejected character’s face to allow you to diagnose the issue.

Scan your system for viruses

Some infections, particularly those that affect the master boot record (MBR) or boot sector, might result in a Blue Screen of Death.

Return BIOS settings to their default levels

BSODs and other irrational problems can be brought on by an improperly designed or overclocked BIOS.

Check that there is enough space for updates

The most common causes of BSOD are system spaces, failed file systems, and corrupted files.

Your system space could occasionally fill up during an upgrade, leaving some files empty and leading to corrupted data.

Update your hardware drivers

Updated drivers may be able to resolve the STOP error’s root cause since hardware or drivers are typically the sources of Blue Screens of Death.

Perform diagnostic tests on all hardware you’re able to test

Any given Blue Screen of Death is almost certainly caused by a malfunctioning piece of hardware.

The most frustrating issue with computers is last but not least on this list.

There are numerous causes for this issue. It may be caused by several problems, including malfunctioning hardware, malware infection, and corrupted drivers, among others.

It can be challenging to identify the precise cause of your computer’s reboot loop. It typically occurs following the Windows upgrade.

Checking hardware issues

A computer may periodically restart due to malfunctioning hardware in specific circumstances. The three primary pieces of hardware to examine are:

• External Devices

 Deleting bad registry files

You must be very certain that you can carry out the task flawlessly before you begin.

The Windows Registry is a delicate database, so keep that in mind. Your computer could be harmed even by losing a comma! Therefore, advise using a one-click fix like Auslogics Registry Cleaner.

This free software does an automatic registry file check for duplication or corruption.

Scanning for viruses or malware

Your computer can be infected with malware or a virus, which would explain why it keeps restarting. Using Windows Defender, a thorough virus scan may be performed.

On the other hand, you might choose outside software like Trend or AVG antivirus.

Updating drivers

Your computer may become locked in a reboot loop if your drivers are out of date. This is due to a communication problem between your system and your gadgets.

As a result, it’s critical to ensure that your drivers are current.

Sometimes a slow or old computer will freeze. The main cause of this is a lack of sufficient resources.

Your Windows should first begin to run slowly before you frequently face this issue. You can read the point above to correct that.

Start with the basics by checking the printer to see if there is an error message or warning light. There are several reasons why your printer won’t print.

Check to see if there is paper in the tray(s), if the toner or ink cartridges are full, whether the USB cable is connected, and if the printer has Wi-Fi enabled.

The following method will assist in resolving the majority of the underlying issues.

Check for issues on the computer

Each printer is connected to the computer and has its driver. Therefore, if there are any problems, the system will show them along with the device’s troubleshooting mode.

Most issues are currently fixable. Verify that your printer driver is current and operating appropriately.

Restart the printer

Simply stopping all current printing jobs and restarting the printer can work miracles.

This may be due to the printer being overloaded or the installation of new ink cartridges. Restart the device to put everything in place.

Although most hard drives are very silent, some do occasionally emit a muffled clicking sound when being accessed or shut off. This is normal.

On the other hand, your hard drive may be deteriorating if you start to periodically hear noises or if you hear noises that you have never heard before, such as clicking, grinding, vibrations, or screeching.

Run a diagnostic software

If you’re positive the sound is coming from the hard drive, you can use a free hardware diagnostic program that is already installed on many computers or that you can download from the internet.

Make sure the sound comes from the hard drive

Usually, the sound coming from our computers is the sound of the hard drive. We, therefore, infer that the sound is coming from the hard disc when it suddenly becomes louder.

You can simply unplug the hard drive’s power and data cords and restart the computer to verify this. If the sound is still present, the hard disc is not the problem.

Replace the hard drive

Failure of the diagnostic software simply denotes a problem with the drive’s hardware. In that situation, your only option is to replace it.

Don’t forget to back up your files before replacing them.

The emotion you experience while opening a single app takes around five minutes. This is another issue with computers that people frequently encounter.

The length of time you have used the computer is typically the root cause. This will occur on any computer that is more than two years old, regardless of its specifications.

Disable startup program

Your computer may be slowing down mostly as a result of autostarting programs that run when the system boots.

You may now manage your startup programs using Task Manager’s startup manager on Windows 8, 8.1, and 10.

To launch it, either right-click the taskbar and choose “Task Manager,” or press Ctrl+Shift+Escape. Disable startup programs you don’t require by clicking the Startup tab.

Windows will kindly let you know which programs slow down you are starting the most.

Find resource-hungry program

There will undoubtedly be one or two programs on your system that consume a significant amount of resources, such as RAM.

Open the Task Manager to find out. To open the task manager, either right-click your taskbar and choose “Task Manager,” or press Ctrl+Shift+Escape. When using Windows 8, 8.1, and 10.

To order the list by the programs utilizing the greatest resources, click the “CPU,” “Memory,” and “Disk” headers. If an application is consuming excessive amounts of resources, you may wish to force it to close by selecting it here and clicking “End Task.”

Scan for malware and adware

Your daily computer use may unintentionally expose you to viruses and adware.

Typically, when we explore or download something from the internet, we pick up one of these little harmful applications.

These programs are made to steal your information and to accomplish that, they must transfer information online, which can cause your system to lag.

Use your built-in antivirus program to scan for them so you can remove them.

Most of us probably have this as our number one issue. You can think of our human body as an analogy for this issue.

We frequently develop a fever when we are ill. It is an infection-fighting system of the body. Similarly to this, if there’s an issue with the computer, it typically won’t switch on until you solve it.

There are countless causes for a computer not to boot up. The problems can be anything from a virus infection to a power supply breakdown. Normally, your computer should be able to start if you follow the instructions below.

Make sure the monitor or display is functional

There are a few potential flaws if your PC appears to have power because the fans turn on or the power lights come on but nothing else happens.

• If your desktop computer is connected to an external monitor, the problem can be with the display. Verify the monitor’s power supply and that it is securely attached to your PC. Try unplugging it and then plugging it back in. If that still doesn’t work, see if you can attach an alternative monitor. This will enable you to either decide that the monitor is to blame or rule it out.
• If you use a laptop or if the external display has been ruled out, it’s possible that your computer is in sleep mode and is having problems waking up. Shut it down entirely and start it up again to verify that. To do that, press and hold the power button for 5 seconds before pressing it one more to turn on your computer.

Reinstall system

The last thing you would want to do is to reinstall Windows if none of the methods work. Because up to this point, you can be certain that the problem is with the software and not the hardware.

There is no way to access your file because you are unable to switch on your computer. There are ways to back up your hard disc files, though. If your system is infected or corrupted, a clean installation will help restore things to normal.

Check the power supply

• If it’s a laptop, a battery that is entirely discharged could cause a power outage. Therefore, the first step is to plug it in and give it a few hours to charge. If that doesn’t work, the charger can be defective, so try a different charger if you can. Check to see whether the charger’s power indicator lights up when you plug it in if it has one.
• Check that the plug socket isn’t the problem by plugging your desktop PC into a different socket if it won’t start. If it doesn’t work, your computer’s power supply may have failed.

Eliminate external hardware

The peripherals may be the problem if none of the aforementioned measures are successful. Electrical problems or malfunctions of external devices could both be to blame for this.

If it still doesn’t work after doing this, try restarting the computer again.

What is the most problem with computers?

Computer users frequently complain that their devices are “operating slowly.” There are numerous potential causes for this. However, it usually refers to how long it takes to start the computer, launch programs, or do anything else.

What causes computer problems?

Hard drives, heat sinks, and case fans all contain moving parts and can all endure wear and tear over time, leading to eventual failure. Bad interface board or IC – Any of the aforementioned causes can lead to the failure of a circuit board that controls hardware.

• How to Backup Computer to External Hard Drive Windows 10
• Tips for Computer and Network security (Cybersecurity Tips)

The top 10 common computer issues and associated fixes are now complete. These issues might arise and be very frustrating in daily life.

Some of them are simple enough for you to repair on your own, but in other instances, these straightforward issues might develop into more serious ones.

Always be updated with computer tips, mobile tips, How to fix, tech reviews, and tech news on  Rowdytech , or subscribe to the  YouTube channel .

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12 Very Common Troubleshooting Computer Problems and DIY Solutions.

Sometimes, our computers just show defaults and become problematic which could leave one confused. These defaults could happen with both the hardware and software. Not that they spoilt completely but got hanged or seized to work for a moment. There are some very common defaults from both the hardware and software that almost every computer user will experience in a gadget’s lifetime. These are kinds of stuff that don’t require replacements or dismantling of your computer. Before you rush down to a computer shop , you can analyze some of the computer problems and solve them immediately. These types of problems are troubleshooting computer problems. Computer troubleshooting is generally a process that makes you realize what the problem source is and the technical solutions to them.

However, you don’t have to think hard before you get to know what’s wrong or how to fix it on your own, that’s why you are. Here are the top 12 very common troubleshooting computer problems and solutions to them that you can solve on your own.

1. Computer Heating up

This is a very common desktop PC troubleshooting problem that is experienced by 70% of general users and up to 90% of hardcore users. It could be mid(which will only be limited to under your computer, or could be very hot(which could even be felt on every part of the computer casing)

The first DIY solution is by opening the PC or CPU case to make sure the fans are running. You can use a tiny brush to clean off the dust particles and make sure the fan is plugged properly.

Another easy way you can fix this is by tuning up heat sinks and applying a thermal paste. To prevent this from happening, always give your PC proper heat exhaustion means. This is done by avoiding the pc in an enclosed space when operating. Also, you should always have a cleaning routine (to stop dust accumulations) and place your pc at an elevated level and not directly on your table. This will allow external and internal air to circulate over your hardware.

2. Faulty USB Port

A troubleshooting computer problems where the USB not working or being unable to connect with an external device happens often. It could be two ways, it could either be your connection cord, or the USB port, so you first try the cord with another device to know where the problem is. If it works on another port, then the USB port might be selective to cords or faulty.

Open device manager in windows, right-click your mouse (or trackpad), then from the options, select “scan for hardware changes.” Then scroll down and expand the “universal serial bus controller” option and uninstall all the USB controllers under this option.

Clean your USB port, this could be done with a cotton bud to fit the tiny port space.

3. PC too slow

A slow PC could be a result of many things (which we’ve discussed fully in our slow PC solution post). The reason which is a more frequent and common troubleshooting cause is due to too many apps and programs running (filling up the RAM storage). Also, if you use an HDD storage type, and it’s getting close to being filled up, it could result in a slow response of your computer.

The simplest solution to this by going to your task manager settings and stop stopping running apps that are making too much use of your CPU. If you don’t use any of these apps, it’s best you uninstall them. For storage type HDD, delete as many as possible files you are not using, or any duplicate programs or files. You can also go to your computer file manager and delete the Temp folders (which can be found under the “windows” file option).

4. Blue Screen

Commonly known as the blue screen of death, for first-time experience, it could be scary. The blue screen of death (BDS) can be brought on by poorly designed device drivers or broken hardware, such as defective memory, a bad power supply, overheated parts, or operating hardware past its design specifications. Incompatible DLLs or flaws in the operating system kernel might potentially result in BSDs in the Windows 9x period.

If you recently installed new software or hardware, updated a driver, or installed a Windows update that caused this, kindly roll back the device driver or use the Windows restore mechanism to reverse them. If you didn’t engage in any updates before the bluescreen, you can update your Windows OS and hardware driver s. Additionally, you may run a virus or malware scan on your computer to find and delete them and free up space on your hard drive. You can also check the system and application logs in the event viewer for problems or warnings that could offer further hints as to the BSD’s root cause.

5. Computers Won’t Turn on

You could be in a situation where you happy switch off your PC then boom, it doesn’t turn on. Don’t panic, this could be due to the external devices you plugged in. Also, it could be due to not getting enough power from the power source or battery defaults. You can remove the battery and then plug in your computer to power, if it switches on, then the battery might be faulty but still put it back and check if it will switch on.

Unplug every external device plugged into your computer or PC, either modem, USB, or external cord then try and switch it on.

Plug in your computer onto a direct power source and not an extension and make sure there’s power flowing through. If you are using a standard charger, then you can try again after 15mins to switch it on.

In case none of these works, then you’ll need to do a bit of opening up. These include checking your motherboard, capacitors, and CPU chips. Don’t do this if you are not an expert, you can call a computer repair technician near you.  

6. Desktop keeps restarting

This is the kind of troubleshooting problem you encounter when your system gets too overheated or overworked. Also could happen due to a low power supply, or low charging rate by your charger. This situation will get it into a loop and keep it restarting till it balances off.

Go to your control panel, then click on “systems” then select “advanced system settings.” Under the startup and recovery option, click on settings and uncheck the “automatically restart” option. To prevent this, always clean your computer component and let air circulate over the system.

7. Frozen Computer troubleshooting

Frozen computer problems troubleshooting. Your computer may freeze as a result of factors such as CPU-intensive programs, a lack of hard disk space, CPU overheating, an outdated operating system, driver problems, or hardware problems.

The best way to get this solved is by updating your device driver. This can be done from your PC device manager settings. Also, check your power supply, and in fact, it’s best to use a well-regulated power supply when charging your PC, it solves most of these problems. If all these seem not to work, then your OS might need an update or re-installing.

8. Keyboard not working

Without spilling liquid on or breaking your computer, the keyboard might still seize to work such problems are usually caused by Sometimes materials like hair and dust that can make a keyboard inoperable. Clean your keyboard as thoroughly as you can; this could be sufficient to restore functionality.

Open device manager, go to the keyboard option, select “HD keyboard server” then update the driver. Then on the open, the run box, type in “CONTROL” which will get you to the control panel, and select “ease of access” click on “change how your keyboard works.”  When doing this, make sure you’ve turned the “filter key” options off.

9. Programs not responding

Numerous issues may be to blame when Windows software stops working, freezes, or otherwise becomes unresponsive. Windows programs may become unresponsive for a variety of reasons, such as a clash between the program and the computer’s hardware, a shortage of system resources, or software defects.

Open settings, updates and make sure and make sure all updates are installed. You can also solve this by going to the properties of your disk files and starting defragmentation. Increase virtual memory; Go to System and Security > System in the Control Panel. To access your System Properties, click Advanced System Settings. The Advanced tab is now active. Go to Performance and choose Settings. Activate the Advanced tab. Select Change from the Virtual memory menu.

10. Browsers not working

Sometimes, some of your browsers might just stop working, and it’s not your network connection’s fault. This mostly happens with Microsoft edge and few times, chrome browser. Might be due to the cache or browser version being outdated.

To solve these troubleshooting computer problems; Clear the cache data of your browsers or update your browser to a new version. This also applies if the browser is not responding well, is too slow, or closing itself.

11. Computer Shut down or Restart issues

The main cause of Windows not shutting down regularly is the Hybrid Shutdown feature, which was introduced in Windows 8 and later. On the majority of laptops and some desktops, it is turned on by default. Startup and shutdown issues might also be brought on by faulty CMOS and BIOS settings.

Use the command prompt and type in “shutdown/s/t/0” and enter, this will automatically shut down your system. To solve the issue, when restarting, run a computer recovery program. F8 must be pressed in order for the Windows logo to show. If the Windows logo displays, you should restart your computer and try again by waiting until the Windows logon prompt comes.

12. Internet not working

Also one of the most common troubleshooting computer problems where you’ve tried every possible on/off means to adjust internet connectivity.

To solve this

Open the registry center from settings or directly type “Regedit” in your search bar to navigate the center. In the registry center, click on the “HKEY local machine” then select system >> current control set >> services>>NlaSvc >>parameters >> internet. When you get to the internet tab, right-click on “enable active probing” select modify and edit the value data from 0 to 1 then save your edit. Now restart your computer, and once it’s back on, go to device manager and click on network adaptors, then right-click on “Intel® ethernet” then uninstall devices (uncheck the “delete the driver” option as we still need the driver). Once you uninstall, restart your pc and the driver will automatically refresh the drivers.

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CDK says all auto dealers should be back online by Thursday after outage

Following a cyberattack, car dealership software company CDK Global plans to restore services to all dealers by Thursday, the company said in a statement Monday.

CDK offers cloud-based software to more than 15,000 auto dealerships across North America that manages vehicle acquisitions, sales, financing, insuring, repairs and maintenance. Restoration has been underway for more than a week after a June 19 cyberattack and reported ransom demand forced the company to shut down its systems.

“We are continuing our phased approach to the restoration process and are rapidly bringing dealers live on the Dealer Management System (DMS). We anticipate all dealers connections will be live by late Wednesday, July 3 or early morning Thursday, July 4," CDK spokesperson Lisa Finney said to USA TODAY in an emailed statement, adding that the customer service channels have been restored for those experiencing issues.

New car inventory and prices: What shoppers need to know

BlackSuit cybercriminal team reportedly behind cyberattack

Multiple outlets reported  Recorded Future ransomware analyst Allan Liska identified BlackSuit as the hacking group behind the cyberattack on CDK. Recorded Future did not immediately respond to a Friday request for comment.

BlackSuit is a newer cybercriminal team that spun off an older, Russia-linked hacking group called RoyalLocker,  according to Reuters . Security firm Recorded Future says the group has breached at least 95 organizations across the globe. 

Cybercriminals targeting car dealerships

Cybercriminals are a growing threat to target car dealerships, with 17% of 175 surveyed dealers experiencing a cyberattack or incident within the past year, up from 15% the year prior, according to a 2023 CDK report. Of those dealers, 46% said the cyberattack had a negative financial or operational impact.

Dealerships have been an attractive target because of the vast amounts of sensitive customer data they hold. From credit applications to customer financial information, dealerships hold a treasure trove of information to hackers, according to a 2023 article from insurance company Zurich North America.

"In addition, dealership systems are often interconnected to external interfaces and portals, such as external service providers," according to the report, and many dealerships "lack basic cyber security protections."

Dealers reverted to pen and paper after CDK outage

Analysts say new car sales in June are likely to be down more than 5% compared to June 2023, partly due to the impact CDK's shut down had on dealership operations.

Thad Szott, whose family owns dealerships in Michigan,  told the Detroit Free Press  the shutdown had a dramatic effect on all five of his dealerships.

“Some of it is manual now. But it is much clunkier internally, more cumbersome internally, to process simple things like repair orders or work a car deal,” he previously told the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Craig Schreiber, one of the owners of the Northtown Automotive Companies in New York, told USA TODAY the company was able to go "old school" and use handwritten, manual forms in its departments after CDK's systems were shut down.

Contributing: Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press

Unexplained computer server issue closes Monroe County government offices until July 8

Monroe County government offices won’t reopen until Monday, when an unexplained issue with the county’s computer server will hopefully be resolved.

Until then, most county employees are enjoying a full week off. Thursday, July 4, already was a paid holiday.

County attorney Jeff Cockerill said on Tuesday that workers will be paid their regular salaries from county emergency funds and won’t have to use paid-time-off benefits. Jail personnel, sheriff’s department road deputies and youth shelter employees remain on the job.

The issues were identified Monday morning. Soon after, the county commissioners closed down government offices, including the courts, "due to unforeseen circumstances." No one would elaborate.

"At this time, we are not commenting any further until a full analysis of our network and servers is complete," commissioners administrator Angie Purdie wrote in a Tuesday update.

Cockerill said the specific problem is being identified and fixed. The county hired "outside professional help" to assist technical support personnel when the scope and seriousness of the issue became apparent.

Cockerill couldn’t provide many details about the situation with the server. “What I know is our computer network isn’t working correctly and our technical support staff is looking into it.”

The outage affects not only the court system and related offices such as probation, but also the health department, county clerk, election office, auditor, treasurer, assessor and other courthouse-based and off-site offices that serve the public. They are usually open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Cockerill said it’s unlikely recent storm-related power outages are to blame. He didn’t rule out the possibility of outside sources infiltrating the county’s secure computer network. “There is some concern there may be some bad actor in there, but we can’t identify anything now,” he said.

He said county workers cannot get much work done without use of their computers and data stored on the server. “The bulk of our staff cannot do very much without them.”

Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at [email protected] or 812-318-5967.

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Computer Science > Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition

Title: imaging interiors: an implicit solution to electromagnetic inverse scattering problems.

Abstract: Electromagnetic Inverse Scattering Problems (EISP) have gained wide applications in computational imaging. By solving EISP, the internal relative permittivity of the scatterer can be non-invasively determined based on the scattered electromagnetic fields. Despite previous efforts to address EISP, achieving better solutions to this problem has remained elusive, due to the challenges posed by inversion and discretization. This paper tackles those challenges in EISP via an implicit approach. By representing the scatterer's relative permittivity as a continuous implicit representation, our method is able to address the low-resolution problems arising from discretization. Further, optimizing this implicit representation within a forward framework allows us to conveniently circumvent the challenges posed by inverse estimation. Our approach outperforms existing methods on standard benchmark datasets. Project page: this https URL

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Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs .

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• Government and national security
• Network and web security
• Usable privacy and security
• Cryptography
• Operating system security
• Security in context: legal, behavioral, and ethical issues
• Privacy engineering

The online MICS program is 9 courses (27 units) and can be completed in 20 months. Students complete foundation courses, electives, and a capstone project. They also attend one in-person immersion in the San Francisco Bay Area. The curriculum includes the following courses:

• Beyond the Code: Cybersecurity in Context
• Network Security
• Software Security

Cryptography for Cyber and Network Security

Operating system security.

• Managing Cyber Risk
• Government, National Security, and the Fifth Domain
• Usable Privacy and Security

Privacy Engineering

Learn more about about upcoming webinars, deadlines, and more, why a master’s in cybersecurity from uc berkeley.

Cybersecurity permeates almost all aspects of the human experience. Individuals, organizations, and societies are protected from cyber threats constantly without even realizing they occur. This is thanks to professionals who understand the complex relationship between human behaviors and advanced technology in securing information.

UC Berkeley is where the brightest minds from across the globe come together to explore, ask questions, and improve the world. Our MICS program does more than create experts in information security: it shapes leaders who understand the implications of cybersecurity across all industries and want to drive the future of innovation in cybersecurity.

Developed by faculty from the School of Information and the College of Engineering, the interdisciplinary MICS curriculum focuses on the intersection of technical, social, political, economic, legal, national security, and ethical components of cybersecurity. Students graduate with versatile knowledge needed to lead cybersecurity in private, public, or philanthropic sectors and with connections to the nearby technology hub Silicon Valley.

What Can You Do with a Master’s in Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity’s growth is turning it into a massive market with an increased demand for skilled cybersecurity labor. Due to constant evolution and escalation of threats, cybersecurity has become one of the most important and exciting career fields of the 21st century.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of information security analysts to grow 35% from 2021 to 2031, equating to an average of 19,500 new positions each year.¹

The cybersecurity industry is met with the challenge of not only filling the growing demand and talent shortage but with finding highly skilled professionals who can be trusted to effectively protect information systems. This creates an opportunity for graduates of the MICS program to enter the in-demand market as competitive cybersecurity experts.

Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity

No organization that operates online can ignore cybersecurity. With cyber threats growing and constantly changing, businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations are making significant investments in cyber defense and hiring increasingly large numbers of cybersecurity professionals.

MICS graduates are poised to enter this market in leadership roles with the requisite multifunctional skill sets and a strong network provided by the program.

Cybersecurity Salaries

Salaries for cybersecurity professionals range from $85,000 to $151,547 per year.¹

Featured Courses

Students learn about the mathematical and practical foundations of cryptography and the many different cryptosystems.

Students compare approaches to security taken among several modern operating systems and learn techniques for establishing trust across a set of interoperating systems.

Students survey privacy mechanisms applicable to systems engineering, with a particular focus on the inference threat arising due to advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Admissions Requirements for the Master’s in Cybersecurity Online Degree

When evaluating applicants, we consider both qualitative and quantitative factors to determine if they can meet the demands of the rigorous MICS program. These include:

• Academic coursework and performance
• Professional experience
• Communication skills
• Statement of purpose
• Letters of recommendation

¹ Cybersecurity Career Pathway, CyberSeek , 2023