PC Keeps Crashing? Is It Time To Call Computer Professionals?

Summary: In this brief article, we explore problems with computers that are beyond most users' knowledge and should be addressed by IT experts. To discuss all your IT concerns, contact GEEK-AID Computer and Network Support, https://www.geekaid.com/, to help you make informed decisions.

As computer technology has evolved, many previously arduous tasks have been streamlined and automated. There’s no question that computers have made our lives much more manageable. However, as automobile repairs have become more complicated for DIY mechanics, so have computer repairs. Sure, there are still many minor repairs and installations that the average PC user can handle. But for some of the more serious issues, it’s prudent to know when they are beyond your DIY knowledge and it’s time to call in a computer repair service.

The good news is that you can troubleshoot many computer problems without help. Computer hardware and software developers have built many user-friendly diagnostic tools that are more and more intuitive and robust. However, it is crucial that you know when a repair job is beyond your expertise. For example:

The Dreaded Computer Blue Screen

Practically everyone who has owned a computer has encountered a blue screen event. Often referred to as “The Blue Screen of Death,” a blue screen is a breakdown for which the repair is far beyond a novice’s skill level. When faced with a blue screen and a computer that won’t boot, consider it a sign of one or more severe problems that prevent the system from booting (or rebooting). In addition to the screen being blue, there is usually a STOP or ERROR code displayed. Whether or not you feel tech-savvy enough to work on the problem, writing down the code is a good idea. If you call in IT experts, the code will give them a head start on diagnosing the problem. Generally, a blue screen error is caused by driver or hardware issues. But there are many blue screen error codes, and many require complicated diagnostic tests to ascertain the source of the problems. As a rule of thumb, it is best to call in IT professionals if you receive a blue screen error message.

Black Screen

Another terrifying event is starting up your computer only to have the monitor screen remain black. This problem could be a simple connection problem between your PC and monitor. First, carefully check the cabling and plugs that connect the monitor to the computer. If everything looks OK, the problem could come from a bad graphics card. A black screen is another issue that is best addressed by a computer repair service.

Graphics Gone Wild

Everyone takes computer graphics for granted. Most users don’t have any idea how amazing it is for us to be able to see anything on a computer screen. But have you ever booted up your system and found that images and texts are jumbled or distorted? It’s like your computer woke up with a hangover. Generally, a graphical error is related to a bad video card driver, software conflict or corruption.

Sluggish Operating System

The most common causes of a slow or unresponsive operating system are malware and viruses. Best practices related to not clicking on or opening suspicious email attachments or embedded links can decrease the chances of falling victim to a cyberattack. Investing in up-to-date anti-virus software and running a complete scan is the first step that anyone can take to diagnose a system slowdown. The right anti-virus software can help prevent future attacks.

Hard Drive Crashes

Hard disk drives (HDDs) are local storage devices. They hold all of your programs and, more importantly, your private data. HDDs are mechanical and have moving parts that wear out over time. They also contain hard digital data storage disks that can become corrupted and lose data. Backing up your computer regularly to other external storage media or the cloud is important to ensure data can be restored. Even so, hard drive failure is frustrating and requires more expertise in hard drive crash recovery. IT experts should be employed to help with data backup and file recovery and repair or replace your hard drive.

DIY computer repair is an alluring idea for some users, and a knowledgeable power user can resolve many issues. However, there is significant value in using IT professionals with the knowledge and experience to assess the status of your computer’s health holistically. Technicians can fix problems and identify warning signs of possible problems to come.

By their nature, computers are connected devices, and what affects one component or function can affect others. Also, one must weigh the cost of DIY repairs vs. a professional computer repair service. DIY computer repair might take 2 hours to find a bad video card, then another hour to research new video cards and then another hour to install the card and close up your machine. Is it worth four or more hours of your time to find out the problem is unresolved? Probably not. So know when to put your ego aside and call in the pros.