One constant with technology is that there are a lot of ways it can go wrong. Computers can be slowed or damaged down by a virus, software conflict, or crash due to incompatible hardware.
With homes and businesses relying so much on their technology, that means when a computer goes out it can make a big impact on your life. For those that work out of their home, a slow or crashed computer can put a dent in their income and for offices, it can mean lost sales and other downtime costs.
One of the best ways to avoid downtime is through a managed IT services plan that monitors devices and addresses any warning signs before they result in a critical outage. But if you’re on your own when it comes to computer issues, you may often try to fix it yourself before taking it in to a professional.
How do you know which problems are more serious than others? Some may be fixed with a simple reboot and cache clearing, while others can be a symptom of a malware infection.
We’ll go over several critical warning signs below that indicate the need to call in a pro to fix your computer.
Indicators that You Need to Take Your PC to an IT Pro
We use our computers so much of the day that we often know immediately if they start acting “funny.” It could be that it’s taking longer to boot than usual, or suddenly certain features aren’t working properly, like your email search.
Business detections of malware rose 79% in 2018.
For most users, they’re guessing at the cause of an issue and just trying things like a reboot or a software reinstall to fix it themselves. Here are some issues that could mean a much bigger problem that needs to be professionally diagnosed and dealt with.
1. Your Computer is Slowing Down Consistently
A slow computer is one of the most frustrating problems a user can have and it’s one that can be caused by any number of reasons. If you’ve gone through the typical disk cleanup functions and you’re still having problems, you should take your PC in to be looked at by a professional.
It’s possible that you could have downloaded malware that’s running in the background and recording keystrokes. You could also have a problem with memory that unbeknownst to you an inexpensive memory upgrade would fix. But you won’t know these things unless you have a pro diagnose the issue.
2. Strange or Loud Sounds
If your computer is starting to make loud “thinking” sounds when it’s processing or you hear noises that are unusual, this could be the indicator of an impending hard drive crash if you don’t get it looked at.
The noises could be related to a broken fan or another issue that if not addressed could mean damage to your motherboard.
3. Corrupted Files
If you’re beginning to see corrupted files on your computer or having trouble saving a file, getting a strange warning, then having to resave under a different name, this could point to a number of potentially serious issues, such as:
- Bad sectors
- Virus infected files
- Cross-linked files or lost clusters
This is another issue you want to have looked at before it becomes a bigger problem than just a file or two.
4. Strange Screen Patterns
If you see a flash of wavy lines or your screen goes blank and then comes back after a few seconds, this could be a major problem with your video card. There are times when hardware gets recalled and you have a certain amount of time to get it replaced for free, but if you’re not aware, you could miss your window and be stuck with a problem that keeps getting worse.
An IT pro will know what parts related to your computer are on recall and if you’ve got a video card or other hardware problem due to a faulty part, they can help you get it repaired.
5. Your System Reboots for No Reason
If you’re seeing intermittent reboots for seemingly no reason, this could indicate a more serious problem. Even if you can’t tell what the reason is, there is always one behind unexpected system reboots and it could point to a hard drive about to fail or a hardware incompatibility.
This is something you should have checked out as soon as possible, before your computer crashes and won’t reboot at all.
6. Your Computer Feels Hotter Than Usual
Whether you have a laptop, desktop, or all-in-one, if you notice it running hotter than normal, this is an indication of a vent or fan problem that could result in a system crash should components get too hot.
Heat is bad for computers and can damage critical parts. You’ll want to take your computer in for a diagnostic to find the reason for the excess heat before you end up with permanent damage.
Keep Your Devices in Working Order with Managed IT
Cris’s Tech Repair offers expert and affordable managed IT services for both small businesses and residential clients. We’ll help increase your device lifespan, be there for tech support when you need it, and take the frustration out of your technology.
Sign up for a managed IT plan today by calling 561-985-4961 or contacting us online.