Almost everyone uses a Windows PC. The Windows PC was designed to make computing and life in general easy, but sometimes they develop a list of problems that end up frustrating your efforts rather than easing them. While these problems might seem extremely baffling and often difficult to manage, they are actually simple to fix, you just need to know what tricks to employ. Jovago.com, Africa’s No. 1 online hotel booking portal has made a list of 5 troubleshooting tricks that solve many of the problems that plague Windows PC users. Although these tricks may not always work, they are worth knowing as they do not necessitate any technical expertise whatsoever, and can be used by anybody.
1. Reboot
This is the number 1 solution to a lot of Windows problems. Most people use their PCs for long periods of time without shutting it down or at least restarting it. This usually fosters a frustrating variety of glitches on windows such as your systems gets really slow, some applications stop working, everything starts to hang, which makes using your computer an ordeal. The good thing about Windows is that is has an astounding capacity for fixing itself. The trick is to reboot – simply turn the PC off and turn it on again. While these might seem like something everyone should know, especially since the trick works for other electronics as well, a lot of people who are not tech savvy do not know this. A upshot to this tip is that it pays to do a reboot periodically so Windows can clean up after itself. Your PC will run faster and you will save yourself a lot of hiccups.
2. Check the Task Manager
The Task Manager is a great Windows tool that helps you manage the way programs, processes and services run on your PC. You can use the Task Manager to monitor your computer’s performance or to close a program that’s not responding. The first thing every experienced user does when a computer is running slowly or having problems, is open up Task Manager to see what process is taking up the most CPU Usage as well as other resource or memory-wasting apps or and to stop it. This is a great way to resolve certain windows issues. Open Task Manager by right-clicking the taskbar, and then clicking Start Task Manager or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
3. Go on Safe Mode
Most people see the Safe mode option while their computer is starting up and they wonder what it is all about. The safe mode is a diagnostic setup for windows which serves as a troubleshooting option, limiting Windows operation to basic functions by starting with only core drivers and operating with a bare minimum of drivers and Windows components. When your PC is not booting, you will probably want to start off with Safe Mode. To access the Safe mode, press F8 , Shift+F8 or shift + restart (for window 8.1). After you get into Windows,you will discover that the problem was likely something that possibly loads only when you boot normally – graphics card drivers, junk applications, or perhaps some spyware applications.
4. Check the network cable
While the wireless technology has been invented and widely adapted, cables are still very vital to the operation of any Windows PC. In a situation where a network cable is not properly connected or has been dislodged, you will certainly have issues with your PC. Every savvy user of electronics learns to check connections, as a loose connection causes problems a lot more often than you might think. If your computer refuses to come on – it gets to the loading screen and doesn’t go any further maybe, try unplugging the network cable and after the window loads, you plug it back in.
5. Use System Restore
Sometimes installing a program or driver can make Windows run slowly or unpredictably. At times like that, it is necessary to do a system restore. System restore simply implies restoring your PC back to factory settings. While this might seem a bit extreme, it is an excellent choice for fixing all sorts of windows problems as it can return your PC’s system files and programs to a time when everything was working fine, potentially preventing hours of troubleshooting headaches. The good thing is that it does not affect your documents, pictures, or other data. It simply gets the system up and running again in minutes. To get to system restore, log on to Windows as an administrator; Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click to select the Undo my last restoration option, and then click Next.
What problems do you encounter the most? What steps do you take to solve those problems? Share your advice with your fellow readers in the comments. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @jovagotravel, Facebook @Jovago or Tweet us @JovagoTravel
