Knowing how to fix problems with your software can save you a lot of time and hassle, and can stop you from calling your IT Support team. It’s always good to know how to repair the most common software problems so that you can quickly fix them when they arise. Here are some very common software problems and how to fix them in Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Chrome OS.
Your Computer Won’t Boot
One of the most common problems people experience with their computers is that they won’t boot. It can be frustrating to start your computer and find it won’t even turn on. This isn’t just a problem for small businesses and home users; it can happen to any business or individual who uses a computer. The solution? First, check if there is something wrong with your power supply. If it’s not working correctly, you may need to replace it. You might also need to check out your motherboard or processor if you have an older computer. Once you have checked all of these things, you can finally start looking for the cause of your computer not starting. If you still can’t fix your computer, the next step is to troubleshoot it. Troubleshooting your computer can include:
- Checking to see if there are any viruses on your system.
- Determining if there are any electrical issues.
- Checking for hardware issues like a broken mouse or keyboard.
No Sound Coming Out of Both Audio Devices
Disable any sound effects or other “hacking” applications that may interfere with your audio output. Make sure the sound card is enabled in the sound mixer. If this doesn’t solve the problem, try updating your devices’ drivers via device manager.
Some Applications Won’t Run
It could be RAM issues or possibly some other driver problem. Open Task Manager, go to “Performance,” and check the applications’ amount of RAM being used to test your RAM. Make sure you don’t have any other programs running in the background that may be consuming resources or causing conflicts. If you’re getting slower performance from recent applications, try updating your graphics drivers for both your motherboard and video card (if applicable).
Programs Not Behaving Properly
Sometimes, you may have a program that crashes every time you run it. To fix this, go to “Start,” type “msconfig.exe” in the search box, and hit enter. On the startup tab, uncheck all programs and restart your computer. Once finished booting up again, check back on the startup tab to see if any programs are checking to start automatically. Right-click on each program and select “disable” or “delete.” You can now run the programs that were problematic before without them crashing as a result of windows trying to start them every time you turn on your computer.
Programs Can’t Start With Error Message
You may be getting a message that says, “programs cannot start. Contact your system administrator.” This is typically caused by having too many services running or some other type of conflict. Disable these services in the services menu and restart your computer.
Network Issues
One of the most common problems with software is network issues. When networks cannot communicate, the software can fail or be unstable. This can cause several problems, such as data loss, lost productivity, and even privilege escalation. To avoid these issues, it’s important to have a good network infrastructure in place. This includes connecting your computer to the internet and having a reliable router. You can also improve your networking by using a VPN service to encrypt your traffic and set up proper security measures.
Trojan Horse Attacks
A Trojan horse is a computer virus that tricks your computer into downloading and installing a program that can be harmful. The Trojan Horse intends to install the application secretly and then use it to take over the user’s computer. This can be a serious problem for businesses because it can allow unauthorized access to their systems and data. It can also lead to lost data, financial damage, and even physical damage to the system. To avoid this, you need to be aware of the dangers of installing software updates and software applications without first checking with your business’s IT department.
Can’t Download or Install Updates
Try updating to the most recent version of Windows, then try the update again. If this doesn’t fix the problem, restart your computer in safe mode before continuing.
Your Computer Is Slow
One of the first things you should do to identify if your computer is slow is running a system diagnostic test. In most cases, this will tell you about what your computer is experiencing and how to fix them. If you still can’t seem to fix your computer issues, it might be worth considering a purchase of a new computer. A new machine will usually be faster and more reliable than an old one, and it’ll come with a warranty. However, before making any purchase, make sure you are familiar with the specific problems your old machine was struggling with and how to fix them.
Visiting Websites With Flash Problems
Flash is becoming a major source of web crashes, so many software companies are saying that if you do not use flash on your website, it will not crash (even if all users don’t). You can fix this problem by disabling flash in your browser settings. Chrome users can go to google.com/chrome/settings/flash, then turn off flash by clicking the little “hamburger” icon with the three dots.
You Can’t Save Your Work
One of the most common problems with computer systems is that they don’t always save your work. This can lead to a lot of frustration and time wasted trying to figure out how to fix the problem. One solution is to back up your work before you try to fix the computer problem. Back up your files, books, pictures, and anything else important so that if something goes wrong and your computer doesn’t recognize your files anymore, you have a back-up of everything.
You Get Popups When You Try to Open Some Websites
One common software issue is that you get popups when you try to open some websites. Various things can cause this, but the most common culprit is a misconfiguration on your part. To fix this, make sure that you have the latest security patches installed and updated and that your computer is configured to allow you to access the internet without being hit with popups.
Knowing how to repair common software problems can save you time, money, and hassle. If your software is acting up, try the solutions above and see if they fix your issue.