Working remotely means you don’t have the benefit of asking the help of your company’s tech support team when PC-related issues creep up. So if you have GPU display problems, internet connection issues, software dilemmas, etc., it is easier to learn all about them and discover how to fix them yourself. 

Here are 13 of the most common problems remote workers face (and the tips that they can use to troubleshoot the issues):

PC won’t turn on

Check your power supply and look for loose cables. In many cases, the power cable of the monitor might just be loose and need tightening. Sometimes, the cables are too old that they need replacement. If you see the CPU working, you might be facing a monitor or peripheral issue. 

PC slowing down

The most common reason for this is power-hungry programs running in the background. Find them and close programs you’re not using to reduce the use of resources. You can also find startup tasks that aren’t helping with speeding up your computer. Lastly, scan for viruses (malware and other threats often make the computer run slow). 

Internet slowing down

Clear cookies and internet temporary files to improve the speed of your browser. If this won’t cut it, check the cables that are connected to your modem or router. IP issues could also be causing lag – reboot your router or modem to fix this. 

PC fan is not working

The motherboard is usually the culprit for a fan that stopped working. Check the wires to see if they’re loose or not installed properly. If you see no issue on the board wires, check the fan itself for dust buildup, stuck bearing, or damage to the fan.

The printer isn’t printing

When you need to print a document and the printer isn’t working, the first thing you should do is restart your printer. If that didn’t work, update the printer’s driver. Most printer manufacturers have a program (run this so it could troubleshoot automatically).

Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD)

For people who aren’t used to fixing their own computers, the Blue Screen of Death (or BSOD for short) is probably the most terrifying problem ever. But don’t fret because this is actually pretty common. Some solutions include:

  • Scan for virus 
  • Update hardware drivers
  • Run updates (make sure your PC has enough space for this)
  • Go back to BIOS default settings.
  • Do diagnostic tests. (Use a tool like BlueScreenView to determine which piece of hardware is failing and attack the issue more accurately.)

 

Keyboard, mouse & other peripherals not working

If the mouse, keyboard, webcam, and other peripherals are not working, always check the cables first if they’re connected properly. 

If that didn’t work, update their drivers and dig deeper into the “Device Manager” to see if the peripherals are connected or not (it should be connected). Your last shot is to try reinstalling the driver. 

Audio problems

If you’re lucky, having no sound may just be a case of pressing the mute button accidentally and leaving it like that. 

You might also need to update the audio driver or check the compatibility of either your jack or the device (especially if your speaker, headset, or other audio device is just new). 

The system automatically restarting

There are several reasons this might be happening. They include:

  • Virus – scan for malware or other viruses. 
  • Hardware issues – More specifically, faulty or failing CPU, RAM, or any external devices connected to your computer. 
  • Outdated drivers – Your system might be restarting because it isn’t able to communicate to your program’s drivers. Make sure they’re up-to-date to prevent this issue. 

Windows Update issues

If your using Windows as your operating system, a Windows Update issue could occur if there are problems with licensing, piracy, or core files missing. 

Unless you’re using a pirated Windows OS, Windows should be able to fix itself by just running the update.

Beeping or noisy PC

When you hear noises coming from your computer, this could be caused by a dust-filled fan, old cooling fans that might need replacement or some type of hardware failure.

Blank monitor

Check the cord and power supply first. If this isn’t the issue, your graphics card might be acting up. See if the driver needs an update or if you need to replace it completely. 

Running on low disk space

If disk space is low, you can’t install additional programs on your computer. It would also cause issues when you’re trying to update the existing programs you have because updates require space as well. 

When there’s low disk space, it could crash your system more often. Fortunately, the fix is easy: either free up more space or buy additional storage.

As you see, each problem can be caused by different things. Learning how to fix these 13 common issues can definitely arm you with some troubleshooting skills that you’ll need when you begin working remotely. 

 

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