Small-business computer support issues your employees face on a day-to-day basis hamper productivity and lower client service quality. Learning more about these will help you plan and implement strategies for company growth and success. The more you know about these IT problems, the easier it’ll be to resolve them.
Here are the seven common tech support issues and their corresponding possible solutions:
#1. Blue screen of death (BSOD)
When users are confronted with the infamous BSOD, they tend to panic and don’t bother reading what’s on their screen. BSOD usually happens when a piece of hardware or a driver malfunctions after a new installation or update.
The first step is to read out what’s written on your computer screen to your PC support team. This could be something like “DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR EQUAL,” “HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED,” or the like. Tell them what you were doing before the error occurred so they can give a proper diagnosis. In most cases, a simple computer reboot will do the trick.
#2. Can’t log in
If you are having trouble logging on to your computers, the problem may be as simple as a misspelled password, a wrong password, or accidentally hitting Caps Lock. Your password may have expired or your account may have been locked due to too many unsuccessful login attempts. In any case, your computer support team or administrator should be able to reinstate any user rights or reset your password.
#3. Accidentally deleted files
If you want to recover an accidentally deleted file, check the Recycle Bin first. If the file is still in there, simply right-click the file and choose Restore. If you’ve emptied the Recycle Bin or “shift-deleted” files, stop using that drive until the deleted files are retrieved. Continued use of the device will increase the likelihood that new data will erase and overwrite previously deleted files.
Your PC support team might try to recover an older version of the deleted file by using the free backup and restore feature built into Windows or a data recovery software.
#4. Slow computer
There are multiple reasons why your PC may be slower than usual. To resolve this, you must first verify the actual source of the problem. Files that take forever to download or videos that keep buffering may be due to a slow internet connection. Run a speed test to diagnose a slow connection.
If you have too many apps, windows, or tabs open at the same time, you’ll use too much memory. There might be a lot of apps that launch automatically upon startup, so use Microsoft’s System Configuration tool to disable programs you don’t need.
Also check if you still have plenty of free space on the hard drive that holds your operating system (OS). Windows needs room to create files while your system is running. If your hard drive is maxed out, then performance suffers, so make sure to clear some space.
Scheduled system scans or updates can also cause slow performance. Make sure your computer support team handles your scans and updates outside office hours.
Finally, a more serious culprit could be a malware infection. In that case, disconnect from all networks and let your IT support team deal with it.
#5. Slow internet connection
Run a speed test to see what your download and upload speeds are — ideally they should be at least 50% of your internet service provider’s (ISP) advertised speeds, with a ping under 100 milliseconds. If the speeds are fine, check to see if you’re inadvertently downloading or uploading anything. Many software updates and torrent downloading programs run in the background.
If you’re using a wireless connection, resetting your router might help solve connection problems. Also, try moving closer to the router to improve signal strength and check if your network card drivers are up to date.
Spyware and viruses can also slow down your internet service. These are usually contracted from visiting untrusted websites and can seriously damage your system. That’s why you should always have an effective antivirus software installed. This will warn you when a site is untrusted, or when viruses or spyware have made their way onto your computer.
If you’re still having problems, call your ISP to find out whether the problem is really on your end. As a last-ditch measure, your provider could reset the master connection to your office.
#6. Can’t open email attachments
If you have downloaded an email attachment but cannot open the file, it’s probably because you don’t have the necessary software to open the file. For example, .pdf files require PDF readers such as Adobe Acrobat. The attachment’s file extension (e.g., .jpg, .docx, .pdf) will help you determine what type of program you need. If the attachment lacks a file extension (which might happen if it was renamed), adding it back should set things right.
#7. Printer won’t print
There are multiple factors that can cause your printer to malfunction. Start with the obvious: Is the printer plugged in and switched on? Is there enough paper in the tray? Has the toner or ink run out? Check the print queue to see if there are any outstanding print jobs and the status of each job and your printer. Also make sure that the “Use Printer Offline” is unchecked. Sometimes, clicking Print while your printer is turned off can cause Windows to set your printer to work offline, and that can stall jobs sent later.
Rebooting the printer very often does the trick. Unplug the printer and plug it back in. Turn it off and on. If none of these work, there might be a connection problem. The printer is probably not connected to the network properly, so call your PC and printer support team for help.
Your IT support team might be overwhelmed
If these common PC and printer problems keep recurring in your office, your IT support team might be overworked. The problems might be too many or too complex. The good news is Frontline can enhance the capabilities of your in-house IT team by taking over infrastructure admin tasks. We are consistently ranked as one of the top Los Angeles computer support and services companies. Partner with us and let us proactively manage your systems and help you reach a whole new level of productivity.