Common Computer Issues: System Hanging or Freezing

Computers are integral to our daily lives, whether for work, entertainment, or communication. However, they are not immune to issues, and one of the most frustrating problems users encounter is a system hanging or freezing. These issues can disrupt productivity and cause significant inconvenience. Understanding why computers hang or freeze and how to address these problems is crucial for maintaining a smooth and efficient computing experience.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the various causes of system hanging or freezing, both software and hardware-related. We will provide practical solutions to fix these issues and offer tips on preventing them in the future. Additionally, we will discuss when it might be time to seek professional help. By the end of this article, you’ll have a thorough understanding of how to manage and prevent one of the most common computer issues: system hanging or freezing.

Understanding System Hanging or Freezing

What is System Hanging or Freezing?

System hanging or freezing occurs when a computer becomes unresponsive to user inputs. This can manifest in different ways, such as the screen becoming stuck on a single image, the cursor not moving, or programs failing to open or close. Understanding the distinction between hanging and freezing is important:

• Hanging: The computer or an application becomes temporarily unresponsive but may recover after some time.
• Freezing: The system is completely unresponsive and requires a restart to function again.

Common signs of system hanging or freezing include:

• The mouse pointer not moving.
• Keyboard inputs not being recognized.
• Applications not responding or crashing.
• The entire screen becoming static.

Why Does System Hanging or Freezing Occur?

System hanging or freezing can result from various causes, broadly categorized into software-related and hardware-related issues. Understanding these causes can help in diagnosing and resolving the problem effectively.

Software-Related Issues:

• Outdated software
• Virus or malware infections
• Running too many background programs
• Operating system problems

Hardware-Related Issues:

• Insufficient RAM
• Overheating
• Hard drive problems
• Power supply issues

Software-Related Causes of System Hanging or Freezing

Outdated Software

Keeping your software up to date is crucial for maintaining optimal computer performance. Outdated software can cause compatibility issues, security vulnerabilities, and system instability. When software is not updated regularly, it may not work well with the latest versions of other programs or the operating system, leading to system hanging or freezing.

Why Outdated Software Causes Problems:

• Compatibility Issues: Newer software versions often include bug fixes and improvements that ensure compatibility with other applications and system updates. Using outdated versions can lead to conflicts and crashes.
• Security Vulnerabilities: Outdated software is more susceptible to security threats, including viruses and malware, that can cause the system to freeze or hang.
• Performance Issues: Older software may not be optimized for current hardware and software environments, leading to slower performance and increased chances of freezing.

How to Update Software:

1. Enable Automatic Updates: Many operating systems and applications offer automatic update features. Enable these to ensure your software is always up to date.
2. Manual Updates: Regularly check for updates in the settings menu of your applications.
3. Use Update Management Tools: Tools like Patch My PC or Ninite can help manage and automate the update process for multiple applications.

Virus or Malware Infections

Viruses and malware are malicious software programs designed to harm or exploit your computer. They can significantly degrade system performance and lead to frequent hanging or freezing.

Common Signs of Infection:

• Unexpected Pop-Ups: Frequent pop-up ads or system alerts.
• Slow Performance: The computer runs slower than usual.
• Unusual Behavior: Applications behaving erratically or unknown programs running.

How to Detect and Remove Infections:

1. Install Antivirus Software: Use reputable antivirus software to scan and protect your system. Some popular options include Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender.
2. Run Regular Scans: Schedule regular scans to detect and remove threats.
3. Use Malware Removal Tools: Tools like Malwarebytes can effectively remove stubborn malware that traditional antivirus software might miss.

Too Many Background Programs

Running multiple programs simultaneously can overburden your computer’s resources, causing it to hang or freeze. Background programs, in particular, can consume significant memory and processing power without you being aware of it.

Identifying Resource-Hungry Programs:

• Task Manager (Windows): Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and look for programs consuming high CPU, memory, or disk usage.
• Activity Monitor (Mac): Use Activity Monitor (found in Applications > Utilities) to check resource usage.

Managing Background Programs:

1. Close Unnecessary Programs: Regularly close programs you are not using to free up resources.
2. Disable Startup Programs: Prevent non-essential programs from starting automatically when you boot your computer.
3. Use Lightweight Alternatives: Consider using less resource-intensive alternatives to heavy programs.

Operating System Issues

Operating system (OS) problems can also lead to system instability, causing your computer to hang or freeze. These issues can arise from corrupted system files, incomplete updates, or conflicts between the OS and installed applications.

Common OS-Related Problems:

• Corrupted System Files: Important system files may become corrupted due to improper shutdowns, malware, or hardware failures.
• Incomplete Updates: Incomplete or failed updates can cause system instability.
• Software Conflicts: Conflicts between the OS and installed applications can lead to crashes and freezing.

How to Troubleshoot OS Issues:

1. Run System Diagnostics: Use built-in tools like Windows System File Checker (sfc /scannow) or macOS Disk Utility to check for and repair corrupted files.
2. Keep OS Updated: Ensure your operating system is up to date with the latest patches and updates.
3. Perform a Clean Boot: Temporarily disable all startup programs and services to identify if any are causing conflicts.
4. Reinstall the OS: As a last resort, reinstalling the operating system can resolve persistent issues.

Hardware-Related Causes of System Hanging or Freezing

Insufficient RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) plays a crucial role in your computer’s performance. RAM temporarily stores data that your CPU needs to access quickly. When there is insufficient RAM, your system struggles to manage running programs, leading to system hanging or freezing.

Signs of Insufficient RAM:

• Slow Performance: Overall sluggishness, especially when multiple applications are open.
• Frequent Freezing: System freezes during high-intensity tasks.
• Error Messages: Messages indicating memory issues.

How to Check and Upgrade RAM:

1. Check RAM Usage:

• Windows: Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to check RAM usage under the Performance tab.
• Mac: Use Activity Monitor (found in Applications > Utilities) to check memory usage.

2. Upgrade RAM:

• Identify Your RAM Needs: Determine how much RAM you currently have and how much you need. Most modern computers perform well with at least 8GB of RAM, but 16GB or more is recommended for demanding tasks.
• Purchase Compatible RAM: Ensure you buy RAM that is compatible with your computer’s motherboard.
• Install the RAM: Follow your computer’s manual or online guides to install the new RAM modules.

Overheating

Overheating is a common cause of system instability and can lead to hanging or freezing. When your computer’s components get too hot, they can’t perform optimally, causing the system to slow down or stop responding.

Causes of Overheating:

• Dust Build-Up: Dust can clog fans and vents, restricting airflow.
• Faulty Fans: Broken or inefficient fans can’t cool the system properly.
• Poor Ventilation: Keeping your computer in an enclosed space without proper airflow.

Signs Your Computer is Overheating:

• Fan Noise: Loud or constantly running fans.
• High Temperatures: The computer feels hot to the touch.
• Unexpected Shutdowns: System shuts down automatically to prevent damage.

Solutions to Prevent Overheating:

1. Clean Your Computer:

– Use compressed air to remove dust from fans, vents, and internal components.

2. Improve Airflow:

– Ensure your computer is placed in a well-ventilated area.

– Use a cooling pad for laptops.

3. Replace or Add Fans:

– Upgrade to more efficient fans or add additional fans to improve cooling.

4. Apply Thermal Paste:

– Reapply thermal paste to your CPU to ensure efficient heat transfer.

Hard Drive Problems

The hard drive is where your computer stores all its data. Issues with the hard drive, such as fragmentation or impending failure, can lead to system instability and cause hanging or freezing.

Common Hard Drive Issues:

– Fragmentation: Files are stored in non-contiguous sectors, slowing down access times.

– Bad Sectors: Parts of the hard drive become unreadable.

– Impending Failure: Mechanical or electronic failures in the hard drive.

How to Diagnose and Fix Hard Drive Problems:

1. Check for Errors:

– Windows: Use the built-in Check Disk tool (chkdsk) to scan and fix errors.

– Mac: Use Disk Utility to check and repair disk issues.

2. Defragment the Drive:

– Windows: Use the Disk Defragmenter tool to reorganize fragmented files.

– Mac: MacOS automatically handles defragmentation, but you can use third-party tools if needed.

3. Backup and Replace:

– Regularly back up important data to an external drive or cloud storage.

– If the hard drive shows signs of failure, replace it with a new one. Consider upgrading to a Solid State Drive (SSD) for better performance.

Power Supply Issues

A stable power supply is essential for your computer’s performance. Fluctuations or inadequacies in power supply can lead to system instability, causing your computer to hang or freeze.

Signs of Power Supply Issues:

– Random Restarts: The system restarts without warning.

– Power Surges: Visible signs of power surges or flickering lights.

– Component Failures: Other hardware components fail frequently.

How to Address Power Supply Issues:

1. Check Connections:

– Ensure all power cables are securely connected.

2. Use a Surge Protector:

– Protect your computer from power surges with a reliable surge protector.

3. Upgrade the Power Supply Unit (PSU):

– If your current PSU is inadequate, consider upgrading to one with a higher wattage and better efficiency.

How SafeMode Computer Service Can Help

When dealing with persistent system hanging or freezing issues, sometimes it’s best to seek professional help. SafeMode Computer Service offers expert solutions to diagnose and resolve these frustrating problems, ensuring your computer runs smoothly and efficiently.

Professional Diagnostics

SafeMode Computer Service provides thorough diagnostic services to identify the root cause of system hanging or freezing. Our experienced technicians use advanced tools and techniques to pinpoint both software and hardware issues accurately. This comprehensive diagnostic process ensures that all potential problems are identified and addressed.

What We Offer:

• Full System Scan: A complete scan of your system to detect software conflicts, malware, and other issues.
• Hardware Testing: Rigorous testing of critical hardware components like RAM, hard drives, and power supply units.
• Detailed Reports: Clear, detailed reports on the findings and recommended solutions.

Expert Repairs and Upgrades

Once the issue is diagnosed, SafeMode Computer Service provides effective repair and upgrade services. Whether it’s replacing faulty hardware, cleaning up malware, or updating outdated software, we ensure your computer is back to optimal performance in no time.

Our Services Include:

• Hardware Replacement: Upgrading or replacing failing components such as RAM, hard drives, and power supplies.
• Software Solutions: Installing and configuring the latest software updates, antivirus programs, and performance optimization tools.
• System Optimization: Enhancing system performance by cleaning up unnecessary files, optimizing startup programs, and improving system settings.

Preventative Maintenance

To prevent future system hanging or freezing issues, SafeMode Computer Service offers preventative maintenance services. Regular maintenance can extend the lifespan of your computer and keep it running smoothly.

Preventative Maintenance Services:

• Regular Cleaning: Cleaning internal components to prevent dust build-up and overheating.
• Software Updates: Keeping all software, including the operating system, up to date.
• System Backups: Setting up and managing regular backups to protect your data.

Custom Solutions

Every computer and user is unique, which is why SafeMode Computer Service provides customized solutions tailored to your specific needs. We take into account your usage patterns, system configuration, and specific requirements to offer the most effective solutions.

Customized Services:

• Personalized Consultations: One-on-one consultations to understand your specific issues and requirements.
• Tailored Recommendations: Customized advice and recommendations based on your system and usage.
• Follow-Up Support: Ongoing support to ensure your computer remains in good condition.

Contact SafeMode Computer Service

If you’re struggling with system hanging or freezing, don’t hesitate to contact SafeMode Computer Service. Our expert team is ready to help you get back to a smooth computing experience.

Contact Information:

Phone: 1800 85 83 82 or 02 9516 2966

Email: info@safemode.com.au

Address: 28/89-97 Jones St, Ultimo NSW 2007 and 185 Enmore Rd Enmore NSW 2042

Conclusion

Summary of Key Points

In this guide, we explored the causes and solutions for system hanging or freezing. Key takeaways include:

• Software Issues: Outdated software, malware, too many background programs, and OS problems can cause instability.
• Hardware Issues: Insufficient RAM, overheating, hard drive problems, and power supply issues impact performance.
• Diagnosis and Fixes: Tools like Task Manager and Event Viewer help identify issues, while updates, upgrades, and better cooling can resolve them.
• Prevention: Regular maintenance and using reliable tools prevent future issues.
• Professional Help: SafeMode Computer Service offers expert diagnostics, repairs, and maintenance.

Encouragement to Stay Proactive

Stay proactive with regular system checks, updates, and cleanups to avoid system hanging or freezing. This ensures a seamless computing experience.

Final Tips:

• Regular Backups: Avoid data loss by backing up important files.
• Trusted Software: Use reputable sources to reduce malware risks.
• Monitor Performance: Address slowdowns promptly.

Call to Action

If you found this guide helpful, share it with others. Leave comments or questions below, and we’ll assist you further. For more help, contact SafeMode Computer Service for diagnostics, repairs, and maintenance.

Computer future-proofing explained: Why future-proofing is so popular

What is futureproofing?

Future-proofing is a design process used in many sectors such as medical, industrial design, and electronics industries. These design principles are used by anticipating the future to develop products or strategies that continue to be valuable in the future. This prevents the product from becoming obsolete in the distant future.

In terms of computer technology, future-proofing means that you won’t have to buy a new computer for a long time. This process makes sure you have the right tech and hardware on your computer that can last you a long time.

When you buy a laptop or desktop computer, you might want to look into its hardware specs, the model’s build and repairability. Realistically, a future-proofed computer doesn’t mean that the computer won’t break at all. It just means that its capabilities and performance will still hold up a few years into its lifespan. All computers will likely run into some sort of hardware issue during its lifetime, so you might want to consider something that is easy to maintain.

Why should I future-proof my computer?

Simply put, if you don’t want to have to buy a new computer for the next 3-5 years, you might want to look into future-proofing your tech. The truth is, all technology, including computers will become obsolete eventually.

Think of some of your old gadgets, for example. The Walkman was quite popular for a long time in the 80s and 90s, but then it was replaced by the more compact mp3 player. Then somewhere along the line, the iPod was introduced and changed the game. Then again, the popularity of Apple iPods went down as soon as music streaming platforms came in. This is why we can only go so far to adapt our tech to future trends. So to realistically future-proof a computer, we’re simply looking to choose something that can last around 3-5 years.

Here’s what a future-proofed computer can do for you: you can spend less on your computers. With a computer that can last pretty long, the most that you’ll need to spend on it will be on repairs. Depending on what you choose, you might not even need to spend that much if you run into hardware issues. The bottom line is, the money you spend on computer repairs won’t be as much as a new computer. You might also want to look into computer models that can be accessible for upgrades down the line. Things like hard drive upgrades or extra RAM storage could give you a bit of a boost when you need it. All in all, future-proofing your laptop or desktop computer could be something to think about when you want to get the most out of your tech.

Things to consider

Depending on what you need out of a computer, your criteria for future-proofing can change. Say if you only use your laptop for basic stuff like browsing the internet and word processing, it’s much more simple.

You’ll need to match what you do with the hardware specs of a computer to find something that can keep up. Looking over the different computer brands and models would also be useful. You might also want to find out how the computer is assembled and how accessible it is.

What you intend to use the computer for

Like we just mentioned, it’s easier to get a future-proofed computer if you only need an everyday laptop for basic tasks. Pick something with a solid-state drive (SSD), with at least 4-8 GB of RAM, and you should be set.

For processors, you might want to set yourself with an i3 or i5 Intel processor. You probably won’t need something as powerful as i7 for a personal laptop. Integrated Intel graphics cards should do you just fine, you’ll be able to do some basic photo editing and watch movies smoothly.

For professionals

If you’re looking for something like a workhouse model for professional photo or graphics editing, there’s a little more to consider. An SSD is a good place to start, along with at least 16GB of RAM. Then you might want to go with an Intel i5 or i7 processor and a 2-4 GB dedicated video card.

Take a look at the software that you normally use for work. Software like Adobe Photoshop often have a list of hardware requirements, so you can match what you need when searching for a new computer. These hardware requirements shouldn’t change that often, and these software are usually optimised for hardware. So a laptop or desktop computer that matches these requirements should be able to keep up with the software updates.

What about gaming computers?

Let’s face it, realistically there’s no way to future-proof a gaming computer for it to be able to last 5 years. Gaming specs change a lot at rapid speeds, with new models of graphics cards coming out every few months. It’s easier to future-proof a gaming desktop computer, with it’s tower form factor and all, but you might come across some troubles if you want to keep it top of the line. You’d be switching out upgrades frequently or even be met with incompatible newer parts that you can’t use.

The brand and model of the computer

It’s important to look at the different specs of the model, but also the brand and how it’s assembled. This informs you on the repairability and accessibility for upgrades. Here are a few notable examples of models that you should be aware of.

Apple iMac and tower desktop computers

Considering how powerful Apple iMac computers are, they make for a pretty good future-proofed piece of technology. You can probably tell that from the price tags of most Apple computers. Even the most basic entry-level iMac computers can achieve great performance for graphics editing work.

They have quite a standard level of repairability. You can easily upgrade the hard drive or add more RAM to it. Unfortunately you can’t upgrade the graphics card, but they are already quite powerful, so you won’t have to worry about it.

Business issue laptops

Business issue laptops are made quite powerful as well. Models like HP’s Probook and Elitebook, or Dell’s Latitude or XPS can deliver great performance for most tasks. These are top-of-the-line models that have a great expected lifespan.

Finding out the repairability of a laptop computer

It can be quite a disappointment when you want to add more RAM to your laptop computer, to find out that the RAM is soldered on the motherboard and you can’t do anything beyond that. That’s why the repairability of a laptop is an important thing to factor into your future-proofing process.

When you have a few options to think over, try looking through the specs of the model or look up teardown videos on YouTube. Just search the model of the laptop and “teardown”. There you’ll be able to take a look inside to see how it’s assembled. This determines how accessible it is to repair or upgrade.

Professional future-proofing advice

If you look online, there’s a whole lot of talk on future-proofing computers. There’s tons of tech forums where computer enthusiasts discuss future tech trends, PC building, and so much more. Feeling the information overload? We can help.

At Safemode Computer Service, we can consult you on finding the right computer for what you need. Just tell us what you use the computer for, and we can offer a few recommendations that best suits you. We can advise you on computers that actually works for you. Unlike retail salespeople who try to sell you on something by mumbling techspeak, we actually know what’s for you.

As a trusted computer repair service in Inner West Sydney, we can also help with repairs and upgrades that you might need for your laptop or desktop computer. Give us a call or come by our Enmore store today!

Laptop cleaning guide: How to safely clean your laptop

Cleaning your laptop and devices is something a lot of computer users forget to do all the time. We’re sometimes not aware of the dust or lint that can clump up inside our computers. This can create problems down the line and should be dealt with quickly. Here’s our guide to safely cleaning your laptop inside and out.

Things that need to be cleaned off

Dust

Dust can get on and inside the laptop and cause some pretty big problems, if you’re not careful enough. A little dust inside is fine, but you should probably prevent it from accumulating.

When dust bunnies clump up inside the laptop, it can trap heat that is harmful to the system. While you use your laptop, the processor and video card can generate a significant amount of heat that needs to be dispersed quickly and efficiently. That’s where the fan comes in. The heat sink transfers the heat generated by the processors to the laptop fans, which passes out from the vents.

If dust is trapped inside the laptop and blocks the vents, this will make it harder for the fans to get rid of the heat. This may elevate the risk of overheating, something you definitely want to avoid. That’s because an overheating laptop can cause fan and motherboard failures.

Food crumbs

We all do it at some point. Eating over our laptop keyboards has become a bit of a habit today. We’ve become so reliant on our devices that daily activities revolve around them. But, the food crumbs that land onto your keyboard can find its way inside the laptop and cause trouble for the keyboard.

Unless you have a keyboard protector, food crumbs can get inside the laptop through the tiny gaps between the keys and the inside of the laptop. Crumbs that are particularly hard can jam up the keys and further damage the keyboard.

Meanwhile, sugary foods can make the connective parts of the keyboard sticky, which makes typing very inconvenient. Not to mention that it can attract bugs as well. We’ve certainly opened quite a few computers up to find creepy crawlies inside. Not something you’d want to deal with.

Skin oils

You’ll find these especially on the surfaces of your laptop, especially visible on glass-paneled screens. Fingerprints and skin oils transferred from your hands can stay on your laptop for quite a while, and are quite noticeable.

It’s not that this is something that can directly harm your computer, but this might be something you still want to clean off. You can really tell a lot about a person depending on how their laptops look.

Germs

Because of how much we use our devices, our smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers are high contact surfaces. This means that they are magnets for germs. Germs and possibly viruses can live in these surfaces for many hours, so you might want to give them a clean for good measure.

What you need

Cleaning your laptop isn’t like cleaning any other appliance, you’ll need a few specific tools and some careful hands to do so. Here’s what you need to clean your laptop thoroughly:

Compressed air can — For blowing out debris. Usually comes with a small nozzle that can reach dust stuck between small gaps.

Lint-free cloth — Microfibre cloth that doesn’t leave behind lint or cloth fibres. Most commonly used for wiping glasses and electronics, or car detailing.

Rubbing alcohol — Also known as isopropyl alcohol, a cleaning solution that can clear greasy surfaces and moisture. Can be used as disinfectant as well.

Precision screwdrivers — To open up your laptop’s back cover. Make sure you’ve got the right screwdrivers, as some laptop models make use of branded proprietary screws.

Small brush (optional ) — If you already can manage to blow out dust with the canned air, this won’t be necessary. Still a useful tool for cleaning if needed.

Thermal paste (optional) — This allows efficient transfer of heat through the heat sink and processors. You’ll need to partially disassemble these parts to reapply thermal paste.

Alternatively, you could also look online for ‘laptop cleaning kits’ that often contain a few of the items mentioned above. These could come in handy if you don’t have any of these things lying around at home.

How to clean your laptop

With the tools needed, you can finally start cleaning your laptop. Make sure you’re in a clean environment before you do so too. Clear out your desk and prepare a small bowl or tin to store the screws so you don’t lose them while you’re cleaning out the laptop.

Remember to turn off your laptop and disconnect its charger as well. This protects you from any static electricity accidents.

Cleaning the exterior surfaces of your laptop

Once you’ve done all your preparations, use the compressed air to blow on the surface of the keyboard. Try to blow out all the bits inside out of the keyboard.

After this, dampen the cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe down the surfaces of the laptop. The keyboard, screen, top cover, all of it. If you use any computer peripherals like a wireless mouse or keyboard, do that too. This should dry off quickly and we can move on to the inside of the laptop.

Cleaning the interior of your laptop

Now this is where we have to be extra careful. Unscrew the back cover of your laptop and store the screws in the container that you’ve prepared. Then use the compressed air and give the laptop a good blow out.

The two main areas to take care of are the air vents and the fan. The vents should be at the sides or back of the laptop. Make sure you clear out any dust bunnies that block the vents and the fan. This is where heat is dispersed so it’ll need clear access.

If you’ve got the tools already, you could also partially disassemble the parts that connect the heat sink and processors to reapply thermal paste. Wipe off the leftover paste with rubbing alcohol, then squeeze a good amount of thermal paste, just enough to cover the connective parts.

When you’re done, simply screw everything back together. Don’t forget to clean your surroundings as well. If the laptop turns on normally, you’ve done your job well.

Software “cleaning” and restoring your computer

Often users may refer “cleaning” to software cleaning and restoration of their computer to factory settings, with or without keeping personal data.

This is often beneficial if you suspect that your computer has viruses or spyware. Or, sometimes you’ve just built up too many unused software and apps over the years and want to get rid of them.

In this case, a hard drive cleanup and software restoration will be your best option. This will also give your computer a small boost in performance and bring it to a “clean” state.

How often should I clean my laptop?

Laptop cleaning should be done from time to time as regular maintenance for the device. But how often should we be doing it?

For the surfaces of the laptop, it doesn’t matter that much. You can wipe it down every once in a while, and even more often as you’d like. But for the inside of the laptop, you’ll only need to clean it every 6 or 12 months. We don’t recommend opening up the laptop too much, unless you absolutely need it for repairs. Opening up the laptop exposes the laptop to the open air, and the higher the frequency that you open it up, the more accidents may happen to it.

Professional laptop cleaning and repairs at Safemode Computer Service

Prefer some much more experienced hands to deal with your dusty laptop? Or need an electric blower to clean out your desktop computer? We’re here to help. At Safemode Computer Service, we can help you clean out your laptop and reapply thermal paste on it as well. We can also help you if you need a new laptop fan, or solve your overheating problems.

Located in Inner West Sydney, our expert technicians are always happy to lend a hand and give advice on your computer problems. Come on down to our Enmore store or give us a call today!

Do I actually need antivirus software for my computer?

Computer viruses are somewhat of an enigma. We know that they can deal a significant amount of damage, but we might also have a strange fear that we have one.

How should I protect myself from computer viruses? Can anyone just get a virus from out of nowhere? Will antivirus software help me? These are just a few questions that computer users have about viruses. Let’s look at what antivirus software can do for the security of your laptop or desktop computer.

What do computer viruses do and where do they come from?

Before we get into protecting ourselves from computer viruses with antivirus software, we should probably know the basics. Let’s talk about what kind of damage they can do, and how they get in.

Computer viruses are programs written by hackers that can run on any computer that they manage to infect. Hackers design the whole code and how the virus attacks, depending on what they want to achieve. Most of the time it involves stealing personal information, or demanding a ransom for data that a hacker has control over. Other less malicious virus attacks may just involve sending a harmless message to the computer user (for bragging rights, maybe?). Either way, computer viruses can take control over your computer, look around inside, and even do quite a bit of damage.

So how does one get a computer virus? From the place where you can get almost everything, the internet. Computer viruses used to come from a separate device, like a USB drive or CD-ROM, where it would only infect the computer when you plug it in and run it. Now you can get a virus from clicking the wrong link on a site, or opening an unknown attachment from a dodgy email. Hackers often impersonate trusted organisations like banks and send emails to bait their potential victims. Once you click on these links or attachments, the virus’ code runs immediately. The effect is irreversible once it begins. That is why you should always practise safe browsing habits.

How to protect yourself from computer virus attacks

Safely surf the web

Being wary of anything sketchy is a great general rule while you’re on the web. Actually, in life too. The internet is full of traps and scams that can get you if you’re not careful enough. So if you see anything that’s trying to bait you into clicking it, look closely before you do, or maybe just avoid it. This could be ads like “You’ve won a prize!”, or suspicious and unfamiliar emails that claim to be from your bank.

Use antivirus software

Installing and running antivirus software can be very helpful to monitor and scan your computer for potential threats. You can choose from free ones, or even paid ones like Norton or Kaspersky. These apps regularly run scans to detect threats that you may not be aware of. Because of this, most computer users consider antivirus software a must-have.

Does antivirus software actually work?

Well, yes but not all the time. Antivirus software doesn’t always provide 100% protection, you could still get a computer virus with it. Computer viruses are smart, they can find security cracks and leave them open for more infections to come in. They also come in packs as well.

Antivirus software can’t always check for everything, the adaptive and evolving nature of computer viruses also make things harder to catch. So there’s no guarantee that you definitely won’t get a computer virus if you’ve got antivirus software installed.

Should I still use it?

Of course you should! Having antivirus software is obviously better than none. The regular scans and performance checks can be a useful helper to you. The threat databases on these antivirus apps are always updating, which could take the worry off your mind. Antivirus software also comes with other features such as internet security and password tools, so that could also keep you safe from online dangers.

If you’re still on the fence on the effectiveness of antivirus apps, you could stick to Windows Defender, so just install a free antivirus app. These apps are free, and usually offer upgrade options for more features and better security.

What should I do if a virus gets in my computer?

In some situations, the antivirus app might not be able to catch a threat or stop it from attacking. If you notice certain signs of a computer virus infection, then you’re going to take things into your own hands and get rid of the virus yourself.

A quick and dirty way to remove a computer virus involves completely wiping your computer’s hard drive. A virus works like a software program that is installed on the OS, so wiping out the hard drive can get rid of everything altogether. It’s quite difficult to attempt virus removal on just the virus itself though, you’d need a computer technician for that. So your best bet is to wipe the hard drive, and then reinstall its OS. Don’t forget to back up your data!

To test the battery itself, you can use pre-boot diagnostics. This is a quick diagnostic test that checks hardware across your laptop.

It can test the battery, along parts like the hard drive and fans.

You’ll need to restart your laptop, then press a specific key to trigger pre-boot diagnostics.

Each brand of computer comes with their specific key for this test. For example, it’s “F12” for Dell computers, “Esc” for HP computers, and “D” for Apple Macs.

There is no specific test for the motherboard, but if pre-boot diagnostics comes back to you with failure reports on the RAM and GPU, you may be able to confirm a motherboard failure. This is because the RAM and GPU are embedded on the motherboard of most modern laptops.

On Apple MacBook laptops, if Apple Diagnostics reports a SMC failure, you can also confirm a logic board failure. The motherboard is where power runs through to reach the battery, so the battery will be unable to charge without this channel.

For the charger and charger port, you can use a spare charger to test them first. If that doesn’t work, you can check the charger port with a multimeter. This tests the charger port for failures, as they may become bent or loose. That way it is unable to carry the charge from the charger.

2. My laptop won’t turn on. Is the battery dead?

Not necessarily.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually need a working battery to turn on your laptop.

A laptop that won’t turn on might make most laptop users think they need a battery replacement, but that isn’t so. It’s a common scapegoat for dead laptop issues.

Even if you do have a dead battery, you should still be able to turn the laptop on, as long as it is plugged in to the power adaptor (charger pack).

The battery is only the part that stores power to use while the laptop isn’t plugged in. It’s not the part that powers up your laptop.

That’s the motherboard’s job.

The power current goes from the charging port to the motherboard, where power goes through the circuit board to all the other parts of the laptop.

So when your laptop won’t turn on, it’s not because of a dead battery.

It isn’t simply the motherboard’s fault either, it could be some other hardware issue.

A dead laptop can mean a few hardware failures coming from either the motherboard, RAM, or video card. These components are crucial for the laptop’s start up process, and when one falls, the laptop might not be able to turn on.

3. Do I need to unplug my laptop once it reaches full charge?

No, you don’t need to unplug your laptop once it reaches full charge. Leaving the charger cable plugged in your laptop won’t “overcharge” or harm the laptop’s battery life.

I can tell this from my own experience of having seen thousands of computers that need repairs.

I myself have always preferred plugging the charger in whenever I can. While my wife has always used her laptop on battery. Both of our laptops have lasted for well over 8 years!

So, you don’t have to worry about leaving your laptop to charge overnight. You can just leave the charger in while you use it, while you’re not using it, anytime really.

The lithium-ion batteries on modern laptops are made with a mechanism that is designed to stop charging the battery once it reaches full charge.

This avoids the accidents that may happen if the battery keeps charging and starts to heat up. If you click on the battery icon on your laptop, you should see it indicating “plugged in, charging” or “plugged in, fully charged”.

If you’re concerned about battery life deteriorating, that shouldn’t be a big problem with lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are also made to be able to be recharged over and over again, without losing their power capacity.

You could charge your laptop hundreds of times and that wouldn’t change its average battery life and performance. Of course, after about 600 charging cycles or more, the battery could lose its performance and start to fail. Then you’ll need to replace it.

4. What does “service battery” on my MacBook mean?

Apple MacBook laptops have different battery status indicators that tell users about their batteries and when it needs to be serviced. This includes “service battery”, “replace soon”, or “replace now”. Newer Macs may just show “service recommended”.

“Service battery” means that the battery may be holding less charge or isn’t working as well as when it was new. The battery is still working and can be charged up and used, but will need a little attention soon. You might want to take it to the Apple Store for some TLC.

As we’ve mentioned above, a high charging cycle count means that the battery may be on its way out soon. You can check your cycle count on your Mac, from “System Information”. Go to Hardware > Power, then you’ll be able to see “Battery information”.

There you can find information like your laptop’s full charge capacity and cycle count. You can only look up the maximum cycle count for your Mac model from Apple Support.

Although a high charging cycle count should be something to be aware of, it’s not the only cause of laptop battery failure. Even a battery with a low cycle count can fail. Along with the performance of the battery, the way the battery’s been used, and the overall performance of the laptop can cause battery failure.

5. Should I use a surge protector?

Yes, you should!

A surge protector can protect your laptop from getting fried by a current gone awry. When a power surge happens, the current is redirected to other sockets and can pass into your laptop through the charger.

This can do all sorts of damage, including burning the motherboard or frying the battery.

However, don’t assume that a power board with surge protector will prevent power spike from damaging your computers completely. It helps, but it’s not 100% protection.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is a much better power surge protector for your computers.

If your computer is critically important for your business, you should consider getting a UPS. Many businesses have UPS for their main computers, printers.

Need laptop battery replacement?

Hopefully, we’ve answered what you want to know about your laptop’s power and battery options.

If you need more advice and help with your laptop, we’re here to help! At Safemode Computer Service, located in the heart of Inner West Sydney, our experienced technicians can assist you with any computer issue you have. We fix all computers, whether you have a desktop or laptop, PC or Mac. Call us today, or come on down to our Enmore store!

How to prevent laptop overheating: 3 steps to protect your laptop

When you feel the bottom of your laptop getting quite warm for long periods of time, it might be a sign that your laptop is overheating. Laptops do warm up from the heat generated by the processors, but that heat is usually dispersed quickly by its internal cooling system. This system is made up of the heat sink and fans.

When the cooling system starts to get overwhelmed and can’t work properly, it could create a range of problems for your laptop’s hardware. In this guide, we’ll show you how to keep your laptop from overheating and cause damage to its hardware.

Why should I prevent my laptop from overheating?

Laptop overheating is definitely something to avoid, as it can leave you with a lot of troubles. Your laptop is made up of many delicate parts that are designed to work smoothly under normal circumstances. These normal circumstances usually mean a cool and controlled environment where everything can work together properly and efficiently. That way you can get the best out of your laptop.

So when your laptop does overheat, you’ll feel that it’s running a little too warm at first, and notice that the fan is running more frequently and louder than usual. The heat produced by the processors puts more stress on the fans when it can’t be dispersed quickly. It will have to “work overtime” just to keep the temperature cool.

This can happen to anyone, but there are still a few things you can try to . The main thing is not to let your laptop overheat continuously, to the point where it may affect performance or even damage your hardware.

How overheating happens

Like we’ve mentioned, laptop overheating can happen to many computer users, especially those with older laptops. After using your laptop for maybe a few years, it can start acting up and cause a range of problems. Overheating is a very common one. A combination of three things can lead to this. They include poor ventilation, dust accumulation, and processor overexertion.

Poor ventilation

To let the heat out efficiently, there has to be some place to disperse that out of the device. The vents of your laptop is where that happens. Heat produced by the processors is passed through the heat sink, and then is driven out by the fans through the vents. These vents are usually found on the sides of your laptop, or on the bottom, or where the screen hinges are. It is very important to keep these vents clear of any obstructions, so you can get rid of excess heat easily.

When these vents are blocked, this traps the heat. No matter how hard the fans work, the heat remains in the device. Most of the time this comes from using the laptop on fabric surfaces like blankets, sofas, or beds. Fabric surfaces are definitely not the right place to use your laptop on.

Dusty laptop

Along with fabrics, dust is also a huge heat trapper. Dust can certainly get inside laptops and shouldn’t be an issue if you’ve only got a little bit of it. Your laptop’s fan won’t fall that easily to just a small amount of dust.

But when it accumulates into clumps of dust that are big enough to trap internal heat and block vents, then you’ve got a problem. A large amount of dust can lead to more poor ventilation issues and potentially block your fan from running smoothly.

Overexertion

Like most things, you should know your limits. That goes for laptop processing power as well. Modern laptops can handle a lot these days, but over time, performance could slow down. This can cause the processor chips like the CPU and GPU to generate a lot of heat that the fans need to get rid of.

Other than the processors, fans can also lose performance over time. This makes it harder for the laptop to maintain an optimal internal temperature. Fans are moving parts, and having to overwork them can shorten their lifespans.

What could go wrong when your laptop overheats

So we know overheating is bad for your laptop, but what exactly could happen to the laptop? When your laptop overheats for a prolonged period of time, it could seriously damage its hardware. There are three parts that commonly fall due to overheating. They include: the fan, motherboard, and the processors (CPU and GPU).

As a moving part, an overworked fan can break down from the stress. When the internal temperature can’t be controlled, the fan will have to work harder and faster. This puts a lot of stress on the machinery and can kill it slowly. If you notice an abnormal rattling or clunking noise from the fan, it might be time to replace it.

Another thing that could go wrong when your laptop overheats is motherboard burn damage. The motherboard is a circuit board that acts as the main communication channel between all parts of the laptop. It is made up of delicate and complicated circuitry and connecting points that are prone to heat damage. It can undoubtedly take damage from high temperatures. Sometimes with motherboard failures, we can see small burn marks on the board. This comes from the abnormally high temperatures inside the laptop. On laptops, the CPU and GPU are usually embedded on the motherboard, so these chips can also create and take damage from the heat.

How to protect your laptop from overheating

When trying to maintain the right temperature for your laptop, the main thing to pay attention to is how efficiently the cooling system is working. To do so, you can try doing some things that can help it work easier. This includes cleaning any accumulated dust, applying thermal paste, providing proper ventilation and breathing space for the processors.

1. Do some dustbusting

Cleaning your laptop isn’t a complicated job to do, and you only need to do it once or twice a year. Dust doesn’t accumulate that quickly, so you don’t need to clean the laptop that often. We also don’t recommend opening up the laptop too many times over the year. This sometimes can create other problems just from some tiny mistake.

To clean your laptop, you’ll need a soft brush, compressed air, some kind of alcohol-based cleaning solution, and a lint-free cloth. Using a lint-free cloth over a regular cloth can help you avoid the fabric from building up an electrical charge. Because of this, you should also always turn off your laptop and disconnect it from its power cable.

Compressed air usually comes in canisters with a small nozzle that can reach the tiny gaps that you can’t reach with a cloth. Bust the dust with the bursts of air, and then wipe that all down with the cleaning solution, you’re all done!

2. Reapply thermal paste

Now that you’ve got your laptop opened up anyway, this could be a great opportunity to reapply the thermal paste on the gaps between the processors and the heat sink. Anytime you open up your laptop for repair or cleaning purposes is a good time to reapply thermal paste.

You can get thermal paste from most hardware stores, and is a pretty straightforward DIY project. Simply partially disassemble the heat sink from its contact points, and wipe off the old thermal paste with some rubbing alcohol. Then apply new thermal paste in five small points on the processor chips: the four corners, and in the middle. This is so the paste will cover the whole chip and efficiently pass the heat to the heat sink.

3. Use on clear surfaces

Providing proper ventilation is also a key step in preventing laptop overheating. It helps your laptop “breathe in and out” without ease. Blocking the vents by using the laptop on fabric surfaces is a big “no-no”.

Use the laptop on clean and solid surfaces like desks and stands. Cooling stands with fans on them can be an excellent investment as well. If you do a lot of graphic-heavy work or play video games, you could also say cooling stands are a must-have.

The final word

Laptop overheating is a very common issue for a lot of computer users, on both Windows or Apple Macbook laptops. With a little care and time put into protecting your laptop from burning up, you can avoid a lot of even more complicated computer issues that can leave you with a huge repair bill.

Need an experienced computer technician to do this for you? Check out our computer services.

Laptop not charging: It’s not always what you think

If your laptop is not charging, it’s not always a problem with the battery.

Laptop batteries are also a common scapegoat for many other laptop hardware issues.

We’ll walk you through why your laptop is not charging and how to fix it.

About Safemode Computer Service

Safemode Computer Service is located in Enmore, Sydney NSW 2042, we provide same day PC computer repairs in Sydney.

We are rated in Best 3 PC Computer Repair Centre in Sydney, from 2016 to 2022!

Since 2004, our technicians have repaired a number of problems on computer PC, notebook and laptop computers, Apple Mac computers; including all makes: Dell, Lenovo, HP, Apple, Acer, ASUS, Gigabyte, Clevo, Razer, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony, Apple.

We service Sydney, inner city, Inner West, Eastern suburbs, lower north Sydney area.

3 steps to test, troubleshoot common Apple Mac computer problems yourself

With Macbook laptops and desktop Macs, there are a few common problems that users may come across. While they can be quite frustrating to face, there are a few tricks and tools that you can use to figure it all out. Here are some common Mac issues and how you can fix them yourself.

Common Mac issues

Start up issues

When you’ve had your Mac for a while, parts may start to fail. These hardware failures can cause some pretty bad issues, where you may experience some trouble while starting up your Mac. These start up issues may include: the question mark folder error, infinite loading bar, or in some situations, your Mac may not turn on at all.

These issues usually can be traced back to hardware issues related to the parts that are essential to the macOS start up process. The hard drive, logic board, RAM, and video card should be thoroughly checked out to solve this problem. You can also try resolving possible software issues as well.

Spinning beach ball

The spinning beach ball as a “loading” indicator is considered an iconic Apple symbol. But it can also be pretty frustrating to get it all the time while you’re working.

This could be a sign that your Mac’s processor is overworked and cannot manage all the processes that you’re working on. Or you might not have enough RAM space to handle the many tasks you have open.

It shouldn’t be a problem if it goes away after you close some programs from the Activity Monitor. By closing background apps that you’re not using, you can smooth things out and reduce your system’s workload. But if the problem persists, you might have to figure out what’s really wrong with your Mac by running diagnostics.

Slow performance

Similar to the constant spinning beach ball problem, slow macOS performance is also a common issue that Mac users come across. Most of the time, this can be identified as a hard drive issue. Hard drives can start to lose functionality over its 3-5 year lifespan, and cause all sorts of issues. Some of these issues may be apparent from when you start your Mac, or you’ll notice that some files are lost or you’re unable to open them. A slow Mac could also be a sign of hard drive failure. It might not be completely failed, but could be getting there. It’s a good idea to catch these issues early before you’re met with the tragedy of complete hard drive failure. Backing up your data regularly is also something you should be doing.

Known hardware issues across different Mac models

Certain models of Mac computers have some widely-known hardware issues that Apple offers recall programs for. Some publicly acknowledged hardware issues include the butterfly keyboard, video cards, and screens on Macbook laptops. Apple offered free replacements for these parts in various limited recall programs.

However, some Mac users may not experience problems with the part until after the program has ended, or just simply missed it. This just means they can’t get a free fix from Apple. It’s helpful to be aware of these issues, so when something comes up, you will definitely know what it is.

How to fix Mac issues

When you find that your Mac isn’t working properly, you can try out some software fixes first. Even if you solve the problem with these fixes, it’s still a good idea to run checks on your hardware. That way you can make sure that everything is in tip top shape.

1. Restart and reset

A small but mighty fix for a lot of computer issues is a quick restart. Don’t underestimate the power of the simple computer restart, it can actually solve a lot of software and driver issues. We recommend restarting your Mac as a first step to fix your Mac issues.

If your Mac has frozen up and you can’t restart it from the power options, you can turn it off manually. Press down the power button for about 6 seconds until it powers down. Just remember, only do this when you absolutely have to.

Some more soft fixes include resetting the SMC and PRAM / NVRAM. These two resets are specific to Mac laptops and desktop computers. They can solve a range of issues related to startup, power and the battery.

SMC resets

The System Management Controller (SMC) is where your Mac stores information related to things like startup, fan and temperature control, the keyboard, and more. If the SMC is not working properly, you might notice problems with power, performance, or battery.

By resetting the SMC back to default settings, you might be able to resolve software related issues. To do so, you’ll have to refer to the kind of Mac you have:

Desktop Mac: Disconnect the power adaptor and reconnect it after 15 seconds. Then wait another 5 seconds before turning the Mac on again.

Macbook laptop with T2 security chip: Shutdown the Mac and hold down Control + Option + Shift. This process may turn on the Mac. Hold these three keys for 7 seconds, then press and hold the power button as well. Your Mac will turn off after these 7 seconds. Wait for a few seconds before turning on the Mac again.

Macbook laptop without T2 security chip: Shutdown and unplug the Mac, then hold down Control + Shift + Option + Power button for 10 seconds. Then you can plug the power cord back and turn on the Macbook again.

NVRAM / PRAM resets

While they seem to be different things by name, the parameter RAM (PRAM) and non-volatile RAM are essentially the same thing. It’s only that newer Macs use NVRAM rather than PRAM.

The main difference is that the NVRAM stores less information. It is a slimmed down version with just the essentials like the time zone, screen resolution, and the selected startup disk.

When your Mac is taking forever to boot, you could try resetting the NVRAM. This resolves startup disk issues by reverting the NVRAM back to default settings.

To reset the NVRAM or PRAM, restart your Mac and hold down Command + Option + P + R for 20 seconds (your Mac may restart). Release the keys and start the Mac up normally. For older Macs that chime at boot, hold the four keys until you hear a second chime.

2. Reinstall macOS

Sometimes you just need a clean slate to get things going again. You can do this by reinstalling macOS from macOS Utilities. This is another way to resolve software issues by refreshing your OS. Just make sure you have a Time Machine backup, or a backup on an external hard drive before you do so. This is because the process can wipe your drive.

To reinstall macOS, restart your Mac and hold down Command + R when you boot it up again. This gets you to macOS Utilities where you can pick “Reinstall macOS”. Then, as long as you have an internet connection, you Mac should download and install the right version of macOS for you.

3. Run diagnostics

Testing your hardware is always useful when you want to thoroughly find out what’s wrong with your Mac. Even if your problem does seem to go away after fixing software issues, underlying hardware issues might cause more problems down the line. So you might want to take some time to run checks on your Mac’s hardware.

Apple diagnostics

One easy way to check on almost everything on your Mac is by running Apple Diagnostics. Apple Diagnostics, or Apple Hardware Test, can help you test hardware on your Mac, including the hard drive, battery, fan, and more.

To run Apple Diagnostics, restart your Mac and hold down the “D” key until you reach a language selection page. After picking the language, a loading bar should appear to indicate that the test has started. If Apple Diagnostics finds any problems, it will report them with reference codes and suggest solutions as well.

Other specific apps and software

Apple diagnostics is only a base-level type of hardware test that can only do so much. Say you’ve narrowed the problem down to the hard drive. You can run First Aid from Disk Utility to check and possibly repair your hard drive.

You may also try some other branded hardware analysis software to test your hard drive, RAM, or video card. These apps can help you run extensive tests with thorough results.

Expert Mac repairs at Safemode Computer Service

Maybe you end up with a problem with solutions that are out of your reach. That’s where we can help. At Safemode Computer Service, we deliver the most trusted and reliable computer repair services in Sydney. Our experienced technicians can help you test and offer the right advice for any computer issue you have, from desktop Macs to Macbook laptops. Come on down to our Inner West store today, or call to make an appointment.

Lines on laptop screen: how to fix image distortion issues

Any part of your laptop can fail, and that includes the screen. You may experience a single vertical line, or even a completely blank black screen. These display issues can be caused by a number of problems, and do need a bit of troubleshooting to fix. You’ll have to look into the different parts that deliver the visuals on your laptop.

In this guide, we’ll be looking at how to troubleshoot and fix different screen issues. You’ll get a better understanding of how things work, and how you can detect these issues easily.

Screen issues that you may be experiencing:

Screen distortion issues can look like a number of things. When display components start to fail, the image you see on the screen can become distorted or discoloured. The screen image may even crash completely. If some of your display components are faulty, you might experience one or a few of these errors:

• Different coloured thin lines on laptop screen (both horizontal and vertical) — These thin lines usually indicate a screen failure.
• Coloured bars shown on screen (both horizontal and vertical) — While quite similar to the thin lines of a screen failure, these bars are much wider. You can sometimes still see the image under the bars, as the image is just discoloured. This usually is caused by a video card failure.
• Bleeding screen image — This one looks like a crack where the image is bleeding through. Generally happens to physically damaged laptop screens.
• Flickering images — Another physical screen issue.
• Fading images — Commonly a screen issue, but may also turn out to be a faulty screen cable instead.
• Extremely dim screen on older Macbook with LCD screens — Macbook LCD screens use an inverter to control screen lighting, and a faulty inverter could dim the screen.
• Physical cracks on the laptop screen — A pretty obvious sign of a faulty laptop screen that needs to be replaced.

Why is the image on my screen distorted?

When you see distortion or discolouration on your screen, these errors usually point to issues with the parts on your laptop that work to display images on the screen. To understand why these errors appear, we should first look at how your laptop’s display works.

Just like every other process that happens on your laptop, different components work together to display images once you turn it on. This process requires the screen, screen cable, and the video card. Failure in any part in this process could lead to different kinds of visible errors that you need to tend to.

How a laptop displays images

Your computer delivers a seamless computing experience for you. With everything you do, it shows you everything almost instantly. This comes from the different parts of your laptop that work together to create the right display images on the screen.

It all begins with the video card, also known as the GPU. The GPU (and at times, the CPU too) first generates a constant digital image feed. This is fed through the screen cable and into the display output, that is the laptop screen. Every pixel on the screen is needed for this process as well. The image feed informs each pixel of the colour that it is supposed to change to. This is a nonstop process that shows you whatever you’re working on, watching, or playing.

So when any part in this process fails, it could cause all kinds of problems. One thing for sure though, it will all show up on your screen. We’ll have to do a bit of troubleshooting to find out what’s wrong with your laptop.

Differences in screen errors: broken screen or faulty video card?

Screen errors can look very similar but at the same time indicate some very different problems. A broken screen simply means that the image can’t be displayed properly on your laptop’s screen. But with a faulty video card, it won’t even be able to properly generate the right image feed to the screen. This means that it will show the same wonky image even on perfectly fine screens.

That’s how you can find out whether you have a screen issue or a malfunctioning video card. Use an HDMI cable to connect your laptop to an external monitor or TV. If the same distorted image shows up, then you likely have a failing video card.

For more handy tricks to test your computer on your own, read our guide “6 easy tools and tricks to test and diagnose your laptop“. We cover some tools and testing solutions to detect computer issues easily.

Can you fix display issues by yourself?

For both video card and screen problems, failing hardware can only be fixed by replacing it entirely. This usually involves taking apart your laptop and putting in new hardware. It can be quite a complicated process, depending on the model and design of your laptop.

Video card repairs

On most laptops these days, video cards are embedded on the motherboard. This means that it is a built-in part of the motherboard and cannot be removed on its own. It certainly makes it a lot harder to repair the video card.

There are a few exceptions though. Certain models of gaming laptops have detachable video cards that you can take out on its own for replacements or upgrades.

For regular laptops, you’ll either need to get the entire motherboard replaced, or get professional help from component-level repair technicians. These are both rather complex repair jobs that most computer users don’t have the experience and tech know-how to do by themselves.

Curious about motherboard repairs and why they’re so hard to do? Read our guide “Why motherboard failures are so hard to test and repair“.

Laptop screen repairs

Laptop screens are also fairly tricky to deal with. A lot of laptops these days are generally put together as one part. Parts of the laptop screen are usually glued together, where no screws are used at all. This is why we can’t replace the screen panel, or glass panel on its own.

Parts of a laptop screen

A laptop screen might look like a single piece of hardware that you can just unhinge and fit back on, but it’s not that simple. They do require a fair bit of assembly and involve many different parts. Let’s take a look inside:

• Screen — You see things on here. Usually LED or LCD displays for older laptop models.
• Back cover — Where the screen is seated, acts as protection as well. Also the top of your laptop when closed.
• Backlight — Used to light up the screen.
• Inverter — Controls the light for the screen for LCD displays. Discontinued for newer Macbook Air and Pro models with LED screens (uses the logic board to light up the screen).
• Screen hinge — Provides smooth opening and closing of the laptop lid. Made of solid metal.
• Webcam — The camera that you never look at because you’re looking at yourself on the screen.
• Wifi / Bluetooth antenna — Connects your laptop to the wifi. Seated on the back cover, doesn’t get much attention.

These parts are very delicate and take a great deal of care. Specific models that have touchscreen panels or high quality displays will typically be harder to navigate around. If you are keen on DIY and are pretty skilled at it, we of course encourage you to do so. If not, you might want to take your laptop to a repair shop instead.

Laptop screen repairs at Safemode Computer Service

Got a busted laptop screen or a faulty video card? We can help. Laptop screen damage may not be covered by your warranty or accidental damage cover, so you’ll need a third-party repair service for this.

At Safemode Computer Service, we offer free quotes after testing your computer in store (Ts & Cs apply). As a trusted service in Inner West Sydney, we are also among the top 3 best rated computer repair services in Sydney. Our experienced technicians can help with any computer issue and provide the right advice and solutions. Call us or come by our Inner West Sydney store today!

7 common DIY computer repair mistakes to avoid

So you’ve decided to fix your computer by yourself. Great! A lot of computer issues can be fixed easily, and we encourage users to take the leap to do so. Whether you are a computer enthusiast or just keen on DIY projects, you can certainly complete computer repairs on your own. All you need is enough research and the right tools to fix your laptop or desktop computer.

However, some computer users with little technical knowledge make mistakes by following amateur advice from family or friends, or even complete randoms on the internet. Their negligence in following the wrong advice or their ill-preparedness can lead to bad fixes or even further damage on their computer. This can cost you the time needed to fix your computer and possibly more expensive professional repairs.

It’s better to be prepared than be completely in the dark when you’re dealing with complicated and delicate computer hardware. DIY repair mistakes are sometimes something you aren’t aware of and might not be able to catch. Here are some common DIY computer repair mistakes to avoid and learn from:

1. Opening up the computer unnecessarily

While it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with your computer’s hardware, opening up your computer too many times might not be the right thing to do. When you open up your computer unnecessarily before preparing the right tools and parts that you need, you may end up with a higher chance of breaking things. And that’s definitely not what we want.

Other than for hardware tests, try not to do anything to your computer’s hardware before you have the right tools and spare parts to do so. Just like surgery, it’s better to go for a minimally invasive procedure than opening up the patient multiple times just to take a look inside. Try running a few tests and doing some research on what you need before you start doing anything.

2. Misdiagnosing the problem

Research is very much an important first step in solving your computer issue. We recommend doing a fair bit of reading before doing anything on your laptop or desktop computer.

Even so, some online advice from people on support forums or tech discussion boards might not be right for your specific problem. You might end up following some complicated solution to a basic problem that might not even help. Without an accurate diagnosis of the problem, you probably can’t get anywhere by blindly going forward with the repair.

It’s often better to get advice from trusted sources, or simply from your computer’s manufacturer. Try calling or chatting online with a support representative to diagnose your problem properly. You can usually get the right support advice from them without even leaving your house.

After getting an accurate diagnosis and solution to your issue, we can then start looking at how to get that done. You’ll need the right tools and spare parts to complete the job.

3. Not preparing the right tools for testing and repair

To find out what’s wrong with your laptop or desktop computer, you might need to do some extensive tests on your hardware first. This includes basic diagnostics and in-depth tests on specific parts on your device.

Using boot diagnostics is a good first step in your process. It is also known as pre-boot diagnostics or Apple diagnostics on Mac computers. This is a simple built-in tool on most computers, where you can test almost every hardware part on your laptop or desktop computer. It can report any possible hardware issues on parts like the hard drive, RAM, or optical drives. To enter pre-boot diagnostics, enter a key specific to your computer’s brand (“Esc for HP, “F12” for Dell, “D” for Apple…) when your computer is booting up. Then it should run and find what’s wrong with your computer.

You may also want to try using branded support apps like Dell’s SupportAssist or HP’s Support Assistant. These support apps also come pre-loaded on your computer when you buy it, and can help with diagnosis and troubleshooting as well.

In-depth testing

Other than using general hardware testing tools, you might also need to do some more extensive tests on specific parts on your computer. There’s a chance that you can’t get much conclusive results from running boot diagnostics. It is only a basic diagnostic tool after all. So for these part-specific tests, you’ll need different kinds of tools and software to complete.

Be prepared to have the tools ready to take out parts of your computer for testing. You’ll also need a separate desktop computer for this as well. This gets you better isolation for the part while you test it with dedicated software. A desktop computer will also also come in handy when you need to create a USB bootable installer to reinstall your OS.

A mistake that some amateur computer repairers make is not having the things that they need for testing their computer. This may include your standard toolkit for disassembling your laptop or desktop computer, or the spare parts needed to test for hardware faults.

Some other tools that you may need are: a SATA to USB enclosure box for hard drive testing, spare RAM chips, or power adaptors from kitchen appliances for desktop PSU testing. It’s a good idea to have these tools and parts at the ready. That way you won’t have to waste your time and effort to open up your computer more than you need to. Learn more about the different free tools that you can use to test your computer’s hardware here.

4. Buying incompatible hardware

Another computer repair mistake that some might make is buying the wrong replacement part for their computers. Each computer model is different and may need specific types of hardware. And as technology advances, computer parts come and go when they become obsolete. Newer models come with newer versions of hardware. This can make it harder to repair older models, as some of their parts can go out of market while the manufacturer stops offering support for them.

A lot of computer users might not know what they actually need and buy the wrong replacement parts for their faulty devices. This may be because of misdiagnosis, or that they do not know what is compatible with their computer.

What to consider

For the most repairs, it’s safe to just go with the exact same part as a replacement. If you can find a compatible alternative, that also works. You can look up these parts and their reference numbers from your computer’s manufacturer. However it will be a little difficult for Asus or Acer users. Their branded parts have no part numbers and are quite hard for regular consumers to identify. Mac users also need to pay attention to the Apple proprietary parts in their devices, to make sure that they don’t get the wrong replacement parts.

For parts like the hard drive, you will usually have more options to choose from. As long as the drive is compatible with your computer, you can choose to get a faster drive or one that has more capacity. You can also consider upgrading your hard drive to a solid-state drive as well, if you are looking for a performance boost.

Repairs for laptop screens and motherboards on the other hand, don’t have that much elbow room. You will have to get the same exact part to replace your faulty one. But you probably won’t have to worry much about these. Motherboard and screen repairs might be a bit too complicated as a DIY project. They require a great deal of care and expertise in computer tech that not many computer users have.

5. Not testing thoroughly after repair

To make sure that the fix actually worked and everything is installed properly, take the time to run boot diagnostics again. You can do this before closing up the cover on your laptop or desktop computer. All you need to do is install all the essential parts, and run boot diagnostics. If there is any problem, this could save you the time from taking everything apart again. As we’ve learnt, it’s best not to open up your computer too many times.

6. No backups

Keeping regular backups is a healthy computing habit. Even when your computer is working fine, it’s always useful to have a backup of your files or even your entire OS.

Having a backup will certainly be helpful if your computer crashes, or if anything happens while you fix your computer. It will also make the whole process easier when you don’t have to worry about your data. Keep your data close by with an external drive or simply put it up on a cloud-based storage system.

7. No static protection

While this isn’t that much of a troubling issue for most repairs, protecting yourself from static is always a safe practice. Always turn off and disconnect your computer from its power supply before opening it up. Also, make sure you’re not working on carpeted surfaces or near any pets. That could accelerate the chances of static and also make it harder to disperse.

Learn to ground yourself in case you do catch static while working on your computer. You simply need to discharge the static by touching the ground, or a metal object that is on the ground.

Some of these mistakes are pretty easy to make, and these missteps could sometimes complicate the repair or even cause further damage. Try learning from these mistakes and become better and more skilled at repairing your own computer.