Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common laptop problems and methods to troubleshoot them. Here are Some Laptop Problems that You Can Expect to Encounter.
As a laptop owner, you might run into more potential troubles than expected. While reliable computers should not lead to performance issues and other problems, the odds of avoiding them are pretty slim. It also does not help if a laptop owner neglects to take proper care of their computer.
Loud Noises and Overheating
Loud noise and overheating should not be surprising if you are running resource-heavy applications. Laptops do not have the best hardware, which means that some software is bound to require more from the hardware.
However, if the noise and overheating persist even when the laptop is pretty much idle, it means that you have a bigger problem.
The likely cause behind this is too much dust inside. Over time, the dust accumulates inside the laptop, and not cleaning it regularly will clog the internal fans.
Other than removing the dust inside the laptop, you can also fight against overheating and loud noises with better room ventilation. A cooling pad is worth a shout.
Problems Turning the Laptop on
Sometimes, you might struggle with turning the computer on and off. A laptop takes a while to load, particularly if it has lackluster hardware. However, if there are problems booting the laptop in the first place, do not expect the issue to disappear by itself.
First, check whether the battery is charged. If the light on the charger is indicating no problems, check the AC adapter and jack.
There might also be something wrong with the motherboard. If you cannot pinpoint the exact problem and solve it yourself, seek professional help from a local computer service store.
Flickering and Blank Screen
A flickering and blank screen might not pose too many troubles because you can usually get rid of these two by restarting your computer. The problem with such an approach, though, is that the solution is only temporary. Sooner or later, the screen will start to flicker or go blank again.
The first thing you want to check for is the incompatibility between the operating system and the laptop’s GPU. If the issue started after you updated to the latest OS update, try switching back to an older version and see whether that will fix the problem.
The odds of malware or other cybersecurity threats causing problems with the screen exist as well. Scan the system to find out whether it has been infected. If antivirus software detects corrupted data, delete it from the laptop.
Random Freezes or Crashes
Random freezes and crashes are another common problems. For example, you might be playing a video game and suddenly have to stop because the laptop decides to crash or even restart itself. If you cannot save in-game progress, the problem becomes too annoying.
Similar to the issue mentioned in the previous section, this one could also be related to malware and viruses. Other than that, it is worth your while to keep closer tabs on background processes and manage computer resources more efficiently.
For instance, if you have a Mac, you should look at Activity Monitor and sort applications by memory or CPU usage. If an app requires too many resources, replace it with an alternative or close it if possible.
Finally, if there is too much clutter on the laptop’s desktop, remove redundant icons, such as app shortcuts or documents. It might be inconvenient not to have quick access to these files, but the overall computer performance should take priority over the quick access to the files.
Not Enough Drive Storage
Lackluster hardware is one of the downsides of laptops when compared to custom-built desktop computers. A laptop does not have as much storage, meaning that it is easy to end up with just a few free gigabytes.
It is also worth mentioning that some people go over the top and hoard too many files, particularly large media, such as movies and TV series. One of the tricks to overcome the storage problem is by taking advantage of clouds and an external HDD.
You should also look to remove unnecessary junk, such as old system backups, software cache, plugins, and redundant localization files.
Lackluster Internet Connection
If you have a laptop, it probably means that you rely on a wireless connection rather than an ethernet cable. Problems with Wi-Fi should not happen if you have a reliable internet service provider, but it does not mean that you can avoid the issue completely.
When you notice that the overall internet speed is slower than usual, think about whether there might be something jamming the signal. Perhaps a microwave or a wireless printer is responsible? One should also not discard the possibility of an issue coming from the ISP end. Get in touch with your service provider and ask if things are okay on their side.