Is your PC acting up again? Maybe, you just got hit with the infamous blue screen of death. If that’s the case, you need to know this—your drivers just crashed. On the other hand, it might be a hardware issue.
In times like this, everyone wishes fixing their PC was as simple as typing in ‘computer geeks near me’ in a search engine. Then, magically, an IT expert shows up at your doorstep! Well, that may be possible—but until the doorbell rings, let’s walk you through some of the things that mess with your PC.
The ‘why’ behind the ‘blue’
The most common causes behind an error message are also some of the most easily avoidable. However, people have become so habituated to them that it gets difficult to recognize the harm they do. Three of those things are:
1. PC peripheral companion apps
Most brands selling PC peripherals suggest installing their companion apps now. It’s come to the point where some devices don’t work well enough if you don’t have the app installed. G Hub is a prime example here.
Usually, such programs update automatically and, in doing so, reset any installed device drivers. Additionally, the initial setup for most of these tools doesn’t allow you to pick the installation drive—it’s always the system files folder. And then, there are the countless registry errors.
However, the primary issue lies in how these apps integrate with some of the latest video game releases. If those games are still on your hard drive when these programs update, you will notice an unusual spike in CPU usage. That alone is enough to make your PC crash.
2. Lack of anti-virus (AV) software
A study claims that around 58% of Australians use desktops to access the internet instead of other devices. Now, the only foreseeable reason why such a significant number of Australians feel safe using a computer is that they have AV programs installed.
Yes, such software programs are a pain to deal with and end up blocking one website after another. Regardless, you must ensure your computer always has one up and running.
The internet is exciting, but it’s also home to malicious files, viruses and—even worse—spyware. While the technical details vary across cases, one single intrusion is enough to take your entire network down.
Oh, and this goes without saying, don’t download pirated files. Besides being illegal, most of them have mining bots that demolish your CPU.
3. Residual files from beta apps
Pre-release programs can offer exciting features but take a heavy toll on your computer. The issue isn’t in the apps themselves. It’s the frequency at which you use and discard them.
If you didn’t know this already, there could be gigabytes of residual files from uninstallation routines. Did you try something on a Public Test Server and then uninstall it? Well, there are files left over.
All these remnants will gradually build in your registry and then eat up your processor. It’s also one of the primary reasons behind disk defragmentation. That slight lag you experienced while browsing the internet? That’s from the residual files.
Best to leave it to the experts
Has the IT expert shown up yet? No? Well, you better go back and check if you typed in ‘computer geeks near me’ correctly.
In all seriousness, if your PC is acting up and you aren’t sure how to deal with it, don’t try and wing it. You may end up making things worse. Instead, search online for IT solution providers. You’ll come across some excellent professionals if you live near Sydney, Melbourne or Perth.
A final tip: When the IT expert is going about their work, ask them what went wrong.