Computer Services

The Blue Screen of Death

The “Blue Screen of Death” is a Microsoft Windows-related STOP error. Usually it indicates a serious problem most likely hardware or driver related. Its often accompanied by an error code that you can reference to find out what happened. In fact many places offer a list of these error codes for you to look up.

Missing DLL Files

Another standard system issue again with Windows based operating systems is a DLL error. This means a DLL file is either missing or corrupt. Files ending with .DLL are dynamic link library files.

They hold many codes procedures and instructions for programs. They exist to tell the operating system how to deal with certain applications. Several programs can also open them at once improving memory conversion.

These are necessary system files and when they are missing or corrupt bad things happen. This is unfortunate and common because there are so many of them.

Applications Running Slowly

When applications slow down or hang it could be due to any number of causes. But the most common relates to processing power and memory.

Computer memory or random access memory is used to store data temporarily while programs are running. The recommended amount for Windows users is 2GB or more but a higher number is ideal. In fact the more memory you have the more programs you can run concurrently.

RAM does not necessarily speed up a computer but it can make applications and programs run better. So yes its commonly associated with performance and speed.

Malware Infections

Malware is a type of software that can damage or disable computers and related systems. It has to be installed on a computer before it can cause problems. However this can happen much more quickly than you think.

For example just downloading a file from a website could result in malware on your computer. Once opened it can damage files and it can even slow down your computer by using up valuable resources.

Internet or Network Connectivity Issues

Internet or network connectivity issues can stem from many problems. First there could be something wrong with your ISP or internet service provider. Then there are DNS servers you must connect to which can also encounter issues. Finally there is your local hardware which includes your router computer and network software.

Luckily Windows has a troubleshooting tool that can help identify network connection issues.

Hard Drive Failure

A hard drive failure can lead to serious problems. The good news is that hard drives are easily replaceable. The bad news is that the data stored on said hard drive can become corrupt or lost forever.

This is not a big deal if you are talking about program files that can be easily recovered. But when it comes to personal documents photos and important data it is a huge problem. This is all data you cannot easily duplicate.

It is recommended that you keep backups of your most important files. A hard drive can fail at any time and it can happen with both old and new drives. Worse yet failure rates differ depending on the type capacity and brand of a drive.

You never know when a hard drive failure will happen so preparation is essential.

Frozen Screen

During a severe failure usually related to hardware a computer can freeze or lock up. But this can also happen due to software problems too so never rule it out.

Most of the time you can remedy this by opening the Windows task manager and force closing the problematic application. Other times the computer will lock up completely and the only way to fix it is to reboot the machine.

Strange Noises

Computers are never silent. At any given time multiple functions take place that can cause noise. Mechanical hard drives and optical disk drives for instance make a distinct noise when powering up and when they are in use. Cooling fans can also make noise as they spin. Graphics cards or GPUs also have a fan that turns as they heat up.

Many of these components can make strange noises as they fail or begin to age.

Overheating

As power flows through the parts inside a computer are used they heat up. It’s natural. This includes the CPU hard drives graphics cards the power supply external and internal drives and even the motherboard.

Some of the components can operate fine under a little warmth. When the heat inside a computer grows too high it can cause serious failures and it can even damage components. That is exactly why a processor has its own cooling fan. The same applies to a graphics card or power supply. These components need to stay within a reasonable temperature range.

You never want components to overheat.

Applications Won’t Install

There are many reasons why an application might not install on your computer. The most likely of which is that your computer and its software are not compatible with said application.

There are minimum system requirements to run everything from a simple program to a hardware-intensive game. If your computer does not meet these needs you can experience a slowdown and sometimes the app will not even run.

Other issues that can prevent installation are hardware failures storage space and missing files. Missing files can also be system files like DLLs and .NET framework content.