10 common I.T problems and their solutions

10 common I.T problems and their solutions

Being an IT Support company we have to deal with a lot of different problems ranging from the simple to the outright near impossible. Over the years we have noticed a trend with the most common problems we face and offer you advice and solutions on how to deal with them so you don’t crash your tech support guy the same way you do your servers. Here are the 10 most common IT problems we come across:

1.     “My document/file was closed before I could save it”

This is a common occurrence and can often send users into panic mode when they accidentally do it.

However, all your work is not definitely lost. If you have Auto-Recover options enabled in Microsoft Office, then there are some easy steps to recover your work.

If not, you can also search for Word backup files by clicking “open”, “computer” and then browsing to the folder where the file was last saved.

You may also be able to find your file by performing a search on your computer for temporary files with a .tmp file extension or a ~ prefix.

2.     “I need to recover an important file I deleted”

The first step is to check the recycle bin. If that fails, your IT Support partner can help you.

Good IT outsourcing companies will automatically back up all of your data, so anything you delete should be recoverable.

Backup and disaster recovery solutions can restore your entire organisation’s data after a disaster – maximising business continuity.

3.     “I keep losing access to the wireless network!”

This could be due to an overloaded router. First, check if others are experiencing the same problem and see if other devices of yours are having the same issue. Call your IT support team and explain the problem.

4.     “My computer is slow!”

Are you running eighteen programs at once? Scheduled system scans or updates can also cause slow performance. A good IT Support partner will handle all of your scans and updates for you automatically, outside office hours but you can ease the issue by having fewer programs running at once.

Are you leaving your computer running for weeks on end without turning it off? If this is the case then tell them to give their computer a break by either closing down some of the programs they aren’t using or by shutting their computer down for a couple of minutes.

Slowness could be caused by viruses and malware. In that case, disconnect from any networks and let your IT helpdesk deal with it.

5.     “I can’t print anything!”

Get the obvious solutions out of the way first. Check the printer is turned on, has paper, has ink/toner, paper in the correct tray etc.

If it’s not an obvious issue such as the above, then it may be a connection issue. The printer is probably not connected to the network properly, so call your IT Support helpdesk for help.

6.     “For some reason, I can't log in!”

This can be easily fixed – Make sure you haven’t overlooked anything (the caps lock key perhaps?).

Your password may have expired, or your account may have been locked due to too many unsuccessful login attempts.

Your IT Support team should be able to reinstate any user rights or reset your password.

7.     “My computer just shut down unexpectedly!”

This could be related to overheating. Check your computer for dust, and make sure it is in a cool and ventilated place. If this is not the issue, then it is likely a virus problem. Disconnect the PC from any networks and call your IT Support experts!

8. “My computer does not recognise my USB device!”

First things to check are –

Does the device work in a different USB port on the machine?

Are other devices recognised in that port?

Does the device work on another user’s machine?

If you have tried these troubleshooting methods and still no luck, then your IT support help-desk can proceed with some more in-depth troubleshooting.

9.     “My screen turned blue with an error message”

This is referred to online as 'the blue screen of death', most people will assume their PC is dead as soon as they see this, and it is unlikely that they will read what it says on the screen.

Simply rebooting can fix the blue screen of death (or STOP error as it is otherwise known).

This problem is usually related to some hardware or a driver that is not working correctly. It usually happens after you install a new piece of hardware or update some drivers.

It’s helpful to tell your IT support help-desk what you did just before the error occurred, then they can undo it or diagnose the problem.

10.     “My internet is really slow!”

If you’re connecting wirelessly, then location may be the problem. The signal is not necessarily strong in all corners of the building. Similarly, you could just be too far away. If this is not the issue, then spyware or viruses are a likely cause.

If you’re constantly asking yourself about these issues and having to deal with them yourself maybe you’re in need of IT support. Or if you think you have outgrown your current IT support and you're considering changing then download our 'IT Support Checklist' to help you make clear comparisons to what you should be looking for.

Or even better why not give us a call on 01527 570 535 and let us do a free assessment of your IT infrastructure. We're always happy to help!