6 Common Technology Problems That Can Be Easily Resolved

Everyone loves their devices! I know I do. Computers and technology are so awesome, until they doesn’t work. As a tech expert, it's pretty easy for me to troubleshoot tech issues and resolve them. For the rest of you, I know it's a very frustrating situation that can push you over the edge and make you want to toss your device out the nearest window. Relax and don't panic. Most technology and computer problems are fatal. In fact, most of them are very simple to fix. Take my hand. I'm going to show you how to fix the most common technology issue you may encounter when using devices at home or at work.

As the owner of Integral and having fixed computers and technology for years, I'm very familiar with the simple things most people overlook, which can eliminate the need to have a tech work on your computers and devices. We love it when you call us (even just to say hello), but save yourself some money and frustration by following of these tips.

1. My computer or device has locked up. First and foremost, reboot the darn thing. Obvious right? You'd be surprised how many people call us before they turn off their device and turn it back on to see if the problem has been solved. There have been many instances over the years with onsite visits where our customer explains the list of issues they are having with a device, but after a quick reboot or by turning the device off, the problem is solved. I've been told I have the magic touch. I know my stuff, but there is no magic behind this technique. Whatever the device; Windows, Macintosh, Smartphone, tablet, router, or printer, if it doesn't work, reboot it or power it off.

2. The computer or device is slowing down.

Your first step to fixing a tech device that's slowing down is to verify the device is the source of the problem. Many people make the mistake that their device has slowed down when it's actually the internet connection. If you are experiencing videos that are buffering or websites that are slow to load, verify your Internet connection is working properly. Visit SpeedTest (www.speedtest.net) to test your internet speed. If you think it isn't, reboot your internet modem. If this doesn't work, you can check to make sure your device hasn't run out of storage. All tech devices need to have free room to work well. If you think you're running out of storage, download and use CCleaner to clear off any junk files off your devices.

3. My device is infected with a virus. In today's digital world, there aren't many viruses floating around the Internet. However, many of you feel that if your computer is acting strange You put yourself at risk for viruses when you click on strange links in emails or websites. If you get a message on your device saying that it's infected, it probably a scam. Reboot your device. Most virus scams are designed to trick you into thinking your device is infected so you will call the 800 number that appears. Rebooting will remove the message.

4. Email attachments people send me won’t open. If you can’t open attachments, people send you, it’s probably because you don’t have the right software. You can always google the type of file it is (such as .PDF, or .RAR) to find out how to open it. If you're on a smartphone or tablet, remember you may not be able to open attachments as you would on a desktop or laptop computer. You can also ask the person to resend the email in .PDF or Adobe format.

5. My Printer Won’t Print. If your printer has ink, paper, and updated drivers, try unplugging it, then plugging it back in. Some models of printers are designed not to print if ink or toner is low on just one cartridge. If you notice one of your pinter cartridges are low replace it. Keep spares on hand so you will always be able to print.

6. Keep Disconnecting From the Internet. Internet and Wireless problems occur because of number of reasons.They can either come from problems with your Internet provider, router or your device. Your first step is to contact your Internet provider to verify there are no outages in your area. Next, you want to restart your router, to eliminate any issues with your router. For the sake of easy troubleshooting, you should always get a router from your Internet provider. Finally, once you've eliminated the first two things, concentrate on your device. If are still having issues, you may need to replace the wired or wireless adapter on your device. For computers and laptops, this can easily be done, for a smartphone or tablet, you may need to replace the device.

Are there common computer issues you deal with? How do you solve them? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Do you need guidance on how to use your technology? Our Integral tech experts can help. We're more than tech support, Integral gives you easy and quick access to our tech experts, who can solve any issue you have with any of your devices.