22/08/2015 12:13

The most common problem of any user is a slow computer. But if there wasn’t enough power initially, that’s one thing. But what if suddenly during operation the programs began to openly freeze and slow down? How to understand what exactly causes such an unpleasant effect?
In fact, there are many reasons why the system is slower. Let's look at the most common ones and methods of dealing with them at home. First, we will list these problems, and then we will try to understand how to deal with them.

So, the slowdown can be caused by:

Of course, not all possible reasons for system slowdown are listed here. True, other options are relatively rare and are known only to specialists. But first you need to understand the above points. There is a 98% probability that this will return the former agility to the higher system.

Virus attack

Problem

This is one of the most common and most dangerous reasons for a decrease in system speed. Even the latest modern antivirus software does not always cope with it.
The existence of viruses can be indicated by indirect signs, such as:

• system freezes during operation;
• pop-up error messages;
• the appearance of intrusive advertising when browsing the Internet;
• the time it takes to turn on the computer increases;
• certain programs do not open or have stopped running;
• the task manager stopped opening using the combination;
• The manager shows increased (up to 100%) processor load when applications are turned off.

Solution

If an infection is suspected, a number of safety procedures must be taken:

• update the antivirus database (if installed);
• check for viruses with another antivirus application or scanner;
• download and install the latest version of the scanner (). If, after scanning, an indication of the presence of malware, scanners, Trojans, etc. appears, select Treatment/Removal.
• If the antivirus is not installed, you can download the latest version.
• Connect the firewall (aka firewall) built into the OS. Configure it in such a way that it allows only certain, predefined programs (browsers) to access the network. And for any others, the network connection was limited. The combination of a firewall and an antivirus program provides good protection against most attacks.

Most often, viruses, scanners and other malware are placed on adult websites. When visiting them, try to be more careful about what you click on. Do not download updates on such sites; in particular, viruses are most often hidden under the offer to “update the flash player.”

System disk full

Problem

The C:\ drive, or system drive, suddenly becomes so full that there is absolutely no free space left on it. As a result, there is no free space even for service files that ensure the operation of the system. Unfortunately, this situation happens quite often. As a result, the system is forced to spend a lot of time freeing up the required space in tiny portions and processing these “pieces” in turn.

This problem occurs when the update mode and save points (backups) of the system itself are incorrectly configured, when insufficient space is allocated for the C:\ drive, when unnecessary temporary files are untimely deleted, and so on. If there is no disk space left, the system begins to slow down very significantly.

Solution

• remove unnecessary programs;
• clear the desktop (its data is also stored on the C:\ drive);
• Empty trash;
• delete temporary files. It's best to use the program;

Braking due to overheating

Problem

This problem is not only common, but also poses a significant danger. The computer may not just stop, but even fail altogether. And at the same time, you risk losing all the information it contains.

Determining that overheating is to blame is quite simple. If at the beginning of the day everything works quickly and flies, and when you launch additional programs or games in the middle of the day it suddenly starts to reboot or slow down, then most likely (95%) we are talking about overheating.

Solution

Special programs will help you signal about overheating of your hard drive, video card, chipset or processor. You can download and install them for free (this is, for example);

It is necessary to open the system unit and clean it from dust with a vacuum cleaner (or brush). Dust creates an excellent heat-insulating cushion on heat exchangers and can even damage processor and video card fans (coolers). And deteriorated heat transfer causes overheating and disruption of the system elements;

Once every couple of years, it is worth updating the thermal paste, which is applied to ensure better heat exchange between the active (heating) elements and cooling radiators. This is especially true if sensors show a regular increase in the temperature of the video card, chipset or processor.

Hard drive problems

Problem

It is unfortunate, but computer hard drives have their own lifespan and their resource is eventually exhausted. We are talking about the limited life cycle of the disk.

The speed of the system largely (about 70%) depends on access to the hard drive. You can make a system from a 2-core processor with good performance, several gigabytes of RAM, and a good video card. But by saving on the hard drive, we get slowdown of all this gorgeous hardware.

The point is in the principle of operation of the hard drive. The hard drive is mechanically a multilayer “sandwich” of thin layers, each of which is software divided into sectors. When making a request for information located in a specific sector, the controller requires a response. And if there is no answer, the sector is placed in memory as broken (broken). Gradually, during the work process, the number of such sectors accumulates.

Solution

This problem can also be solved. To do this, you need to periodically carry out the following work:

• Disks should be defragmented monthly;
• if you suspect that the hard drive has started to work worse, use a special tool to check and restore it (for example, using);
• try not to expose the hard drive to physical stress, especially during operation. Do not knock on the system unit or table when the laptop is on it.
• When cleaning your computer from dust, also clean the hard drive; it can also overheat.

Not enough RAM

Problem

Sometimes the reason why programs or games slow down is trivial - the system simply does not have enough memory at its disposal. New programs often require more resources that the old computer cannot provide.

To see how much memory is used, it is best to enter the task manager (ctr+alt+del) and examine the “Processes” and “Performance” tabs.

Solution

There is only one solution to the problem - increase the amount of memory. Alas, this is not always easy to do. Especially for an old computer, the components for which have been discontinued. And the line of old-style memory (DDR) costs significantly more than the new one.

And if you want to install more modern memory, you will have to change both the motherboard and the processor. And at the same time a video card. Therefore, such repairs are equivalent to buying a new computer.

Another solution we can recommend is to take a close look at the processes that are using up memory. Among them you can find non-urgent, useless and even harmful ones (for example, the same viruses).

Low-power processor

Problem

The problem is much the same as the previous one. The processor power is simply not enough to complete the tasks. Most often this occurs when working on the Internet (browser) or when watching high-resolution videos.

To estimate the processor load, you should also call the task manager (“ ctr+alt+del") and evaluate the "Processes" and "Performance" tabs.

Solution

Unfortunately, there is only one solution - to purchase and install a more powerful processor.

Many programs are running at startup

Problem

During work, you often have to install various programs. But at the same time, not everyone pays attention to the fact that when installing programs, there are checkboxes that install them in startup. And that they turn on automatically when the computer starts.

This is not always a bad thing, but if you are not careful, it can cause certain difficulties, since each of the programs diverts part of the system’s capacity.

The average user rarely looks into the startup file configuration in order to remove programs from there that are not needed in their work constantly and daily. But in vain. With the help of such a simple action, you can significantly (by several times) reduce the boot time of your computer and increase the speed of the system.

Solution

Open the “system configuration” section, find the “Startup” tab and simply uncheck programs that are not vital.

If you have difficulty logging into this section, just click " Start" And " Execute"(Windows 7 or XP), and in the "Search programs and files" field, enter the name msconfig and click "OK".

Often, office applications, Java, Winamp, messengers of various types, and so on act as unnecessary applications.

The registry is full of garbage

Problem

For the average user, the registry is the most mysterious and little-known area of ​​the system. In fact, the parameters of all installed applications are written there. And if they are removed incorrectly, entries about these applications remain in the registry.

Although the volume of such entries in itself is small, the system accesses the registry every time, and the time of such access (especially if it does not find the programs specified there) turns out to be indecently prolonged.

Solution

You need to clean the registry using a special utility. Eg, . There is no need to do this manually.

Slowdown when using the browser

Problem

This problem often occurs when launching several (or several dozen) tabs in the browser at the same time - for example, in search mode. Or when viewing HD video files over the network.

It should also be taken into account that each such tab launches a separate process, which takes up part of the processor power and the amount of RAM.

Solution

If your computer slows down while working online, open the task manager. Pay attention to which process requires the most system resources. It may turn out that this is some kind of hanging script or application launched by the browser.

Also, freezing when working with the browser can be caused by a cache overflow. It also needs to be cleaned periodically.

If the slowdown is caused by watching high-quality videos, then this may be due to low processor performance. In this case, only replacing it will save you.

Results

As you can see, there can be many reasons for a computer to slow down. Following the recommendations given will help in most cases, but if all else fails, contact the workshop, and qualified technicians will help you deal with any problem. To begin with, check whether there is a primary power supply of ~220V at the input of the power supply unit (PSU). The reason for the absence may be a break or malfunction of the plug, socket, surge protector or uninterruptible power supply, if you use them. In addition, on the back of most power supplies there is a primary power switch - it may be turned off or faulty.
When primary power is applied at the output +5VSB(purple wire) of the power supply there should be voltage +5V, even when the computer is turned off. You can check it with a tester on the contacts of the power supply connector (pin 9 with a purple wire - +5VSB). Very often, the motherboard has an LED indicating the presence of standby voltage. If it glows, it means there is both primary and standby power.
If the computer still does not turn on, then the possible reasons may be the following:

- open circuit in the power button circuit. To check, you can use tweezers to close the power supply contacts on the motherboard or short the contacts of the power supply connector with the green wires (ON, sometimes designated as PS_ON, pin 16) and any contact with the black wire (GND, sometimes designated as COM).

- short circuit at the output of the power supply. Try turning off the power to all peripheral devices, removing all adapters from the slots, disconnecting all USB devices. Also try disconnecting the 4-8 pin CPU power connector +12V Power Connector on the motherboard.

- faulty power supply or motherboard. If only the motherboard is connected to the power supply connector, but the power still does not turn on, it is most likely that the power supply is faulty. A motherboard malfunction leading to the inability to turn on the computer's power supply is theoretically possible, but in practice it is extremely rare. To check, you can try turning on the power supply without connecting the connector to the motherboard. To do this, you need some kind of load connected to it, for example a CD-ROM. Close the contacts of the green PS ON conductor (pin 16 of the power supply connector) and any of the contacts of the black GND conductor (circuit ground). If the power supply turns on, the motherboard is faulty.

Wiring for a 24-pin ATX power supply connector (ATX12V) with wire ratings and color coding

Comte	Designation		Color	Description
1	3.3V		Orange	+3.3 VDC
2	3.3V		Orange	+3.3 VDC
3	COM		Black	Earth
4	5V		Red	+5 VDC
5	COM		Black	Earth
6	5V		Red	+5 VDC
7	COM		Black	Earth
8	PWR_OK		Grey	Power Ok - All voltages are within normal limits. This signal is generated when the power supply is turned on and is used to reset the system board.
9	5VSB		Violet	+5 VDC Standby voltage
10	12V		Yellow	+12 VDC
11	12V		Yellow	+12 VDC
12	3.3V		Orange	+3.3 VDC
13	3.3V		Orange	+3.3 VDC
14	-12V		Blue	-12 VDC
15	COM		Black	Earth
16	/PS_ON		Green	Power Supply On. To turn on the power supply you need to short-circuit this contact is to ground (with a black wire).
17	COM		Black	Earth
18	COM		Black	Earth
19	COM		Black	Earth
20	-5V		White	-5 VDC (this voltage is used very rarely, mainly for powering old expansion cards.)
21	+5V		Red	+5 VDC
22	+5V		Red	+5 VDC
23	+5V		Red	+5 VDC
24	COM		Black	Earth

Schematic diagrams of computer power supplies can be found

    If the fans are spinning, there are no beeps, the disk activity indicator does not light up, try to simplify the configuration as much as possible. Turn off the computer, remove all adapters from expansion slots, and disconnect all peripheral devices. If there are several memory modules, leave only one. Or delete them all. If after turning on the power you hear a characteristic squeak, the motherboard has started up. When the power is turned on, the BIOS self-test routine (Power On Self Test or POST) begins and beeps indicate an error detected. The interpretation of sound signals depends on the manufacturer and BIOS version. For example, the absence of a video adapter when performing the AWARD BIOS self-test will cause 1 long and 2 short signals, AMI BIOS of older versions will cause 8 short signals. Used for all BIOS versions one short beep, if testing passed without errors, and the operating system loading stage begins. A description of the sound signals for a specific BIOS version can be found on the manufacturer's website.

You can use a special program. The program allows you to get a description of beep codes for the most common BIOS versions. English language.

    If there are no sound signals in the minimum configuration, then the cause of the malfunction is the power supply, motherboard, or processor. Just in case, try resetting the BIOS settings by installing a special jumper on the motherboard (Clear CMOS).
The cause of the malfunction is often swollen electrolytic capacitors in the processor power circuits on the motherboard.

When running the BIOS self-test program, available peripheral controllers are also polled and information about them is written to non-volatile memory (CMOS) - a special table called Desktop Management Interface (DMI) pool. The DMI table can be used by operating systems to determine the list of available devices, although in most cases, DMI information is not used at boot and the list is created by the OS's own bootloader software. However, the DMI table is always created (or checked) before the operating system boots. Typically, this process is accompanied by the message "Building DMI pool" or "Verifying DMI pool data". As a rule, the process of creating a DMI table lasts no more than a few seconds and, if after such a message the download does not start, then the following options are possible:

The computer configuration has changed and the BIOS routine cannot interpret it correctly.
- any of the devices provides incorrect data about itself (faulty).
- the DMI table recorded in non-volatile memory (CMOS) is damaged and cannot be created again (CMOS malfunction, dead battery, conflicting device, etc.).
- the BIOS subroutine itself is damaged (for example, during flashing)

Possible ways to solve the problem:

Reset the contents of CMOS (Clear CMOS Configuration) and load the optimal configuration (Load Setup Defaults, Load Optimal, etc.)
- reset the contents of the DMI buffer and force the self-test routine to recreate it. Usually this can be done using the BIOS setting allowing the item "Reset Configuration Data" ("Force Update ESCD", etc. - depends on the manufacturer)
- if the previous steps did not work, try to simplify the computer configuration as much as possible by disabling as many peripheral devices and integrated controllers as possible.

The download starts but ends with a reset and reboot.

    Such system behavior is usually caused by a critical error, and the setting to perform an automatic reboot when it occurs. This mode is set by checking the box
Control Panel - System- tab " Additionally" - mode " " - mode " Perform automatic reboot"

With this setting, the "blue screen of death" ( B lue S creen O f D eath or BSOD) ends with an OS reboot. Which is undesirable, since there is no blue screen data to analyze the causes of the error.
In Windows XP and older, you can select the mode in the system boot loader menu Disable automatic reboot on system failure

When booting in this mode, you can analyze the blue screen of death data and determine the cause of the critical error.

    Very often, this situation is caused by loading an old operating system after replacing the motherboard, or changing the operating mode of the hard drive controller in the BIOS settings. In detail, the practice of restoring Windows functionality in this case is described

If, immediately before the problem appeared, you installed new software or installed Windows updates or other software that includes system services or drivers (antiviruses, firewalls, etc.), then it is possible that the problem is not faulty hardware, but in an emergency system shutdown due to incorrectly functioning system services or drivers. The easiest way to restore the system in this case is to roll back its state to the time the restore point was created, when the problem did not yet exist. The Windows restore point mechanism allows you to create, and store for some time, copies of the registry and important system files. Such copies are created periodically, or when major system changes occur, and in the vast majority of cases, rolling back to a point in a healthy state will bring Windows back to life. But the main problem with this method of system recovery is that you can run the Windows recovery tool (rstrui.exe utility) only in the environment of the OS itself, which does not boot due to the blue screen of death. However, if recovery point data that is stored in subdirectories of the "System Volume Information" folder of the system drive exists, the problem can be solved very simply by using a rescue disk MicroSoft Diagnostic and Recovery Toolset(MS DaRT), better known as ERD Commander(ERDC). ERDC's disaster recovery tools allow you to roll back your system in a few clicks and uninstall system updates quickly and easily. Even in cases where the recovery point data is substandard or cannot be used to its full extent, the problem can be resolved by using selective manual replacement of system files. For example, if Windows crashes with Stop code: 0xc0000218 (Registry File Failure), this means that the system and/or software files from the \windows\system32\config directory, which are registry keys, are most likely damaged
HKLM\SYSTEM and HKLM\SOFTWARE
Damage to files in other partitions (SAM, SECURITY, BCD) is less likely, since they are written to much less frequently and are much smaller in size. In addition, corruption of these files causes other system boot problems and is accompanied by other critical error messages. In this case, to restore the system, you can either perform a full rollback or manually copy the System (Software) hive file from the checkpoint data. Details about methods for restoring Windows functionality using these restore points if the system cannot boot are described in the article

The computer turns on spontaneously.

    Often, in technical forums the question is discussed - “Why does the computer turn on by itself when the supply voltage is applied?” The answer lies in ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface), a power management interface. It is sometimes also called the interface to access energy-saving hardware features. Part of this specification includes functions to turn on the computer's power when certain events occur.
    The computer's power supply can be turned on not only by pressing the "POWER" button, but also when Power Management Events (PME) specified by the motherboard BIOS settings. Such events can be the pressing of certain keys on the keyboard, specially generated ETHERNET frames, a signal generated by an internal timer, a signal when the primary voltage (220V) is supplied to the input of the power supply, etc.

The name and contents of the BIOS power management section depend on the specific manufacturer and version ("Power Management Setup", "ACPI Configuration", "Advanced Power Management Setup", etc.)

Below is an example of the settings of the "Power - APM Configuration" section of AMI BIOS v2.61:

Restore on AC Power Lost- behavior of the system in the event of a power failure. The value is Power Off - the system will remain off, Power On - the computer will turn on as soon as the power supply is restored. In other words, if this mode is enabled in the BIOS, when the primary voltage (220V) is supplied, the computer will turn on on its own, without pressing the POWER button
Power On By RTC Alarm- turning on the power supply according to the computer’s internal clock (analogous to an alarm clock).
Power On By External Modes- the power supply will be turned on when there is an incoming call to an external modem connected to the serial port.
Power On By PCI (PCIE) Devices- allows the computer to be turned on from devices on the PCI (PCI-E) bus.
Power On By PS/2 Keyboard- allows turning on power from a keyboard connected to the PS/2 connector

In conclusion, I’ll add that in some BIOS versions, the setting to automatically turn on the power supply when the primary 220V appears can be in the section Integrated Peripherals- paragraph PWRON After PWR-Fail(found in some versions of Foenix - AwardBIOS CMOS Setup Utility)

The computer turns off spontaneously.

    Possible reasons:

- Overheating. Temperature sensor readings can be obtained using special software. Typically, such software can be downloaded from the websites of equipment manufacturers (motherboard, video adapter, disk drives, etc.). The most famous universal (“all in one”) program for obtaining information about equipment, incl. and temperature sensor readings is AIDA64(former EVEREST) Lavalis Consuting Group

- Power supply protection is triggered. The cause of the operation may be insufficient power from the power supply. An additional sign of operation at maximum load may be that the shutdown does not always occur, but, for example, when launching game programs that sharply increase the power consumption of the video adapter.
Rarely, but it still happens - the activation of the protection causes a short-term short circuit that occurs during vibration. It can occur when there is a small distance between power buses, connector pins, board elements or conductors with damaged insulation and the housing. When searching, you can use light tapping of the suspected places where the short circuit occurs.

The computer freezes or reboots spontaneously.

    We are talking only about freezes and reboots caused by malfunction or unstable operation of the equipment.

Often freezes and reboots are accompanied by errors in unpacking archives, error messages from individual programs, and system messages about the inability to run an application or open a file.
As in the case of spontaneous shutdown, the cause may be overheating, insufficient power, or instability of the output voltage of the power supply. Another common reason is the use of overclocking to increase performance. Overclocking always reduces system stability.

Diagnosis of the problem:

Analyze the system logs. Perhaps there are records there that will help determine the causes of unstable operation.
- Cancel automatic reboot mode when a critical Windows error occurs. "Start" - "Settings" - "Control Panel" - "System" - "Advanced" - "Boot and Recovery - Settings" - you need to uncheck the "Perform automatic reboot" checkbox. It is useful to enable (if not enabled) the small memory dump recording mode, which can help in finding the causes of a critical error using the BlueScreenView utility, as described in the section "Finding the problematic driver"

Try booting the OS in safe mode. In this mode, only those device drivers and system services that are minimally required are loaded. Their list is determined by the contents of the registry section
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot
Subsections:
Minimal- list of drivers and services that start in Safe Mode
Network- the same, but with network support.

A blue screen of death (BSOD) with different codes on different drivers most likely indicates a hardware problem, usually this is:

RAM

motherboard

incompatibility of memory and motherboard

overheating of motherboard chipset chips

swollen electrolytic capacitors on the motherboard

power unit.

    Some tips:

1. Diagnostics is greatly simplified if you manage to record the situation, i.e. - find such a combination of conditions when a failure definitely occurs.

2. When diagnosing, try to simplify the equipment configuration as much as possible - physically disconnect what you can do without.

3. If you suspect that overheating is the cause of unstable operation, try installing additional fans. When installing them, try not to create oncoming air flows.
You can also use the motherboard BIOS settings to artificially reduce the performance of your computer.
Typically, the BIOS has settings to increase performance (overclocking) by increasing the clock speeds of the processor, memory, and data buses. For stable operation, as a rule, an increase in the supply voltage of overclocked devices is also required. Both the first and second are accompanied by an increase in energy consumption and additional heating. Lowering clock frequencies and supply voltages will reduce heating of the elements. However, keep in mind that a significant reduction in voltage, as a rule, also reduces the stability of their operation.

4. If you use RAM modules that are not included in the list recommended by the motherboard manufacturer, as in the previous case, try reducing their performance with BIOS settings, but do not reduce, but, on the contrary, increase the supply voltage step by step. If there are several modules, try using only one of them as an experiment.

Programs for monitoring and testing equipment

Everest Ultimate Edition (Everest Corporate Editions)- probably the most popular program from Lavalys Consulting Group for diagnosing and testing computer hardware. Provides more than 100 pages of information about the processor, motherboard, memory, devices, temperature sensor readings, etc. Can also be used to conduct network audits and configure for optimal performance. Everest Corporate Edition, compared to EVEREST Ultimate Edition, has slightly broader diagnostic capabilities, including local network analysis. There is support for the Russian language. The program is paid. Program website - www.lavalys.com/

SIV (System Information Viewer)- Unlike Everest, it is free. Shows very detailed information about the system, local network and hardware. Provides information about a wide range of characteristics of the local computer and workstations: installed hardware and software, data from temperature and voltage sensors, information about the processor, memory, hard drives and much more. In terms of capabilities (except for the convenience of presenting information), it is practically not inferior to the paid Everest. The program is constantly updated. You can download the latest version from the manufacturer's download page rh-software.com

SpeedFan 4.40- a free program for monitoring the motherboard (temperature, voltage, fan speed). It has the ability to read S.M.A.R.T - attributes of hard drives, and, accordingly, their temperature. Allows you to adjust the fan speed.

Memtest86- program for testing RAM. The program website is memtest86.com. Testing with Memtest86 does not require any operating system; the program is loaded from a floppy disk or CD-ROM.
Memtest86 project download page. - latest versions of the program, boot images for creating CD/DVD and USB drives, versions of the program for UEFI/BIOS.

Just in case, outdated versions of Memtest86:
- ISO image for creating a bootable CD with Memtest86.
- A program for creating a bootable floppy disk with Memtest86 in a Windows environment. Unzip, insert a blank floppy disk into the drive, and run install.bat.

Memtest86+- created based on Memtest86 by independent developers. Program website - www.memtest.org

Typically, this problem is associated with the absence or insufficient power supply. Check the power source and the computer's connection to the network. If you cannot start, make sure there is no problem when connecting the computer to another outlet and another device (if you are using a stabilizer or filter). A voltage indicator is mounted on motherboards. Remove the left cover of the system unit and check if the indicator lights up. If it does not light, then first replace the power supply.

Screen is blank

One of the main reasons for this problem is a broken connection between the system unit and the monitor. Make sure the connection is good and the monitor is plugged in. If you have a laptop, you should contact a specialist, since the cause of the malfunction is usually worn out wires laid inside the case.

Another reason may be incorrect functioning of the operating system or software. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, in the task manager select “New task/Run”. Type explorer.exe and click OK. If the contents of the desktop are displayed, then check the computer for viruses and the registry keys for . If Windows does not boot, use the recovery disc.

Computer freezes

In this case, the only way out is a reboot, which risks losing unsaved data. The cause of the freeze may be a lack of RAM, overheating of the processor or hard drive, as well as the video card, damaged or missing files, or the activity of viruses. Clean the insides of the system unit, fans, radiators from dust. Go to the “Properties” menu of the “My Computer” section. Next, click “Advanced” - “Boot and Recovery” - “Options” and uncheck the option to reboot automatically. If a blue screen appears, rewrite the error codes. Check your computer for viruses.

Computer is slow

Clear your hard drive of unnecessary files. Use external hard drives to store files. This will free up additional disk space for the needs of the computer's operating system. Enable regular registry scanning. Make sure that an antivirus program and a firewall are installed and functioning on your computer.

Extraneous sounds

Check the cooling fan for serviceability. If the fan is working normally, then extraneous sounds most likely indicate a hardware failure. Noise is often accompanied by hard drive failure, so perform a backup procedure.

Every personal computer user sooner or later encounters computer problems, which can arise for a variety of reasons. It is worth highlighting the main problems with the computer and ways to solve them.

You will need

• Computer, internet, software

Instructions

Computer, i.e. press the power button. First, check whether the power cable is connected to the computer and whether it is plugged into an outlet. Almost all modern power supplies have a toggle switch on the back. Check that it is set to the “on” position (input). If everything written above does not give a positive result, then the power supply itself is faulty. In this case, it requires replacement or replacement of individual parts. But there is a possibility that the wiring has simply come loose, and in order to more accurately identify problems, detailed diagnostics of the PC is needed.

The computer itself (arbitrarily). One of the reasons for this problem is overheating of the motherboard, processor or video adapter. You need to turn off the computer from the network, unscrew the bolts, remove the processor cover, clean (you can use a vacuum cleaner) the fans and radiators (and everything else you can) from dust and dirt.

The computer slows down. The cause of this problem can also be overheating of the computer. Again, you need to clean the radiator and fans from dust. The next possible reason is the computer being infected with Trojans or other viruses. In this case, you need to scan your computer for virus programs and eliminate the viruses found.

The PC turns on, but there is no image on the monitor. Often the cause is a burnt-out video adapter, and to fix this problem, the adapter must be replaced. It could also be due to a faulty motherboard, processor, or random access memory (RAM). It may be that a contact has simply come loose in some connection.

Video on the topic

Helpful advice

Never install third-party pirated software as it will affect the performance of your computer.

Tip 3: How to upgrade your computer yourself

Modern programs are becoming more and more demanding on the characteristics of personal computers. You can improve your PC's performance yourself by replacing some elements.

CPU

You should start upgrading your computer with the central processor. The performance of the PC as a whole directly depends on this device. To select the appropriate CPU, review the specifications of your computer's motherboard. To do this, visit the motherboard manufacturer's website and find out which socket is used in your model. On some sites you can also find a list of processor models suitable for the board you are using.

Choose the best option for your new CPU. It is important to note that even relatively old motherboards can support 4 processors. Replace the CPU, following all instructions in this procedure.

RAM

After replacing the central processor, proceed to analyze the RAM. Check the maximum amount of RAM that the motherboard can handle. Be sure to find out the available memory frequency. For most everyday tasks, it will be better to install 4 GB of memory with maximum operating frequency, rather than use 6-8 GB with low performance. You can determine the characteristics of RAM using the Speccy program.

If your computer already has boards with the best characteristics, add the required number of similar RAM modules. Many motherboards support dual-channel operation. Paired slots are usually painted in the same colors. If you are using absolutely identical RAM modules, insert them into paired connectors. This will improve RAM performance by 10-15%.

HDD

The main characteristic of a hard drive is the spindle rotation speed. Replacing a 5200 rpm drive with a 7200 rpm drive will not significantly improve your computer's speed. For big performance gains, use an SSD drive. Connect it together with the old hard drive. Install the operating system on the SSD. Do not use this type of drive as file storage. A regular HDD drive is much better suited for this.

Video card

To improve performance in games and “heavy” graphics programs, you should consider replacing your video card. Modern video adapters are connected to the PCI (PCI-express) connector. Before purchasing a new device, check whether additional power is required. The power supply power must be above 450 Watts for high-quality video cards to work properly.

In order for the computer to work without failures and performance to be at a high level, you need to be careful when assembling the “stuffing” of the system unit. If you decide to take on this matter, it is better to check several times what and where you are connecting, because there are no cheap parts inside the system unit.

Connecting a hard drive

Now hard drives have SATA connectors. To connect a hard drive, you need: a special cable for transferring information and an adapter for recording a disc. Difficulties may arise if the adapter is not connected correctly. Although there is a special key on the connector that prevents incorrect connection, some still manage to connect it incorrectly, although in order to do this it takes a lot of effort. Such actions will lead to the combustion of all electronics on the hard drive board.

Video card

While assembling a computer, due to inattention, you can forget to connect additional power to the video card, and this will be, perhaps, the most harmless mistake. Eliminating this is not difficult and without sad consequences. An incorrect connection can be noticed when starting the game, it will become very slow. This can be easily fixed. Having opened the case of the system unit, we look for the necessary cable and connect it to the video card.

Thermal paste

If you need to replace thermal paste, you must carefully remove the cooler from the processor and wipe off the old paste. The new one should be applied over the entire area of ​​the processor in a thin and even layer without breaks and without leaving bare areas. Excess paste that ends up outside the processor must be carefully removed. Incorrect application of thermal paste can lead to overheating of the central processor, and this already affects the performance of the entire computer. This will be noticeable by braking when performing complex operations. Thermal paste needs to be changed every six months.

Motherboard

The error is common for beginners, but it also happens for experienced ones. When you purchase a computer case, a sleeve is included with it. It serves to securely attach the motherboard to the wall of the system unit. The sleeves are attached to the case, then the motherboard is leaned against them and only then screwed. But it happens that due to lack of experience, they attach the motherboard directly to the case without using sleeves. The result of such installation will be sad, the entire motherboard will burn out, and accordingly you will need to buy a new one.

USB connectors

In the front part of the system unit there are special USB connectors for various devices (flash drive, printer, phone, camera). Their location at the front makes them very convenient to use. But before using these connectors, you first need to install them in the motherboard.

If the installation was not carried out correctly, then the first connected device will instantly become unusable. It’s good if it’s an ordinary flash drive, but if it’s an expensive laser printer, it’ll be a shame to end up costing a pretty penny due to carelessness. It’s better to check everything again to prevent such consequences.

Tip 5: The most common user mistakes when assembling, upgrading or servicing a computer

Assembling a computer system unit and connecting peripherals to it is quite simple, because during their design it was taken into account that users can install PC components (purchase, change during the upgrade process) themselves. But nevertheless, a fairly large number of users make almost childish mistakes in this process.

From personal experience, I would like to highlight the following types of errors:

- incorrect choice of components.

To upgrade a PC, users can purchase RAM, processor, memory sticks, hard drive, etc. that are not suitable for the existing platform. It is known that the motherboard only supports certain types of devices, but users can forget about this and, for example, purchase a DDR3 stick instead of DDR2 RAM. With the naked eye you can see that these strips are even geometrically different, but the most persistent users can forcefully push a new strip into the slot, which will cause an irreversible failure of the PC.

Conclusion: If you want to buy more RAM, a more powerful processor or video card, or a larger hard drive, be sure to check the motherboard model before purchasing. This can be done in PC documents or with a special program.

- incorrect connection of peripheral devices.

The connectors for connecting a monitor, printer, scanner, keyboard and mouse, and other devices are asymmetrical so that the user can connect the device only correctly, however, there are cases when the PC owner forces the plug into the connector with the other side or even chooses a socket that, in in principle, not intended for this plug.

Helpful advice: Remember that any cable should not be driven into the connector with force!

- improper maintenance.

Having read useful articles about cleaning dust, changing thermal paste, and the need for other computer maintenance, some users get down to business too zealously. This is probably why system administrators are faced with broken keys, system files deleted by the user (without which the OS will not start) and other problems that the user created for himself.

Helpful advice: if you don’t know the basics of electrical engineering or at least don’t understand the laws set out in the school physics textbook in the “Electricity” section, as well as the text in the computer science textbook, if during laboratory work you were asked to just sit and watch how your comrades work, you should not follow what you found on the Internet for advice (especially since, unfortunately, today some articles are written by writers inexperienced in system administration who are trying to retell information found on the Internet on this topic).

The variety of computer components is huge, so if you wish, you can assemble both a simple and a powerful machine that will run absolutely all modern computer games. During the upgrade process, you can also either slightly improve the performance of your computer or increase its performance to the maximum. Unfortunately, a wide range of different components also has a drawback: it can be very difficult for a non-specialist to choose the appropriate configuration. The fact is that when choosing components, you need to take into account not only their characteristics, but also compatibility with other devices. Otherwise, there is a high risk that you will purchase components that simply will not work together, which means you will be throwing money down the drain.

By the way, keep in mind the fact that some devices may have different dimensions. For example, users sometimes decide to install an additional video card in addition to the existing one, but when assembling the computer they are convinced that it simply does not fit in the system unit and it is not possible to install two video cards at once. Do not forget that when upgrading a computer, a weak power supply sometimes has to be replaced with a more powerful one.

Once you have purchased everything you need, start assembling your computer. Make sure all wires are disconnected and begin replacing old components with new ones. Ideally, the upgrade process should be combined with cleaning the computer and replacing thermal paste. Be careful and try not to damage new components, especially if you are replacing a processor whose legs tend to bend and even break if handled incorrectly. Having completely assembled the computer, turn it on, install drivers if necessary, and using special programs (for example, AIDA64 is suitable) make sure that all equipment has been identified correctly and is working correctly.

opportunities to eliminate
computer problems

Theme for computers and laptops,
with Windows OS installed.

I’ll say right away that under computer problems – I have
due to a problem with Windows OS. And not purely technical issues. When something burns out, breaks or breaks.

When problems arise in Windows OS, the system itself
and corrects. With your help. You only need to know -
where to find these opportunities.

And if after turning on the computer, Windows generally
not loading - you can paste recovery disk
systems into the drive and, since the disc contains tools
system restore, the computer will resume operation.

Topics on this page

Diagnose and prevent computer problems

Diagnosis and prevention
problems on the computer

The path to solving problems on your computer is Start → Panel
management → in the “System and Security” section, select
"Finding and fixing problems." The following window will open.

In this window you can find solutions to those problems
that are available on your computer.

In the "Hardware and Sound" section - you can
troubleshoot hardware and sound problems.

On the “Device Settings” button – you can troubleshoot problems
with all devices connected to your computer.

Click on the “Device Settings” button – a tab will open
"Diagnostics and prevention of computer problems."

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

In this tab you need to click the “Next” button at the bottom
and in the next tab troubleshooting will begin.

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

When the search for problems ends - the system
can show you such a window.

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Of course, the system requests this permission on condition that
that you will find a problem similar to mine.

If there is no similar problem, then
final window with diagnostics.

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

This window shows what problems
the system was unable to automatically correct.

If there are no uncorrected problems, then the program will simply
will notify you when troubleshooting is complete.

In the same way as with the “Device Setup” button described above,
from, solve problems, if they exist, with the operation of the printer, with sound recording, and with sound playback.

About troubleshooting mouse problems -
What to do if the keyboard stops working -

On my laptop, on which I mainly work, it is installed
OS version Windows 7 (Start). It's cut down nicely. This may be why the system was unable to fix the two problems automatically.
In addition, the AMD driver, which “in accordance with the parameters of the Center
Windows updates never install" - fails on many
computers. This is the weak link in Windows. But for now the system itself
“successfully restores” its operation - I change this driver
I do not plan. Such problems don't bother me much.

The second point in my unresolved problems is the change
equipment configurations. It's me myself updated mouse configuration .
After this update, the mouse began to work much better.
It’s quite natural that I don’t consider this a problem.

All methods of system recovery on a computer

All methods
system recovery

If a serious problem remains unresolved, then you can
, click on the “View additional options” button.

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

You can, in a new window, select Help to read
details about the problems in the “Device” category. Or any other button
in this window. But the most decisive (problem) button is “Recovery”.

Click on the button; “Recovery” - this window will open.

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

You can also access this window in another way:
Start → Control Panel → under “System and Security”
Select "Find and fix problems."
At the bottom of the left column is the “Recovery” button.
Click and the same window will open.

In this window there are two buttons for system recovery.
The first one, which is recommended to be used first, is
"Start System Restore." This elimination option
problems that slow down or block your computer.

And programs and drivers that
If you set it yourself, you will have to sacrifice.

Although, if these are some free applications
(such as browsers) or drivers - they can be downloaded again.

But don't forget
.

04.11.2014

The article will help solve the most common PC problems that arise during operation, such as BSOD, accidentally deleted files, system slowdown and many others.

LINCOLN SPECTOR. TOP 10 FIXES for COMMON PC PROBLEMS. PCWorld, August 2014.

1. Blue Screen of Death error

Task. You're working on an important project, and suddenly everything disappears from the screen and all that's left is strange white text on a blue background. If this is an isolated incident, it is usually enough to restart your computer and hope for the best. If such a screen appears before your eyes quite often, it means that you are faced with some kind of problem that requires your intervention.

Solution.

Microsoft calls such situations “stop errors,” but most users prefer a more understandable designation: “Blue Screen of Death” (BSoD).

In new versions of the operating system, errors of this kind do not occur often, but from time to time you still see a blue screen of death in front of you (I personally saw it no more than two days ago). When this happens, as a rule, it is enough to reboot and hope for the best in the future. But if such errors occur regularly, it means that there is some problem with the computer that needs to be solved.

In this case, it makes sense to look for information about a specific BSoD screen, and then - since it is quite difficult to extract rational grain from this information - turn to the Internet in search of practical advice.

What to do when a blue screen of death appears before your eyes? Useful information is provided in the first paragraph and under the Technical information heading at the bottom of the screen.

Since the Windows tool that allows you to take instant screenshots cannot be used when a BSoD error occurs, you will have to write down all the important information on paper. You can also take a photo of the screen with a camera or phone. But it’s unlikely that you’ll get a good (or even easily readable) picture.

You can also get BSoD information after a reboot. If you see the message Windows has recovered from an unexpected shutdown, consider yourself lucky. You can click the Check for solution button, but this is unlikely to help you much.

After a reboot, the free Blue Screen View program also allows you to obtain the necessary information.

However, no matter what method you choose, you most likely cannot do without an Internet search engine. If this doesn't help, try the following:

Check the performance of the RAM using the Memtest 86+ program;

Update your drivers using Slim Drivers;

Run diagnostics on your hard drive using HD Tune.

2. Recover deleted files

Task. Literally just now they were before your eyes, and now there is no trace of them. This happens with files sometimes. And where to look for them now? Are you sure there is no backup copy left anywhere?

Solution. Deleted files can most often be recovered, if, of course, you realize it in time. But with each subsequent write to disk, the probability of a successful outcome decreases. Therefore, try to access your computer as little as possible until the files are restored, otherwise you risk depriving yourself of your last hope.

Try the following operations in the order shown here.

Check the contents of your shopping cart. Windows stores deleted files there for security purposes. The corresponding icon appears in the upper left corner of the screen. If files are found, select them, right-click on them and select “Recover” from the context menu.

Use backups. If you regularly back up your hard drive (or at least your libraries), the files can most likely be found there. I don't know what backup program you're using, so I can't tell you exactly how you should search for and restore files. But, as a rule, this procedure is intuitive.

If you still don't make backups, perhaps it's time to get into the habit. This won’t help you now, but next time it will save you from major troubles.

Use file recovery software. Even if the file is not in the Recycle Bin, it may well remain on the disk. Windows does not overwrite its contents until another file needs the free space. That's why I recommend using your PC as little as possible.

There are several good programs that recover files. I recommend paying attention to the Recuva Portable utility. It is easy to use and has excellent write tracking. Sometimes you can even view the contents that it can recover. (There were cases when information was also restored that could not be displayed.) This program is distributed free of charge.

The utility belongs to the portable category (you don’t have to install it on your computer before using it), so you can run it without even copying it to your PC’s hard drive (which is of great importance in this case). Download the program to another computer and extract it to a folder on a flash drive. After that, connect the drive to the PC on which the files you need have disappeared, and launch it directly from there.

Seek help from a specialist. If none of the above works, you have one last chance. There are a lot of services in the world that offer file recovery, and if your disk is still functional, you most likely won’t have to resort to the most expensive services.

Personally, I have never used services of this kind and cannot recommend any specific company. Ask friends or read reviews on forums.

If you regularly back up your hard drive (or at least your libraries), the files can most likely be found there.

3. Create backup copies of data files

Task. Not taking backups can be compared to not wearing seat belts. No problems arise for many months or even years, but then an accident occurs and you are in serious trouble.

Solution. There is a very simple rule: you should never limit yourself to making just one copy of anything.

Creating backup copies of files should be done daily. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to receive copies of all files at once every day. Any backup program worth its salt supports incremental backups, which only affects files that have been created or modified since the last backup operation.

Data files mean your documents, photos, spreadsheets, songs, etc. When you copy your “Libraries” or the entire “Users” folder, you get all of the above.

You might also consider creating a backup of your entire system - Windows and applications, although this is not as important. If Windows suddenly becomes inoperable as a result of a crash, you can always reinstall the operating system, configure the necessary settings and reinstall all programs. But if you have a backup copy, all this can be done much faster and with less effort.

The only way to guarantee a Windows backup is to create an image that contains everything on the disk partition. There is no need to do this regularly. Personally, I back up my system 4 times a year.

Windows 7 and 8 include quite good backup utilities that allow you to create both backup copies of files and an image of the entire partition. But I prefer the free Easeus ToDo Backup, which also does both while supporting many other features.

Backup options

What exactly are you copying? External hard drives are now fast, inexpensive, and allow you to store either of two options. But you can also consider using online services that place copies of your files in the cloud. The copy on the Internet is located at a great distance from your computer, and in this case you are no longer afraid of any fires, floods or robberies. However, in this case everything works much slower and is more expensive in the long run.

Over the years I have used the Mozy Home backup service. I can’t say that it is better or worse than the services offered by competitors, but everything here functions quite reliably.

4. Maintain privacy when browsing websites

Task. What seemed like paranoia just yesterday is today perceived as common sense. Are there reliable and secure ways to access the Internet that prevent scammers, companies, and government agencies from tracking your activities?

Solution. No one can give you a 100% guarantee of security and confidentiality. But you can limit access to the Internet, thereby reducing the likelihood of security breaches.

Private browsing mode in the browser

Most browsers support a special mode that allows you to prevent tracking of user actions when visiting sites. In this case, no logs are logged and no cookies are created.

However, this regime has its limitations. Websites you visit still see your router's IP address. And your ISP knows who you visit and when. And what is known to the provider, government agencies can also find out if they wish.

So, how do you enable private browsing mode?

Internet Explorer: In the settings menu, select "Security Browsing In Private."

Chrome: Click the menu icon in the top right corner and select New Incognito Window.

Firefox: Press the key to open the browser menu. Then select File New Private Window.

Browser add-ons

The right tool will provide an additional layer of browser protection. For my part, I can recommend two free add-ons.

By installing the Mask Me extension in Firefox or Chrome, you can use disposable addresses when working with email. Emails sent to such addresses will be forwarded to your real address. For $5/month or $45/year, Mask Me will generate temporary credit card numbers. The Ghostery extension will protect you from commercial espionage. When a web page loads, it will display all the tracking services used by the site. You can block unwanted resources. However, Ghostery's systems company, Evidon, receives money from advertisers, which may create conflicts of interest.

More complex types of camouflage

The solutions we've talked about so far allow you to see your IP address, and the ISP has the ability to track the sites you visit. To hide your IP address, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or the Tor Browser program, which works in confidential mode and broadcasts its signal through a series of intermediate servers, hiding your original location. These methods are as secure as security can be on the Web.

5. Speed ​​up a slow PC without purchasing new hardware

Task. If a computer that once simply flew began to crawl like a snail, you should not immediately blame the equipment. Of course, you can improve performance by adding more RAM, replacing the processor, or replacing the hard drive with an SSD. But none of these options radically solves the problem. It's not that your equipment lacks power, but that it is overloaded with something.

Solution. Cleaning Windows will likely help speed up your PC. No, I'm not suggesting reinstalling the operating system at all. There are much less painful ways.

Find processes that consume large amounts of resources

There may be a process running on your computer that is consuming a lot of valuable resources. To find it, right-click on the Taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the context menu. Go to the Processes tab and click on the CPU column header. The processes that are consuming the most CPU resources will be displayed at the top of the list.

If an obvious culprit is found, close the program that started the process. If you cannot close it, click the “End task” button and confirm the selected action.

If your computer starts working well after this, try not to use this program in the future. Or look for a better replacement.

If the operations performed do not help, click on the title of the “Memory” column and see if the culprit is hiding here.

Clearing the startup list

When Windows starts, the operating system automatically loads a number of other programs, which can reduce PC performance. In this case, you should go to the startup list and, sequentially disabling its elements and rebooting the system, try to identify the program that has a negative impact on overall performance. In Windows XP, Vista, or 7, click the Start button, type msconfig on your keyboard, and click. In the System Configuration window, go to the Startup tab. To disable list items, uncheck their boxes. In Windows 8, right-click on the Taskbar and select "Task Manager" from the context menu. If in the window that appears you see the “Startup” tab, go to it; if not, click the “Details” button and after that go to the “Startup” tab. To disable a list item, right-click on it and select “Disable” from the context menu.

Search for malware

I doubt that this kind of problem could be caused by a virus. But just in case, still run an anti-virus scanner on your computer.

Reducing the number of programs running simultaneously

The more programs running on a computer, the slower it runs. Therefore, try to open as few programs as possible at the same time.

Disabling Aero Mode

To give the image a more aesthetic appearance, Windows 7 and Vista use Aero technology. There is no particular need for it, but it does slow down the PC somewhat.

6. One antivirus program is better than two

Task. Running two antivirus programs at the same time is like mixing a fine old Cabernet with your breakfast cereal. Each of these products is good in its own way, but their combination is unlikely to please anyone.

Solution. Before moving on to explain the reasons, it is worth giving a number of definitions. An antivirus is a program that is launched when the PC boots up. It is constantly in memory and protects the computer in real time not only from viruses (which, from a technical point of view, look outdated), but also from Trojans, rootkits and other types of malicious programs.

Two antiviruses downloaded and running at the same time are redundant, to say the least. And in this particular case, we don’t need redundancy at all.

Please note that any program takes up a certain amount of RAM and consumes processor resources, potentially slowing down all other programs. Of course, a well-written antivirus takes up a minimum of resources and does not have a very noticeable impact on performance. However, two programs of this kind running simultaneously have a 2x greater impact on performance.

But that's not all. Antivirus programs can conflict with each other, because when you try to download the next file, they both try to scan it. Conflicts that arise interfere with other applications, causing Windows to become unstable.

If you're worried that an antivirus program alone isn't enough for you, you can supplement it with an on-demand virus scanner. Unlike a full-fledged antivirus program, such a scanner will not constantly occupy RAM. You download it as needed, update the antivirus database, scan your hard drive, and close the application once the process is complete.

I use two such programs - the free versions of SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Once a week my hard drive is scanned by one of these scanners.

7. Securely erase confidential files or entire hard drive

Task. When you delete a file, the data stored on the disk doesn't actually go away - even if the Recycle Bin is emptied. The data bits still reside on the disk until they are overwritten by some other operation. Even after formatting the disk, if you wish and have the appropriate skills and tools, the data on it can be restored.

Solution. If you really want to safely delete files or wipe your entire hard drive, you'll need software that overwrites the space where your file was previously located. Moreover, some programs of this kind are distributed completely free of charge.

For starters, I can recommend the Eraser utility, which integrates into Windows Explorer. After installing it, just right-click on the file or folder and select Eraser from the context menu. The mode of erasing files after restarting the computer is also supported, which can be very convenient if Windows does not allow you to perform the corresponding operation right now.

Another option is to delete the data as usual, empty the Recycle Bin, and then overwrite the free space on your hard drive using CCleaner. This is a very useful application that allows you to perform a variety of service operations. CCleaner's Disk Erase tool is located in the Tools tab.

Both of these programs offer different erasing technologies that allow you to repeatedly overwrite disk space. Naturally, if you rewrite a file 35 times, the likelihood of its recovery will be much lower than after rewriting it once.

However, according to Russell Chozik from the company Flashback Data (which deals with data recovery on demand, both for ordinary clients and law enforcement agencies), even one pass is quite enough for modern drives. Previously, some traces could still be detected, but nowadays the data on disks is so dense that a program that performs a one-time rewrite copes with its task perfectly.

To securely delete a file, you will need software that overwrites the space where your file was previously located.

8. Slow Internet connection when paying for a fast channel

Task. Almost no one's Internet connection speed reaches the values ​​​​promised by the provider, but the difference between the promised and actual throughput should be minimal.

Solution. Almost no one manages to get the Internet connection speed promised by their provider. The parameters that affect performance are almost impossible to predict, so providers indicate the maximum speed possible from a theoretical point of view.

However, the difference between actual and advertised speeds should not be that great. And if you regularly receive no more than 70% of what was promised, and the bills issued by the provider are not surprisingly low, then there is a bottleneck somewhere. (If you don't know how to test your Internet connection, go to speedtest.net and click the Begin Test button.)

This bottleneck can be on the provider's side or on your side. Several diagnostic operations will help determine the culprit.

First, try connecting another computer to the Internet. If on one of the computers the connection speed reaches an acceptable value, but on the other it does not, then the provider has nothing to do with it.

Check and test your computer's connection to the router. If you're using Wi-Fi, try Ethernet. If the connection is made using Ethernet technology, use a different port or change the cable.

Replace other cables (specifically the one that goes from the modem to the router). If this doesn't help, replace the cable running from the modem to the outlet (I don't mean the power cord).

Try updating the firmware of the router and, if this does not help, the modem. Look for new firmware options on the manufacturer's website.

If the problem persists, connect the PC directly to the cable. You may have to change some operating system settings. Check with your provider. If all else fails, you'll need a new router.

Consider also replacing your router. Your provider may provide it to you. If not, you will have to buy it with your own money.

In cases where the speed does not increase after doing all of the above, the provider is to blame. And if he is not able to correct the situation, it makes sense to turn to another service provider.

The bottleneck can be on the provider's side or on your side. Several diagnostic operations will help determine the culprit.

9. Archiving files and then storing them for many years

Task. People are concerned about the safety of their archived digital files over time. And these fears are not unfounded.

Solution. A number of precautions will greatly increase the likelihood that your distant descendants will be able to enjoy your wedding photos.

Let's look at the software first.

Preference should be given to popular file formats that are widely used and not controlled by any one company. To be extra safe, save files in several different formats whenever possible.

Documents should be recorded in formats. docx,. doc,. pdf, etc. html. Suitable formats for photographs. jpg and. png, for music - . mp3 and. wav.

But with video, everything is not so simple, because format standards, in fact, are not standards. And if the file. avi is played on one device, it is not at all a fact that it can be viewed with the same success on another. Therefore, it is best to record video files in DVD or Blu-ray formats.

The next question is: on what media should all this be stored?

For additional protection, copy files to special, archival optical discs. Perhaps the best option here is M-Disc. Writing information onto an M-Disk is like carving it in stone. The manufacturer guarantees data safety for a thousand years.

How valid is this claim? I will be able to answer this question only after 999 years. But government tests show that M-Discs are far more resilient than any other optical media.

To record to M-Disc discs you will need a special device. But the recorded disc can be read on any DVD drive. A Blu-ray drive will also work.

I’m not ready to say for sure whether optical disks will exist in the distant future, but, apparently, this can be counted on. After all, if a sufficiently large number of people accumulate such disks, the release of devices for reading them will bring profit to manufacturers.

To write to M-Disc discs, you will need a special device, but the recorded disc can be read on any DVD drive.

10. Sharing important passwords

Task. These days, as we navigate a password-protected digital world, the question increasingly arises: How do you prepare for that inevitable day when you die or become incapacitated? And this is not at all as insignificant as it might seem at first glance. When you pass away or lose the ability to retrieve information from your memory and communicate with others, your loved ones will need access to your email, contacts, bank accounts, etc. Without a plan of action in advance, this can become a serious problem.

Solution. If you don't believe me, go to Google's page on accessing the mail of the deceased. To obtain this access, you will have to collect a lot of documents, including the death certificate (and you will have to pay for each certified copy), and send them to the service provider by regular mail. Next, you will need additional legal documents, including a court order and/or some other materials.

But it makes things a lot easier if someone you trust keeps your Google Account password, as well as other important passwords.

One possible solution would be to print out all the necessary passwords and store them in a safe deposit box. However, this printout will have to be updated after each password change, which is not very convenient.

The best option

Contact someone you trust. The obvious candidate here is your spouse. It could also be a close friend or relative. You can contact your lawyer or a specialist handling your financial affairs. For brevity, let's call this person your executor.

You will need a password manager - a program installed on your PC that allows you to store passwords in an encrypted database.

Your executor will also need a password manager, although this could be some other program.

Give the executor a few key passwords—Windows, your mobile device account, your email, and, of course, your password manager. Make sure all passwords are stored securely in an encrypted database.

If your relationship with your executor is more personal than professional, keep your key passwords in your password manager.

Naturally, if key passwords change, they should also be changed in your trusted person's password manager.

You will need a password manager - a program installed on your PC that allows you to store passwords in an encrypted database.