Are you tired of that computer not working? Are you losing time and productivity? If you answered "YES!" to either of those questions then this article is a MUST READ for you. I am going to briefly describe 10 of the most common computer problems. Obviously, if you need help with ANY of these computer repairs you can call us at 816.427.1117. :)
The first four - adware, spyware, malware, and viruses - are very closely related, but each is different in its own special way. For spyware, malware, virus, or adware removal give us a call.
Adware
Adware is quite the nuisance. When you are infected with adware you will be bombarded with pop-up banners that entice you to click them in some way. Perhaps you are the 1,000,000th visitor to a website and have won something, of there is a way too good to be true offer that is going to expire if you don't "get it right now!" Adware publishers make money off getting you to click the ads that have infiltrated your computer. Once infected, try not to click these ads. Every click is more money in the publishers pocket and more motivation for these guys to continue.
Adware is quite the nuisance. When you are infected with adware you will be bombarded with pop-up banners that entice you to click them in some way. Perhaps you are the 1,000,000th visitor to a website and have won something, of there is a way too good to be true offer that is going to expire if you don't "get it right now!" Adware publishers make money off getting you to click the ads that have infiltrated your computer. Once infected, try not to click these ads. Every click is more money in the publishers pocket and more motivation for these guys to continue.
Spyware
Spyware is less of a nuisance but much more dangerous than adware. Spyware aims to evade detection and does exactly what you may have guessed - it quite literally spies on you. Spyware can monitor the things you do, the websites you visit, and the usernames and passwords you use to log into things such as your email, or even your bank. When infected with spyware you may not know until it is too late.
Spyware is less of a nuisance but much more dangerous than adware. Spyware aims to evade detection and does exactly what you may have guessed - it quite literally spies on you. Spyware can monitor the things you do, the websites you visit, and the usernames and passwords you use to log into things such as your email, or even your bank. When infected with spyware you may not know until it is too late.
Viruses and Worms
Viruses and worms are known for the manners in which they spread. A virus is capable of reproducing itself and infecting other systems once it is run (or executes) on an infected machine. A worm is capable of spreading to other systems without first being run on an infected machine and it does so by exploiting a vulnerabilty in the target systems. A prime example of a worm is the well-known SQL Slammer worm, which was able to infect hundreds of thousands of machines on the day of its release. If you are technical enough, you can see remnants of the SQL Slammer worm still quite active on the internet today.
Viruses and worms are known for the manners in which they spread. A virus is capable of reproducing itself and infecting other systems once it is run (or executes) on an infected machine. A worm is capable of spreading to other systems without first being run on an infected machine and it does so by exploiting a vulnerabilty in the target systems. A prime example of a worm is the well-known SQL Slammer worm, which was able to infect hundreds of thousands of machines on the day of its release. If you are technical enough, you can see remnants of the SQL Slammer worm still quite active on the internet today.
Malware
While all of the above issues can arguably be classified as malware, I'm going to define malware as a different type of infection. Malware is the type of infection that will allow its owner to use YOUR machine to do his or her dirty work. One of the biggest perpetrators of this type of malware is what is known as a botnet. With botnet malware infections YOUR machine may be sending out thousands of SPAM email messages to the benefit of the malware owner, providing the owner with a certain level of anonymity because he or she because very difficult to track.
While all of the above issues can arguably be classified as malware, I'm going to define malware as a different type of infection. Malware is the type of infection that will allow its owner to use YOUR machine to do his or her dirty work. One of the biggest perpetrators of this type of malware is what is known as a botnet. With botnet malware infections YOUR machine may be sending out thousands of SPAM email messages to the benefit of the malware owner, providing the owner with a certain level of anonymity because he or she because very difficult to track.
Clicking Noise
A clicking noise can often be the first sign of a hard drive failing. Most hard drives today have moving parts in them that where out over time. The clicking noise you may hear is actually the actuating arm that reads the information from the platters inside your hard drive. When you hear this clicking noise it is time to start figuring out how to get a backup copy of any data you have on the suspect hard drive, if you don't already have a backup.
A clicking noise can often be the first sign of a hard drive failing. Most hard drives today have moving parts in them that where out over time. The clicking noise you may hear is actually the actuating arm that reads the information from the platters inside your hard drive. When you hear this clicking noise it is time to start figuring out how to get a backup copy of any data you have on the suspect hard drive, if you don't already have a backup.
Insufficient Memory
Insufficient memory errors occur when your computer needs more RAM (random access memory) installed in it than it has. RAM is used in operations that occur frequently during the execution of applications on your computer. When these applications require more RAM, Windows will often give you the Insufficient Memory error.
Insufficient memory errors occur when your computer needs more RAM (random access memory) installed in it than it has. RAM is used in operations that occur frequently during the execution of applications on your computer. When these applications require more RAM, Windows will often give you the Insufficient Memory error.
Internet does not work
There are a ton of reasons why your internet may not work. The most desirable reason is because the internet subscription you are using is having an outage, or because someone unplugged your modem. Other reasons for your "internet not working" can be caused by any of a number of malware infections which can be quite difficult to remediate. When you have malware, the owners generally want your computer to act as they wish, and many times they don't want you browsing the web because you just might figure out why your computing is acting funny.
There are a ton of reasons why your internet may not work. The most desirable reason is because the internet subscription you are using is having an outage, or because someone unplugged your modem. Other reasons for your "internet not working" can be caused by any of a number of malware infections which can be quite difficult to remediate. When you have malware, the owners generally want your computer to act as they wish, and many times they don't want you browsing the web because you just might figure out why your computing is acting funny.
Just plain SLOW
A slow computer can be caused by any of the previously mentioned malware, adware, spyware, virus infections, or even insufficient memory. When you are infected with malware your computer is doing things it should not be doing and is probably doing so without your knowledge. With insufficient memory, your computer is struggling to cope with the lack of resources available, often times choosing to read and write a lot of data to your hard drive, which slows a machine down tremendously. Another issues that can cause youre computer to be slow is a hard drive that has become "fragmented." When your hard drive is fragmented you have data scattered all over the hard drive and the computer must search for the individual pieces of data that it needs. This is much slower than having all of the same types of data placed on the hard drive nice and neat, so it doesn't have to search for it.
A slow computer can be caused by any of the previously mentioned malware, adware, spyware, virus infections, or even insufficient memory. When you are infected with malware your computer is doing things it should not be doing and is probably doing so without your knowledge. With insufficient memory, your computer is struggling to cope with the lack of resources available, often times choosing to read and write a lot of data to your hard drive, which slows a machine down tremendously. Another issues that can cause youre computer to be slow is a hard drive that has become "fragmented." When your hard drive is fragmented you have data scattered all over the hard drive and the computer must search for the individual pieces of data that it needs. This is much slower than having all of the same types of data placed on the hard drive nice and neat, so it doesn't have to search for it.
Burning Smell
Often times when there is a burning smell from your computer, there is a good chance a capacitor has been blown on one or more of the components inside the computer's case. I've seen them blown on the motherboards themselves, and I've seen them blown inside the computer's power supply. Either way, if there is a burning smell, TURN IT OFF. You don't want a fire.
Often times when there is a burning smell from your computer, there is a good chance a capacitor has been blown on one or more of the components inside the computer's case. I've seen them blown on the motherboards themselves, and I've seen them blown inside the computer's power supply. Either way, if there is a burning smell, TURN IT OFF. You don't want a fire.
Won't Start
A computer can fail to start for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons a computer won't start is that the hard drive has gone bad of the filesystem has become corrupt. When a hard drive goes bad you often have an actuator arm inside the hard drive that can no longer move along the surface of the platter to obtain the data it needs. When a filesystem has become corrupt the "address locations" of the data on the disk are no longer accurate, and the data the machine tries to use are no longer useful.
A computer can fail to start for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons a computer won't start is that the hard drive has gone bad of the filesystem has become corrupt. When a hard drive goes bad you often have an actuator arm inside the hard drive that can no longer move along the surface of the platter to obtain the data it needs. When a filesystem has become corrupt the "address locations" of the data on the disk are no longer accurate, and the data the machine tries to use are no longer useful.
If you are faced with any of these types of issues it is important you consult a properly qualified professional to diagnose and resolve the problems. A misdiagnosis could cost you hundreds of dollars in parts you don't need. Even worse, a misdiagnosis could cost you all of your valuable data.
Joe Doran
Custom Computing Solutions, LLC.
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