5 Things to Do Before Calling the PC Repair Guy

It weighs heavy on my conscience when I must charge a client for me to come out and correctly seat a DVI cable or simply unmute their master volume controls. Of course, I make it worth their while by administering a variety of PC tune-ups (remove unused files, clean out the startup list, etc.), but if everyone would carry out these 5 easy-fix solutions before calling in their local computer fix-it guy, they might find that even the least techno-literate of us can solve PC problems at home.

1. First thing's first: check to make sure that all wires and connections are fastened securely. Now I know that there are many people out there who are terrified of doing anything to (or even just looking at) the back panel of a computer for fear of doing some sort of irreversible damage. In reality, there is very little damage that can be done by fiddling with the connectors on the back of a computer (unless connectors are forced into ports in which they do not fit, of course). Most PC connectors are keyed, meaning they can only be inserted into the port with the correct orientation. Ones that are not - 3mm audio connectors for example - will fit into the corresponding port regardless of orientation. So as long as the connections aren't forced into place, it's safe and easy!

2. Having sound problems? This one may seem menial, but it happens more often than one may think; the system volume may be muted. If this is the case, a little icon will usually appear in the task tray notifying the user of the soundless status. To correct this, either double-click the icon and unmute the master volume or access the volume settings from the control panel and unmute the master volume. Additionally, most speaker systems and headphones are manufactured with a built-in volume dial. Make sure this volume setting is also at an audible level.

3. Or perhaps your computer is suddenly running slower than usual. While there are many ailments that may cause this symptom, one of the most common is spyware or malware running undetected in the background of your PC. As a first step in diagnosing a suddenly slow computer, it is important to run both a virus and a spyware scan. If either of these are nowhere to be found on your hard drive, fret not - you can download a plethora of them for free online! Just enter ""free antivirus"" or ""free spyware removal"" into your favorite search engine.

4. Or maybe your computer has been gradually getting slower, bringing it eventually to a grinding halt. Again, there are many causes of this, but the most predominant is simply an accumulation of ""clutter"" on the hard drive. All of the websites visited, files downloaded, and programs installed (just to name a few) store cookies, temporary files, and other files completely unnecessary to system functionality. These accumulate and clutter the hard drive over time, making its job much more difficult. To remedy this, simply utilize the Disk Cleanup tool incorporated into Windows. To run the Disk cleanup tool, navigate to start menu > All programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk cleanup. From there, just follow the on-screen instructions! Additionally, deleting unused files and uninstalling seldom used programs may significantly boost performance.

5. And finally, make sure to utilize your most powerful tool: the internet. Chances are that if it's happening to you, it has happened to someone else before. Just enter the problem into your favorite search engine and you may find that the problem has a relatively simple solution; however, if the proposed solution is overly technical, then there may be no avoiding a call to your local computer repair professional.

In no way am I attempting to besmirch the small PC repair shop, as there is no substitute for the professional support offered by a computer technician. In many cases, a technician's skills and experience are necessary to troubleshoot the unique symptoms of each system. Yet, by administering these possible solutions beforehand, you could save yourself from a hefty repair bill.