Mobile: 0418 138 930
Email: kristian@kristianskomputers.com.au
Availability:
Monday to Saturday: 9am to 6pm
Sunday: Closed
My mission is to offer genuine customer service and deliver fast turnaround times on repairs and upgrades.
My mission is to offer genuine customer service and deliver fast turnaround times on repairs and upgrades.
Here are some frequently asked computer problem questions with possible solutions to help you troubleshoot them by yourself. Computers are very technical and complicated machines, so not all solutions will work 100% of the time for your particular problem.
My computer won't power-on, now what?
My computer crashes and freezes, why is this happening?
There are far too many reasons why a computer may crash or freeze to explain any meaningful solutions here. Hardware failure is common and software is so complex that occasionally you will experience problems. Virus and malware infections can cause problems as can a corrupted hardware driver. If your computer isn't responding at all, try re-starting it to see if it was just a one off glitch. Anything beyond that requires a computer technician to troubleshoot the problem.
A puff of smoke and a burning smell came from my computer, is it dead?
The most common cause to this question is that the power supply unit inside the computer has blown. A power surge is the most likely cause for this, so be sure to use a decent power board with built-in surge protection to protect you against this. There is also the chance that other components inside your computer have also died. A power supply unit is easy to replace but anything beyond that requires a computer technician to perform.
My computer turned off by itself while I was using it, why?
This problem is most likely caused by overheating or a faulty power supply unit. There could be a build-up of dust inside your computer preventing the fans from properly cooling components inside. Dust deposits cause the heat inside a computer to rise and if the temperature gets too high, your computer switches itself off to save itself, otherwise certain components could melt and die. All the dust needs to be removed carefully otherwise you could damage delicate components. You can remove the side panels on a desktop computer easily to perform this by yourself. A laptop is harder as it needs to be disassembled to clean.
I think my hard disk/solid state drive is faulty, have I lost all my data?
Not necessarily. Access to your drive can be attempted, but it depends on what the fault is and the condition it's in. If the partition is corrupt, there's a chance to obtain the data with data recovery software. However, if it's physically damaged, faulty or malfunctioning, you will need to enlist the services of a Professional Data Recovery company to help you. They deal with this specific area exclusively and can retrieve data from almost all devices, no matter what the condition. This can be a very expensive procedure. It ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars, so make sure you backup your data regularly.
A scammer has hacked my computer via remote desktop software, what do I do?
Turn off your computer immediately once you're aware of the scam/hack. Hopefully the scammer hasn't deleted any of your data or installed any malicious software. Never let any company remote access your computer unless you're totally sure it's legitimate. This is almost always a scam designed to get money from you and if you don't comply with their requests, will continue to damage your computer as much as possible. You'll need a computer technician to inspect and diagnose your computer for potential infections and dodgy software. Most banks will require this to be before letting you continue to use their banking facilities.
Do I need to upgrade from Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8/8.1?
If you're still using a computer with any of these older Windows operating systems, it really is time to consider buying a new computer with Windows 11. All 4 operating systems are far too old and unsecure to continue using on a daily basis. Microsoft has ended all support for Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8/8.1. Windows 10 will be supported until October 2025. Computer hardware and software manufacturers have also dropped support for the older Windows versions.
Is Windows 10 Free?
Windows 10 can be installed and activated on your computer for free with a genuine Windows 7 or 8/8.1 product key if you have one available. Otherwise, you will have to purchase a retail copy of Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Is Windows 11 Free?
Windows 11 is a free automatic upgrade to all existing Windows 10 users if you choose to install it. Installation and activation of Windows 11 is also possible with an existing Windows 10 product key if you have one available. Windows 7/8/8.1 product keys no longer work. Also, there is no direct upgrade path to Windows 11 from Windows 7/8/8.1 and will require a full system reload, and only if your computer hardware meets the system requirements. If your current computer is more than 5 years old, the best option is to purchase a new computer with Windows 11 for full support and the best overall experience. To check if your current computer meets the system requirements, download the Microsoft Windows 11 Health Check app from here.
How do I determine the basic specifications of my computer?
Simply right-click on either the My Computer or This PC icon on your Windows desktop (if available) or from within the start menu, then left-click on the Properties option so you can view your computer system information like: Windows edition, CPU model, RAM installed, system type, and computer name. You can also use the Windows search function to find this information also. Simply type in terms like: 'about your PC' or 'system information' to access it.
How can I recover a file from the recycle bin after I have emptied it?
Simply download and install the program called Recuva from www.ccleaner.com/recuva. It will scan for recently deleted files and allows you to recover data that it finds. As long as too much time hasn't elapsed and you haven't installed too many programs, apps or games, you should have access to your deleted data. Many other free programs are available to perform this function.
How do I get into Windows Safe Mode to diagnose problems myself?
To get into Safe Mode in Windows 7/Vista/XP, as your computer is booting up, continuously press the F8 Key on your keyboard to display the Windows Advanced Options menu. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate to Safe Mode and press the Enter key. Windows 11/10/8.1/8 are a bit different, so this method will not work for you. Instead, Windows 11/10/8.1/8 automatically detects when there is a start-up problem and tries to diagnose and repair it by itself after 3 failed start-ups. Alternatively, you can hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard upon a restart and the required options will appear. Navigate to the Advanced Settings area, select Restart Options and continue from there.
How can I see what programs and services are running on my computer?
You can right-click on the Windows Task Bar on the bottom of your screen and select Task Manager. Alternatively, you can press the Crtl+Alt+Del keys simultaneously on your keyboard and select task manager from the list. From here you can view all the programs and services running on your computer either under the Processes Tab or the Services Tab. You can right-click on a running program and select end-task (a confirmation box will appear) which will shut down the program if you're having trouble with it. The same applies for a running service, except when you right-click on a service, it displays start or stop instead. I don't advise doing this for any running services unless you know what you're doing.
Is it safe to turn off my computer without doing a proper shut down?
No, you should never press the power or restart buttons on your computer while Windows is running unless there is a major problem and you have no other choice. The shut-down feature in Windows allows a computer to safely close all running programs and services before it switches off. You can cause damage to Windows by doing this, so use it only as a last resort.
SOFTWARE
Do I need to keep my software up-to-date?
Yes you should always keep all the software on your computer up-to-date, within reason. This includes minor free updates to existing versions (e.g. 2.31 to 2.32 or 2.4 to 2.5) and purchasing the next major version of a product (e.g. 10 to 11 or 2022 to 2023), whether it's a free or paid for product.
Most free software is updated automatically while paid for software can be purchased every year if a new version is released. If a new version includes features you would love to have and use, then purchase it, however it's not essential to do so. Accounting software should be updated or purchased annually due to any changes in Australian tax laws or move to a cloud-based subscription version.
Do I need to maintain and service my computer regularly?
Yes, you definitely should consider it. I usually recommend every 3 to 6 months for a checkup and update. Your computer won't stop working if you don't do this, however your computer will run better for it. Download CCleaner and it's corresponding maintenance guide from the downloads section and use the built in Windows 'Defragment and Optimise Drives' utility to keep your drives fully optimised.
What is a computer virus and what security should I use?
A computer virus or malware is malicious software that has been intentionally created to cause multiple problems on your computer. Some examples include: destroying data, stealing important information, pop-up advertising and making your computer slow and totally unusable. Viruses and Malware aren't as much of a problem today due to better security software measures and Microsoft Windows being a lot more secure than older versions used to be.
It's recommended that you use a good security suite that can protect you against most threats. You should also consider the use of extra anti-malware scanners to run alongside your main security, as using just one security suite can't find all infections 100% of the time, it's just not possible. Go to the downloads section and download Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware along with their corresponding maintenance guides.
All versions of Microsoft Windows since Windows Vista, come preinstalled with basic virus protection and a firewall. The program is either called Windows Defender, Microsoft Security Essentials or Windows Security depending on what edition of Windows you use, which is better than nothing at all. Upgrade to Windows 10 or 11 for better overall security in general.
The use of free anti-virus software, isn't generally recommend either as their protection level isn't good enough compared to a proper paid for security product. A firewall, advanced protection features and technical support are usually not included. I recommend Norton 360.
Will using a security suite slow down my computer?
All security suites will slow down your computer a little, some more so than others. This is normal as the software is designed to run in the background to prevent threats from getting into your computer and to monitor various aspects of it. If you have an old computer with a low amount of memory (RAM), consider upgrading to 8GB minimum. Most security suites today don't hinder a computers performance and resources too much, if at all.
If I format my hard disk drive, will it remove all infections?
If your computer is badly infected with viruses and malware to the point of not being easily fixed, then formatting your hard disk drive and reinstalling Windows from scratch will remove everything from your computer, including viruses.
Why can’t I connect to the Internet?
There are many reasons why you may not be able to connect to the Internet. Your Internet provider may have an outage in your area, a power outage may have erased the user data from your modem router or become faulty, or you could have a virus blocking the connection. There are too many reasons to list here but try these methods and you may have some luck.
What web browser should I use?
It’s your personal preference on which internet web browser you want to use. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages when compared to one another, but overall it doesn’t matter. There are various web browsers to choose from including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari to name a few. Many others are available but are not as well known. I don't recommend using Internet Explorer as it has now been discontinued and no longer supported. Microsoft Edge has a built-in IE Mode for older legacy websites which can be enabled via the settings page.
My internet is working but webpages aren't loading. Is there problem with my web browser?
There definitely could be. There are many reasons why your web browser may not open. Browser add-ins are the main cause of stability issues in all web browsers, some more than others. Check your web browser settings and remove any add-ins that you don't need or recognise to see if this fixes your problem. You can also try resetting or refreshing your browser back to default settings to fix any problems. Another option is to uninstall your web browser off your computer and reinstall it.
If nothing works, you may be infected with a virus or malware, or need to perform a maintenance check. Try running Malwarebytes, SUPERAntiSpyware and CCleaner (available from the downloads section) to help with this situation.
How do I perform a Google web search?
Click on your web browser and navigate to www.google.com.au in the address bar. The google website will appear with a search box in the middle of the page in which you can start typing. Type absolutely any question, phrase or item your searching for in plain English (or other language) and click on Google Search or press Enter on your keyboard. A listing of websites will appear based on your search criteria in which you can click on to explore. Simple.
I’m unable to send or receive email, what’s the problem?
Make sure you’re connected to the Internet to begin with. Having no Internet connection means that no email will come through. If your Internet is working, contact your Internet Service Provider to inquire about faults or problems in your suburb/area. There could also be a problem with your modem router, settings for your email server may have changed or you could have a corrupt database file (.pst) in Microsoft Outlook.
Why can’t I open certain email attachments?
Make sure you have a program installed that is associated with the attachment file type. For example: Adobe Acrobat Reader opens .pdf files, Microsoft Word opens .doc and .docx files, Microsoft Excel opens .xls and .xlsx files and VLC Media Player can open any number of audio and video file types.
There is no picture being displayed on my screen, how can I fix this?
