10 ways to fix a sick PC (Part 2)
6. Test the health of the hard drive
The hard drive is where all of your computer's data is stored. Unfortunately, like everything inside or connected to your PC, these will, overtime, degrade and eventually fail.
Before a drive fails entirely though, it will give you tell-tale signs of impending doom in the form of sluggish performance, louder than standard operation and, if bad sectors have developed on its storage platter, ‘clicking' sounds. If you've noticed any of these, it's best to try and first back-up all essential data and then run a check to test the drive's health. Before you get cracking however, we recommend disabling any non-essential software.
To check your drive's health, double click on ‘Computer' and then right click on the drive - that you want to run a check on - and select ‘Properties'. Now, click the ‘Tools' tab and then hit ‘Check Now'. Make sure to un-tick the ‘Automatically fix file system errors' but tick the ‘Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors' option boxes. Once done, hit ‘Start'.
This process could take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours (depending on the health and size of the drive). If problems are detected, we recommend - if you haven't already - first trying to back-up your essential data before allowing the app to try and fix the issues. If a problem is detected and cannot be corrected however, it's a sure fire sign the drive is close to failing completely.
7. Defragment your hard disk
The hard disk does what it says on the tin: it saves data to open spaces on its storage platters. The trouble is, after years of use, the hard disk is littered with open spaces. When new software is installed, it saves it to any combination of open spaces it finds - without putting it all in the same spot. This means it can take time for the hard disk to access the item in question, ultimately resulting in long load times.
Essentially, a hard disk is like a library. In a well-kept library, it's easy to go to the appropriate section and find the right book listed under the initials of the author. But when books get misplaced, the retrieval process takes much longer.
Found under Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Defragmenter, this tool puts all the data together for easy access. It tidies up the data on the drive and rearranges the space, which generally helps to ensure speedy system performance.
It is a long process, though, so fortunately you can minimise the screen and carry on with other, non-intensive work while it continues in the background. Alternatively, download a program called Diskeeper; this is better than the Windows version, with more features.
8. Clean the components inside the case
Fact: computers get dusty. Like a TV screen, the electrical charge on the motherboard and various other parts attracts dust, which can have all kinds of effects. First things first then, make sure the fans are clean. Excessive dust can clog fans, stopping them from doing their job. If components start to overheat, you can have all kinds of problems - temporary and permanent.
Be careful when touching other parts of your computer, particularly the components themselves. Remember to release your static charge on your hands by touching a metal conductor before handling anything with a transistor on it.
Also, don't try to use any water or fluid; a gentle wipe with a dry cloth should suffice or you could also blast away dust using an electrical blower or a can of compressed air.
9. Reformat hard disk & reinstall Windows
Before you reformat your drive, the last ditch effort is to try and recover your OS using the Windows installation disk. The recovery tool can automatically detect missing links or drivers and replace them for you - this might be enough.
If you can't find the solution to the problem however, then reformatting could be the most drastic but ultimately effective, answer. Reformatting the hard drive is a great way to wipe the slate clean and start fresh.
If you're certain that your problem isn't a hardware one, then by jettisoning all the files - clean and corrupted - you are sure to fix the problem. Think of it as a complete software overhaul but you should remember to back-up the important files and create a boot disk as a safety option before moving forward.
A complete reinstallation of Windows will also be necessary after a drive reformat, as every bit of data is wiped from the drive. Once the format is complete, you'll have a computer that runs like it is brand new.
10. Get professional help
If all else fails, you can get someone else to do it for you. Obviously tech-minded friends are always a good asset (but use them sparingly otherwise you'll upset them). If not, there are professionals willing to do the job for you.
In the case of a desktop, the most annoying thing is having to haul your rig down to a shop to get them to fix it. If you have a full-sized ATX case, we can only feel your pain. Normally the process isn't a quick fix on-site venture, and you'll be left PC-less for a day or two at the very least.
Vendors do have online and phone technical support, which are hurdles you need to pass before they'll consider undertaking a Collect & Return-type service. But again, they can be frustrating experiences.
There is, however, an option. One company offers a free fix remotely, for a small fee. Centrix sells prepaid card vouchers that can be used to call an IT support specialist, who will remotely connect to your and fix it in 30 minutes.
It's on sale at the moment across the UAE, but there are plans to roll-out the cards in other GCC countries. Check out www.cleanmyvirus.com for more info.
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