Laptops offer a level of convenience you just don’t get with regular PC setups. It’s why they’re popular tools in both academic and professional settings.
Despite that perk, they’re still not as immune as their stationary counterparts to common hiccups.
These can cause a lot of panic and distress when they keep you from sending reports, attending meetings, or sending in schoolwork. And there’s no shortage of them: you can get anything from stuck keyboards to sudden shutdowns.
Fortunately, these can be fixed. To avoid last-minute crunches and meltdowns, here are some solutions to common problems laptops have.
- Screen Problems
It’s hard to get any work done when the display isn’t working. The following are common laptop screen problems and their fixes:
- Empty screen display: If nothing appears on the screen after starting the laptop, check if the power light is on and the drive and fan work. Then, try linking your laptop’s display to another screen with a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cord. This is a temporary fix; you still have to take your laptop to a technician to know what the actual problem is.
- Reduced brightness: Sometimes, you just don’t remember lowering the brightness. In this case, go to Settings and adjust it appropriately. Other times, you have an inverter board malfunction. The latter is a small circuit board that assists in changing direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) and provides power to the backlight bulb. You’ll need a professional to fix this.
- Colored screen display and flickering: You may see lines on the screen upon booting up your laptop. You can resolve the issue by conducting a hard reboot. If the problem lies with a graphics chip, you can just switch it out for a new one. If the screen flickers, overloading could be the issue, causing some of your hardware to short out. You can solve this problem by terminating apps one by one until optimal speed returns and the screen stabilizes. If this doesn’t work, take it to a technician.
Troubleshooting laptop screen errors lets you quickly resolve problems and get back to work. You can install special troubleshooting software for quicker diagnoses that can save you time and energy.
2. Excessive Heating
If your laptop gets too hot, it could start freezing as the electronic components get damaged.
This can happen because of inadequate ventilation, usually by obstructing the fan at the bottom. Dust buildup can also block the air vents and prevent adequate cooling.
To fix this, wipe the air vents using a soft fabric. You may also want to raise the laptop slightly from the operating surface using a stand or a book to facilitate sufficient airflow.
Another option is to purchase a cooling pad to mount your laptop. This accessory contains multiple fans that draw excess heat from the computer. It’s an essential accessory for gaming laptops, which typically overheat due to high performance demands.
3. Damaged Keyboard
This can happen for many reasons, the most common one being spills.
Fluids damage the internal circuitry, making keys non-functional. Shut down the laptop immediately when water runs on the keyboard to avoid short-circuiting. Then, remove the battery and all other plugged-in devices. Wipe it with a towel and leave it in the open to air dry for about 24 hours.
Prompt action will usually salvage the keyboard. But you may want to substitute it with a new one if the damage is too extensive.
4. Strange Noises While Running
Most of the whirring you hear from a laptop comes from its fan. When the noises get weird, check if there are any obstructions on the blades or the vent. These can be dust buildup or other debris.
Strange sounds could also signify a hard drive issue. If the issue lies with the device itself, back up all essential data. Then, you get a replacement.
5. Wi-Fi Issues
Your laptop may sometimes fail to connect to the Internet. When this happens, update your Wi-Fi driver, check if Wi-Fi is enabled, reset WLAN AutoConfig, and change the Wi-Fi adapter power settings.
If these fixes don’t work, it may be that the Wi-Fi adapter is damaged. If this is the case, you can purchase an external USB Wi-Fi adapter or have the internal one fixed by a professional.
6. Rapid Battery Depletion
Laptop batteries should retain power for several hours. However, lithium batteries can wear out with time and quickly drain. You may have to constantly charge your laptop, which is inconvenient if traveling.
Buying a new battery is the best solution. But you can keep this problem from happening sooner by adopting safe charging habits.
7. System Malfunctions
Your laptop can stop booting because of a malfunction in the operating system. Try ejecting the hard drive following the user manual and keeping it within the outer casing of your internal hardware, i.e., a Universal Serial Bus (USB) enclosure.
Next, attach the enclosure’s USB cord to an open port on a functioning laptop. If the file system is intact, the hard drive should appear as an external drive, letting you transfer data.
8. Virus
Viruses are one of the most common problems you can experience with your laptop, damaging most of its functions. Installing antivirus software is a common-sense measure to keep it protected. Otherwise, you need to do a hard wipe to make your laptop usable again.
Know What To Do
These are just a few tips you can use to keep yourself from panicking every time an issue comes up. Of course, smart user practices will go a long way in keeping your laptop from malfunctioning. Always default to experts when you can’t handle problems by yourself.
