How To Troubleshoot Common Computer Problems

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What is Software Troubleshooting?
The process of scanning, finding, diagnosing, and fixing issues, faults, and bugs in software are known as software troubleshooting.
It is a systematic procedure that seeks to identify and fix issues in order to get the software back to working normally. It falls under the umbrella of IT troubleshooting.
Troubleshooting software is typically done to fix technical or source-code-related issues with the software. Both functional and non-functional elements can be present in this. The first step in software troubleshooting is to identify the issue. Next, you look for potential causes of the issue and work on solutions and alternatives.
The person who evaluates and optimizes software, eliminating flaws and errors from the source code, is usually the person who solves problems. Software providers also assist in troubleshooting programs by regularly releasing updates and patches for their products, which can help to ensure efficient software performance. When software needs to be set properly, such as to fix problems brought on by improper installation or to restore software ...
... after file deletion or corruption brought on by a virus, software troubleshooting can also be done.
If you have a software problem, try these troubleshooting tips in the order they're listed below.
1. Close any open programs to free RAM
Every software program takes advantage of Random Access Memory (RAM). Your computer utilizes more RAM the more programs it has open. If you're using older computers with limited RAM, this may be a particular difficulty. Therefore, the first thing to do if a software program won't start or is operating slowly is to shut down all other open programs.
Both the Windows and Macintosh operating systems (OS) provide tools that show you which open programs might be using up all of your RAM:

In Windows:- press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and then select Start Task Manager. Click the Processes tab, then select the Memory menu option from the box that displays. Based on how much RAM each open process is using, all of them are sorted in this manner. By selecting the End Process button, you can end a runaway process. To make sure you don't unintentionally halt a crucial process or program, you might want to perform some study on the procedure before you do that.

In Mac OS X:- make use of the Activity Monitor (called the Process Viewer in older versions of OS X). To access the Activity Monitor, go to Applications > Utilities. When the Activity Monitor appears, click the "Real Memory" column to sort programs according to their RAM usage.

2. Restart the software
Software issues might result from a conflict with another application or just from issues the software ran into when it first started. These problems can occasionally be fixed by restarting the software.

3. Shut down and restart your computer
Try restarting your computer if restarting the troublesome program doesn't fix the problem. Reopen the problematic application to determine if the issue has been fixed after the machine has completely rebooted.

4. Use the Internet to find help
Any software issues you have are likely to have been experienced by someone else. Therefore, there is a strong probability that you can get assistance online. Here are some starting points:

Search for answers:- Include the name and version of the software program, the issue you ran into, and the circumstances surrounding it in your search engine inquiry. If you encountered a particular problem message, be sure to include the name of the application and the precise error message text.
Check the vendor's website:- The majority of software vendors offer some sort of product support, whether it is FAQs, product documentation, or user forums.
Check other websites:- A variety of other websites that provide technology tutorials, articles, and discussion forums are included in the Vital Tech page Learning About Technology Online.

5. Undo any recent hardware or software changes
Software issues can occasionally result from changes to hardware and software, such as:
Conflicts with other software:- Software that has just been installed could clash with another program. For instance, Symantec Norton Antivirus might clash with other antivirus software. So, deleting the additional antivirus program may fix your issue if Norton Antivirus suddenly stopped functioning properly after you installed it.
Changes to computer settings:- Try starting the app once more after rolling back any recent configuration adjustments on your machine. For instance, you can disable access to specific applications using the "Set Program Access and Defaults" option in the Windows Control Panel. The program might not operate if you unintentionally disable access to it here.
Conflicts with new or improperly configured hardware:- like printers and scanners. Whether you recently added new hardware to one of your PCs, consider unplugging it to see if the software problem is resolved.
6. Uninstall the software, then reinstall it
Critical application files may occasionally be updated, deleted, or removed causing software issues. For example, a lot of Windows programs require Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files to carry out simple operations. The same DLL file is frequently used by many apps. It's conceivable that you deleted DLL files that another software depended on if you recently uninstalled a program from your computer. The addition of software can also update or add DLL files. Applications that rely on certain DLL files may experience instability or stop functioning altogether.
You can totally uninstall the faulty software, then reinstall it to make sure that all essential files are present. Even if a program's built-in uninstall process is used to remove it (if it has one), it's still a good idea to search your hard drive's Program Files folder (often found on the C drive) for any leftover files or folders and remove them.
Check to see whether a new version of the program is available before reinstalling. It's possible that the vendor or developer has made bug patches that fix the problem you're experiencing.

7. Look for software patches
Program developers can also remedy known issues by releasing patches, which are brief software upgrades. There might be a more recent patch available for the software you're using, even if it's the most recent version.

8. Scan for viruses and malware
The software can freeze, crash, or stop functioning altogether due to viruses, spyware, and other types of harmful software (often referred to as "malware").
You might also want to check the computer with antivirus and anti-malware applications to discover and eliminate viruses and malware if recommendations 1 through 8 haven't been able to fix your software issue. If the antivirus or anti-malware programs discover any dangers, make sure to restart your computer and use the most thorough scan mode available.

9. Check for a firewall conflict
Instead of a centralized hardware or software-based firewall, some firms may decide to install personal firewall software on each computer. Although they can be a crucial line of protection against hackers and other security risks, personal firewalls can also lead to software disputes.
Messages from firewalls usually inquire whether they should let a program operate or block it. As a result, it is possible for the personal firewall to unintentionally be instructed to prevent an application from launching. To see if the troublesome software has been added to the firewall's list of programs to block, check the firewall's settings. If so, modify the firewall's settings to permit the software to function, then determine if you're still experiencing software problems.

10. Boot up in Safe Mode
There are several software flaws that can be brought on by OS settings or other system issues. Both the Windows and Mac operating systems have Safe Mode, a troubleshooting setting. Safe Mode turns down non-essential programs and processes, which should make it simpler to pinpoint issues.
By pressing the F8 key while your computer is loading up, you can access Safe Mode on the majority of Windows computers. When your computer boots up on a Mac, press the Shift key to enter Safe Mode (or immediately after it boots up).
Launch the troublesome software once Safe Mode has been selected on your computer and attempt to reproduce the issue you encountered in normal mode. There's a significant probability that the issue was brought on by your operating system or another software, not by the application you are debugging if you don't experience the same issue in safe mode.

11. Defragment your hard drive
You may choose to defragment the hard drive of your computer as a last resort. The file structure on your hard drive is reorganized during defragmentation to improve system performance. Since defragmenting is intended to make your entire system perform faster, it will likely be most helpful if your computer is generally sluggish. To defragment a hard disc, keep in mind that Windows-based PCs are the main exception.
A disk-defragmentation program is included in the majority of current Windows editions, including XP, Vista, and Windows 7. Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter will open it. You should defragment your hard disc when you are gone from your computer for a few hours because this process can take a while.

Conclusion
It might be time to call tech support if none of the above suggestions have been able to fix your software issue. By describing the troubleshooting actions you have already tried on your own, you will at the very least be able to assist them in focusing their search for the issue. You can contact Vital Tech company in Canada they will sort out your computer as well as laptop issues: Computer Services Victoria BC

My name is Michel Marsin and i work full time as a freelance writer, editor former social worker. I am passionate about writing articles on different topics.