We’ve all experienced it – PC boot times that take forever, a blue screen of death in the middle of a presentation, or annoying pop-up errors.
That’s your computer screaming for help.
And, the longer you take to fix the issue, the worse the outcome.
Ignoring warning signs that your computer needs fixing results in costly repairs that would otherwise be nonexistent if taken care of properly.
So, what should you do?
Preventive maintenance is the answer.
It minimizes the risk of getting critical warnings, blue screens of death (BSoDs), and driver errors – ultimately saving you money along the way.
The secret is as simple as recognizing the warning signs before it’s too late – and that’s what we’ll teach you in this article.
On average, computers start showing signs of hardware degradation after five years, but if you’re computer is performing poorly before that, there may be a problem that needs to be addressed.
Here are a few pointers to understand if action is needed:
If your computer meets the first criterion and one of the last two, it may be infected with malware, running with insufficient RAM, or compromised by a defective HDD or SSD.
Fixing the issue is an urgent priority as soon as it starts affecting daily usage.
We recommend restarting the computer, disabling unwanted startup programs, running a malware scan, and ensuring your HDD or SSD storage is not full.
Occasional computer crashes aren’t always concerning, but if your PC freezes, shutdowns or restarts by itself regularly, you should worry.
The root causes range from failing RAM and overheating to power supply issues and software compatibility conflicts.
Blue screens of death (BSoDs) are a good indicator that something’s wrong with your PC’s system or hardware.
In these cases, if you don’t want to risk ending up with an irreparably damaged computer, you either investigate the source of the problem and attempt to fix it or hire someone to do that for you.
One of the best ways to assess whether your computer is healthy is by using your hearing, touch, and smell.
For example, whereas fans in good condition produce a subtle and light whirring noise, those about to fail make grinding sounds.
Additionally, if you notice the computer is hot to the touch, shuts down unexpectedly, and runs fans at full speed all the time, overheating is probably the culprit.
If you dismiss these critical warning signs, it can cause permanent hardware damage.
The causes for these types of problems include:
To tackle this, you should clean your computer at least once every three months, verify the condition of the thermal paste, and ensure proper ventilation.
Severe cases (particularly if you sense a burning smell) require immediate shutdown of the computer.
As already mentioned, monitoring the sounds coming from your computer is a great way to troubleshoot.
For example, the early signs of a damaged hard drive include buzzing, clicking, and whirring. If these sounds are new or getting worse, there’s an elevated risk of hard disk failure.
And what does it mean if you don’t take action?
It means you’ll lose all your data in the long run. Data loss is no joke, so ensure you stay alert.
The best way to prevent such an annoying event is by performing regular hard disk diagnostics and by backing up your files.
Other sounds to look for include vibrations and humming noises, which may indicate complications with the GPU, power supply, or speakers.
Getting the occasional error message is expected. After all, no device works 100% at all times.
However, if receiving warning notifications or glitching software is a daily occurrence, it warrants investigation.
Beware of the following signs:
These types of symptoms indicate hardware issues, software errors, or malware infections.
It’s fundamental to fix these issues early on. If you don’t, they’ll render your computer unusable.
Fixing them includes performing registry entry cleanups and updating drivers with PC optimization software, and scanning the computer for malware with internet security software.
Network problems are one of the most frequently reported issues by PC users.
Even though it’s sometimes the internet provider’s fault, it can also originate from the user’s device.
If you’re experiencing network disruptions, identifying the source is straightforward. Connect the same network on two different devices (example: smartphone and computer), and see if the connection drops on both or on just one.
If it drops on both, it’s an ISP issue.
If it drops on just one, that device needs a check-up. You can then cross-check with other symptoms, such as frequent disconnections or an inability to connect at all.
Common issues:
While there are several ways to attempt to fix network problems, such as checking cables and updating drivers, they sometimes require professional help to rule out hardware failure.
Battery and power supply degradation is serious, but there are early signs that help prevent it from escalating into a dangerous situation.
Here are the symptoms to look out for:
| Laptop | Desktop |
|---|---|
| Rapid battery drain | Failure to power on |
| Failure to hold charge | Unusual smell or smoke coming from the power supply |
| Overheating while charging | Shutdowns during heavy use |
| Visible physical damage (bulging and battery liquid leaks) | Electrical sparks or popping sounds |
Upon noticing any of the warning signs mentioned in the table above, you need to be careful with your next step.
Keep your devices away from flammable materials, do not attempt to open batteries or power supplies yourself, and replace them only with certified parts.
Failing to do so might lead to:
Data loss is the nightmare of nightmares for any user.
If accidentally deleting one document by mistake is enough to make our heads spin, imagine finding multiple files deleted overnight.
This is a red flag that should be thoroughly investigated right away.
If you notice other symptoms, such as corrupted, encrypted, or unreadable files, there’s likely a major concern indicating a failing hard drive or potential ransomware.
That’s the case, for example, if you’re opening a photo and it doesn’t display correctly, or if you’re opening a file that launches a page on your browser demanding payment.
The best way to protect yourself from this is by backing up your data with reliable backup software.
As we know by now, each symptom usually requires a different approach.
While a few may require you to use robust antivirus software, others need regular hard drive diagnostics and driver updates.
Knowing how to act after detecting early warning signs is essential but not easy. Yet, there are tools that make your life much easier – that’s the case with Fortect PC Suite.
Fortect is a comprehensive security suite that offers malware and web protection, performance optimization, and privacy features to prevent your online activity from being exposed. Although it specializes in Windows protection, it also has apps for macOS, Android, and iOS, complemented by a remarkable browser extension for Chrome security.
With only three subscription tiers, the cheapest option costs $2.82 monthly, billed annually, including a generous 60-day money-back guarantee. Before purchasing, you can take advantage of Fortect's short-term free trial of 24 hours that includes a free scan for security, privacy, and performance issues.
Fortect offers real-time malware protection and preventive scans for performance, security, data privacy, and drivers to ensure your PC is always on top of its game.
It’s not a replacement for hardware fixes, but it is one of the best services for diagnosing critical issues ahead of time, offering enough time to fix the problems before they turn critical.
Ongoing maintenance is the best way to ensure timely repairs and prevent costly PC repairs. From everything you can do, the following are our most regular preemptive actions to ensure our devices stay in shipshape.
These are essential for saving money and preventing data loss down the line with computers and laptops, which can be sped up with software like Fortect.
Desktops and laptops might not speak, but they do show warning signs when something’s about to break.
Being vigilant of symptoms like weird noises, missing files, and BSoDs is halfway to preventing a serious disaster.
To put it simply, it all comes down to proactive maintenance.
Noticing hardware and software issues early on saves money, headaches, and enhances computer durability.
And remember that you can automate maintenance operations and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with using your device without interruption with tools like Fortect.
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