Turlock Computer Repair blog

Computer tips & troubleshooting

Find guides on Windows, security, backups and upgrades. Search by symptom or error message, or choose an article below.

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First articles are on the way

We’re writing up the fixes we do every day — slow laptops, virus clean-ups, SSD upgrades and more. In the meantime, the quick fixes below solve a surprising number of problems.

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Try this first

5 quick fixes before you bring it in

Tap a card. These solve more problems than you’d think — and if they don’t, bring it in and we’ll find the real problem.

Restart. Properly.

Shut down fully, wait 10 seconds, power on. Sleep isn’t a restart.

On Windows, hold Shift while clicking Shut down to skip Fast Startup. Fixes a shocking amount of “it’s acting weird.”

Why it works

Check the charger

Check the outlet and connections without forcing or bending the plug. Stop using a visibly damaged cable or adapter.

A damaged cable or loose port is one possible cause of power problems. If the light flickers when you move the cable, the port needs a look.

Details

Close the pop-up — don’t call it

Fake “your PC is infected” warnings are scams. Never call the number.

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc (Task Manager), end the browser, reopen without restoring tabs. If pop-ups return, check the cause with a trusted support source; unwanted notifications or browser settings can also be involved.

What to do

Free up disk space

Low free space can contribute to poor performance or update problems.

Review files before deleting them and keep a backup of anything important. If performance is still poor, diagnose the cause before buying an SSD.

Next step

Listen for clicking

Repeated hard clicking or grinding from a drive needs prompt assessment.

If the drive is grinding or repeatedly hard-clicking, stop using it and power it down. Seek recovery advice before running scans or trying to copy files.

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About this blog

Computer help, in plain English

Browse guides on Windows, security, backups and hardware upgrades. Search for a symptom or error message, or choose a topic to find related articles.

A guide can help you understand a problem, but it cannot diagnose your device. If you are unsure what to try next, contact Turlock Computer Repair or send a repair request.

Need help? Talk to us.

Tell us what is happening with your computer. Call or send a repair request to discuss the next step.

Call (209) 661-9171 Request a repair

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