Common Problems We Fix | BeFriendly IT

These are the most common computer problems we solve every day. If you're experiencing any of these, we can probably fix it in under an hour without leaving your home.

87%

Fixed in first session

Average minutes to fix

$90

Average cost

Quick Fix - $70, usually under 30 mins

Complex - $110, 30-60 mins

Deep Dive - $140, may need multiple sessions

Slow Computer

#1 Most Common Issue

COMPLEX

You might say:

"Takes forever to start up" "Programs are laggy" "Computer freezes" "Fan runs constantly"

Common Causes:

Too many programs running at startup
Hard drive nearly full
Old mechanical hard drive (needs SSD upgrade)
Not enough RAM for modern software
Malware running in background

📶

Internet Not Working

#2 Most Common Issue

COMPLEX

You might say:

"WiFi connected but no internet" "Pages won't load" "Connection keeps dropping" "Works on phone but not computer"

Common Causes:

Incorrect DNS settings
Network adapter driver issues
IP address conflict
Firewall blocking connections
Router needs reset (we'll walk you through it)

🖨️

Printer Won't Print

#3 Most Common Issue

QUICK FIX

You might say:

"Printer shows offline" "Print jobs get stuck" "Was working yesterday" "Prints from phone but not computer"

Common Causes:

Print spooler service crashed
Stuck print jobs in queue
Printer driver needs reinstalling
Windows update broke the connection

💀

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

Scary but usually fixable!

COMPLEX

You might say:

"Computer crashes with blue screen" "Random restarts" "Shows an error code" "Happens during specific tasks"

Common Causes:

Faulty or outdated driver
Recent Windows update conflict
Overheating (we can check temperatures)
RAM or disk issues
Software conflict

📁

Programs or Files Won't Open

Common after updates

QUICK FIX

You might say:

"Error when opening Word/Excel" "Program crashes immediately" "Says file is corrupted" "Opens with wrong program"

Common Causes:

File association broken
Software needs repair or reinstall
Missing system files
Antivirus false positive

🔇

No Sound

Usually a quick fix

QUICK FIX

You might say:

"Speakers aren't working" "No sound in videos" "Sound was working before update" "Red X on speaker icon"

Common Causes:

Wrong audio output device selected
Audio driver issue
Windows audio service stopped
Volume settings in individual apps

🦠

Virus or Malware

More thorough investigation needed

DEEP DIVE

You might say:

"Popup ads everywhere" "Browser homepage changed" "Programs I didn't install" "Computer acting strange"

What We Do:

Identify and remove malware
Check for suspicious startup programs
Verify browser extensions
Ensure antivirus is working
Check for unauthorized software

📧

Email Not Working

Outlook, Gmail, or other

QUICK FIX

You might say:

"Can't send or receive" "Keeps asking for password" "Emails disappearing" "Attachments won't open"

Common Causes:

Password changed but not updated
Server settings incorrect
Outlook profile corrupted
Storage quota exceeded

🔄

Windows Update Stuck

Frustrating but fixable

COMPLEX

You might say:

"Update at 100% for hours" "Restarts but never finishes" "Update keeps failing" "Can't install security updates"

Common Causes:

Corrupted Windows Update cache
Not enough disk space
Conflicting software
Broken system files

💾

Lost or Deleted Files

Time-sensitive - contact us ASAP

DEEP DIVE

You might say:

"Accidentally deleted important files" "Files disappeared" "Drive not showing up" "Emptied recycle bin by mistake"

Important Notes:

Stop using the computer - more use means less chance of recovery
We can often recover recently deleted files
We'll also set up automatic backups to prevent future loss
Severe cases may need specialist data recovery (we'll advise)

Don't See Your Problem?

We fix hundreds of different issues. If your computer is misbehaving, we can probably help.

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