PC First Aid: Quick Fixes for Everyone – Making PC troubleshooting simple for techies and non-techies alike

A universal PC troubleshooting guide that serves both technicians and non-technicians—simple enough for beginners, yet structured enough for professionals. The guide is divided into logical steps.

Author | Dr. Michael Omoruyi |

🛠️ PC Troubleshooting for Everyone: How to Fix Common PC Problems

✅ STEP 1: Identify the Type of Problem

Categories of PC problems:

• Power-related: PC won’t turn on

• Boot-related: PC turns on but won’t boot to OS

• Performance issues: Slow or freezing

• Display issues: No screen output, flickering

• Peripheral issues: Keyboard, mouse, USB not working

• Software issues: OS errors, app crashes

• Internet/network issues

• Sound or Audio problems

• Overheating or sudden shutdowns

🔌 STEP 2: Power Issues – PC Won’t Turn On

• Check the power source: Try another outlet or power strip

• Verify power cable and connections

• Desktop: Check PSU switch and motherboard LED (if any)

• Laptop: Remove battery, plug in power directly

• No signs of life? Try another charger/power supply

🧰 Technician Tip: Use a power supply tester or multimeter to verify PSU output

🧯 STEP 3: System Turns On, No Display or Beeping

• Check monitor: Is it on? Cable connected properly?

• Listen for beep codes (BIOS codes help identify RAM/CPU/GPU issues)

• Try reseating:

  • RAM sticks

  • Graphics card (if present)

  • Storage cables (HDD/SSD)

🧰 Technician Tip: Test with minimal hardware (motherboard, CPU, RAM only)

🧹 STEP 4: PC is Slow, Freezes or Crashes

• Restart first

• Free up disk space

• Scan for malware (e.g., Windows Defender, Malwarebytes)

• Check Task Manager for high resource usage

• Update drivers and Windows OS

• Disable startup apps

🧰 Technician Tip: Run sfc /scannow and chkdsk /f in Command Prompt (as admin)

🖥️ STEP 5: Display or Screen Problems

• Check brightness controls

• Ensure external monitors are connected correctly

• Try different cables or ports

• Boot into Safe Mode to isolate driver problems

• Update/reinstall display drivers

🧰 Technician Tip: Use a bootable USB to test if display works outside OS

🌐 STEP 6: Network / Internet Issues

• Restart router/modem

• Check network icon in taskbar

• Run “Network Troubleshooter” in Windows

• Check Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable connection

• Try ipconfig /release then ipconfig /renew in Command Prompt

🧰 Technician Tip: Use ping 8.8.8.8 to verify internet connectivity

🔊 STEP 7: Sound Problems

• Check volume settings and mute

• Ensure the correct playback device is selected

• Try headphones or external speakers

• Update/reinstall audio drivers

🧰 Technician Tip: Open “Device Manager” → “Sound, Video and Game Controllers”

🔄 STEP 8: Windows Won’t Boot or Crashes at Startup

• Use Windows Recovery Mode

• Try “Startup Repair” or “System Restore”

• Boot into Safe Mode (press F8 or Shift + Restart)

• Check BIOS boot order

🧰 Technician Tip: Use a bootable USB with Windows installation media to repair

🧊 STEP 9: Overheating or Random Shutdowns

• Check for dust in fans and vents

• Ensure proper airflow

• Monitor temps using HWMonitor or CoreTemp

• Replace thermal paste if CPU is overheating

🧰 Technician Tip: Use BIOS or tools like SpeedFan to control fan speeds

💾 STEP 10: Data Backup & Recovery

• Use external drive or cloud storage

• Create System Restore Points regularly

• Recover deleted files using Recuva or similar tools

📌 Technician Pro Tools (Advanced)

• Hiren’s Boot CD / Medicat USB

• Memtest86 (RAM test)

• CrystalDiskInfo (HDD/SSD health)

• Windows Event Viewer

• BIOS/UEFI diagnostics

• Portable SSDs with recovery tools

🧭 Final Advice

• Document the issue: Take notes/screenshots

• Check online forums (e.g., Microsoft, Reddit, Tom’s Hardware)

• Never ignore backups

• Try the simplest solution first

• Don’t panic—95% of PC issues are solvable without new parts