7 Common Laptop Problems and Why They Occur

Let’s be real – our laptops get lots of action. Whether it’s our personal or work computer (if you have one) they go everywhere with us. Which means we are constantly using them. Like how a car will start to break down from constant use – laptops are no different. They will give us problems just like any other electronic device that we use pretty much every day.

So, what are the common laptop problems to be on the lookout for? If you haven’t already run into these common laptop problems, there’s a high chance that you will encounter them eventually. Once you know what to look for, it shouldn’t be too hard to identify what’s going on. You may contact a laptop repair company for help or even be able to fix the common laptop problems by yourself. Who knows, you may even become an IT master?

The following are the seven common laptop problems and why they occur:

1. Battery Dying Quickly

The dying battery is one of the most common laptop problems, which probably frustrate every computer owner at some point. The lithium-ion batteries in laptops die, and they die fast. Depending on the age of your laptop, it usually makes more sense to change the battery rather than purchase a whole new computer.

A lot of people resort to having their laptop plugged in at all times, but if you’re on the go and not near a plug, this could be a challenge and a source of frustration. It’s recommended to visit a seasoned repair shop where you can replace the battery for cheaper.

2. Laptop Running Loudly

Is your laptop just so loud all the time? This is usually the reaction of the fans having to expel a large quantity of heat. It may just be that your laptop is noisy thanks to the hard surface of the computer case amplifying the sound of the fan. However, there are some things you can do to help with this issue if it’s bothersome to you: you could oil the fans or add foam to cushion the vibration between the fan and the case.

3. Black Screen

How many times have you went to turn your laptop on, heard all the usual sounds, then nothing – just a black screen? We tend to panic when these common laptop problems happen, but there is a potential fix: unplug the power from the laptop, take out the battery and then hold the power button for about 30 to 60 seconds.

Once that’s complete, reattach the power cord and restart the laptop. Finally, shut the laptop down one more time, put the battery in and restart. We hope this works for you the next time you encounter that dreaded black screen!

4. Touchpad Sensitivity

If you find your touchpad is too sensitive, you can adjust it in the settings of your computer yourself. To do this, open your Control Panel, under Hardware and Sound, click the View Devices and Printer link, right-click your laptop’s icon, and choose Mouse Settings, then you should find a Touchpad tab where you will be able to adjust the sensitivity of the touchpad. Easy fix!

5. Overheating

Has your laptop ever gotten really hot? Ya, we thought so. Laptops tend to overheat due to their small size and lack of ventilation, making overheating another common laptop problem. Overheating causes a number of issues like freezing and even system crashes. No one wants to deal with these common laptop problems when they’re in the middle of working on an important project. Somethings you can do when this happens includes cleaning out the air vents with a soft cloth or even a keyboard cleaner.

If you’re tired of your laptop overheating and don’t want to deal with it anymore, place a piece of filtered cloth over the inhalation vent (not the exhaust vent!).

6. Keyboard Issues

Keyboards get a lot of wear and tear from constant use and maybe some liquids were spilled over the keys, making them sticky and hard to use. But if your keyboard refuses to work at all, you may need to reinstall the keyboard driver. To do this, go to the Device Manager which you can access through the Start Button, then click Keyboards.

Note that if there is an exclamation point beside the default laptop keyboard, Windows has detected an issue with it. Your next step is to right-click the Keyboard, click Uninstall Device, then restart your laptop. If this all worked then your laptop should start-up right away and your keyboard should be good to go.

7. Viruses

Make sure your laptop is protected from viruses by purchasing and installing a good anti-virus software. It’s best to do this right when you buy your laptop so that it is always protected. If you still don’t have one, don’t worry, it’s never too late. These programs are very good at identifying potential threats to your system. With viruses so rampant in today’s day and age, don’t leave your laptop unprotected.