Signs Your Hard Drive Is Failing | IT Services Corona, CA

Hard drive failure can be quite devastating for most people. Our hard drives are typically full of important files like personal information, photos, audio files and videos. Few people fail to realize just like any other electronic devices, hard drives have a limited life span as well. The average lifespan of a stationary hard drive is about 5-10 years. Fortunately, your hard drive will start to show signs of failure before facing a fatal failure, which will give you a chance to react. There are plenty of signs and symptoms you can keep an eye and ear out for, those include the following:

  • Computer Freezes- If your computer hard drive is about to fail you will find your computer slowing drastically and freezing constantly. If your computer is freezing while trying to access particular files, you should shut down and restart your computer. If your computer still freezing while trying to access that same files, you may be experiencing hard drive failure.
  • Corrupted Data- If your files are starting to disappear or are failing to open even though they were saved with no error, you should worry a bit. This could be a possible sign of gradual hard drive failure.
  • Strange Sounds- When you start hearing noises coming from your hard drive such as clicking or grinding, that’s when you should really start worrying. This very common sign of a failing hard drive is known as the click of death.
  • Chkdsk Command- This is another common sign of a failing hard drive. If every time you start up your computer,  it automatically runs the Chkdsk command while its booting up this may indicate hard drive failure.

If your computer is having any of these issues or any other issues you know are a problem, call Up & Running Computer Solutions in Corona, CA at 951-737-8558. For more information about our company and our services visit our website at www.urcs.net

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Onatrio, Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin and all surrounding areas.

IT Services Corona | Should I be cleaning my computer?

Your desktop computer draws in cool air and blows out hot air. When it’s drawing in the cool air it’s along bringing with it dust, pet hair, and other dirt particles. This can be damaging to your computer requiring computer repair. The debris build up, inhibits your computer’s ability to keep cool. If your computer is running hot it will not perform to its potential and run very slowly. You should clean your computer every 3-6 months.

Here’s how:

  • Gather a soft brush, can of compressed air, cleaning cloths and a vacuum with a nozzle attachment.
  • Turn your computer off, unplug cables and let it cool down.
  • Start by cleaning the outside of the computer with a cloth, then vacuum vents and ports.
  • Take off the side of your computer and vacuum all dirt and dust out of the inside. Be careful not to touch any components.
  • Take your brush and start brushing any remaining dust. The can of compressed air can help with the extra dirty areas.
  • Replace the side to the computer, plug back in your cables and it’s clean and ready to be used!

If your computer was damaged due to excessive dirt call the IT Services of  Up & Running Computer Solutions, Inc. at 951-737-8558. We service and repair computers and servers for businesses large and small. Visit our website at www.urcs.net.

Proudly serving Corona, Tustin, Irvine, Anaheim, Riverside, Yorba Linda and all surrounding areas.

 

Help! My Computer is so Slow! | Computer Repair | Corona, CA

Is your computer running slow? Can you go to lunch and be back before its done booting up? This could be caused by several different reasons. Things such as not enough hard drive space to missing windows updates. It could be as simple as your computer needing to be rebooted. Let’s take a look as some of the potential problems and possible solutions.

  • Not enough space on the hard drive: You should have at least 200-500MB of hard drive space left.  If you have below that amount you will need to delete temporary files and used files or programs to free up some hard drive space.
  • Corrupted Hard Drive: Run a ScanDisk to ensure there is nothing physically wrong with the hard drive.
  • Scan for viruses: Use a virus scanner such as Malwarebytes to scan your computer for spyware or malware.
  • Background programs: Disable all programs that automatically start when you boot your computer.
  • Windows Updates: Make sure you have installed all the latest Windows updates and all browser plugins.
  • Overheating: Dust and dirt restricts air flow through the computer. Without proper air flow your computer can overheat. Make sure there are no obstructions around your computer and that all fans are working properly.
  • Not Enough Memory: If you have an older computer the memory might not meet the standard requirements needed today. Adding more memory will fix this problem.

If you have addressed all the above possibilities and your computer is still running slow, your computer may be out of date and you may simply need a new computer.

If you’re not sure how to complete these tasks we can help! Call Up & Running Computer Solutions Inc. in Corona, CA for your entire computer needs at 951-737-8558. We service all large and small business, PC’s, server installs and much more! Visit our website www.urcs.net.