Become your own tech expert and solve these queries yourself

Here are five of the most frequently asked IT support questions that are asked, what causes these issues and tips on how to solve them.

The five biggest IT support queries tech companies get asked

1.      Why is my computer so slow?

There could be a lot of causes for a slow PC or laptop, but one of the more common causes for a sluggish system is too many open windows or tabs. This causes the computer to try to focus on too many tasks at the same time which ultimately leads to it slowing down. It’s also a good idea to check and make sure that you have adequate space on your computer’s hard drive. While these situations are fairly simple to rectify, the cause could also be more sinister. One of the symptoms of a malware-infected device is a slower system. If this is the case, your best course of action is to contact an IT professional to check for viruses which could do a lot more damage than slowing down your productivity.

2.      Why does my Wi-Fi keep disconnecting me?

Trying to connect too many people to the same router can cause your Wi-Fi network to repeatedly give you the boot. If that’s not the issue, you can start by making sure your PC or laptop is in range of the router. If all else fails, just let Windows troubleshoot for you.

3.      Why will my printer not print?

Many tech support personnel will ask this simple question before anything else: is your printer plugged in and switched on? Nothing will help you print if the machine isn’t even on. Other simple checks you can do include making sure there is enough paper in the tray and that there is enough toner and ink in the cartridges. If all of these are as they should be, you could check the print queue to see the status of each job and the general status of your printer.

4.      Why is my internet so slow?

Two words: ‘spyware’ and ‘viruses’. Unless there is an issue with your internet provider, generally speaking, your slow internet is caused by malware.

5.      Why is my PC not picking up my USB?

There are a few tricks you could try here. Firstly, try a different USB port in your PC. If that doesn’t work, check if your PC recognises any USB devices – if not, you will have to decide whether this is something you want repaired or not. If you suspect the USB is the problem, you can plug it into a different PC and see if it works there.

“Have you tried turning it off and on again?”

If all else fails, do as Roy Trenneman, a support technician in the show, The IT Crowd, says: “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” As silly as it sounds, when it comes to tech, this is often the simplest and quickest solution to issues that computer users face.