Computer users have a bad habit of thinking that everything that goes wrong with their machine is software related. Nothing could be further from the truth – a lot of the problems you face are hardware related.

Computers, like every other machine, do break down and also get old and worn out. Unfortunately, a lot of us forget that and think we can fix everything by rebooting or using software patches. This leads a lot of us to waste a lot of time trying to fix the software when it is really the computer itself that is the problem.

Unfortunately, it gets harder and harder to tell software from hardware problems because the line between software and hardware is blurring. Devices are now being built for the software rather than the other way around. That means it can be hard to tell if the software is the problem or not.

Problems that are almost always Hardware Caused

There are more than a few problems that are almost always hardware caused, even on Windows computers. The frustrating thing is that a lot of people believe these hardware problems are software problems.

• Lack of memory. A lot of us are old enough to remember the days when computers didn’t have enough memory and you had to add memory. If your computer was built in the last 12 years or so, it should have more than enough memory for your purposes. The number of business documents you put on it or songs you download shouldn’t affect its operation.

lack of memory

If the computer suddenly develops insufficient memory, it is probably a hardware problem; if the computer’s a few years old, the memory is probably bad. Other causes can be the power supply. Lack of memory is almost always a hardware problem these days. Not even malware can use up all your memory that fast.

• Slow Internet Connection. This is also a hardware problem –  most computers these days are fast. The usual cause of this is the internet connection itself, not the computer or the modem. Despite what salesmen tell us, a lot of the internet services, including DSL, are nowhere near as fast as they claim. Wireless and satellite services can be very slow. Many DSL and other services can also be overloaded by bandwidth. The best fix for a slow connection is to change services if you can. The connection can sometimes be improved by unplugging it and plugging it back in.

• System shutting on and off again or rebooting for no reason. Chances are this is the power supply, the device that regulates the electricity going to your computer. Power supplies can burn out or devise flaws. You can replace them or replace the computer. If the computer is more than four or five years old, your best course of action is to replace it.

Problems that are probably Software Caused

There are also some problems that are almost always caused by software. These will usually have to be fixed by a hot fix or patch of some sort. In many cases, downloading and installing the latest version of a program will fix these problems.

• New devices don’t work with your computer. The main cause of this is that your Windows is not compatible with the programming in the device. You can fix this by downloading a new version of Windows or the device driver. The best fix for this is to go online and locate the device driver; it’s usually available at the manufacturer’s website, but it can also be found at Microsoft. This can get really frustrated because devices are often sold with an outdated driver.

• Programs don’t work. This usually occurs because the program is not compatible with your version of Windows. If you are using an older version of Windows and it is a newer Microsoft program, check Microsoft support – they may have a new version of the program available. There are also fixes so documents created by newer Microsoft programs will work with older versions of Windows like XP.

Problems that could be Caused by Both Hardware and Software

To make things really frustrating, there are many problems that can be caused by both hardware and software. An example of this is older XP only programs – these can run in a virtual desktop on Windows 7 and other newer operating systems. Yet, the programs that create virtual desktops only run if your computer has hardware assisted virtualization.

windows features

 Troubleshooting 101

The best way to determine if a program is hardware caused is to download the latest version of the software or reinstall the software. If it persists after you install new software, it is probably a hardware problem.

Another low tech test you can do is to try running the application or program on another computer and see what happens. Try not to use a friend’s or relative’s computers for this because they can get really angry if you mess up their PCs. If the program works as it should on another PC, you probably have a hardware problem.

A final thought – be very careful when getting your computer serviced or repaired. A lot of the so-called computer repair shops out there don’t repair your computer. They wipe out your memory and reinstall everything. This can fix some problems, but it won’t fix a software problem and it can destroy all of your data.

Therefore, one of the best things a person who relies on his or her computer for work can do is to have two or more computers. That way, you don’t have to put your life on hold until the computer comes back from the shop.