These days, many of us use laptops for both work and pleasure, particularly if we follow a hybrid or remote working model, or if we have to travel for business a great deal. Laptops bring us many benefits, providing a highly portable and high-performing tool to help us with all kinds of important tasks and functions – from drawing up spreadsheets to designing graphics, compiling invoices, writing important documents, and catching up on correspondence.
However, as wonderful as they are, our trusty laptops are also liable to fall foul to a number of common ‘health complaints’, just like their owners. Here are a few of the most frequently occurring laptop problems that you may find yourself encountering at some point, and some advice on how to deal with them.
The good news is that frustrating though these issues may be when they crop up, in most cases, they will hopefully be entirely fixable, and you will soon have your laptop back in good health. So, with that positive thought in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most common laptop bugbears.
The Screen Is Malfunctioning
Problems with your laptop screen can be irritating at best, and catastrophic at worst – particularly if you find yourself staring at a black screen or strange coloured lines when you need to be completing an important document for work.
The causes for screen issues can be varied. Sometimes, age is the contributing factor, but it may also have been caused by physical damage of some kind, or perhaps even software malfunctions.
Fortunately, there are ways to fix your problematic screen. For instance, if your laptop is a MacBook, discover in-depth advice on how to troubleshoot lines on a Mac screen, before going on to provide information on what to do once you’ve established the cause of the trouble. For instance, if your Mac has overheated, there are a number of things you can do to rectify the issue and keep your laptop comfortably cool.
The Laptop Is Overheating
Speaking of overheating – this is a frequently occurring issue with any kind of laptop, and can cause a range of related problems, including slowing down the laptop’s functions noticeably. This, in turn, will impact your ability to use it, and if your laptop is for work purposes, then this can cause serious frustration.
So, what makes laptops overheat? One reason is a build-up of dust and debris in the vents or the laptop’s fans. This accumulation prevents the laptop from being able to cool itself down properly, which – unsurprisingly – leads to overheating, and also causes the laptop to slow itself down to try and protect itself against internal damage. As a result, it’s important to make sure the area where your laptop is kept is as free from dust as possible; you may even want to consider investing in an air purifier to keep dust and debris to a minimum.
Another reason for laptops to overheat is if they don’t have enough air around them – for example, if you are using your laptop on a sofa surrounded by lots of cushions, your soft furnishings may prevent the laptop from being able to rid itself off heat effectively.
Your Battery Keeps Draining
These days, laptops are designed to offer as lengthy a battery life as possible, with some capable of providing over 18 hours.
Unfortunately, a sudden deterioration of battery life is a frequently occurring bugbear for laptop owners, and – sadly – it’s an inevitable problem which will crop up as your machine ages.
Fortunately, there are a couple of things you can do to help your laptop maintain a decent battery life for as long as possible. For one thing, keep tabs on the various programs you may have running in the background and try to limit them as much as possible, as they will eat up your battery.
Another simple but effective tip you can use is to always make sure that your laptop is kept switched off when it’s not in use. This will help to prevent battery loss, giving you more time when you really need it.
Your Laptop Keys Aren’t Working Correctly
Keyboard problems can occur quite frequently, particularly among laptops that are in heavy use for work purposes. If your keys are beginning to stick, or if they are not functioning correctly, this is probably down to wear and tear, although spilt liquids and food crumbs may also be to blame if you tend to eat at your desk.
The bad news is that there isn’t always an easy fix for a malfunctioning keyboard, particularly if the damage is caused by spilt fluids. In fact, you may have to end up replacing the laptop altogether. However, don’t give up on your device before trying some simple fixes, such as leaving the laptop to dry out – if the cause is spilt water – or using a toothbrush to get rid of any debris that may be blocking the keys.
Final Thoughts
Encountering a problem with your laptop can be really frustrating and may even make you want to chuck the thing in the bin and be done with it. But it’s important to remember that many common problems can be fixed with a little time and effort, so don’t throw in the towel until you’ve explored all of the available options. With any luck, your device will be restored to health in no time.
