It’s not unusual for people to use their PCs until they break down and just won’t boot up anymore. When you don’t have your computer serviced regularly and never consider bringing it into an IT shop until it stops working completely, you run a big risk of the loss of everything on your hard drive.

If you can catch problems and have them addressed before they get that bad, you can often save yourself the cost of a new system. At least for a few more years.

Proactive computer repair is always better than waiting until something breaks before you have it fixed. As soon as something acts up or you notice your PC doing something strange, you should have it checked out, rather than just hoping the issue will go away. Ignoring it will only make matters worse.

Often, the fix will cost you much less than a new computer. For example, if you have a problem with a lack of memory or storage, you may run into freezing issues and believe it’s time to replace your computer. When you could have a memory upgrade done instead for just a fraction of the cost of a new PC.

Here are some of the signs that should send you to a Melbourne PC repair shop as soon as possible.

Your Computer Continually Reboots on Its Own

Occasionally, an operating system update may cause your computer to reboot on its own, but that’s not the kind of reboot we’re talking about. If your PC reboots a few times a week without you doing anything to initiate it, this is an indication that something is wrong.

In some cases, it could be malware that is writing to the OS code in the background and causing instability. In other cases, something else might be wrong that’s causing the system to overload and go into reboot mode.

Your PC is Getting Hot

If you notice your computer or laptop getting hot and staying that way, this is a warning sign that something may be wrong with the fan or cooling system. Heat is the enemy of computer circuits and motherboards, and when systems get too hot, they begin acting strange.

If left unchecked, you could end up with an expensive mess on your hands and a PC that no longer works correctly. If caught early enough, a PC technician can replace the failing part and fix the cooling problem.

You Get Warnings that a File is Corrupted

If you open a file that you know you’ve opened before and your PC tells you it’s corrupted, this could be an indicator of malware or ransomware. It can also indicate a failing hard drive.

Ransomware makes its way through a computer, infecting files to make them unreadable. It spreads fast and can also spread to any other systems connected to the same network, so this is something you need to catch right away.

Line Appears Across Screens

If you’re working like usual and suddenly see some weird lines flash across the screen, you need to get this checked out. Even if they go away and you only see them from time to time, this could be a precursor to a graphics card failure.

In the past, certain Mac models have had graphics cards recalled. But often a user isn’t aware of a recall. So, if they never take their PC to get serviced, they may never have the issue fixed until it’s too late.

This is another reason to have your PC serviced regularly. As expert computer technicians, we keep up to date on any recalled parts from major manufacturers. We can help you through the recall process, which often means the manufacturer replaces the part for free. But, if you don’t have your computer in a shop much at all, then the recall could expire by the time the part malfunctions, in which case you would have to pay to fix it yourself.

Your Browser Home Page has Changed

If you open Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox and it opens a different page than you’re used to, this is a big red flag that you have a virus. Several common viruses will rewrite your home page favourites, sending you to an ad-filled phishing site when you open your browser.

Trying to change the home page back, usually does nothing. This is something you need to have addressed right away before the virus spreads.

Your PC Has Become Much Slower

There are many causes for a sluggish PC that tends to freeze up from time to time. Easier fixes include storage or memory upgrades if a lack of space or memory is the cause.

Having a slow system checked out can lead to speed improvements that cost much less than buying a new computer. Plus, it can relieve frustration and improve your productivity.

Come See Mr IT for a Computer Tune-Up!

There’s no need to struggle with a slow or malfunctioning computer. Mr IT can provide a PC tune-up and scan your system for viruses. A well-cared-for system can last years longer than one that’s never serviced.

6 Signs That You Need to Have Your Computer Checked for Problems (Before They Get Worse!)