We are experts and we can fix most faults that a desktop computer might have, so even if you don’t see your issue listed on this page, reach out via the button below as we can almost certainly help.
How can we help?
Desktop repairs are a lot like laptop repairs, just with a lot less swearing, bloodied fingers and deep breaths 😤. That’s because unlike laptops, desktop computers typically aren’t designed to be small, light and portable and so components don’t need to be tightly packaged, glued together or integrated onto the mainboard. This also means that they can be more repairable!
To save you some time, we have collected the most common types of fault in the links below along with some common causes and tips.
If you want to save even more time, drop us an email and we’ll book you in for a service and do the detective work for you 🕵️.
🐢 My desktop computer is slow!
🔥 My desktop computer is too hot!
😵 My desktop computer won’t turn on or shuts off suddenly…
🧐 I can hear fans / see lights but my monitor / screen won’t come on…
🔢 My computer gets stuck on a logo screen
My desktop is slow!
When your desktop was brand new it (hopefully) whizzed through all the things you used it for without skipping a beat, however over time things can start to get a bit sluggish.
Some common reasons for this (in no particular order) are:
| Software | Hardware |
|---|---|
| Too many programs (that you probably aren’t even using) running in the background | You’re running low on RAM |
| You’re in a low power mode | You’re running low on storage |
| Your operating system is a lot newer than the hardware it is running on1 | Your CPU is too hot |
We can help with both software and hardware issues, just drop us an email and we’ll let you know how we can help.
My desktop is too hot!
Just like us, most desktop computers need to breath, and too much dust makes that difficult2!
Obstruction of cooling fans either by placing your desktop on soft surfaces, in confined spaces or through the accumulation of dust in vents can lead to your computer getting too hot.
💡 Adding fine mesh dust filters to your computer case reduces dust getting into your computer and can also make cleaning much easier - if you’re lucky your computer case might already have some installed!
You don’t need us to tell you (because you are here reading this page!) that desktops that are too hot are no fun because:
- in the short-term they are loud and slow
- and in the long-term… Well there isn’t really a long-term as hot desktops don’t tend to live very long.
If your desktop sounds like it’s struggling or feels like it is running too hot and it’s fans aren’t being blocked when in use, drop us an email and we’ll be happy to have a look under the hood.
My desktop won’t turn on or shuts off suddenly…
If your desktop won’t turn on or seems to shut off suddenly during use, then this suggests a power supply related hardware fault.
In order for your computer to compute, it needs a supply of electrical power from the mains through the wall, into its power supply and out to its components, and an issue with any of these could lead to it working intermittently or not at all.
Desktop power supplies are usually among the most reliable components within a desktop due to their criticality but they are only able to work with the power they themselves are supplied. For the best results, computers should be plugged straight into the wall and not through an extension cord with other devices also drawing from it.
🔎 The first thing to do is to plug your computer directly into the wall, ideally in another room without large appliances, to rule out external factors as the cause. If it seems more stable, consider distributing electrical devices among mains outlets to reduce use of any extension leads. If it still seems flaky, then that could mean a component within the computer is the culprit - either way, we can help!
Major component upgrades like a new CPU, GPU or the addition of multiple HDDs could also exceed the rating of the existing power supply.
⚠️ While modularity is a pro of most desktop computers, power supplies are one component that required careful consideration to ensure stable operation. They can also be very dangerous and should never be opened up except by a professional
My screen won’t come on!
The lights aren’t on but somebody is home.
Similar to the power issues mentioned above, it’s possible that the display connector has come loose inside your desktop, or that for some other reason, power isn’t getting to some or all of the display circuitry like the backlight. Displays are one of the more venerable components to wear in a desktop because the electrons that power it have to make the treacherous commute back and forth through the hinge!
🔎 One way to narrow down the issue is to shine a bright light like your phone’s flash onto the display when you think the desktop is on but can’t see a picture on the display - if the backlight is out but the screen itself is still working you should be able to see the ghostly outline of your operating system (spooky).
Display connector or backlight faults are best case scenarios for desktop screen issues; if you are seeing an image but it looks garbled or corrupted, that could indicate an issue with the GPU or the screen itself which while not necessarily terminal, will definitely need some expert help to solve 👋.
My computer gets stuck on a logo screen
Before your computer can fully boot up it has to do a similar thing to what many of us do every morning: take a long look in the mirror and ask ourselves who we are and what we’re doing 😅. Computers do this through some software called the BIOS. Usually this process happens quickly in the background with the only giveaway that it has happened being a manufacturer logo and/or a few lines of white text on a black background that briefly appears before your login screen - but sometimes your computer can hang here.
A computer getting stuck on the BIOS screen can indicate a few issues including:
- a missing or corrupted boot device (hard drive or SSD storing your operating system)
- a hardware fault with a core component such as the CPU or RAM
- a loss of power or other unexpected shutdown
- a shortcut key such as F2, F10, F12, Del, or Esc was pressed during a normal boot
Didn’t see your issue mentioned? 😓
We are experts and we can fix most faults that a desktop might have, so even if you didn’t see your issue listed on this page, reach out via the button below as we can almost certainly help turn that frown upside down!
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| BIOS | Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is firmware used to perform hardware initialization during the booting process and to manage data flow between a computer’s operating system (OS) and programmes and internal hardware devices |
| CPU | Central Processing Unit (CPU) literally your desktop’s brain |
| GPU | Graphics Processing Unit, like the CPU but decided to pursue a career in art rather than management for the obvious salary prospects |
| HDD | Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) are magnetic spinning platter non-volatile storage devices for storing persistent user data and operating systems offering strong capacity to cost |
| LED | Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are helpful little electrical components that produce light when powered often to indicate whether various functions are or are not happening inside your desktop |
| RAM | Random Access Memory (RAM) is speedy temporary storage that your desktop uses to hold onto things it is actively working on such as programs |
| SSD | Solid Sate Disks (SSDs) are flash-based non-volatile storage devices often used in place off HDDs for storing persistent user data and operating systems due to their faster read/write speeds, lower power draw, noise and physical size |
The information on this page is provided for reference only.