Slow PC or Blue Screen? What to Try Before Calling a Technician

The PC that took one minute to start now takes ten. Or it restarts in the middle of a bill with a sad face and a code you can't read. Do you replace it, or can it be saved?

Often it can be saved. Here is a simple order of things to try, then an honest note on when it's time to stop experimenting and get help.

Step 1: Work out what kind of problem it is

Different symptoms point to different causes, so don't guess.

Step 2: Safe things you can try yourself

For a slow PC

1. Open Task Manager and look at which program is using the most disk, memory or CPU.
2. Check free space on the C drive. Under 10 to 15 percent free causes slowdowns.
3. Disable startup items you don't need, but leave security software and drivers alone.
4. Run Windows Update, then restart properly (not just closing the lid).

For a blue screen

1. Photograph the screen. The stop code, such as a memory or driver message, is the first clue.
2. Think about what changed: a new driver, a new USB device, a recent update.
3. Unplug extra USB devices and restart.

Don't download "registry cleaners" or "speed booster" tools. Most of them do little and some cause real trouble.

Step 3: Know the warning signs of hardware failure

Software fixes won't help if the hardware is dying. Be careful about:

• Clicking or grinding noises from a hard disk.
• Files taking forever to open or sometimes vanishing.
• Blue screens with different codes each time.
• A PC that shuts down when hot.

If your disk is the cause, stop using the machine and back up what matters first. A cheap SSD upgrade is the single change that most often brings an old PC back to useful life, though whether it is worth it depends on how old the rest is. We'll tell you straight if a machine isn't worth the spend.

Remote or onsite: which one do you need?

Remote support works well for software problems: slow performance, drivers, malware, settings, Office errors. You need an internet connection and the PC still reaching the desktop. Onsite is for machines that won't start, suspected hardware faults, or places where the network itself is the issue.

Not sure which? Describe the symptoms and we'll say which route makes sense.

What affects the cost of a PC repair

Diagnosis and software fixes are one cost. Parts are another: a new SSD, RAM stick or power adapter is charged on top, and we tell you before replacing anything. Our PC Troubleshooting & Repair service starts at ₹1,500. Delivery is listed as one day, and many problems are sorted the same day. Some, like a failing drive that needs data recovery, may take longer, and we won't pretend otherwise.

Habits that keep a PC healthy afterwards

Repairs hold longer when a few habits follow them.

• Keep at least 15 percent of the C drive free.
• Install programs only from the maker's own website.
• Use one antivirus, keep Windows updates on, and restart weekly.
• Back up important files to an external drive or cloud folder. A backup that you have never tested is only a hope.
• Use a surge protector. Power fluctuations kill more power supplies and disks than most people expect.

If a PC is more than seven or eight years old with 4 GB of RAM and a mechanical disk, a repair buys time, not a transformation. We'll give you our honest opinion on whether to repair, upgrade or replace.

Who this is for, and who it isn't

Our repair service suits individuals and small offices with a desktop or laptop that has become slow, unstable or confusing. It is meant for diagnosis and fixes that most people can't do safely on their own.

It isn't for servers with live company databases, or for damaged hardware needing board-level repair, where a specialist workshop is the better choice. If we think your problem is outside what we do, we will say so on the first call instead of taking your money.

How we handle this at DegitalService

We diagnose first, explain what we found in plain words, and fix it remotely or onsite. The service includes 15-day free re-support, so if the same issue returns in that time, you call us back without paying again. Before major changes like reinstalling Windows, we ask you to confirm that your files are backed up, because we can't undo a lost file.

The details are on the PC Troubleshooting & Repair page. Questions about your specific machine? Contact us or book a repair.