Tuesday, February 28, 2017

What to Do in Case You Can’t Find a Wi-Fi Connection After a Windows 10 Upgrade

There are actually 2 main reasons why Wi-Fi becomes unavailable after upgrading to Windows 10:

1.      The Wi-Fi or wireless adapter driver is not updated and is therefore not compatible with Windows 10. In most cases, the Wi-Fi driver is missing after the Windows 10 update.
2.      The problem may also be because of the triggering of unsupported VPN software present during the Windows 10 upgrade. If the PC is still using an old VPN client, specifically Cisco VPN client or Sonic Global client, it’s certain that this piece of software is what is causing the no Internet connection issue. Thus, uninstall the VPN software.

There are 2 major solutions to fix Windows 10 if Wi-Fi is not available:

1. Update Wi-Fi Adapter Drivers on Windows 10

To resolve the Windows 10 Wi-Fi availability issue, the first method should go to the wireless driver to match with Windows 10. The driver for the previous Windows 8.1 or 7 is not compatible with Windows 10 and it may have removed the driver during update. Therefore, fix the Wi-Fi driver with a Driver Talent tool. It can help to check if the Wi-Fi driver causes the problem and then update the driver either by repairing it or downloading the latest one to match the wireless adapter for Windows 10.

You can also try the network version: Driver Talent for Network Card. This version can help to fix the driver without Internet connection. You should install this tool before updating to Windows 10. Alternatively, download it with an available computer that has Internet connection and move it to your computer to install network driver offline.

Some users may have installed the Wi-Fi driver but the Windows 10 Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting. This is because the driver you installed can’t work properly on your computer. Try Driver Talent to install the Windows 10 Wi-Fi driver to work so that it can work properly.

Download and install Driver Talent on your laptop or desktop computer to solve your Windows 10 Wi-Fi issue.

2. Uninstall the network adapter driver and restart

If the above didn’t work, try to uninstall the network adapter driver, and then restart your computer and have Windows automatically install the latest driver. Consider this approach if your network connection stopped working properly after the recent update.

Before uninstalling, make sure you have drivers available as a backup. Visit the PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest network adapter driver from there. If your PC can’t connect to the Internet, you’ll need to download a driver on a different PC and save it to a USB flash drive, so you can install the driver on your PC. You’ll need to know the PC manufacturer and model name or number.

In the search box on the taskbar, type Device Manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results.

In Device Manager, select Network adapters > the network adapter name.
Press and hold (or right-click) the network adapter, and then select Uninstall > Delete the driver software for this device check box > OK to confirm you want to uninstall it.
After uninstalling the driver, select the Start button > Power > Restart.

After your PC restarts, Windows will automatically look for and install the network adapter driver. Check to see if that fixes your connection problem. If Windows doesn’t automatically install a driver, try to install the backup driver you saved before uninstalling.

And if all else fails, you can always call your friendly tech support company.

Friday, February 10, 2017

What Should You Do In Case Your Brand New Computer is Running Slow?

Oftentimes, it’s rare for a brand new computer – be it a desktop or laptop – to run slow since it’s still new and fresh from its factory settings. This is because it hasn’t been used yet except when it was tested and adjusted to its factory settings. However, if this problem hits you, you can check out the following, just in case, but truthfully, if the problem persists, either return it to the manufacturer or call your friendly local tech support company.

Reboot
Sometimes, any computer just needs a rebooting to kick in the system and get the kinks out of it. This is rare with desktops but may happen with laptops due to the small parts. A laptop may take several boot ups to get the kinks out.

Not enough hard drive space
Did you check the specs of your hard drive before purchasing it? Verify that there is at least 200-500MB of free hard drive space. This available space allows the computer to have room for the swap file to increase in size as well as room for temporary files. Most new computers today now have a minimum hard drive space of 1 terabyte. Anything lower than this means you may be buying an old model, perhaps at a bargain price.

Make sure hard drive is not corrupted or fragmented
Run Scan Disk to verify there is nothing physically wrong with the computer’s hard drive. Then run Defragmentation to help ensure that data is arranged in the best possible order.

Hardware conflicts    
Verify that the Device Manager has no conflicts. If any exist, resolve these issues as they could be the cause of your problem. This may entail you calling your tech support company or bringing the computer back to the manufacturer.

Update Windows
Make sure you have all the latest Windows updates installed in the computer. If your computer is slow when you are on the Internet, also make sure all browser plugins are up-to-date.

Update your drivers
Make sure you’ve got the latest drivers for your computer, especially video drivers. Having out-of-date drivers can cause an assortment of issues.

Computer or processor is overheating
Make sure your computer and processor is not overheating. Excessive heat can cause a significant decrease in computer performance since most processors automatically bring the speed of the processor down to help compensate for the heat-related issues. This shouldn’t be happening to a brand new computer, but if it’s doing it, then there’s a hardware problem that needs to be fixed or replaced by a professional.

Hardware issues
If your computer continues to be slow after going over each of the aforementioned recommendations, it’s possible that your computer is experiencing a more serious hardware-related issue such as a failing component in the computer. This could be a failing or bad hard drive, CPU, RAM, motherboard, or other component. Again, this may entail the help of a professional or you need to invoke your new computer’s warranty.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Tech Tips: A Few Good Ways to Protect Your Laptop from Dust

There are several things you can do to prevent the buildup of dust in your laptop since this can affect cooling and performance. Even in the cleanest surroundings and environments, you’ll still need to clean the inside of your computer on a regular basis, though it will be far less if you follow the prevention below.

Don’t work on or near the floor
The floor is the first place where dust builds up, and if you love sitting on or near the floor with your laptop, then you might as well put a welcome sign for all the dust entering your laptop. The higher your laptop is from the floor, the lesser dust gets in, so why not just work on your desk. On your desk, it’s also advisable to use a tower shelf to raise the laptop slightly above the desk since this also gathers up dust.

Clean your floors regularly
The more dust you clean off, the less it accumulates anywhere. Sweep or vacuum your floor and carpets on a regular basis to prevent dust from accumulating.

Dust your nearby shelves and cabinets
Like keeping the floors clean, make sure all your shelves and cabinets including their nook and crannies are kept regularly clean in order to keep dust away from your computer.

Move your computer away from doors and windows
Doors and windows tend to draw dust towards them and is therefore the entry point of all dust. Windows have a way of attracting dust even if they’re not always open and if poorly insulated. Try to situate your work desk and laptop away from windows and doors.

Install an air filter
Putting an air filter in your work room is a fairly inexpensive method to keep dust from accumulating. A single room filter is more than enough for positive results, however if you’re working in the living room, you may need to get a more complex filtration system since the area is bigger.

Avoid smoking indoors and near your laptop
Cigarette ash will increase dust buildup and too much smoke can damage laptop components. Avoid smoking indoors or near your laptop to prevent this accumulation.

Perform regular cleaning
A laptop is far easier to clean than a desktop. You don’t even need to open it up, but if you do, be extra careful since its components are very sensitive. Use compressed air to blow out dust from the inside and from the keyboard area. Use a soft brush and cleaning cloth (the type usually used to clean out eye glasses, or those sold for monitors) to clean out the keyboard and monitor. Clean out your laptop at least once a week.