Distinct consumer questions

Computer troubleshooting

Computers that will not start, run slowly or lose Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or sound, on Windows, Mac and Chromebook, with the checks to do before a reset or a repair.

Computer faults usually belong to one of a few groups: the machine will not start or charge, it is slow or hot, the display or external monitor misbehaves, or a peripheral such as Bluetooth, a printer or a USB device is not detected. Start with the cheap tests: a different charger and outlet, a restart with everything unplugged, and a second cable or port for the monitor. On Windows, many peripheral faults clear after a driver update from the maker or a restart that fully shuts the machine down rather than sleeping. On a Mac, a storage or startup problem is often tied to System Data growing or a pending update. On a Chromebook, sign-in loops usually respond to a powerwash after backing up local files.