It seems as if our computers fail us at exactly the wrong moment—just when we need them most. It can be incredibly frustrating, but don’t worry! Preferred IT is always here to help you out, no matter what your computer issue.

Our technicians are good at what they do, and chances are, they’ll be able to solve your problem as soon as they look at it. However, it really helps them out when they know you’ve gone through some basic steps before you called. Here is a list of 5 things you can do before you call your IT company.

1.     Don’t panic! We know it’s frustrating, and sometimes even scary, when things go wrong with your computer. Just remember to breathe! It’s very likely that your problem is fixable. Technology doesn’t always work the way we want it to, but getting frustrated isn’t going to make anyone’s day any better. Just remember—Preferred IT’s got this. You don’t need to worry.

2.     Grab a notepad. It is incredibly helpful to our technicians if you write down the steps you took before you realized your problem. Did you start an application? Which one? Did you have an issue as soon as you tried to log into the computer? Most importantly: are you getting an error message? Write it down! The more details you give us, the better (and quicker!) we’ll be able to fix the problem.

3.     Check the cables. Is the computer/monitor/speaker/printer/etc. not turning on? Check to make sure that everything is plugged in properly. Sometimes, cords get jostled, and plugs get accidentally removed. If it all looks right, try plugging something else into the outlet—it might be bad.

4.     Reboot. If you’re having an issue with an application, try closing out of it and restarting it. If you’re having an issue with the entire computer, press CTRL + ALT + DEL and restart it. This is called a soft reboot, and is the safest way to reboot your computer. However, if the screen is frozen and you cannot restart it this way, you may need to press the power button on the computer itself to turn it off. This is a hard reboot, and sometimes files can be lost or damaged so it is best to use as a last resort.

5.     Ask around. If the problem you’re having is with the network (like the Internet or applications your office uses for business), ask your coworkers if they’re having issues, too. This will help us determine whether the issue is with just your computer or if we need to address an overlapping problem.

Still having problems? Once you’ve done all these things give us a call. Our technicians are ready to help you, and they will definitely appreciate the head start you’ve given them by getting these basic steps out of the way.