No sound from speakers

First check the audio cable is in the correct socket in the base unit of the PC. If you are sure it is, the software to make the sound card work may not be installed or may have a fault, please contact us and we can check this for you.

Pound sign (£) is a hash sign (#) in application

This is because the keyboard language is set to English (US). To change this go into the Control Panel and double click the keyboard icon. Then click add and select English (UK), then remove the US language and click OK to the message that comes up. After your next restart the language should be fine.

No response from the monitor

The best thing to check with this is simply see if the monitor cable is securely plugged into the back of the PC and that the power cable is securely in and switched on. This can however indicate other hardware issues so if you call us we can help diagnose this.

PC won't switch on

The first thing to check is that the power cable is securely in the back of the PC. If this is securely in, then check if the PC has power running into it (i.e. check power switch at the wall). If that doesn't work check if the PC is already running but has no display showing. To make sure of this, hold the power button down for 5-8 seconds then press it again and see if there is any response if not please contact us.

PC stops responding for no reason

Unfortunately this can indicate one of any number of problems which generally needs to be investigated. Most of the time shutting the PC down leaving it for ten seconds then switching it back on will work around the issue.

Cannot print

Check the power and data cables are securely connected in the printer and PC and the printer is switched on and has paper in correctly. If this doesn't work the software could be corrupt, we would need to check and if need be reinstall the relevant software.

No internet connection

The first thing to try when addressing an issue with an internet connection depends on whether you have and ADSL modem or and ADSL router. An ADSL modem typically plugs in the PC using a USB cable, whereas a router will connect either wirelessly or using a network cable. If you have an ADSL modem then to reboot it you simply need to reboot your PC and this reboots the modem also. If you have an ADSL router this will need to bu unplugged from the mains power for a minimum of 5 minutes before plugging it back in. Once you have rebooted the ADSL equipment you use try again and if this still doesn't work the next step is to contact you ADSL provider as there may be a fault on the line.

Computer crashes and displays a blue screen with error on

This is known as a "Blue Screen of Death". However with the right diagnosis can often be repaired or resolved. Typically this error occurs when there is a failure in hardware on the PC or a driver error within Windows. The driver error is often resolved by an update to the manufacturers latest driver for the hardware that has caused the issue. A hardware error can occasionally be fixed by a firmware update but in many cases may require replacing. We would generally advise if you have this error we would need to assess the equipment to give an accurate diagnosis or the specific fault to that machine.

Virus warning or suspected virus infection

Viruses are become more of a threat in the IT industry and having proper Virus protection is a vital part of every PC from businesses to home users. If you know or suspect you have a virus we suggest you ensure you have the latest Virus Definitions (Updates) to your AntiVirus product and you run a full scan to try to identify the virus you have. Many viruses have been designed so that they are undetectable when the computer is switched on normally and require a scan to take place in "Safe Mode" to allow a repair. Each virus is unique and if you believe you have one you should turn off your PC, unplug it from the internet of network and contact us so we can advise you how you can remove any such infection.

CD/DVD will not read in drive

This is commonly one of two problems, either, the CD/DVD disk is faulty or the CD/DVD drive is faulty. The best way to prove which is the case is to try another CD/DVD disk in the drive. If the new disc works then the original CD/DVD may either require cleaning or be faulty, if the new disk does not work then there may be a good chance the CD/DVD drive needs cleaning or replacing. We can assist in all areas of this

PC making more noise than usual

This really depends on what kind of noise is coming from the machine. A clicking/clunking noise every second or two will often indicate a potential hard drive fault or imminent failure. In this case you should ensure your backup is up to date. A more common noise is a grinding noise which is more apparent when you first switch on the PC. This will typically be caused by a processor or case fan fault.