5 Common IT Problems & How to Fix Them

As an outsourced IT provider, we receive hundreds of tickets a day from businesses with a range of IT problems. We thought that we would compile 5 of the most common IT problems businesses face and some simple solutions and troubleshooting steps.

“Why Can’t I Login?”

It’s the start of the day, you have just switched on your PC and your login credentials don’t work – how frustrating!

This is usually an easy IT problem to fix. Here are some potential things that could have caused it:

• Your account may be locked down after too many failed login attempts
• Have you entered your password correctly? Is caps lock on?
• Has your password expired? Sometimes system admins set timeframes for passwords. Can you remember receiving an email to change your password?

If you’re certain that you’ve entered your password correctly and it’s still not working, contact your IT support who will be able to help you regain access and investigate further.

“The Printer Isn’t Working

Faulty printers are commonplace in every office and one of the most common IT problems we see. Although they may seem like complicated machines, quite often there’s a simple solution to a printer issue.

If your printer isn’t working, try troubleshooting the issue and check:

• Is the printer plugged in and switched on?
• Does the printer have enough paper, ink or toner?
• Is there an obvious paper jam?

If there are no apparent issues with the ink, paper or power, there is likely a problem with the connection, in which case your IT support provider will be able to help you reconnect quickly.

“The Internet Is Slow”

Slow internet can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you work with cloud-based software. There are a few possible causes of slow internet, including:

• Your distance from the router
• An outdated Wi-Fi router
• Infrastructure issues (your internet provider should make you aware of these)

If you work from home and experience slow internet speeds, start by unplugging your router and troubleshooting your connection. Test the reach of your connection by working closer to your router, or purchase a Wi-Fi extender.

If you’re in the office, log a ticket with your IT support provider who will be able to investigate any issues and help optimise your connectivity.

“My USB Device Isn’t Working”

USB devices can be hit-or-miss when it comes to connecting when you need them to.

Some of the first things to check if your USB device isn’t working are:

• Does the device work in another port on your machine?
• Do other USB devices work in that particular port?
• Does the device work on someone else’s machine?
• If your USB device controls a mouse or keyboard, do they have enough charge/battery power?

These troubleshooting steps will help determine if there’s a problem with your machine or the USB device.

If the problem persists, contact your IT helpdesk with your findings so that they can proceed with further troubleshooting and find a solution.

“My Files Open In The Wrong Application”

Double-clicking a file should automatically open it in the right application, however, sometimes your computer might not know what application to open a file in due to a broken file association.

How to Fix on Windows

1. Click the start menu and find ‘Settings’
2. Open the ‘System’ tab and select ‘Default Apps’
3. In this window, you can choose what app opens each type of file

How to Fix on Apple

1. Find a file you would like to open and right-click it
2. Click ‘Get Info’ in the pop-up
3. Click ‘Open With’ and select the drop-down menu
4. Choose the app you’d like to use
5. Click ‘Change All’ and then ‘Continue’

Don’t Face Your IT Issues Alone

Hopefully, these tips will help you troubleshoot and solve some of the most common IT problems you could face. If you would like to learn more about how our outsourced IT support can help you prevent IT issues and business downtime, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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