10 Common Laptop Problems & How to Fix Them

 


Laptops have become an essential part of daily life—whether you're working from home, studying, editing videos, running a business, or doing freelance work. But just like any machine, laptops also develop problems over time. Some issues are minor and can be fixed easily; others may require a professional technician, especially if you're in a major city like London where people rely heavily on fast and reliable devices.

In this complete guide, we’ll explore the 10 most common laptop problems, why they happen, how you can fix them at home, and when you should contact a laptop repair expert in London. This guide is designed especially for beginners, so every explanation is simple and actionable.

1. Slow Performance & Freezing

One of the most frustrating problems for laptop users is a slow or lagging system. Whether you're browsing the internet or opening a simple document, everything takes time.

Why It Happens

  • Too many apps running in the background

  • Low RAM

  • Old or failing hard drive (HDD)

  • Viruses or malware

  • Windows updates pending

  • Overloaded startup programs

How to Fix It

✔ 1. Disable startup programs

Go to Task Manager → Startup, and turn off apps you don’t need at launch.

✔ 2. Uninstall unnecessary software

Remove old or unused applications that eat memory.

✔ 3. Switch from HDD to SSD

If you are still using a traditional hard drive, upgrade to an SSD. This alone makes the laptop 10x faster.

✔ 4. Run virus scans

Use Windows Defender or Malwarebytes.

✔ 5. Increase RAM

If possible, upgrade to 8GB or 16GB RAM.

When to Call a Professional?

If your laptop keeps freezing or becomes extremely slow even after cleaning, you may need expert help from a laptop repair London service.

2. Laptop Overheating

If your laptop becomes too hot and shuts down automatically, it’s a clear sign of overheating.

Why It Happens

  • Dust blocking ventilation

  • Weak cooling system

  • Old thermal paste

  • Running heavy applications

  • Faulty fan

How to Fix It

  • Clean air vents with compressed air

  • Keep laptop on a flat surface

  • Use a cooling pad

  • Close heavy apps like video editing or gaming

  • Get thermal paste replaced (professional job)

When to Seek Help

If your fan is noisy, not spinning, or the laptop shuts down frequently, you should visit a professional laptop repair technician in London.

3. Battery Not Charging / Draining Fast

Battery issues are incredibly common, especially in older laptops.

Possible Reasons

  • Battery health degraded

  • Faulty charger

  • Charging port issue

  • Heavy software running in background

How to Fix

  • Use original charger

  • Reduce screen brightness

  • Turn on Battery Saver

  • Remove unnecessary apps

  • Replace old battery (if health is below 60%)

If your battery drains within 30–40 minutes even after optimization, it's time to get a replacement from a local laptop repair shop in London.

4. Laptop Not Turning On

Imagine pressing the power button and nothing happens—no lights, no sound. This is a common panic situation.

Reasons

  • Dead battery

  • Faulty power adapter

  • Motherboard issue

  • RAM problem

  • Internal power failure

Basic Troubleshooting

  • Remove the battery and press the power button for 20 seconds

  • Reconnect the charger

  • Try a different charger

  • Reseat the RAM (if you know how to open your laptop)

If still no response → it requires a professional diagnostic, especially motherboard-level repair.

5. WiFi Not Connecting

WiFi issues can disturb your entire workflow.

Reasons

  • Faulty WiFi driver

  • Router issue

  • Wrong network settings

  • Broken internal WiFi card

Quick Fixes

  • Restart laptop + router

  • Update WiFi drivers

  • Forget the network and reconnect

  • Check airplane mode

  • Plug in external USB WiFi adaptor (temporary fix)

If your laptop keeps disconnecting, an expert in laptop repair London can replace the WiFi card or fix motherboard issues.

6. Black Screen / No Display

Laptop powers on but screen stays black? Very common problem.

Causes

  • Display cable Loose

  • GPU failure

  • RAM fault

  • Backlight not working

  • Screen damaged

What You Can Try

  • Restart laptop

  • Connect external monitor

  • Reseat RAM

  • Remove external devices (USB, HDMI)

If your external monitor shows display but laptop screen is black → the LCD or display cable needs replacement.

7. Blue Screen Error (BSOD)

The Blue Screen of Death usually appears when Windows faces a critical system error.

Reasons

  • Corrupted drivers

  • Damaged RAM

  • Hard drive failure

  • Virus infection

  • Windows update problems

Fix Options

  • Update drivers

  • Run Windows Diagnostics

  • Do a System Restore

  • Scan for hard drive errors using CMD

If BSOD error appears frequently, it’s a serious issue → contact a repair technician quickly.

8. Loud Fan or Strange Noises

If your laptop is making grinding or clicking noises, something is definitely wrong.

Reasons

  • Dust-filled fan

  • Fan motor damaged

  • Hard drive failing

Fix

  • Clean the fan

  • Replace damaged fan

  • Switch from HDD to SSD if clicking noise comes from hard drive

Fan-related repairs are usually cheap and quick in London laptop shops.

9. Keyboard Not Working Properly

Keys may stop responding, get stuck, or type the wrong characters.

Reasons

  • Dust or liquid spill

  • Damaged keyboard cable

  • Faulty keyboard circuit

Fix at Home

  • Clean keys gently

  • Use external USB keyboard for temporary use

  • Restart in Safe Mode to check software issues

If water was spilled → immediate professional cleaning is necessary to prevent motherboard damage.

10. Laptop Running Out of Storage

When storage is full, the laptop becomes slow, apps crash, and updates fail.

Fix Options

  • Delete temporary files

  • Move photos/videos to cloud storage

  • Uninstall heavy software

  • Upgrade SSD (best option)

SSDs are cheap now and drastically increase speed.

When Should You Contact a Laptop Repair Expert in London?

You should consider professional help when:

✔ Laptop doesn't turn on
✔ Screen is flickering or black
✔ Overheating continues after cleaning
✔ Battery drains extremely fast
✔ Blue Screens appear frequently
✔ The laptop is physically damaged
✔ Water spill or internal short-circuit
✔ Hard drive making clicking noise

London has many repair shops, and most offer same-day service for common issues.

Final Thoughts

Laptop issues are normal, and most can be fixed with a little knowledge. But if your laptop has deeper hardware problems, it’s always better to visit a trusted laptop repair expert in London instead of trying risky DIY methods.

A well-maintained laptop lasts longer, performs better, and keeps your data safe.
Always keep your device clean, update regularly, and don’t ignore warning signs.

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