Have You Tried Turning It Off & Back On Again? 5 Simple IT Quick Fixes

Have you tried turning it off and on again? Seriously, sometimes the answer to your IT disaster can really be that simple. Of course, sometimes there’s a bigger issue going on that needs an expert eye, but most of the time, it’s a good idea to try the simplest solution first.

We know that can feel overwhelming when you’re facing a blank screen, a laggy wifi connection or an error page. Whatever you do in your business, you probably rely on your computer on a day-to-day basis.

Things like trying to organise an online meeting, or get a spreadsheet populated, the last thing you want to deal with is a confusing IT problem.

But some of these big problems can have a relatively easy fix with just a little know-how.

1 - Turn It Off And On

If you’ve seen a show called IT Crowd then you might have laughed at this first fix. This is probably the holy grail of all IT support advice and for a good reason. Turning your computer off and on again can remove the temporary files, essentially giving you a clean slate.

Got a PC stuck in booting up mode? All of your programs crashed at once? Strange noises coming from your laptop?

Your first move should be to hit that power button and shut everything down. But there’s a small tip you should know first.

If your device is just being weird or something isn’t loading right, you should be able to shut it down as you normally would. But sometimes your device is having a seriously bad day. You can’t see your cursor, the screen is frozen or maybe a pop-up is preventing you from doing anything.

Don’t panic.

In these cases you can still turn off your device by pressing and holding in the power button until it switches off. This is called a ‘forced shut down’. It might be your new best friend in times of IT trouble.

2 - Scan For Viruses

Viruses can be especially annoying since you don’t always notice they’re there until things start going wrong.

If your computer is running slow, your web connection keeps dropping, or you’re seeing lots of pop-ups in particular, scan for viruses.

This is a simple check but it can save you a lot of grief and frustration when trying to find the source of your issue. Just open your antivirus software (most laptops and PCs will either have built-in anti-virus software or one that you’ve installed yourself). Then run a virus scan.

This scan will identify if you have any hidden viruses or malware, and then give you the option to take further action with your security.

Be aware, not all antivirus software is created equal - we can provide you with the most effective protection against viruses, scams and data theft.

3 - Update Your Software

Not sure why your computer decided to reboot in the middle of your email? It could be down to your software.

Out-dated software is often at the heart of your most annoying IT mishaps. If your problem is specific to a program or accessory (like a mouse or keyboard) then check the software for that is up to date and working normally. You can do this from your program settings.

If your issue is more general, focus on your operating system. You might be due an update and this IT quick fix could be the answer.

4 - Clear Your Cache And Cookies

The more you install, download, upload, save and browse, the more you fill up your computer’s hard drive. This can cause your operating system to grind to a halt.

Uninstall any unused apps or programs and then go to your browser. If your problems are with slow loading pages or web page errors, you may need to head to your web browser settings, then security, and look for ‘clear browsing data’ or ‘clear cookies’.

5 - Check your WiFi Connection

This might be the most obvious fix of them all, but don’t skip it. If you’re struggling with anything internet-related then try this now.

First of all, click on the wifi signal icon on your screen and see whether it says you’re connected or if your signal strength is weak. If you have no wifi connection, then try connecting your device via ethernet cable directly to your router.

If you have internet via ethernet then the problem might be with your wifi connection or the wifi card/adapter on your computer. If you have no internet with or without the ethernet, then it’s best to get on the phone with your internet provider to troubleshoot the issue.

But the most important fix to remember?

Don't be afraid to ask for help. There’s no need to waste time if these easy fixes don’t work on your specific problem. Our IT support is affordable and can get your business back up and running fast and easily. So. if you’d like an IT expert to support you in times of technical difficulty, get in touch with us at Data Innovations.

Wifi Problems: The Real Reason Your Internet Is Dropping Out

Pulling your hair out every time your internet goes down in your office? Tired of waiting hours to download and upload files? Is your business suffering because of wifi problems? If you’re fed up with your tech, then you’re in the right place, as we’re going to share the most common reasons for terrible internet and how to fix them before your business suffers.

Firstly, if you and your staff are having a tough time with the web, don’t panic.

You’ve probably lost connection at the worst moments, right? Like when you’re about to click send on an online form, or midway through a video call. But what you might not know is that wifi problems like these are usually caused by simple issues with simple fixes.

When dealing with bad internet, take a breath, don’t hurl your laptop out of the window, and try to identify the problem. Thenyou can take action to solve the core issue before your productivity - and mental health - is affected.

Common Wifi Problems And How To Fix Them

Internet dropping out? These are the most commonly overlooked causes of internet problems.

Poor Cabling: Incorrect cabling for your internet access might not be obvious at first glance, but if you’ve tried all of the obvious fixes and your wifi problems persist, poor cabling could be the culprit. Cabling can be managed or reinstalled by specialist cable installers like we have at Data Innovations, just give us a call and we can come and take a look.

Rubbish Router: Slow and unreliable internet holding your business back? Your router could be to blame. Not all routers are created equal, and you can find out if your router is the immediate problem by testing a wired connection from your device directly to your router. If the internet issues remain then your solution might be a new router.

Router Positioning: Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one! If your router is too far from your devices or workspace - or even closed inside of a cupboard or cabinet - this could be the cause of your wifi problems. Position your router closer to your devices and ensure the wifi signal isn’t being blocked accidentally.

Low Bandwidth: Low bandwidth is the worst enemy of a growing business. If you have a consistently high load on your connection, you may need to increase your bandwidth with your internet provider.

Too Many Users: With a larger team all online at once, your bandwidth might not be able to handle the demand. Contact your internet provider and ask for a bandwidth that will be able to perform under the pressure of multiple users and devices

No One To Help: Most of your internet problems can be solved quickly and easily over the phone with a remote IT support specialist,like us. We provide over the phone and in-person support for anything from printing problems to virus scares to rubbish internet, so we’re who you need to ask for help when wifi problems hit

How Do Wifi Problems Affect Your Business?

Wifi issues are seriously bad for business. Even if your business isn’t web-based, your customers still rely on being able to get in touch with you on the internet - be that your website, internet calls or even checking out your social media. The world is going digital, so it’s important for you to stay connected.

But how else can bad internet affect your business?

Productivity: So much work now involves being online. If your team isn’t connected, they won’t be able to get things done. It’s that simple. If your business revolves around cloud-based sharing or maintaining an online presence or website, then a solid web connection should be your priority.

It might feel counterintuitive, but put your internet connection first, and you’ll be doing your employees a favour.

Customer Support: Your customers or clients are the lifeblood of your business. Put yourself in their shoes. If sales reps are trying to chat with them online but their connection drops out constantly, your customers will be pretty frustrated - they might even think that your business looks unprofessional. What should have been a simple sale turns into an annoying experience for everyone.

Be aware of both ends of the transaction, and how wifi problems within your business can trickle down to your customers.

More Than Turning It Off And On Again

Take a minute to look at the way your IT and wifi affects the day-to-day running of your business. You’ll be able to see where a poor connection might be harming your productivity and service quality. By improving your web setup by contacting your provider or trying simple solutions, you might be surprised by the results you see throughout your team.

A bad internet connection doesn’t have to hold you back. If you take the time to check through your wifi problems to find their source, you may discover the real issue. If it is one of the most common causes we’ve outlined - bad cabling, router issues, and not having the right IT support available, now you know what to do.

But if you’re stumped, give us a call, our IT specialists are ready to help.We offer ongoing IT support packages as well as one-off help, just contact us at Data Innovations to find out where to begin.

5 Ways Your IT Is Hindering Your Team's Productivity

Believe it or not, frequent tea breaks aren’t the only thing reducing your team’s productivity.

Do you feel like there are always little issues popping up and slowing the workflow? Never enough time in the day to get everything done at work? High productivity has become the golden standard for teams that want to deliver results.

You might measure your productivity by the deadlines you meet or the monthly goals you surpass.

What if there are sneaking issues draining your productivity on a daily basis? The truth is - your IT might be holding you back.

Now, we know it isn’t fun to troubleshoot when you’re in a comfortable routine with your team or in your workplace and things are just about getting done. But getting more out of your time is undoubtedly worth the mental hassle.

Discovering the problems that are reducing your productivity is the first step to actually increasing your efficiency.

So, we’ve lined up the 5 most likely suspects in your IT that might be slowing you down.

1: Slow Internet

How much of your business takes place online? If any type of web-based activity is integral to your daily work then slow internet could be the biggest culprit for productivity problems.

If you don’t have a speedy connection then how can you be sure you’ll get important files transferred on time? How can your staff access email or even upload and download files? All of these small hindrances add up, especially on larger scales.

To avoid this, ideally, ensure you’re using a reliable Internet Service Provider that is set up to support the specific needs of your company. Here at Data Innovations, we always look at the business as a whole, taking into account the number of devices, users and the type of use they need, before offering a service. The solution to your slow internet holding you back could look as easy as upgrading your internet contract to one that can handle larger volumes of use from a bigger team.

2: Unreliable Internet

Similar to slow internet, an unreliable internet connection is where productivity goes to die!

Seriously, how many times has a connection drop ruined the flow of an important online meeting for you? With unreliable internet, your team is more likely to have their day set off track at any point that they need to rely on the web to complete a task.

This can be draining and annoying for your team, especially if it’s an ongoing issue.

Take the time to find out what level of internet connection and cabling your company needs. Whether you’re a small team in need of simple but reliable broadband or a larger set of buildings that need to be connected by a network, find the web service that fits your requirements perfectly.

3: Tech Spec Not Up To The Job

This is usually an easy productivity issue to spot within your IT.

If you simply don’t have the right tech for the job, the job won’t get done. If your team is using outdated software or working on computers that don’t have enough manpower then of course you’ll see a drop in target-hitting.

Take a step back and assess what kind of software, tools, or hardware your team is in need of to perform at their best. It can be as simple as bringing your team together using workflow productivity software or giving your team faster computers.

4: No One To Call For Help

Picture this - your whole laptop crashes just an hour before you’re due to send a finalised document to a client. The deadline is looming but you just can’t get your laptop to get past the black Windows loading screen of doom.

Moments like this, if you have no one to call for help then you feel helpless and you’re setting yourself up for longer downtimes like this instance.

But it doesn’t need to be like that. Most tech problems can be resolved on the phone and remotely with an IT support service, saving you stress and time and giving you more peace of mind.

5: The Wrong Tool For The Task

Using the wrong tool or tech for the job is just as bad as not having the tech at all. In the end, your team will struggle their way through the day, and they’ll probably manage quite well, but they certainly won’t be working at their best.

There are a few ways you might be using the wrong tool for the task. Take a look at the backend of your company. Do you really need three large, expensive servers? It’s possible you could move to a cloud-based (or at least supported) service that can save you time and money instead.

When it comes down to fine tuning your company to allow for high productivity and great team morale, it looks like your IT is a good place to start looking for ways to improve. Focus on fixing slow or unreliable internet with appropriate web services that can match your needs.

Say goodbye to outdated tech or even just misfit tech, and keep an IT expert on hand with remote IT support to keep your productivity flowing.

Not sure how to cut your IT productivity dead weight? Get in touch with us at Data Innovations to find out where to start.