Did you stay up late again and then woke up and accidentally stepped on laptop screen? The sound of a cracking laptop screen as you step on it is the only sound that is worse than an early alarm clock. Find out how you can overcome this issue if you accidentally stepped on your laptop screen.

Damaged Laptop Screen Symptoms

You can determine if you need a new screen by connecting your laptop to an external monitor. If you see the problem on the external monitor, then the issue is the motherboard or internal workings of the laptop, not necessarily the screen. If the image on the external monitor is clear, then the issue is likely the laptop LCD screen and it will need to be replaced.

White or colored lines on your screen might mean a few pixels might be missing, in which case you may need to replace the LCD laptop screen.

A series of jumbled images could mean your video card is damaged, and will need to be replaced.

The laptop screen might be dark or flickering, which means your backlight is having technical issues. Or, if the laptop screen is white or dim then it is an inverter problem. The inverter gives power to the backlight, and it is significantly cheaper to replace than the entire screen.

DIY: Fix your laptop screen

You can order an inexpensive screen replacement online via ScreenTek. They also provide LCD screen removal instructions. If the warranty on your laptop is still valid, contact the manufacturer for a screen replacement.

Keep your laptop screen undamaged

Do not place your laptop on the floor. This increases the risk of it being stepped on so always store your laptop on a flat and stable surface, such as a desk.

Do not put anything heavy on top of your laptop. Applying significant pressure to the fragile laptop can increase the risk of damage.

If you must transport your laptop in a bag, try to use a certified laptop case that will protect it. Avoid carrying your laptop in a backpack with books.

Routinely backup your data just in case the damage goes beyond a cracked laptop screen. It is worse to have to replace the entire laptop than to just replace the screen.

Need help?

If you do not feel comfortable fixing your laptop screen by yourself, contact TalkLocal to help connect you with an IT professional who will assist you.

You might have read about viruses, trojans, worms and other malicious things that can harm the computer.  Another one that falls into this category is adware.  You might be wondering, what is adware and what does it do?  Adware is a malicious program that installs itself on your computer and feeds advertising to your screen, which causes problems with other programs and disrupts the whole operating system. Some adware may redirect your computer to sites that you you do not want to use. Adware makes it hard to reconfigure original settings on your computer because it basically hijacks your computer and integrates itself into the system.

Even seasoned computer users will have trouble removing the adware from computers. Some adware can track your computer usage and send you targeted pop-up ads that are aimed at your particular interests. Adware is essentially the same thing as spyware and the two names can be used interchangeably.

There are three malicious things that adware can do to your computer:

– Adware can slow your computer down by adding sites and using up all the available memory you have on your computer. It may change your home page and take you to sites you don’t want intend on visiting.

– It can create pop-up ads that are annoying and disruptive to your system.

– It can cause your computer to severely slow down, as well as cause software conflicts that make your computer unstable and unusable.

Luckily, there are ways to make it less likely that adware or spyware will be installed on your computer. There are also ways to detect and remove malicious software you may already have. Read the following tips to stay safe from adware:

– DO NOT download software from unreliable sites.

– Be cautious whenever asked to install something new on your computer.

– Use a reputable pop-up blocker or a browser with a built-in pop-up blocker.

– Run an antivirus program and update it often.

If you are still having problems after trying all these things or have questions about adware, then you should use TalkLocal to get the best help in your area from local IT service professionals.

Printer problems are among the most common computer repair problems. Your printer may fail when you change the printer’s settings or install a new printer driver. If you’ve done either of these things try undoing the changes to see if the printer starts working again.

Check that you sent the print job to the correct printer.

Other times, the printer cannot access the paper in the tray. If you are using a printer where the paper supply sits on a platform rather than inside an enclosed tray, push the paper in toward the printer. If the paper is accessible and the printer still doesn’t work, the printer may have grabbed too much paper beforehand. Clear a paper jam by opening the printer and carefully removing any paper. If an entire sheet of paper is stuck, grab the corners firmly and slowly wiggle the paper side to side until it is free.

If you’re trying to print too many documents at once, you may overload the printer. The printer can freeze if it receives too many documents to print at once. Fix this problem by clearing all the print jobs on the queue. Turn off the computer. Turn it on again and print your documents one at a time.

If these tips don’t fix the problem, it may be time to call for help. TalkLocal is a free online service that can help you find high quality computer repair services. A solution is just a click away; fill out TalkLocal’s service request online and–within minutes–you will be receiving calls from up the three reputable computer repair business who can solve your printer problem.

You might be wondering, what is a trojan horse and what can it do?  Well, a Trojan horse is a type of virus that gives a hacker remote access over your computer system.  Following the myth, a Trojan will pretend to be useful software, and then compromise your system once it is installed in your computer. Usually, users will open them because they believe they are obtaining legitimate software from a trusted source.  This can result from opening a link in an email message or downloading software directly from a site.  However, unlike many other types of viruses, such as worms, Trojans do not replicate themselves once they’ve infected your computer.

A hacker with remote access to your computer can use your computer to do a variety of different functions, ranging from harmless and annoying to malicious and damaging.  The less malicious Trojans can just change your desktop background or replace your icons with annoying smiley faces.  However, the truly malicious Trojans can compromise your computer’s safety.  Trojans can install keylogging software, allowing hackers to capture your keystrokes as you enter specific websites (like banking websites).  Trojans will also create backdoors to your computers, which can allow hackers to automatically upload or download files, crash your computer, or steal personal data.

How can I protect my system?

First, if you think your computer has been compromised, download anti-virus software and run a scan.  This can be any anti-virus software, such as Microsoft Security Essentials or Malwarebytes; use it to detect and remove the infection.

Keep your operating system updated protects your system from security vulnerabilities that Trojans can exploit.  Likewise, installing and using a firewall will protect your computer from outside attempts to gain access or control of your computer.

If you feel your computer is still infected or would like professional advice, use TalkLocal to instantly find highly-rated local IT professionals to repair your computer!