Does your computer run slowly? Are you having challenges with Windows 10? Did your desktop get a virus or deploy Adware that’s driving you nuts? Your experience is not uncommon.

This is according to the experts at Tech Helpline, NVAR’s member benefit service for your technology solutions.

Here are the Top 5 issues the Tech Helpline team identified:

Number 5: Printer issues
We have all been there: we buy a new computer or printer and struggle with the initial setup of getting it to print a page; or the printer says that it’s “offline;” or we try to connect to it wirelessly, and it feels hopeless.

The good news is, this is a problem that Tech Helpline typically is able to help agents solve quickly. Although there are a wide variety of printer makers and models in the market, Tech Helpline experts are able to engage in basic troubleshooting to identify the cause of the issue. After verifying that the printer has paper and ink, is plugged in if connected with a cable, or is on the same network if it’s wireless, technicians can hone in on error details to provide a solution..

“Fortunately, Tech Helpline can often help speed things up. With the agent’s permission, technicians will often access an agent’s computer remotely to run a series of diagnostics: testing for speed, running cleaners, checking for malware, ensuring that critical updates are in place, checking RAM size and more.”

Number 4: Syncing to the Cloud
The cloud is great – when everything works the way it is supposed to. But when emails go missing, files won’t open, or contacts that once were in Outlook have disappeared, agents can become frustrated. Real estate agents are often iPhone users, and are faced with the reality that Apple and Microsoft (Outlook) don’t always play well.

 Sometimes users open Outlook only to discover that emails they had deleted have reappeared. That’s where Tech Helpline comes in. The technicians have had so many calls about syncing to iCloud and Outlook, that they created these resources for real estate agents:
•   http://www.techhelpline.com/troubleshooting-icloud-syncing-issues/
•   http://www.techhelpline.com/how-to-back-up-your-text-messages-email-calendars-and-more/
 
Number 3: Windows 10 issues
You have just upgraded and installed Windows 10. Up pops a message that says, “Critical Error – Start menu and Cortana aren’t working. We’ll try to fix it the next time you sign in,” and there is a button for you to “Sign out now.” But for some agents, signing out and back in still produces this error message.

Windows 10 offers many advances, but any upgrade can be fraught with problems. Among the most common questions that Tech Helpline technicians hear include those related to features that no longer work, an inability to connect to a wireless network that the computer has been using for years, or Windows 10 refusing to use the new Edge browser. Installing or using the new version of Windows has frustrated agents to the point that they ask this question: “How do I revert back to the old version?”

That is a choice that Tech Helpline can sometimes help users avoid. Older operating systems are often less secure, and support eventually disappears. Tech Helpline staff work with agents to fix Windows 10 challenges so that agents can get back to work. Tech Helpline created the following resource related to Windows 10:
http://www.techhelpline.com/four-simple-steps-you-can-take-to-optimize-windows-10-performance/

Number 2: Viruses, Malware, Adware
Something happens to your computer, but you can’t put your finger on it. All of a sudden, you open your web browser and you are being redirected to another page instead of the one you want. Sometimes, an odd user message pops up. Or you are seeing popup ads that you never got before.

A virus, malware or adware will slow your computer and make you less productive. . Tech Helpline can step in to help agents debug their laptop or desktop.

Typically, the staff at Tech Helpline will clean and provide malware, virus and adware removal software. Tech Helpline created the following resource about one of the scariest computer hacks: crypto ransomware:
http://www.techhelpline.com/crypto-ransomware-at-its-deadliest/

And the Number 1 complaint: Slow computer
A slow computer can be one of the most frustrating computer problems agents encounter.

Fortunately, Tech Helpline can often help speed things up. With the agent’s permission, technicians will often access an agent’s computer remotely to run a series of diagnostics: testing for speed, running cleaners, checking for malware, ensuring that critical updates are in place, checking RAM size and more. They may also reduce the number of items that are in the startup menu. Tech Helpline experts can also offer agents guidance about what makes a computer slow down and how to maintain faster speed.

This question is so pervasive that Tech Helpline has published the following articles on this topic:
http://www.techhelpline.com/three-simple-steps-to-an-efficient-pc/
http://www.techhelpline.com/three-simple-ways-to-maintain-your-mac/
http://www.techhelpline.com/five-requirements-for-your-laptop/
http://www.techhelpline.com/your-achievable-new-years-resolution/
http://www.techhelpline.com/does-your-computer-start-very-slowly-it-could-be-your-hhd-2/
http://www.techhelpline.com/routine-maintenance-tips-for-your-pc/

Always Ask for Help
The fastest way to help reduce frustration with technology is simply to call Tech Helpline. Because Tech Helpline is provided as a free member benefit. Just email, call or go online for an instant chat at https://nvar.com/realtors/resources/tech-helpline so that you can get back to work.

Editor’s Note: Excerpted from the June 15, 2016 TechHelpline Blog