What are some things I can try before calling tech support when my PC isn’t working correctly?

Other basic troubleshooting includes trying ‘safe mode’ for start up (tapping the F8 button when you turn on the computer).  This allows you to decide how the computer will boot and can help you avoid ‘bugs’ which might be interrupting with the boot procedure.  If your computer works well after beginning in ‘safe mode’, then you know something in the normal boot procedure is causing the problems.

If your computer begins to work more slowly than normal and you suspect a virus of some sort, try restoring your computer to an earlier date (a recent time when you remember it working better).  You can restore once your computer is already booted by going into your computer’s administration folder and finding the ‘restore’ option.  That will also give you a number of choices for the restore point.  If your computer is off, hit the F12 button as you boot it – this puts your computer into recovery mode. 

Don’t let it continue along that path, however.  Along the way, you will be asked if you actually want a system recovery or if you only want a restore point.  If you let it recover, the computer will revert to its default settings (and you’ll lose any programs and data accompanying those programs which you’ve added since you bought the computer).  If you're uncertain as to whether or not you can do this yourself, always ask an expert.

Anything beyond these three quick checks are most likely challenges you’ll need tech support’s help with, however.