Having computer issues but prefer to social distance? In today’s post, I’ll go over some common problems and solutions that you can purchase on your own. No calling someone. No handing your computer off for a few days. You might be shocked how simple USB devices can solve the more common hardware failures you might experience. And yes, everything is social distancing compliant, woohoo!
WiFi - It’s broken or you have bad signal strength
With the vast majority of folks working from home, WiFi has recently become a very, very essential thing. So, what do you do when you’re computer’s WiFi is spotty or just stops working entirely?
Enter a USB WiFi Adapter. A USB WiFi adapter is an external WiFi card that is powered by a USB port on your computer. Installation is as easy as plugging in a USB cable and you suddenly have a second WiFi card for your computer. Below are some different options, but in-general, searching for a “usb WiFi adapter” should be enough to get you correct options on Amazon.
The “I need something reliable”: https://amzn.to/2NsJxDT
The “I need better signal strength solution”: https://amzn.to/315z60P
The “budget buyer”: https://amzn.to/3ekA6lB
Webcam - It’s no longer working or the image is static/fuzzy/etc
It also seems folks are video conferencing significantly more due to work from home measures. In the case that your webcam has died or maybe just isn’t performing as well as you’d like, there are simple solutions you can implement on your own too.
A USB external webcam can quickly and easily solve your internal webcam issues. Most laptops (with a few exceptions) have pretty poor internal webcams. If you’d like something nicer or just adjustable without tilting your laptop’s screen, consider a USB Webcam.
The “4k webcam is a must, and I have an infinite budget”: https://amzn.to/37MRexI
The “I’d like something nicer, but I am not putting on a broadway production”: https://amzn.to/3ejYnZ7
The “I just need a working webcam because mine isn’t working”: https://amzn.to/3hFSZ4q
Generally speaking, you can also just search for “usb webcam” on Amazon and view other options that may work better for your specific needs.
CD/DVD - You found that old CD from a decade ago and your laptop doesn’t have a CD drive anymore
As laptops have gotten slimmer, companies have had to come up with clever ways to continue to shrink technology. Typically, the first thing to go with new laptops are the CD/DVD drive as they are very thick modules.
Fear not - You can still use that CD mix you made forever ago. You just need an “external cd drive”.
Yes, they even make CD/Drive drives in external USB form. Here are a few options to return your ability to read discs again:
- The “name brand that will probably work well”: https://amzn.to/2V8uAek
- The “budget choice with good reviews”: https://amzn.to/2B0hpoS
Mouse/Keyboard - Your Macbook has the “sticky” key syndrome
If you are one of the unlucky individuals with a Macbook that has the controversial “butterfly” keyboard, you may be experiencing random key stickiness. You may have also just accidentally spilled coffee on your keyboard - I don’t judge. I’ve seen it all. If you’re laptop keyboard or trackpad is driving your crazy, there are solutions!
An external keyboard and/or mouse are an easy solution. Yes, you need to drag these items with you, but it’s an easy and usually pretty cheap fix.
I won’t be providing specific options here as people have their own needs for mice and keyboards. I’ll just break down the types of options you can try, and you can see what works best for you.
Mac Keyboards:
- Bluetooth Keyboards (with Mac keys)
- Wired Mac Keyboards
- Keychron - My personal favorite for Mac keyboards
Windows Keyboards:
USB / USB-C Hubs - For all the peripherals I’ve been recommending
All of the suggestions so far have been external USB devices. Well, what do you do when you’ve run out of USB ports?! Fear not, there is a USB device for that too.
Here are a few options for USB hubs or USB-C dongles:
- The “I just need more ports, dangit”: https://amzn.to/2Nn95SA
- The “I need ports, oh, and I like to charge my phone from my laptop”: https://amzn.to/3197Uyi
- The “I only have USB-C, and I need normal USB ports”: https://amzn.to/37WVmvs
- The “I have USB-C, and I need HDMI, USB, and Ethernet ports”: https://amzn.to/37UmIlM
- The “I have a Macbook Pro, and I want 3 monitors, power, and every other port in one device”: https://amzn.to/2A0rNfW
Wrapping Up
Life may be a little chaotic, and you may not have the time or budget to get your computer fixed, but there are cheap and easy options for you. Most common computer malfunctions (the non-severe ones) can be solved by purchasing a USB device of some kind that replicates the functionality. I’ve listed a few options above, but really, the sky’s the limit with these things. When in doubt, google search “usb ”, and see if it exists. There’s a chance it just may!
Have a question about anything in this article, or maybe just want a second opinion about a computer issue you’re experiencing? Reach out to us on our contact page or comment below.
This article includes links that may earn us a buck or two without any work from you. We appreciate your support if you decide to order something from one of the links in this article.