How to Troubleshoot PC Game Problems
PC gaming is a popular alternative to playing video games on gaming consoles, but, unlike consoles, PCs have different hardware specifications that can make game performance vary greatly from one computer to another. If you are trying to play a PC game but the game crashes, doesn't launch or simply runs much slower than you would like, you can troubleshoot the issue to determine the cause of the problem and make the game run more smoothly.
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Instructions
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Compare the minimum and recommended system requirements to the hardware specifications of your computer. The system requirements of games are often printed on the box, instruction manual or game website. Click "Start," "Run," type "dxdiag" and press "Enter." Your processor information and total RAM will be listed under "Processor and "Memory" and information about your video card can be found on the "Display" tab. If your system does not meet the game's minimum requirements you may have to upgrade your hardware before the game will work on your PC.
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Reinstall the game. Click "Start," "Control Panel," "Add/Remove Programs" and double click on the game in the program list and choose "Uninstall." Run the game installation process again and try to play the game. Sometimes data is not copied properly when loading a game, which can cause problems.
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Launch the game and reduce the game's video settings. Many games allow users to set the complexity of graphics in a video options menu within the game. If you have graphics detail set too high it can drastically reduce performance.
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Update your video card's drivers. Click "Start," "Control Panel," Administrative Tools," "Computer Management," "Device Manager." Open "Display adapters," right click on your video card and select "Properties." Note the name of the card listed. You can search for driver updates to download at the card maker's website (the best way to find the most recent updates) or click the "Driver" tab and click "Update Driver Software..."
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Patch the game to its most recent version. Many PC games are updated over time with extra data called patches. If you don't fully patch a game to its most recent version, it might not function properly. Many games automatically download and apply patches when you try to run the game. Check the game's official website for more information about how to download and install necessary patches.
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Tips & Warnings
It is a good idea to research the minimum and recommended hardware requirements for a PC game and compare them to the hardware in your computer to ensure that you purchase games that your computer can run.
