If you are a fan of the popular show “MacGyver” you know that the main character, MacGyver, had a talent for hacks. He could save the day using a piece of string and some scotch tape. If you think it’s cool to solve problems with hacks and your computer is giving you grief, today is your lucky day.

We’re going to show you 5 hacks you can do on your own at home so you can be the MacGyver of desktop repair.

Reinstall the OS

Computer repair shops often offer reinstallation of the operating system as a service - but you can do this on your own at home.

If your computer is becoming slower or you have deleted a critical system file, reinstalling your operating system is the hack for you. Doing this can also can fix problems like file corruption or bad drivers.

Make sure you backup your files before you reinstall the operating system. If you have Windows 8 or 10, you can use the reset or refresh feature to easily reinstall your OS. If you have an older system, pop the Windows installation disc into your desktop and follow the directions.

Fixing a slow computer, bad drivers, or file corruption can be as easy as that.

Remove Bloatware

If your desktop is new, you might find that it is full of useless software that is taking up space and resources on your computer. Manufacturers get paid to pack these programs into your desktop which can cause your computer to start up slowly and perform inefficiently.

Desktop repair shops will charge you to remove these programs, otherwise known as bloatware, but you can do this at home in three ways.

1. Head to the Control Panel and uninstall the bloatware programs one by one. Just ensure that you don’t uninstall any hardware drivers.
2. You can use a bloatware removal program called PC Decrapifier. This software scans your computer for unwanted programs and uninstalls them automatically.
3. Reinstall Windows - refer to the above hack if you’re wondering how to do this.

Fix the Internet Connection

If you can’t access the internet, there could be a couple of things causing this problem.

• Your internet service provider is experiencing an outage
• Your modem isn’t working properly
• Your router is broken
• Your desktop is having problems connecting

To see if your ISP is the cause of your problem, head to the DownDetector website using the data on your phone and select your provider. You can access a live outage map that will let you know if your area is suffering from an outage.

If there is no outage, unplug the router and the modem, in that order. Wait for half a minute and plug your modem back in. Wait for another 30 seconds and start up your router.

Next, restart your computer. Voila - you should now be able to get online.

If you still don’t have internet, your desktop computer itself might be the culprit. If your phone can access wi-fi, this is probably the problem. Head to the control panel and find the device manager. Select network adapters to see if your adapter is turned on.

If the adapter is on, check on the device status - you may need to update the network adapter driver. Click on driver, then update driver.

Finally, make sure the option for wi-fi is actually on for your computer. Some desktops have “airplane mode” or a key on the keyboard that can turn the wi-fi on and off.

Cure Your Desktop of Computer Viruses

Here is another desktop repair you can do at home.

First, disconnect from the internet to prevent any more damage that the virus could do.

Next, restart your computer in Safe Mode. Use an antimalware program and an antivirus program to scan your files. You can install these programs by loading them onto a USB and starting them from the flash drive.

Professionally Clean Your Desktop

If you’re dealing with a dirty desktop monitor, you can fix this at home by placing a homemade solution of white vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Use a cotton rag with the solution and wipe the screen in circular motions to prevent streaks.

Use a dryer sheet or coffee filters to get rid of any dust. If you’ve got a dirty keyboard, use the sticky side of a Post-it note or a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean it up.

As you can see, you don’t have to drag your computer into a local shop for desktop repair for any of these problems which you can fix at home with a simple hack. We hope this article has been informative and puts you in touch with your “inner MacGyver!”