DAYTON, Ohio -- As a father with a young family, I totally understand procrastinating on calling in the professionals when dealing with maintenance issues in and around the home. I've worn all the hats -- plumber, electrician, floor installer, landscaper, etc. -- but many times I learned the hard way that I should have just called in the pro from the beginning, like my wife wanted all along.

So here are some situations where I think you should call in the computer pros:

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Getting a lot of pop-up windows

If you're getting a lot of windows popping up on your computer screen, whether ads or alerts, you may have adware, malware, or viruses on your computer.

You should have a computer tech take a look. Usually, getting rid of pop-ups is easy for a computer tech.

Computer is slow

If your computer has gotten noticeably slower over a short period of time, like a few days or weeks, it may be caused by malware, viruses, and other junk. However, if the computer has gotten slower over a long period of time, it maybe something else starting to fail. The hard drive might slowly be failing or the computer might just have a slow processor and you should consider replacing the computer altogether. Either way, it's good to have a computer pro evaluate the situation and give a professional recommendation.

Let a remote scammer onto your computer

If someone calls you out of the blue saying your computer has issues or you're prompted by your computer to call someone for computer issues, those are almost always a scam.

If you think you may have been a victim of a remote tech support scammer, I suggest having a local computer pro come out and check out your computer. This is especially the case if you let the remote support scammer take control of your computer. A local computer pro can ensure the scammers don't have access to your computer anymore and can ensure everything else is OK with the computer.

Shopping for a new computer

When shopping for a new or replacement computer, I always suggest talking with a computer pro. They can help compare computers and give suggestions. They can explain why not to buy the cheapest computers and that spending more typically means the computer will last longer. And if money is an issue, they might even have refurbished computers, which can be a great economical option.

Setting up a new computer

When you do get a new computer, I really suggest having a computer tech help transfer the data over to the new computer from the old one. And then they can also help properly dispose of the old computer.

They might even be able to save you time and money -- for instance, reinstalling Microsoft Office on the new one with the product key from the old one, maybe even if you don't have the original install discs. And there's likely many tips and tricks they can share to help you have a better computing experience.

Eric Geier owns On Spot Techs, which provides on-site support for computers, mobile devices, TVs and other gadgets at homes and businesses in the Dayton, Ohio, area. Information: www.onspottechs.com. This article appeared in the Dayton Daily News.

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