When computer systems are working well, they can be one of the great joys of modern life at a business. If they have trouble, though, they can make you wish you were living in a simpler time. The way to address such problems is to contact your IT support services provider before the issues get out of hand. Here are six signs it might be time to make that call.

Computer Running Too Slow

This is an issue that can creep up on you, slowly becoming more intolerable by the day. Once you get to the point that your machine's apparent slowness is problematic, it's time to ask for help. IT solutions for this problem can range from cleaning up the operating system to replacing the computer.

Repeated Unplanned Shutdowns

Few things are as irritating as when a computer shuts down without some intentional trigger. If shutdowns occur even a couple of times within a month, it's probably a sign of bigger hardware problems that need to be checked out by a pro. Particularly, your system may be overheating. It also might have an electrical short.

Automated System Utilities Run on Startup

The classic example of this is when Windows-based systems run CHKDSK, a utility designed to check drive integrity. If this happens even one time, you're going to want to make sure all your files have been backed up. Few computing disasters are as potentially messy as a failed boot drive that leads to data losses.

Network and Internet Connections Are Spotty or Slow

Nothing is going to get most folks upset with a system faster than not being able to connect to network devices and the internet. Whether you're experiencing system-wide issues or problems with specific devices, it's wise to have them checked out. Often, a sporadic series of failures is a sign that a key device, such as a router or switch, is starting to fail.

Can't Log In

An issue with logging in can be caused by anything from human error to a corrupted system. These sorts of issues are often hard to track down because they can be driven by everything from drive failures to malware.

You Can't Connect to Other Devices

Modern networks usually have tons of devices logged in. For example, you might have your cellphone, laptop, and desktop all running at the same time. If you can't get the devices to say high to each other, it can be impossible to share files and resources.