Computer Troubleshooting-Some Basics
There are 3 main functional areas to consider when troubleshooting problems with Personal
Computers:
1. The Hardware (computer & connected peripherials)
2. The Software (programs and files usally on the computer hard drive)
3. Operator error (thats you, althought easier to blame the kids)
- Shutdown and Restart your computer. See if the problem is
corrected or still persists. (Alright, you knew this one already, but it is
still a simple and effective way to quickly get back up and running again.
Sometimes we can’t see the forest because the trees are in the way). - Consider what has changed on your computer recently.
Often times, the last thing that changed on the computer (software or hardware
installed, removed, downloads from the web, etc) is what caused the given
problem. Did the problem start today? Is it intermittent? Did it start after I
installed that new program or some attached device -new printer? Undoing the
change may resolve the problem. - Consider whether or not the hardware or software has ever worked
correctly. If it has never worked there is a chance that the hardware
or software was not installed properly and may need to be reinstalled. One of
the major headaches a technical support person has with customer calls, is
spending a fair amount of time troubleshooting a printer problem, only to find
out that the printer, was installed several months ago and never
worked from day one. Please be up front with such information. - Check all physical connections to make sure they are securely
connected. Often times a loose cable or connector (power, network,
keyboard, mouse, speaker, monitor cable, etc.) is the cause of the problem,
especially if the computer was moved to a new location. - Check to see if this is the only problem you are having.
Knowing whether the problem is an isolated problem or part of a series of
problems helps to understand the magnitude of what needs to be fixed. For
example, is the computer part of a network and are other PCs having
problems as well. - Document the detailed description of the problem and the exact
wording of any and all error messages. Again, knowing exactly what is
wrong and being able to share the message is critical to determining a
solution. If you call technical support for help, don’t start out saying
“its broken”. You do not have to be a technical wiz, to copy down some of the
observed symtoms. - Consider whether or not the problem occurs at random times or at
consistent/specific times. Random and/or intermittent problems are
usually more difficult to diagnose and fix. But if a problem occurs at a
specific time and you can reproduce the problem, you will be able to isolate
the problem and consider the factors involved, which may lead you to a
solution. As an examle, your computer “locks up” around 2 pm every day.
That is important information. With a little investigation, you may find that
certain external activities take place as well, such as scheduled power checks
or maybe your internet line switches to another source by your ISP that you
are not aware of. - If you are having a problem with a specific software application,
check the Help feature (usually located on the top menu bar) of that
application. The Help feature of most programs not only provides
how-to explanations but also solutions to common problems. Also view the
supplied manual troubleshooting section (”manual, we don’t need no stinking
manual”). - Check to see if anyone else around you is having a similar
problem . If so, there may be a service outage affecting a wider
area. - Did you spill any liquid on the keyboard, mouse, etc. .
It was an accident, of course. Electronics & liquids don’t mix (and its a
potential safety hazard).
Before you panic and then get angry, just consider some of these points.
Computers can fail and may be beyound your control. But sometimes
not.
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I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Jason Rakowski