Trouble Shooting

Trouble shooting problems isn't as hard as it seems. There are a number of simple rules that breaks the whole process down into much smaller easier steps.

• First determine exactly what the problem is. Saying "my computer is broken" is just a tad vague.
   
• When did the problem start? Was it just after installing new software? Have you added or removed some hardware? Most problems have a cause that relates to something that has been changed.
   
• Work through the problem in logical, single steps. In other words try one thing at a time, if you change several things at once you will never know what the cause of the problem was.
   
• Document anything you are about to change so you can change it back later if needed.
   
• Write down any error messages before dismissing them from your screen. Search Google newsgroups to see if others have had the same problems and how they fixed them.
   
• If you are going to try something radical; backup your data FIRST!

Do the obvious things first:

• Check power is getting to all devices (plug in a desk lamp to test a power point)
• Shutdown Windows, turn EVERYTHING off and turn back on. Restart Windows. Its amazing how often things come good after being powered off.
• If your screen/keyboard/mouse appears faulty and you have a spare screen/keyboard/mouse etc on another computer, try swapping them.
• Check for viruses, adware/spyware. Update your antivirus and adware removal programs first.
• Install Windows Updates (service packs and critical updates)
• Install relevant driver updates

Get some help:

• Google is an excellent resource for problem solving, check out the news groups first.
• Talk to a qualified computer expert. Ask their advice.
• Friends may try to help but they often think they know more than they really do. I have fixed hundreds of problems that a 'computer literate' friend has caused or made a lot worse.

The information here may help you to isolate the problem to hardware, software or operating system.

There are some suggestions as to how you may proceed.

Please understand that this advice is generic and any action you take is at your own risk.

Is it hardware or software:

Hardware:

Hardware problems typically cause the computer to crash randomly. In other words, the computer may have problems regardless of the program(s) you are running at the time.

• Go to the Files & Help menu - Diagnostic Tools. There are many tools here that can download to test your hardware.
• Disconnect the computer from the power point and open the case. Clean and reseat all cards, cables and socketed chips. Clean the gold plated contacts on RAM modules and PCI/AGP cards gently with a draftsman's pencil rubber. (White plastic erasers)
• Swap suspect devices with KNOWN WORKING ones if possible.

Software:

Software (application program) problems typically cause the computer to crash in the same way every time you perform a particular function such as printing, or saving.

If the problem occurs when you open a file, it may be the file itself that is the problem. Try opening a different file and see if the problem remains.

• Check the software vendors web site for known problems. Usually they have a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.
• Check the software vendors web site for program updates.
• Search Google news groups. Use the program name and any error messages as the search terms.
• Uninstall and reinstall the problem application.

Operating Systems:

Operating system problems (i.e. Windows) can exhibit the same random problems as seen with hardware problems. This can make trouble shooting a bit trickier.

• Install the most recent service pack for your version of Windows. Service packs replace many system files so if the problem is caused by a corrupt Windows file, this may fix it. Service packs can be installed over an existing installation of the same or an earlier version service pack.
• Connect to the Windows Update Site and install all critical updates.
• Remove your hard disk and perform a clean install of Windows onto another hard disk. A new 40gig hard disk is about $100. If the problem is solved you have proven that it is not a hardware issue. You also have preserved all your data on your original hard disk.

Disclaimer:

The information above is a guide that may help you to solve some simple problems. It is not intended to turn you into a computer expert.

If you have any doubts about your ability to perform any of the suggestions above then leave it to an expert.

The cost for a professional to fix your problem may well be worth the time and frustration of trying to do it yourself.

Tinkering without sufficient knowledge can cause data loss. Always backup important information before attempting a repair.