Computer Tips

Get to know your computer

This sounds easier than it really is but, most of us don't know what an unhealthy hard drive sounds like, this is because you have to develope an ear for it, or get to know your computer. From the day you get your computer, get to know it. Every time you turn your computer on listen to it. Get familiar with the sounds your computer makes. This way when something goes wrong you can do a better job of describing the sounds and where it is coming from to computer technician.

My take on today's technical support

I've been helping people troubleshoot their computers for almost 20 years, and over the few years I've seen a steady drop in the quality of technical support due to outsourcing overseas.

Being a tech support person myself, It kills me to say this, but anyone who has ever tried to call technical support can attest, getting technical assistance can sometimes be difficult and time-consuming. Everyone has heard the horror stories of being put on hold for hours, never getting a callback, forcing you to press a series of numbers or getting someone who does not speak your language as well as technicians who are of absolutely no help.

This should be an indication that you, as an end user, should be prepared to perform as much of the troubleshooting as possible before calling technical support.

Look at your computer

Make sure all of our cables and wires are plugged in. Don't "think" they are, get up and inspect the area. Look at the back, sides, front and on the wall. In order to rule this out you must be 100% sure everything is plugged in securely.

Listen to your computer

After you press the power button, listen to your computer. Make sure there is silence in the room as you listen to every little sound that comes from the computer case or laptop until your desktop icons appear.

If your computer continues to make noise after it has reached the desktop, take note of this noise and describe it to a computer technician. Then go buy the parts and fix it yourself. It's not as difficult as you may think. The same goes for software, If your computer needs software due to malware infection to your operating system, find out what is needed and where you can download it for free. An honest technician should provide you with this info.

I cannot stress how important it is to listen to your computer, especially when it starts up. Computers have moving parts and they all make a different sound. Learn how to associate these sounds with it's source and you will always know what is going on with your computer.




Take your Time!

The state of mind you are in will often determine the speed at which you figure out your computer problem. When troubleshooting, It is important to take your time and not to rush, otherwise the chances of you overlooking the problem will be greater.




My computer will not turn on

Examine the cables, connectors, and power cords to make sure they're plugged in securely. Often times a loose cable or connector (power, network, keyboard, mouse, speaker, monitor cable, etc.) is the cause of the problem.

When using a power strip or a surge protector, make sure it's on and works. Remember that some surge protectors may not be working because in order to protect your appliances and electronics it is designed to self-destruct. In other words, when your surge protector does it's job, it will detect an electric jolt and takes the hit, saving your more expensive hardware from the voltage.

Try plugging something else directly into the same outlet to make sure the outlet isn't the problem.

Unplug your computer and connect a different electrical device (such as a lamp, a fan, or a radio) into the same electrical outlet. If the device does not work, the problem is the electrical outlet, not the computer.

Check to see if your monitor has power.




How do I Know if my power supply is bad?

A bad power supply can be the root of many computer problems. Experience can help a tech diagnose problems caused by a faulty power supply that would normally be overlooked by a novice. This article outlines how to diagnose a faulty supply by testing its voltage outputs, as well as how to replace the defective unit.

The symptoms

Just about any intermittent problem can be caused by a faulty power supply. I normally look there first when the symptoms are a little weird. Common power-related symptoms include:

Any power-on or system startup failures or lockups Spontaneous rebooting or intermittent lockups during normal operation.

Intermittent parity check or other memory-type errors.

Hard disk drive and fan simultaneously failing to spin.

Overheating due to fan failure.

Small brownouts that cause the system to restart. (electric shocks that are felt when the case is touched).

A system that is completely dead (nothing happens when you press power).

Circuit breakers popping when the computer is turned on.

Smoke.

If you find that you do have a bad power supply, the good news is you can buy one at Best Buy for under $50.00 depending on how much power you need, and they are very easy to install.

How to troubleshoot Windows startup problems

Sometimes Windows begins to load but then stops responding during the startup process. In most cases, the problem is a new piece of hardware, a new program, or a corrupted system file. Follow the instructions below to troubleshoot the problem. Try to start your computer after each step. Continue to the next step only if Windows continues to fail during startup.


Troubleshooting startup problems

Restart your computer and immediately after the screen goes blank, press the F8 key repeatedly. The Windows Advanced Options menu appears. If the menu does not appear, restart your computer and try again. Use the cursor keys on your keyboard to select Last Known Good Configuration, and then press ENTER.



If you recently installed new hardware, shut down your computer and disconnect the hardware. Then, restart Windows and troubleshoot your hardware to get it working properly.

Restart your computer and press F8 again. This time, choose Safe Mode and press ENTER. Windows attempts to start in Safe Mode, which does not automatically start programs and hardware, and displays very primitive graphics. If Windows starts in Safe Mode, you can remove any programs or updates you have recently installed. Then restart your computer normally.



Additional troubleshooting techniques are possible, but it can be complicated and may require you to reinstall Windows. Contact technical support for troubleshooting help. Keep in mind, you can perform a repair installation of any version of Windows, however, you will lose your settings and need to reinstall your programs and redownload updates.