Desktops are from Chrysler™ & Laptops are from Refrigadare™ – Part Two

Now you can “fix” all of the above problems by buying after-market parts like keyboards, mice and monitors but you did get this thing to be mobile, right?

Laptop replacement parts for the average “do-it-yourself” Joe are expensive, hard to come by and tough to work with. Trust me on this one. Imagine lots of itty-bitty screws and tiny plastic parts and that’s just opening the case. Read the rest of this entry »

Desktops are from Chrysler™ & Laptops are from Refrigadare™

Should You Buy a Desktop or a Laptop?

So why would I compare a car manufacturer to an appliance maker? And what the heck does any of that have to do with your computer? Read the rest of this entry »

Houston, We have a PC Problem – Step 8: Test, Test And Then Test Some More

Before you close the case and throw away the receipt, power up and test everything!

Ok, you have reinstalled or replaced the defective part. Now you should test it. And test it and test it. Turn your machine on and off several times. Testing keeps down the frustration levels.

Go online and poke about for a while. Open the word processor and write a letter. This is the time to run any diagnostic programs you may have. Make certain things are running smoothly before you put the case back on and put the whole thing back under your desk.

Don’t lose your mind if something is still flaky. Just go back to step 2 – go take a break! Simply walk away, clear your head and start over. Start with the simple and obvious.

Did I tell you how frustrating it was when after having spent over an hour working to replace my modem; I accidentally loosened the power cable on the monitor?

So, I when I got everything repaired and turned on the computer all I got was a “BLANK SCREEN” followed by a major hissy fit until I figured out what was wrong. Trust me when I say to test, test and retest.

Houston, We have a PC Problem – Step 7: Reinstall, Reconfigure or Replace

The only three things you ever have to do to repair any computer…

Now that you have a good idea of which part has gone bad, you may begin the decision-making process of whether or not to reinstall/reconfigure your software (and any accompanying device driver software) or to replace a failing hardware component.

But before you do you need to understand that computer problems especially hardware failures come in two flavors:

1) It never really worked…

The “It has never worked” problem most often crops up when installing new hardware or software in older computers. Or you try installing non-standard components (putting your very old parts or very cheap parts into a new machine). Or you attempt to put your brother’s copy of Windows XP on a PC that originally came with Windows 95. Hmm… When you mix “cutting edge” technology with an older, slower operating system or device drivers, you often create a troublesome “it has never worked” problem as a result.

For example, some older BIOS/motherboards simply can’t handle the huge 100+ gigabyte hard drives available today. Putting one of these babies in your ancient computer would be like trying to put a V-8 Hemi motor inside a Mini Cooper.

Interesting but not very practical (and yes I saw the “You Tube” video.)

Your best bet is to simply remove the offending component or software and reinstall it with something compatible. You may also have to uninstall or reconfigure any device driver software that works with this part. Double check your system requirements to make sure the part will work with your operating system and your machine. Or, bite the bullet and get a completely new system.

2) It stopped working…

The “it has stopped working” issue can occur through ordinary wear-and-tear, a change in an industry standard or software. For example, when my local telephone company upgraded their services, overnight my old modem couldn’t “connect” to anything!

I had to buy a new modem just to get back online. I reinstalled the driver software which bought me another six months but in the end I had to get a “new” modem when my old one was still working.

Or “it has stopped working” can also be a result of a “glitch” or a “bug” from new software patches, updates or upgrades…

“A computer glitch is the failure of a system, usually containing a computing device, to complete its functions or to perform them properly”.

“A software bug (or just “bug”) is an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program that prevents it from behaving as intended (e.g., producing an incorrect result). Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by people in either a program’s source code or its design…”

According to computer folklore the first “bug” was an actual dead moth trapped inside the Mark II (an early room-size mainframe computer) in 1945, which crashed the entire machine.

Houston, We have a PC Problem – Step 6: Learn how to troubleshoot

Okay, you’ve checked the simple stuff and now you know for sure something is “bad broke”. Here’s what to do to next. There are two ways of diagnosing computer problems:

METHOD #1 – TROUBLESHOOTING TO THE “BAREBONES”

This method, while not the quickest way to identify defective hardware parts is the most basic and the most foolproof.

A “Barebones” is a computer that has been stripped down to the minimum items needed to boot up (power supply unit, memory, video card and motherboard + CPU). No, you really don’t need the metal/plastic computer case. I have run a barebones computer setup sitting on a cardboard box!

METHOD #2 – TROUBLESHOOTING WITH FLOWCHARTS

With this method, you can just follow the diagrams and let them lead you to the correct answer. This method is very quick, very straightforward and requires the least amount of time messing around in the computer case.

It also one of the only ways a home computer user can analyze a defective laptop! Flowcharts can also be used determine software problems as well.

You can download a free special report that details both the “barebones” and flowchart methods here

Houston, We have a PC Problem – Step 5: Identify and Isolate the Problem

But first check the obvious…

More times than we would like to admit, computer problems are often caused by simple human error. This is good because then the problems then are very easy to solve.

• Is the power on in the room? I know…just how dumb do I think I think people are…? Well, I heard this story from girl who was my classmate. Seems a guy complained to her IT dept. that his PC was dead when he came in from lunch.

  After pulling her hair for a few minutes, my classmate discovered that ALL the power to his office had been accidentally cut off by a building maintenance man. But since the office was always filled with natural light this guy never turned on any overhead lighting so he hadn’t noticed the room-wide power outage. Okay…enough said?

• Is the computer plugged in? Check all the power plugs, surge protectors or power strips. Pull out each one and firmly reseat it. Check the wall outlets too.
• Listen for the POST error beeps. If you hear something other than the normal 1 short beep (System OK) look up the error code.
• It the monitor screen black? Check both ends of your monitor’s cables – the power cable from the monitor to the wall outlet and the data cable from the monitor to the PC. Reseat it one firmly. Screw down the data cable to the computer’s port only finger-tight.
• Is the surge protector/power strip still on or good? These little guys are workhorses. You buy a surge protector once, plug in your devices, drop it behind your desk and never look at it again. If it a newer one check to make sure it’s “circuit breaker” light is on.

  Power off everything. Yes, everything…the computer, the printer, your DSL or broadband modem/router, the monitor, even the surge protector strip. Everything!

  Now starting from the wall turn on the surge protector, now your PC, the monitor, the modem/router, finally the printer.

  Sounds silly but I can’t tell you how many times as a computer technician, I have solved problems just by cycling the power on and off to all devices. I have seen it work with million dollar server “farms” (a collection of computer servers) to simple home PCs.

• Remove any floppies, CD/DVD disks or any other removable drives (USB thumb drives or cameras or external drives). Sometimes computers can get caught in a software loop while looking for missing or corrupt files on removable disks or drives.

Houston, We have a PC Problem – Step 4: Figure Out What Happened

Play Detective and look for clues…

The most difficult part of troubleshooting a computer is to find out what actually has happened or what is going on right now.

I know it sounds crazy…you were standing right there when the dang computer went on the fritz. You know what happened, right?

What you saw was a “symptom”. And, like a doctor diagnosing an illness, a symptom is simply a sign or indicator of what is really going bad in the background.

Getting a symptom description (looking for a pattern) is simply a way for you to understand what is really happening to your machine. You should always document every error message and note what programs were open when the problem occurred, even the time of day!

I’m not kidding with that last idea. I saw one computer once that only acted strange after lunch! It was in a very hot, poorly vented office and would routinely overheat in the afternoons.

Get it down on paper because you will forget all the details! (Trust me on this one). Detail any error messages you see. The “Blue Screen of Death” will have a message explaining what is going wrong. Break out your pencil and write this stuff down.

I know you want to fix all your problems as soon as possible, but if worst comes to worst, you may have to take your machine to the repair shop and you will have to share what you have seen or done with your tech support person.

So stop being such a slacker, and write down it!

Houston, We have a PC Problem – Step 3: Never Underestimate a Positve Attitude

A Good Attitude Is Everything

Now that you are calmer and refreshed, we can get down to work. First, let’s talk about your attitude. Do you have the RIGHT one in place? I know I just fussed at you for having a “right at any cost” mindset before. But this kind of attitude is different.

Understand this: most computer problems can be fixed with the proper tools and a positive attitude! I have come to the conclusion that anyone with a basic education, a simple toolkit and a positive mental focus can fix almost any computer if they know the steps to take.

Attitude is everything. I admit that there are better PC techs than me out there, but I can usually whip them in a fair fight because I very rarely quit or give up when it comes to working on a computer problem.

I have solved complex problems where other, more experienced people have failed, simply because I kept plugging away. I can persevere like this because I have the “right’ attitude.

A negative attitude automatically blocks creative ideas and closes the door on alternative pathways. It whispers, “This is too tough. I can’t do…I had better quit now and get someone who knows what they are doing to do this!” A positive attitude says you can keep trying until you reach a roadblock and then study that obstacle until you figure out a solution.

A positive attitude says, “If you can’t get over it (any obstacle), then go around it”. I know it sounds like I’m contradicting myself.

A positive attitude doesn’t mean to keep doing the same dumb things over and over on the same problem. Remember this is what the adult hikers did. They just kept on walking! They were lost…because they kept moving away from a known trail.

Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results…”

But you know better. You’ve stopped screwing around on your machine and you have not panicked. Now with a positive attitude you are ready to try a new and creative solution for your problem.

Houston, We have a PC Problem – Step 2: Calm Down…Don’t Panic

Don’t make things worst…

Okay, so now that you have stopped and studied the situation, and you’ve have determined that it’s not a simple or obvious “glitch” and it looks pretty serious.

What’s next?

OK, now is the time to go get a cup of coffee, tea or a glass of your favorite cold beverage. Huh? Yes, I want you to simply walk away and clear your head.

What? You got work to do!

Yes, I know. But if the PC is “bad broke”, you standing over it, fretting, and wringing your hands will not bring it back from the dead or off the critical list.

Don’t Panic! YOU can do something about this. Remember you only have to do one of two things: reinstall something or replace something. Just one of two little things! I will let know when it’s time to panic.

If you must stay busy, get those phone calls done, do that filing you have been putting off or do some isometric chair exercises.

Panic and mental fatigue create confusion and frustration worse than anything a broken computer can do to you. Just stop now and go get something to drink! Take a walk! In addition, when your mind is clear and calm, you can come back to your PC problem.

Houston, We have a PC Problem – Step1: Don’t Ignore Problems…

Stop and look at what is happening to the machine! Stop banging on the keyboard, talking on the phone. Just slow down and study the situation. Don’t ignore it and think you are too busy and you will “worry” about it later. Stop when you know you are in trouble.

I learned this helpful lesson from one of those adventure shows on “Tee-Vee”. A wilderness park ranger was explaining that children were often easier to find than adults when they become lost while hiking.

It seems that lost kids will usually stop wandering around once they realize they are in trouble. They then would either start walking in a tiny circle to see if they could orient themselves or if they can’t; they will either sit or lie down and start crying for help while waiting for help from a grown up.

Adults, on the other hand would almost never backtrack or stay put (admit to being in trouble.). They would always push on thinking “civilization” was just over the next ridge or down in the next valley. They just end up putting more and more miles between themselves and help they need.

The same thing happens with folks and their computers. A lot of people almost never stop when they come in contact with an unknown problem or situation.

The urge to “be right” keeps them from stopping and looking things if they get into trouble. They either ignore it or keep banging helplessly away at the keyboard until the system is good and locked and they are frustrated.

The first key is to stop what you are doing! Just stop, recognize and accept that something is wrong with your machine. You can’t fix what you don’t recognize as a problem.

Ignoring a minor problem can cost you more in repair bills but it can also potentially harm your business files and records if the situation is severe enough.