Digital Survival - trouble-shooting

Protecting the health of your computer

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:33:09 +0000

If you use a computer you know how challenging it is to keep it running smoothly, avoiding crashes or loss of processing speed. Inevitably though, problems arise: systems develop bugs, software becomes corrupted – your computer may even come down with a virus! The following points will help you keep your computer and data in good condition and working smoothly:

Never cut off the power supply to your computer without shutting down the system first. If you shut your computer down properly every time, your software is less likely to become corrupted.
Install an anti-virus programme. Make sure it will automatically scan your files, and make sure it updates itself at least once a week. This is particularly important for Microsoft Windows users.
Back up your system at least once a week. It’s not a question of if you will have a system or hard-disk failure, but of when it will happen. If you aren’t prepared, then you are very likely to lose some or all of your valuable files.
Avoid software copies and pirated software.
If you have a broadband internet connection, update your software regularly, because developers are making improvements all the time. Most applications will alert you when updates become available on the internet and you can then choose to install them.
Remove software applications you no longer use. Uninstall and remove the programme files.
Don’t install too much software on your computer, as it can slow your system down and cause problems.
Don’t let your hard drive get more than 75% full or your computer will slow down.
Keep your desktop folder as clean and empty as possible. Desktop clutter contributes to slowing your computer down.
When in doubt, restart your computer. A simple restart can solve many problems. Always restart your computer before attempting any complicated trouble-shooting.
If you have more than one person using a computer regularly, consider setting up separate accounts for each user.

Tags:

account

broadband

computer

anti-virus

Troubleshooting web-browsers

katie — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:04:06 +0000

There are a lot of reasons why your web-browser might have problems loading a web-page. The first thing to try is clicking the 'reload' button. If that doesn't work, then:

If you get an error message that says 'this page can not be found', check that you have typed the address correctly.
If you get an error message that says 'Unauthorised' or 'Forbidden', the page you are looking for may be censored. See below, under Security, for more information on this.
If you are seeing a screen with a funny-shaped box and some x's on it, or if there is no content on the page at all, you might be missing an add-on component which extends the capabilities of your browser; for example, by allowing you to watch a video. Your browser should give you a message about installing what's missing and usually it's safe to follow these instructions.
If the page won't finish loading, your internet speed might be too low for the amount of graphics and other content on the page in question. Click the stop button and see if the page offers a link for a text-only option. Alternatively, you can set your browser preferences so that it does not load images.

Tags:

web-browsing

trouble-shooting

Troubleshooting

katie — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:08:47 +0000

Don't PANIC! There is a direct correlation between the amount of stress a user is under and the number of times a computer will crash. When you are in a rush to get a document finished, you may forget to close open applications or to save your work, and you might well send too many commands (like printing, spell-check, etc.) at once. If you're moving fast on the computer, it pays to take a moment, take a deep breath, close unnecessary programmes and save your work. Also, if you are trying to solve a computer problem, you will need your full mental capacities. So if you're feeling frustrated and tired while trying to troubleshoot – take a break! You’ll solve your problems faster if you have a fresh mind and attitude.

Some Initial Steps

Reboot the computer, and try to reproduce the problem. If the problem is still happening, write down any error messages you get.
If the problem involves a peripheral device, check all your wire connections and make sure they are connected properly.

Finding the problem

Have you recently installed any new programmes or utilities? For example, if you downloaded and installed a new game and then later noticed that Microsoft Word wasn’t working, the problem may be due to the new game.
Did you have a blackout/brownout/sudden surge in power, or a thunder-storm? Power fluctuations can affect computer equipment, especially if your equipment is plugged in to a surge protector that’s overloaded, or isn’t plugged into a surge protector at all. Maybe you were cleaning your office and moved or unplugged some equipment and/or cables – double-check that everything is plugged in properly.
Is the problem affecting only your computer, or is it affecting everyone in the office? If the issue you’re dealing with is only affecting your computer, you may be able to see what’s wrong by checking the settings on another machine. For example, if you can’t print from your computer, but from another computer in the office (with the same operating system and software), printing works fine, then you can look at the other computer's printer settings to see if yours is configured correctly.
Is your software up to date? Many software companies will periodically release software updates that fix problems with their software. It’s possible that the problem you’re having would be fixed by applying an update.
If your problem involves your network or your connection to the internet, think about how this connection works.
If you get internet access through your office network, see if other people in your office are having the same problem. -
Check that your hub, server, and firewall are working – can other computers in the office connect to the server? What about connecting to the internet? Is the server on? Can you try rebooting the server? If you have a firewall, is it working? Can you try rebooting the firewall?
If you use a dial-up modem for internet access, check to make sure that your modem is plugged in and working – do you hear a dial tone? Does the modem actually dial a number? Do you hear any connection noises?

Finding a solution

If you still have internet access, try searching the web. Bear in mind that when you’re looking for information about a computer problem, either on the web or by telephone, it saves time for everyone if you can accurately describe the problem you’re having. Saying or searching for 'Windows is broken' or 'My email is broken' doesn’t really help because it’s not a precise description of what the problem is. Saying 'When I try to download my email, I get a “connection to server failed” message in Outlook' is much better because it narrows down the range of possible problems. Clearly articulating the steps you’ve taken in your attempts to solve it will also help give a better sense of what the problem is.

Go to the website of the company that makes the product you’re having the problem with. If it’s a software problem (if your email programme won’t open, for example), check the site of the software company. If it’s a hardware problem, go to the hardware manufacturer’s site. Most companies have a support section on their website where you can search for a description of your problems and possible solutions. Maybe someone else has had the same problem and there’s a fix for it, or maybe there’s an update that solves it.

It's very likely that someone else has had the same trouble, and you’ll be able find some helpful pointers online. If you find information or examples that suggest solutions, try them! There is a good chance that they'll fix the problem. Please be aware, though, that it can be hard to find exactly what you’re looking for – sometimes the search terms that seem obvious to you aren’t so obvious to everyone else, so if nothing turns up with your first search, try different search terms. Also bear in mind that solutions will differ for different versions of the same programme or operating system, so be sure to pay attention to those details.

Finally, remember that there may be bad information online too, which will not fix the problem. If you come across a solution that seems extreme or just doesn’t sound or feel right, don’t try it – research it and see if other people are suggesting the same thing. You are the person responsible for fixing the problem, so take as much time as you need to be certain that the solutions you try make sense to you and to other credible sources. For example, it may unwise to heed advice about Windows from a Mac website.

Other sites to search:

Microsoft knowledgebase: http://support.microsoft.com
Apple Support: http://www.apple.com/support
Ubuntu Linux Forums: http://ubuntuforums.org/

If you’ve exhausted these strategies, and still haven’t found a solution, then reach out to your consultant or a benevolent technology assistance provider. Be sure to have a detailed description of the problem and the steps that you took to try and resolve it.

Tags:

computer

trouble-shooting