Daily Prevention

There are many things we can do daily to keep us from running into problems. In this section we will go over some of these things. If you can make these practices routine, it will allow you to enjoy the benefits of technology much more.

• Back up your data. It is good to copy your files to a disk, flash drive or external hard drive. Then, no matter what happens to your computer, you can be sure you will still have a copy of your work somewhere.
• Don't move your computer while it is turned on. Always be sure to shut it down before putting it in a new location.
• Be sure to your computer is turned off before plugging in a keyboard or mouse.
• Always shut down your computer using the shut down menu. If it sits at shut down, be patient and let it process a while before turning off the power switch. If there are programs not responding, pres ctrl+alt+delete to get to the Task Menu and select End Task.
• If your computer locks up or gives you a blank blue screen, press ctrl+alt+delete twice and give it about 5 minutes to reboot itself.
• Never click the power switch on and off quickly. If you turn it off, wait a little while before turning it on again.
• It is vital to have a anti-virus program installed and running at all times. As new viruses are created often, be sure to update your program monthly.

Still problems?

Here are a few other problems you may run into and some possible solutions you may use before going to your school's IT person.

My computer has slown way down, why?

It could be that your fan is shot so your computer is overheating. If you're hearing funny noises coming from the internals of your computer, it could be that your fan is failing. These can be replaced for around $20. It could also be that there is too much information on your computer. Try deleting all unused and unwanted programs and files.

My computer keeps freezing or not responding.

An easy way to check if your computer is in this situation, push the NumLock key on your keyboard and check to see if the light turns on or off. If it does, try pushing ctrl+alt+delete and attempt to end the program. If your computer tends to freeze up when opening a certain program, be sure you have the latest versions and updates for that program. It could also an overheating issue.

My documents are gone, what do I do?

This is why it is so important to back up all your work. But if this does occur, you can try visiting the manufacturer's website. For example, Seagate keeps extensive archives of technical data.

What do I do if there is no sound coming out of my speakers?

It may be simply that the volume is turned all the way down on your speakers or computer.  If you have program sounds but no CD sounds, your CD drive is not connected to the soundcard. This is an internal connection: a cable runs from the back of the CD drive to the soundcard. Check this first. If there is still no sound, you may check out these links as well : Microsoft Sound Troubleshooter or Wave Sound File Problems.

Do the obvious first

No matter what weird things your computer is doing, try these things first:

• Reboot your computer, this cures most Windows ailments
• Check all of your cables and power cords.
• Pay attention to all error messages and write them down word-for-word. This can really help your tech support if you cannot solve the problem and have to call them.

General Diagnostic Rule

Be sure to add new software and hardware to your computer one thing at a time. Then use it for a little while to make sure everything is working before adding something else. This may get tedious but it is important to help you figure out what can be causing any problems you may run into.

References

http://www.etwebtools.org/trouble.htm 

http://pangea.tec.selu.edu/~rbradburn/finalwebquest.html#Station_1

http://www.computerhope.com/basic.htm

Developers of this page

Contributors from SBU: Becca (Spring '09)

Contributors from other universities:

All other editors and writers: