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Computer
problems are some of the most vexing problems facing the average computer user.
While to an expert or a computer geek these problems may be as simple to fix as
the magician's retrieval of a rabbit from a hat, just HOW do you know what is
the matter with your PC? Even if you call an expert, you can save both him and
yourself a lot of time by having some idea of what is going on with your
computer. Like anything else, common sense troubleshooting skills can be applied
to computer problems, which means you rule out possible causes of a problem by
analyzing what is happening.
There are several key rules that you need to know to begin your troubleshooting
efforts:
1. Always write down the error message you are getting, and better yet, if
possible, try to print it out. This lets you begin tracing the source of
your problem by preserving what you encountered. Many computer crashes occurs
after certain types of errors and that requires you to restart (reboot) your
computer. Once you do that, the printout or your notes will be the only evidence
of the problem that remains. This is essential info, especially if you get
professional help.
2. If your computer isn't producing an error message of any kind, but just
hangs up, freezes, or becomes unresponsive, first try hitting CTR-ALT-DEL keys
together to invoke the Windows task manager. Here you will be able to view
what programs are running and if any of them are not responding. Usually when a
program doesn't respond, often other things in Windows begin to misbehave as
well. You can halt the unresponsive program(s) by clicking on them in the list
and then clicking the end program button below. This often lets you continue to
use your computer without rebooting. However, the cause of the hangup needs
another look. It could be that you have too many open windows (depends on how
much RAM you have), or the program was in conflict with another program running
at the same time, or perhaps you inputted data that the program did not like.
And, again, make a note of which programs were not responding.
3. If you get the so-called blue screen of death (BSOD), which is simply a
blue screen with a technical error message across the middle, then your computer
must be restarted. You can't even invoke the task manager, and hitting CTR-ALT-DEL
will just reboot the PC immediately. If that is not possible, you will need to
reset the computer by pressing either the reset or power button on the computer
itself. The occurrence of the BSOD means that a fatal program error or crash has
occurred. Sometimes these errors are caused by viruses, worms, or spyware. But
this kind of error can also be caused by bad system drivers, bad memory modules
(RAM), or some other hardware fault. In the most severe cases your computer may
not boot at all and will only display the blue error screen each time you start
the PC, which is usually a sign of hard drive problems, a corrupted operating
system (Windows or other), and other similar maladies. Again, write down the
error message you get in the blue screen! At this point you are no longer able
to print so you must use the good old pen and paper. If you are savvy enough
with your computer, you can try to Google the problem to see if you can fix it
yourself. Often though, you will save time and frustration with the help of an
expert at this stage.
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