Many people say that they are clueless when it comes to appliances. More than once, many have called out a repair person to fix their dishwasher or dryer, only to discover that the power cable is loose, or that the exhaust is clogged with lint. With a little basic troubleshooting, they could have easily saved $100 or so.
If only they had known what things they could try before having to call someone. Over the years, I have discovered that there are a few simple things which could fix a surprising number of computer problems, and trying them before you call a computer repair company could save you time, money and frustration.
Shutting down is a good and easy first step for just about any electronic device that is frozen, has stopped functioning, or has given you a obscure error that you don’t understand. You would be surprised to find out how often a random problem just never returns after a system re-boot. From computers to printers, routers, even personal electronics like MP3 players and cell phones, you can just witness this phenomenon. If your system is frozen, fight the impulse to pull the plug. Pressing and holding the power button for five to seven seconds would make your system to do a hard shut down. After which, ensure that you restart the tower, not just the monitor.
This is a tricky one since there’s a specific order in which you should restart the various parts when your internet network goes down. If you have a high-speed internet connection and more than one computer, you are likely to have a modem and a router. If one or all of the systems on your network cannot get online, try a network ‘power cycle’ before you call your internet provider and spend the next few hours on hold with the customer service. Shut down all systems that can’t get online including the modem and the router. Shutting off a modem or router often requires unplugging the power cable. You’ll know you’ve got it right when the lights on the unit turn off. Turn them back on in the following order. Allow each device a few minutes to connect before moving on to the next:
1. modem
2. router, and then finally,
3. computer(s).
If restarting your system or device doesn’t work, the next logical step is trying to shut down and unplugging the tower from the wall before re-plugging it in and restarting. If you have a laptop or other portable electronic device, try removing the battery (only if it is possible) to make sure that your system has fully re-booted.
You would be amazed to see how easy it is for cables to get pulled loose. Therefore, never forget to check all cables in and out of the device, at both sides of the connection. This can save you pointless long hours on the phone with the tech support.
This probably might sound counter-intuitive. But unfortunately, it is usual for computers to encounter a rare series of conditions that causes something to malfunction, and after restarting you may never see the error or behaviour again. So, in order to fix a problem, any technician is going to need to be able to see it happen again. If they can’t recreate the problem, they won’t be able to find the probable cause which will waste your time and possibly money. So, ensure that you know how to recreate the problem in front of the tech.
While this may result in an even more confusing wave of codes and cryptic information sometimes, there are people who claims that they have found some easy to fix problems for really bizarre error messages. The solution to some of these error messages could be a change of printer cartridge or loading more paper, or re-installation of a driver. If the solution to your problem seems too confusing, then it is time for you to call a computer repair company.
I know that every IT tech guy tells you this over and over. But updating and running your protection programs certainly isn’t going to hurt, especially when you are encountering an odd error, pop-up, or slow system.
If these tips don’t keep you away from tech support, then there is a good chance that it is worth calling a professional.