Troubleshooting Tips

RIVER BENDER - July, 2006

I've suggested many times that you hang on to your old PC when you buy a new one. First of all, you'll probably need to transfer a lot of your personal data to your new PC, but secondly it's very helpful to have an extra PC to google why your other PC isn't working. I'm convinced that Google (www.google.com) has the answer to every problem if you just have the patience to find it. But first you've got to have a second PC that can access the Internet.

Oops, you say you got rid of your old PC? Well perhaps it didn't work anyway. So what can you do now when your new Windows XP computer stops working and you can't google up help? Call Dave Wallace? No please, there are better solutions. Read on.

I suggests you start preparing in advance a few steps you might take to fix your own PC when it fails. You may end up having to take it to a professional for repair but even then you need to know whom to call. What I suggest you do is start a Troubleshooting Notebook where you can keep printed copies of troubleshooting tips, sort of like googling for help in advance. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. If you live in River Bend you are lucky because there's a voluntary PC help group that you can call on to possibly help you. They may charge a small amount but it will be far less than a professional, assuming that you can even find one that will visit. While you now have a working PC go to http://www.ci.river-bend.nc.us/pchelp.htm and print out the River Bend help group list so you'll know who to call when your PC fails. Put the sheet in your troubleshooting notebook.

2. A list of professional computer consultants in New Bern is shown on the NBCUG web page at http://www.nbcug.com/consultant.htm. Print it out and keep it in your notebook in case all else fails.

3. Before asking for outside help, there are some things you can do yourself that might fix the problem. The best place to start before the problem occurs is to go is to Microsoft's "Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP" at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041. Print out this 5-page article for your notebook. While online peruse through the suggested troubleshooting steps and go to the web pages mentioned for more information and print them out too. Below are some of the extra pages I think you might need besides the five suggested.

Definitely print the page on how to use System Restore at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084/. But since System Restore may not work normally on your disabled PC you'll need the page on how to do a System Restore using the command prompt at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/

Trouble shooting often begins by starting your PC in the safe mode and then looking for device conflicts. If you don't know how to do this you'd better print out Safe Mode Boot options at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/ and Troubleshooting Device Conflicts at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310126/.

Want more? Type "PC troubleshooting tips" in www.google.com. Good luck when your PC fails. Once you've created a troubleshooting notebook you'll have some help in fixing it yourself.

All past PC articles for the RIVER BENDER are posted at http://always-online.com/dave/dwindex.htm.