Help YourselfHelp Yourself instead of calling a TechieWhen you have a computer problem, have you ever wished that you could fix your PC yourself without having to ask for help? Below are things that you can do before you talk to a techie. The following are excepts from the April 6, 2004 PC Magazine. 1. Update your System - Make sure that your Windows updates are current and that you have the latest drivers for all of your hardware (video card, sound card, etc.) 2. Check your connections - This may sound obvious, but it is very important. Cables work themselves loose all the time. 3. Reboot your PC - Windows sometimes gets into a confused or panic state and rebooting clears the memory and straightens things out. 4. Restore your system - If you have a restore point on your PC, you can restore your settings to a date in the past. To get to the system restore wizard, go to Start/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore. NOTE: Do not use system restore to try and retrieve lost data; it will only make your situation worse. If the data is important, you should look for a data-recovery service. 5. Roll back drivers - If you updated your drivers as previously discussed and they caused problems, roll back your PC to a date prior to the driver update. 6. Narrow down the problem - Try and isolate when and where the problem happens. If, for example, your printer doesn't work in Word, try using it in Notepad. If your PC freezes when you use a certain software, reboot and try using another software for a while and then open the first software again and see what happens. 7. Back up your data - If you have to call someone for help, before you call make sure that you have a backup copy of all your important documents. If they have you reinstall the operating system, you will lose all of your files and documents. If you've tried the above and still need help here are some on-line sites that you can check for additional help. All In OneSuggest A Fix - www.suggestafix.comTech Support Guy - www.helponthe.net WindowsAnnoyances.org - www.annoyances.orgDoug's Windows Tweeaks and Tips - www.dougknox.com JSI FAQ - www.jsiinc.com TweakXP.com - www.tweakxp.com Windows XP Expert Zone Community - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone SoftwareAdobe User to User Froums - www.adobeforums.comInside Outlook Express - insideoe.tomsterdam.com Joseph Rubin's ExcelTip - www.exceltip.com Microsoft Office Online - office.microsoft.com Russell Brown's Homepage (Photoshop) - www.russellbrown.com Woody's Lounge - www.wopr.com/lounge HardwarePC Mechanic - forum.pcmech.comTweaktown - www.tweaktown.com |
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