Common computer problems and SOLUTIONS !

Today is your lucky day !  You will now have the opportunity, to fix, or at LEAST diagnose your problems, just by reading this article;  preventing your from headaches, and even saving you money !   Read further....

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" My Computer doesn't power on at all "

a.) Power plug problem
Check power plug; ensure that it is plugged into the wall and plugged firmly into the computer/power supply

b.) Faulty power strip/surge protector or insufficient power coming from the outlet.
Plug computer into a different outlet to narrow down the problem

c.)Bad power supply
Power supply may need replacing; have it tested by a technician if possible

d.) Bad power switch
Have a technician take a look at your PC to determine this;  if you can’t do it yourself.

Many power supplies have a switch on the back of them, which must be set to the on position in order for power to flow through it, to the PC. Sometimes the solution to your PC powering on is flipping this switch!

e.) Disconnected cords/cables within the computer
Have a technician take a look at your PC to determine this if you can’t do it yourself

f.) Bad motherboard
Have a technician take a look at your PC to determine this if you can’t do it yourself

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" I got the blue screen of death ( a  blue screen following a crash ) "

a.)   Spyware or viruses
Scan your computer for spyware using a program such as Spybot Search and Destroy or Malwarebytes; which are both free. For virus scanning and removal, just download: "AVG free ".  Scan and remove any viruses found.  Restart your computer and see if the problem persists.

b.) Driver issues
Ensure you are using the most current drivers for your hardware. Make sure that you have critical patches for Windows installed.  When uninstalling hardware, makesure that you use driver cleaners if at all possible to ensure remnants of old software are cleaned from your registry.

c.) Corrupt registry
Uninstalling/installing software changes keys in your registry. The registry is critical for Windows to function.  Software is available that will check your registry for errors,as well as fixing any error(s) that it finds. Once a registry is corrupted, it is sometimes difficult to repair back to it’s original state. Sometimes a reinstall or repair of Windows is needed.

d.) Bad memory (RAM)
Memory that is faulty does not allow accurate reading/writing to RAM, or Random Access Memory.  Many times, memory in need of replacement will cause blue screen errors. Have a technician take a look at your PC to determine this if you can’t do it yourself.

e.) Bad power supply
Power supply may need replacing; have it tested by a technician if possible

f.) Bad motherboard
Have a technician take a look at your PC to determine this if you can’t do it yourself !

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" My internet doesn't work/I can't get online (Basic troubleshooting) "

a.) ISP problems (Internet Service Provider)

The first step, is contacting your ISP to confirm that there are no connectivity issues or outages, that they know of. If they showa solid connection, proceed to troubleshooting your  connection further.

b.) Faulty or loose connection from the phone jack to your modem.

Ensure that the phone cord plugged into the wall is actually connected. Many times, a connection can be lost or unreliable, due to a plug with a broken clamp, or that is making a bad connection.  Trace the cord back to your modem and make sure that the cord isn’t frayed or damaged, and that the connection into the modem is solid. If possible, troubleshoot by using a different cord.

c.) Router/Modem Issues

Many times a connection problem can be caused by problems with the modem or router. Wireless routers can really cause problems when troubleshooting a wireless internet connection issue.  The first thing to do is to unplug the power cord(s) and cable(s) connected to the  router & modem, and wait for one minute. Also, shut down the PC for one minute and power up.

Afterwards, plug the connectors back into the router and modem.  If that doesn’t solve the issue, the next thing to do is to remove the network cable from the router, and plug it directly to the network card in the computer – and disable the wireless networking signal on the PC (WI-FI).

(The network cable is the cable that plugs to the router, from  the modem – also known as CAT 5 cable)This is especially important when narrowing down wireless internet connection problems.

(Also check to make sure that your router's firewall isn't disrupting your connection)

d.) Viruses or Spyware/Malware

Certain types of viruses, malware and spyware can cause problems with your internet connection.  Scan your computer regularly to ensure that malicious software doesn’t wreck havoc on your internet connection. If you can no longer connect to the internet after being infected with a virus or spyware, it’s most likely time to see a professional technician.]

e.) Software

Your operating system, and software installed on your computer,  can cause problems with you connecting to the internet (for instance damaged Winsock files). If your ISP isn’t the issue,  your modem/router or connections are not the cause of your lost connection, and you haven't been infected with any viruses or spyware;  software is the issue.  Other than your operating system being the culprit, a software firewall if not configured properly; can cause you to lose your internet connection.

Lastly (thought there are more possibilities that can't be all listed), the TCP/IP configuration can be the reason that you are not connecting.  Since explaining how your TCP/IP configuration works may prove too difficult to understand for most average computer users, it's best to have a technician look at your computer if you have problems accessing the internet; that aren't caused by reasons a – d.

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Well, that is it for now. Please stay tuned for “Common computer problems and solutions – Part II.”  We will explore more of the most common computer problems and give you advice on how to troubleshoot and even repair your problem.  I hope that you find this article useful !

Happy Computing!

Jarvis Edwards - TekTime