Welcome to Computer Troubleshooting in Tonopah!

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Welcome to Computer Troubleshooting in Tonopah!

• Bill Doherty

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Our Mission

• Provide you with some basic troubleshooting
  skills.
• Provide knowledge of troubleshooting resources.
• Provide confidence in your ability to work with
  computer hardware and software problems.
• Have fun doing it.

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When Were Finished

• You should be able to solve simple computer
  problems yourself.
• You should be able to communicate effectively
  with a technician when you need help.
• You wont be able to quit your teaching job and
  become a full time geek.

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Overview

• Troubleshooting methodology
• Hardware basics
• Software basics
• Printing basics
• Networking basics
• Buying computers

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Troubleshooting Methodology
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Get in the Right Frame of Mind

• Relax
• Murphys law
• Do no harm
• Make a backup
• Make sure you can undo your work

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Try a Quick Fix

• Eliminate user error
• Make sure you are following the correct
  procedures
• Make sure the results really are an error
• Check the inventory - make sure everything is
  plugged in and turned on
• Turn everything off and back on again (after you
  have saved your information)

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Use the Scientific Method
Identify the problem
Gather Information
Propose Solution
No
Problem Solved?
Test Solution
Yes
Document Solution
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Identify the Problem

• Describe symptoms as completely and accurately as
  possible.
• Date, time.
• Scope of problem.
• What you were doing when problem occurred.

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Gather Information

• Is the problem reproducible?
• Recent changes
• Current configuration
• Assemble resources

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Troubleshooting Resources

• Plan ahead.
• Get copies of software, etc.
• Find vendor sites for your hardware/software
• Find internet support communities

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Propose a Solution

• Easiest solutions
• Most likely solutions
• Use a strategy
• Process of elimination
• Divide and conquer

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Test the Solution

• Test only one thing at a time!

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Problem Solved?

• Yes
• Congratulate yourself
• Document the solution
• No
• Undo the solution
• Gather more information
• Propose and test another solution

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Methodology Summary

• Get in the right frame of mind
• Try a quick fix
• Use the scientific method
• Use your Internet resources
• Use the right strategy

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Initiation!

• Demonstrate your knowledge of the secret world of
  troubleshooting.

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Hardware Troubleshooting Objectives

• Recognize the main components and understand
  their basic function.
• Understand that there are different types of
  components.
• Get familiar with how the components are
  installed.
• Understand common hardware problems.

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Safety Note

• Protect yourself
• Power off
• One hand rule
• Dont open a monitor
• Protect the equipment
• Power off
• Grounding strap

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Take It Apart

• Motherboard overview
• Hard drive/CD/DVD
• NIC/expansion cards
• Memory

Put It Back Together
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Software Objectives

• Be able to use basic operating system utilities
  to monitor system functions and identify software
  related problems.
• Be able to install a desktop operating system and
  perform basic configuration functions.
• Be able to obtain and install software updates
  and patches.

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Agenda

• Finish Software
• Troubleshooting tips/drivers
• Install software in lab
• Networking Overview
• Printing
• Computer purchasing?

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Review

• Whats the first step in troubleshooting?

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Software Problems

• Isolate the problem
• Document
• Application
• Operating system

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Document Problems

• Try opening a backup copy
• Try opening on another machine
• Try opening with a different version of the
  program

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Application Programs

• Try another document
• Uninstall any new items
• Apply vendor updates

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Operating System

• Try a different application
• Check disk drive space
• Use scan disk and defrag for maintenance
• Try a Windows troubleshooting wizard
• Apply vendor updates

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Lets Install Software

• Install Windows
• Work with drivers as required
• Find Windows update
• Download and install Adobe Acrobat
• Uninstall Adobe Acrobat

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Printing Objectives

• Be able to properly connect a printer.
• Be able to install print driver software.
• Be able to access and understand the windows
  tools used for print troubleshooting.
• Be able to perform basic troubleshooting of
  network printing.

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Printing Basics

• Install a new printer
• Get correct cable and driver
• Troubleshoot printing
• Start at printer and use process of elimination.
• Network printing
• Things to look for

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Network Objectives

• Identify and solve basic networking problems.
• Differentiate between problems with a single
  machine and the entire network.
• Identify the reasons for common internet error
  messages.
• Find and use windows utilities helpful in
  identifying network problems.

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Common Network Problems

• Internet Problems
• Bad URL
• Server down
• Missing or old plug-in
• Network Problems
• Cable
• Software/client
• Server

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Buying a Computer

• Name brand, but
• HP, Compaq
• Mid-range are best buys
• Exceptions are
• Graphic arts
• Video production