Troubleshooting

1
Troubleshooting

• Please, read the material on reserve for this
  lecture. It is taken from the book Surviving PC
  Disasters.
• There will be no homework assignment from this
  lecture.

2
Hardware Failure

• Common causes of hardware failure
• Age - prolonged use of any electronic device
  causes it to break or renders it unusable.
• - technology becomes obsolete, because of the
  constant development of newer technology
• - most computer technology has a life expectancy
  of 1-5 years
• 2) Faulty development
• - the device may be broken right out of the box
• - the device was poorly designed and easily
  breakable (but it might be cheap!)

3
Hardware Failure (pg. 2)

• Common causes of hardware failure
• 3) Incompatibility
• - you must be very savvy to ensure that
  separately purchased hardware and/or software
  work together
• 4) Damage
• - devices can not withstand physical damage such
  as being dropped or kicked
• - misuse of devices can also cause damage, such
  as putting broken floppy discs into the drive

4
General Troubleshooting Tips

• Do not be afraid to touch a computer. You cant
  fix it if you dont try.
• Unless you drop it or play with the insides of a
  machine, you probably wont damage it.
• Many problems can be fixed by just turning the
  electrical device off and then back on.

5
If a Computer Will Not Boot

• Try these things first
• 1) Make sure that the power cord is properly
  plugged into the electrical socket and into the
  computer
• 2) Turn the power off (wait a few seconds to make
  sure that the computer is completely shut off
  from the electricity) then turn back on.
• 3) Make sure that the monitor is turned on. The
  computer may be working correctly, but you cant
  see anything.

6
Recognizing a Dying Hard Drive

• Remember from an earlier lecture that the hard
  drive is the permanent storage space for your
  software. It holds your operating system and most
  of your programs.
• If your hard drive dies, your computer dies!
• Things to look for
• 1) Noise is coming from your hard drive
• 2) It takes a long time for the computer to start
  up
• 3) You receive many error messages

7
Recognizing a Dying Hard Drive(pg. 2)

• 4) File names are strange or contain weird
  characters and symbols
• 5) Files are missing
• 6) It takes a long time to bring up files
• 7) You see the blue screen of death.
• The computer will display a error message on a
  blue background. This means that you have a
  serious problem with your hard drive.

8
If a Keyboard or Mouse Stops Working

• 1) Make sure that the cord is properly connected.
• 2) After re-connecting, you may need to reboot.
• 3) Clean the mouse and keyboard using compressed
  air and/or cotton swabs with alcohol.

9
If a CD or DVD Does Not Work

• 1) If you have a DVD, make sure that you have a
  DVD drive. A CD player cannot play DVDs.
  (However, a DVD player can play CDs.)
• 2) If you are trying to burn a CD or DVD, make
  sure that you are putting the disc in the correct
  drive. Many computers have more than one drive.
  If you look on the outside of the drive, you will
  see emblems that tell you what the drive can do.

10
If a CD or DVD Does Not Work(pg. 2)

• 3) Older drives may not be able to play some CDs
  and DVDs
• 4) Insert a disc and see if the LED (light
  emitting diode) lights up. If not, you may have a
  bad drive.
• 5) Clean the disc (using a soft cloth and water
  or alcohol) and clean the drive (using a cleaning
  disc)
• 6) Make sure that the disc was inserted
  correctly.

11
If a USB Drive Does Not Work

• 1) Try a different USB port.
• 2) Some USB drives need to install software to
  work. This may not be possible due to security
  restrictions on your computers.

12
If a Floppy Disc or Drive Does Not Work

• 1) Check to see if the drives LED lights up when
  you start the computer.
• 2) If the LED is continuously on, there is a
  problem.
• 3) Make sure there is not a piece of a floppy
  disc or a foreign object stuck in the drive. You
  can try to remove the object yourself, but the
  drive may already be damaged.
• 4) Make sure the floppy is not locked. Locking
  prevents anything from being saved on a floppy.
  To unlock a floppy, look for a small plastic tab.

13
How to Lengthen the Life of a Floppy Disc

• Floppy discs will eventually become unusable do
  to wear.
• You can think of a floppy disc as a piece of
  paper that is being written on and then erased
  over and over again.
• 1) Clean the drive using a vacuum
• 2) Rotate your floppies. Do not use the same one
  over and over

14
If a CD or DVD is Stuck in the Drive

• 1) Make sure the power is on. You must have power
  to the computer in order for the disc to eject.
• 2) Use a paper clip to manually eject the disc.
  There is a very small hole near the drive.
  Straighten a paper clip and push the tiny button
  in there.
• 3) Gently pry the tray open. If you can not open
  the tray gently, do not force it to open.

15
Why Do Discs Get Stuck?

• 1) The discs are warped because they were exposed
  to heat.
• 2) Labels on the discs jam up the drive.
• 3) There is more than one disc in the same drive.
• 4) The drive is broken.

16
If a Desktop Computer Wont Start Up

• Make sure you are pressing the correct button. It
  probably looks like this
• 2) Listen for the fans to make noises. If they do
  not, there is a probably a problem with the power
  supply
• 3) If you smell something burning, you probably
  have a problem with your power supply.

17
If a Desktop Computer Wont Start Up (pg. 2)

• 4) Make sure your connections are correct.
• 5) Make sure that you have power. If there is a
  power strip, make sure that it is on. Most power
  strips have a light to tell you when they are on.
• 6) Make sure that the power button is not broken.
  If the button feels loose or does not seem to
  depress correctly, it may be broken.
• 7) Try replacing the power cord.

18
If a Computer Keeps Shutting Off

• 1) Use a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
• 2) Make sure your connections are correct
• 3) Install updates for your operating system

19
If There Is No Sound

• 1) Make sure the speakers are turned on. Speakers
  usually have a separate power switch. Also, look
  for a small green light on the speaker to tell
  you when the power is on.
• 2) Turn up the volume.
• 3) Check the Sound control panel. Make sure the
  sound is not muted. This volume control also
  effects headphones.
• 4) Check your connections. Make sure the speakers
  are in the correct jack. The speaker jack should
  be green. Make sure headphones are in the correct
  jack.

20
If There Is No Sound (pg. 2)

• 5) Listen for crackling. If you hear crackling,
  it means that there is a loose connection
  somewhere or that the speakers have been blown.
• 6) Check to see if a sound card is present and
  working. In the Control Panel, click on Sounds
  and Audio Devices. Select the Hardware tab and
  look for an audio device. When you select a
  device, it will tell you if the device is working
  properly.

21
If a Laptop Wont Turn On

• 1) Make sure that it is getting power. If the
  battery is dead, you must plug the laptop into a
  electrical plug.
• 2) Make sure you are pressing the correct button.
  Like a desktop, many laptops have a similar
  looking power button.
• 3) If there is a burning smell, you have a
  serious problem and need to replace parts.

22
If a Laptop Wont Turn On(pg. 2)

• 4) Check your connections. Although a laptop has
  many fewer connections than a desktop, make sure
  the power cords are fully inserted.
• 5) Make sure the power button is not broken. If
  the button feels loose or does not seem to
  depress correctly, it may be broken.

23
If a Laptop Display Wont Turn On

• 1) Make sure the display is not sleeping. To save
  power, the display may go to sleep. Usually, you
  can wake up a computer by moving the mouse or
  using the keyboard.
• 2) Make sure the button that turns off the
  display when the laptop is closed is not stuck in
  the down position. This button is usually found
  near the hinge.

24
If a Printer Wont Turn On

• 1) Make sure the printer is getting power. Check
  the power cable and the power strip.
• 2) Check to see if the printer display says
  Ready or Online or some other similar word.
  Check to see if the LED is green.
• 3) Make sure that the printer is warmed up and
  not asleep. To save energy, the printer may go to
  sleep, just touch a button to wake it up.

25
If a Printer Wont Print

• 1) Turn the printer off, wait a few seconds and
  then turn it back on.
• 2) Turn both the printer and computer off, wait a
  few seconds and then turn them back on.
• 3) Make sure the printer is on. A printer has a
  separate power switch from the computer it is
  connected to.
• 4) Make sure the paper trays have paper and are
  fully closed.

26
If a Printer Wont Print (pg. 2)

• 5) Make sure you have toner or ink in the
  printer. The cartridge may need to be replaced.
• 6) Check to see if the printer display says
  Ready or Online or some other similar phrase.
  Check to see if the LED is green. If the LED is
  red, you have a problem.
• 7) Read the display and check for an error
  message. If you are able, follow the directions
  on the display to fix the problem.

27
If a Printer Wont Print (pg. 3)

• 8) Make sure that the printer is warmed up. It
  may be functioning but needs time to warm up
  before it can print.
• 9) Make sure the computer and printer are
  correctly connected to one another.
• 10) Make sure you are printing to the correct
  printer. You can find out which printer you are
  using by opening the Printer control panel.

28
If a Printer Wont Print (pg. 4)

• 11) Check for a paper jam. Open all of the trays
  and doors and look for paper. You may have to
  remove the ink cartridge and look for paper stuck
  underneath it.
• 12) Print a test page directly from the printer.
  This can usually be done by using the menus, the
  display and the buttons located on the printer.
• 13) Go to the Control Panels and open the Printer
  control panel. Make sure that the printer is
  ready and not paused.

29
If the Printer Stops Picking Up Paper or Jams
Repeatedly

• 1) Check to see if the paper tray is overfilled.
• 2) Do not use heavy paper such as transparency
  paper. These papers are heavier and thicker than
  normal paper.
• 3) Check to see if the paper is lifting into the
  paper path.
• 4) Make sure you do not have a paper jam or a
  small piece of paper in the path.
• 5) Clean the printer.
• 6) Perform regular maintenance on the printer.
• 7) The printer may be broken and needs to be
  repaired or replaced.

30
Other Problems Num Lock Key

• The Num Lock key is the top left key in the
  number keypad.
• In order to use the number keypad, the Num Lock
  must be on.
• Simply hit the Num Lock key to turn it on and
  off.
• If you attempt to use the number keypad with the
  Num Lock off, either nothing happens or very
  strange things happen.

31
Other Problems The Insert Key

• The Insert key is located in the group of keys
  adjacent to the number keypad.
• The insert key is the insert and delete key.
• With the insert key on, any typing that you do
  will overwrite and delete any text that follows.
• Simply hit the Insert key to turn it on and off.

32
Other Problems Losing Focus

• In Windows, you can have several windows open at
  the same time.
• Sometimes, you lose focus and the another program
  (or perhaps the desktop) is what is in focus.
• This means that nothing appears to be happening
  when you are using the keyboard.
• To regain focus, simply click anywhere inside the
  window that you want to be active.

33
Other Problems Windows, Pop-ups, and Dialog
Boxes

• When a new window, or a pop-up window, or a
  dialog box opens, it may be hidden behind the
  current window.
• If you are expecting to see a new window or
  pop-up window or a dialog box and do not see one,
  try closing or minimizing the current window.

34
Im a Librarian, Not a Computer Technician!

• All of the above are suggestions for what you
  could do to fix a problem.
• However, you should be aware of your limitations.
• Do not do anything that requires you to open or
  disassemble a computer or part.
• Contact your Technology Support Department when
  you feel overwhelmed.
• Remember, you are a library employee and not a
  technician.
• Try to do the best you can to help, but realize
  that you cannot fix everything!

35
Other Electrical Devices in Libraries

• There are many more electrical gadgets in
  libraries than just computers and printers.
• You may have to work with photocopiers, scanners,
  fax machines, and microfilm reader/printers to
  name a few.
• Be sure to attend any training sessions on new
  equipment.
• And, dont be afraid to learn.