Troubleshooting and repair

How can I tell if something is wrong with my computer?

Something is wrong with your computer when signs start to show up. Obvious signs such as not being able to turn on your computer or having a blank screens such as the "black screen of death" means that there is something seriously wrong with your computer. The black screen of death means that the system will no longer accept any more commands because it has failed to recover from an error. Constant error messages and very slow performance may also mean that your computer has encountered a problem.

How do I troubleshoot a hardware problem?

Troubleshooting may be a tedious task for the non expert. Remain calm and have hope because a broken computer is not life threatening. Write down your steps and research thoroughly on the user manual and online if possible. Run your antivirus software to check for viruses, spyware, and worms. Bringing up the task manager can also help by pressing the control, alt, and delete button. The task manager will end any unwanted programs. If rebooting your computer does not work then an computer expert might be needed.

What is a Safe Mode?

Safe mode is a limited version of windows that allows you to only use your mouse screen, and keyboard. When in safe mode you can still use the add/remove programs function at the control panel to delete any programs that might be causing the problem. Safe mode allows you to work under a "shield" to straighten some if not all the problems from the entanglement.

What if I can't solve the problem myself?

Technical support may be needed if the problem can not be solved by itself. A computer professional should have the skills to fix your problem. Just make sure that your warranty information, purchase date, serial number, brand, model, and operating system information is intact and present for the computer technician.