Troubleshooting and Maintaining Your PC All-In-One

What Info to Record about Your PC

Of course your new PC can, and probably will, hold the secrets of your life — blog musings, photos, address book, and so on. But you need to hold the secrets of your PC somewhere, too. The information you need to record and keep in a safe place — but not actually on your PC includes:

• PC purchase date

• PC make and model

• PC serial number

• PC manufacturer

• PC dealer

• Manufacturer’s Web support page

• Manufacturer’s phone support number

• Customer number:

• ISP’s phone support number

And, you may want to record the sequence for your Setup program (normally F1, F2, Del, Enter), and the keys to press to display the Boot menu (normally F10, Enter).

How to Stay Calm while Troubleshooting Your PC

When your PC goes kaflooey, you may be tempted to panic, but resist that impulse — it doesn’t help anyway. Instead, take a deep breath and keep these PC troubleshooting mantras in mind:

• Change causes trouble. Recall the items you changed recently and you can better pinpoint the problem and devise a solution.

• Rarely do you need to reinstall Windows. Use the System File Checker to repair damage to Windows. Reinstall only after an unrecoverable disaster.

• Restart Windows to cure common ills.

• If your computer is more than five years old, the problem is most likely the computer itself. Buy a new one.

• Resist the temptation to upgrade Windows. Rather than upgrade, buy a new PC with the latest version of Windows preinstalled.

• Back up. Back up. Back up.

• Use Safe Mode for troubleshooting only; do not run applications or finish your work in Safe Mode.

• If the optical disc doesn’t format, throw it away.

Troubleshooting Hardware Problems on Your PC

If your PC isn’t turning on at all, you look to hardware problems first of all. And even though it may seem like a waste of time, do the smart thing and check the very basics:

• Is the PC plugged into a power source?

• Is the PC connected at both ends — to the power source and the PC?

• Is the PC turned on?

When the PC freezes up, won’t shut down, suddenly shuts down, or won’t print, keep these tips in mind:

• Press and hold down the power button for five seconds to turn off any computer.

• Realize that hot things cause trouble. Ensure that the console’s air vents are unobstructed and that the fan is on. Touch a power supply brick to ensure that it’s not too hot. If it is hot, disconnect the power supply.

• Check the Device Manager for conflicts detected by Windows.

• Swap out questionable hardware with hardware that works to help pinpoint the problem.

• Keep in mind that the printer must be on and online or selected before you can print.

Troubleshooting Software Problems on Your PC

When your PC is acting up and you’ve checked the basic hardware issues — it’s plugged in and turned on, it’s just chosen to drop out — you need to examine your software to make sure you have the latest and greatest versions. This list contains helpful hints to get your software back up to speed:

• Run Windows Update for the latest software versions.

• Use the Update Driver button in a device’s Properties dialog box to ensure that you have the latest software drivers.

• Use the Task Manager to determine which programs have stopped running.

• If the computer runs fine in Safe Mode, the problem isn’t with Windows itself.

• Regularly scan your PC for viruses and spyware.

• System Restore can save your butt. Set restore points often. Restore your system whenever it goes hinkey.

Troubleshooting Your Network on a PC

Having problems sharing affects both PCs and toddlers, and when your PC won’t network, you can become just as frustrated as a thwarted 5-year-old. If your PC quits playing nice with others, try these networking tips:

• Run one firewall. There’s no need to run multiple firewalls. A single hardware firewall on the router works best. If you don’t have one, run a software firewall.

• Share folders on the network in Windows Vista by using the Advanced Sharing button to access the Sharing tab in the folder’s Properties dialog box.

• When restarting the network, turn everything off. Then turn on the modem, the router, any switches, and, finally, the PCs attached to the network.

• Ensure that the wireless NIC has been enabled on your laptop; check for a small switch somewhere.

How to Maintain Your PC

Keeping equipment in good condition can prevent a lot of problems, and your PC is no exception. Just as you give your bike chain a few drops of oil every now and again, do some regular maintenance to keep your PC running smoothly:

• Keep your PC’s files and the system backed up.

• Check the hard drive usage occasionally to ensure that you don’t run out of storage.

• Run the Check Disk program to scan the hard drive for errors.

• Regularly run Defrag on Windows XP computers.

• Clean your PC and vacuum the keyboard. Use the proper material to clean the LCD monitor. Keep dust and pet hair out of the console’s vents.

Do’s and Don’ts for PC Troubleshooting

Your PC is important to you, so you want to do the things that are good for it, avoid the things that are bad for it, and be sure not to get (or spread) viruses. Start with the do’s and don’ts in this list:

• Do pay attention to the User Account Controls (UACs) in Windows Vista.

• Do configure the firewall to allow local network traffic so that your computers can share hard drives and printers.

• Do classify public wireless networks as Public whenever you make the connection.

• Don’t open the PC’s case unless you first turn off and unplug the thing.

• Do let people know beforehand when you send them a program as an e-mail attachment.

• Don’t open unexpected e-mail attachments.

• Don’t download unknown software from the Internet.

• Do change the SSID (service set identifier) for your wireless router.

• Do remember that “stuff” happens.

• Don’t blame yourself when the computer crashes.