Self-Help for Computer Problems

As many of you know, I have a background in technology.  I love technology and it is the only way I know to increase productivity without increasing hours.  That being said, I certainly recognize there are times that technology doesn’t fit the bill or causes more trouble than it is worth.  Regardless, we all use it and there are times things will go wrong.  As many of my calls lately have been technology-related, I wanted to give you a quick guide to resolving technology problems.

The cardinal rule of tech support is Reboot and Err No More.  We always joke that IT people tell you to reboot before anything else, but there are lots of reasons this is a smart move.  Most importantly, if something has gotten corrupted or stored improperly, a reboot can often repair the problem as nothing else can.  So if you are having a problem with your computer including slow, weird error messages (write these down first), email not working – sending or receiving or both, etc., reboot your computer.  You’ll be amazed how often that fixes it.

The next step is to Google your problem.  Type it in words you would use to describe it to someone else.  Or, if you are getting an actual error message, enter the text of the error message.  Generally you will find others with the same kind of problem and solutions.  If a solution tells you to download an application or edit your registry, consult someone who knows about computers.  If the software is downloaded from CNet, that is okay to load.  Otherwise, you may be introducing a whole new problem.

Run a tool to clean up malware every other week or so.  I really like malwarebytes which is a solid tool for removing these kinds of problems.  Run the updates first and then run the scan.  I generally start it as I’m going to lunch so when I get back, it is done.  I also run a virus scan every other day.  Viruses can give you all sorts of problems and good anti-virus software will knock them out before you ever have to deal with them.

Finally, run software updates and utilities.  Windows has an automatic update setting that I turn on all my computers.  This will automatically download and install bug fixes Microsoft finds with Windows.  Office and other software can be checked under the Help menu so if you are having a problem with a specific program, you can check to see if there are updates.  Microsoft Office also has a “detect and repair” function (Office 2007 calls it Office Diagnostics) that can help fix issues with Office programs.  This generally takes between 15 and 25 minutes.

One other trick I can’t take credit for – my husband did this first.  If you run a laptop and it seems to run hot, it may not have enough airflow underneath to let the fan do its job.  An overheated machine will have all kinds of strange problems with shut downs and not doing what you want it to do.  To see if that is the problem, find that roll of duct tape sitting around the house and put it under the back of the laptop.  The laptop will get better air flow and technically you will type at a more natural angle.  Yet one more use for duct tape! (You can use anything to prop your computer up but duct tape is a great height and most people have some they don’t need right that minute.)

If you are still having a problem, it is time to call in a professional.  But, you will save yourself and the technician a lot of time by explaining you have rebooted, run anti-malware and anti-virus software, software updates and specific software utilities.  At that point, they should be able to determine if you have a hardware or software program and get you to a solution more quickly!