Wednesday 4 November 2009

Backing Up & Installing An Operating System

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j59T09UQ9uc

This link shows how to install windows 7 onto your PC


http://www.pcguide.com/byop/byop_BackingUpWindowsXP.htm

This link shows users how to backup windows xp

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Common Computer Faults

I can’t see anything on my computer screen

Is the computer turned on? There is a light on the CPU. If the computer is on, it will be lit.

Is the computer plugged in? Check to see if ALL plugs are secure.

· Power cord from the computer to the power strip.

· Power strip to the wall socket.

Is the Power Strip turned on? There is a light on the strip. If the strip is on, the indictor light will be on.

Is the Monitor on? There is a light on the monitor. If the monitor is on, it will be lit. If it is turned on, check the contrast and brightness buttons to see if they have been tampered with.

Is the computer in Power Save or Sleep mode? Move the mouse or press any key on the keyboard to see if the computer will "wake-up."

http://thebeisemanncompany.com/images/FrustratedUser2.jpg

Here are some basic trouble shooting tips for new monitors:

  1. The picture does not appear
    • Check to make sure the signal cable is firmly connected in the socket.
    • Check to see if the computer system's power is ON.
    • Check that the Brightness Control is at the appropriate position, not at the minimum.
  2. The Screen is not synchronized
    • Check to make sure the signal cable is firmly connected in the socket.
    • Check that the output level matches the input level of your computer.
    • Make sure the signal timing of the computer system is within the specification of the monitor.
  3. The position of the screen is not in the center
    • Adjust the H-Size, H-Phase or V-Size, V-Center controls.
    • Check if the signal timing of the computer system is within the specification of the monitor.
  4. The screen is too bright or too dark
    • Check if the Brightness or contrast control is at the appropriate position, not at the maximum or minimum.
    • Check if the specified voltage is applied
    • Check if the signal timing of the computer system is within the specification of the monitor.
    • Especially, check the horizontal frequency.
  5. The screen is shaking
    • Move all objects that emit a magnetic field, such as a motor or transformer, away from the monitor.
    • Check if the specified voltage is applied.
    • Check if the signal timing of the computer system is within the specification of the monitor.

My computer is on, but it is frozen. My cursor is stuck on the hourglass and won’t let me do anything.

Here are some things you can do that may fix the problem you are having with your computer.

Open Task Manager

  1. Simultaneously press [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete]. You will see a list of all tasks (programs) currently running. You may notice one program has "Not Responding" instead of "Running" listed next to it. Select this task and click the End Task button.
  2. Another dialog box will open stating that the program is not responding. Choose End Now to close the program.

Reboot your computer (Warm Boot).
Resetting a computer that is already turned on

  1. Press [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete] once to open the Task Manager.
  2. Press [Ctrl] [Alt] [Delete] again to restart the computer.

Shut down your computer (Cold Boot). Start-up of a computer from a powered-down state.

If you restart your computer and the problem isn’t resolved, make an attempt to completely shut down the computer by pressing the power button. Let it set for 15-30 seconds then restart the computer.

You have run out of disk space on your computer. Music files, movies, digital pictures, and other big data files can fill up your hard drive. To check for disk space:

  1. Open My Computer. Right click on the C: drive and select Properties from the shortcut menu. A pie chart will appear telling you the used and free space.
  2. Try running the Disk Cleanup Wizard. This utility can tell you whether you are running out of room and help you clear away some space. Click the Start button and choose Programs Accessories System Tools Disk Cleanup. Choose the disk to clean up (C :) and let the wizard do the work.

Empty the Recycle Bin
Right click on the recycle bin on your Center to and select "Empty Recycle Bin".

Delete all files with .tmp extension
These files are temporary files that are not needed. You may do a search for all .tmp files and delete them all.

The temporary Internet files folder stores the link to the images and the pages you have seen (unlike Netscape that saves the image itself to it’s cache folder). The folder is located in c:\windows\temporaryinternetfiles.

Clean Temp Directory

  1. Right click START button on start bar. Slide up and click EXPLORE once.
  2. In Explore scroll down and highlight the TEMP folder.
  3. Click EDIT at top once; get a drop down menu.
  4. Slide down to SELECT ALL; click once.
  5. Click FILE at top and get drop down menu.
  6. Slide down to DELETE and click once.
  7. SAY YES and/or YES TO ALL. DELETE ALL FILES IN TEMP FOLDER

Delete old .zip files

If you have received zip files and unzipped them, the original .zip file may be deleted.

When did your computer last work properly? If your computer was working satisfactory yesterday or the last time you were logged on but are now having trouble, try to identify everything that has changed recently.

Did the trouble begin shortly after you installed a:

New program?
New piece of hardware or updated a device driver?

Do you receive a consistent error message? If so, write down the precise error message that has appeared on your screen, either write it down verbatim or leave the message when you call a technician. If you know the precise working, it makes finding the trouble much easier for the Technical Support Specialist.

Can you reproduce the trouble with specific steps? If you can identify a specific set of actions that consistently cause the trouble to occur, the Technical Support Specialist and outline your steps to determine the problem. Write down the precise sequence of actions.

Does the problem only occur after you have been using your computer for a while? If your computer runs fine first thing in the morning but crashes after several hours it could be heat related problems.

Computer Won't Start. Check the following:

· Check All Connections!

· Is the computer plugged in?

· Is there a Surge Protector switch to turn on?

· Is there a Master Wall Switch that controls the outlet?

http://www.world-education.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/hard-drive-flames1.jpg

Keyboard doesn't respond

If your machine, when booting, gives off a constant beeping noise, it is telling you that your keyboard is not connected or not working.

Check the plug to make sure it's connected securely. Try unplugging it and re-plugging it again.

If there is no response, check the indicator light on the keyboard. Is it on? Do the lights respond when you press the caps lock or the num lock key? If not, maybe your keyboard is broken.

Is there a key stuck? Gently pry off the cover and clean it with alcohol. Make sure it is not connected to your machine when you are cleaning it. The space bar frequently comes off track. Gently pry it off, noting which way the bar lies in your particular keyboard so you can replace it properly.

· If your mouse starts acting erratic, it could be an insufficient memory problem. Reboot and see if that corrects the problem.

· If your mouse will only move one way, either vertically or horizontally, your mouse may need cleaning.

Shut down your machine and unplug your mouse from the computer. Open the underside of the mouse and remove the ball. If the ball is a rubber ball, do not clean it with alcohol. Clean it with a soft cloth. There should be no lubricant placed on a mouse ball. Clean the roller in the body of the mouse with a cotton swab that is slightly damp with alcohol. Replace the ball when the rollers are dry and replace the bottom portion.

· First check the cable. Unplug it from the computer and the outlet. Replug in both sides and try booting it again.

· Check the wall outlet. Plug something else into the outlet and see if it works.

· Turn the system off and wait 30 seconds and then try again.

· Reach behind the machine and see if you feel air blowing out of the power supply. If you do, then you know the machine is getting some power.

· Look at the keyboard for the indicator lights being lit up as the machine boots.

· Sometimes the monitor has something to do with the system acting up. Unplug the power cord from the monitor and the wall and replug it. Unplug the cable from the computer to the monitor and replug it into the monitor. Try rebooting.

· Listen to identify a beeping series if there is one to report it to the technical help.

· Turn in all comments to a computer technician.

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4745600/untitled-main_Full.jpg

Computer will not connect to the Internet

· First check to see if the cable connecting the network card into the network drop is connected to the drop and to the computer.

· Check the back of the computer to see if the network card light is on.

· Check to see if the site you are trying to pull up is at fault by typing in a common URL to see if it will make it out to that site.

· Check to see if anyone else's machine is having problems. If everyone is, then it could be the network is having difficulties.

· If the Internet connection is off on a particular hallway only, a hub connection could be down or bad.

· If there is only one machine having problems and the light on the network card is not on, try plugging another machine that works into that drop. It could be that particular drop is bad, or plug the machine that doesn't seem to work into a different drop to see if it would work there.

· Record all the data and call the Senior Learning Center and ask for a technician.

· Only send a call in one way either by email, in person or by Phone. Sending it in more then one way can cause multiple trouble tickets and will slow down the time it takes to get the machine repaired.

http://www.edgarcaycehouston.org/HALPC-SLC/Troubleshooting/Troubleshooting.htm