This page contains answers to common questions along with some tips and tricks t

hat may be useful. What do I do if... 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. the the the the the t
he the computer locks up and/or is acting weird? computer is completely dead? ke
yboard doesn't work? mouse doesn't work? computer displays a disk error or non-s
ystem disk message? computer starts up in "safe mode"? printer doesn't work?
Back to Tutorial the computer locks up and/or is acting weird? 1. If the compute
r is frozen and will not respond to any commands, it may be necessary to press C
trl + Alt + Del (all three keys at the same time) to bring up the Task List. Sel
ect any program that says "Not responding" and click the End Task button. Repeat
until all tasks are ended. If this does not work, turn the computer off, wait s
everal seconds, turn the computer back on, and let the computer run the Scandisk
. 2. Reboot it. A computer can be fixed like they should when or acts really wei
rd. everything is reset. Special Note It doesn't hurt a computer to leave it run
ning all the time. However, using the computer for long periods of time causes s
mall problems that can build into larger ones. When Windows reboots, it fixes mo
st of these small problems. Therefore, restarting the computer periodically whil
e working can help reduce the risk of glitches. Back to Top the computer is comp
letely dead? Check all the connections, the cables between the CPU and the monit
or and all the electrical cables. Check the wall socket or surge strip to see if
they are bad (sometimes a surge strip will have good and bad outlets). If you h
ave a green light on your monitor but not on your CPU, then there is a problem w
ith your CPU. If there is a green light on your CPU and not your monitor, then y
ou have a problem with your monitor and your CPU may be fine. If you have anothe
r monitor that you know is good, the quickest way to test is to put another moni
tor on the machine and see if you get an image on the screen. If you have a ligh
t on both the monitor and the CPU, check the pins of the data cable between the
monitor and the CPU. A single bent pin can cause an image problem. Back to Top t
he keyboard doesn't work? 1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del (all three keys at the same
time) to bring up the Task List. Select any program that says "Not responding" a
nd click the End Task majority of problems that occur while you are using your b
y rebooting. Applications sometimes dont release memory they are finished. The end
result is your computer locks up When you reboot, memory registers are cleared a
nd most This fixes a lot of problems.

button. Repeat until all tasks are ended. keyboard will work.
Check periodically to see if the
2. Check to make sure the keyboard is still properly connected to the computer.
If the keyboard has been disconnected, you may have to reboot your computer. 3.
If all else fails, then turn the power off. before turning the computer back on.
Special Note One of the dirtiest parts of your computer is the keyboard. Regula
r cleaning will help keep the keyboard working properly. First, blow compressed
air through the spaces in between the keys to remove dust and lint. If you shake
your keyboard upside-down this will also remove some of the particles. Another
keyboard problem that could occur is when you turn your computer on and you get
a message that no keyboard was detected or you get into Windows but are not able
to type. Remove the keyboard connector for the CPU, examine the pins in the con
nector to ensure they are straight, then reinsert the connector. Also, check and
make sure the mouse and keyboard connectors have not been switched. If the keyb
oard still doesnt work try connecting, another keyboard that you know is working. T
his will determine if you need a new keyboard or if you have a CPU problem. Back
to Top the mouse doesn't work? Check to make sure the mouse is still properly c
onnected to the computer. the mouse has been disconnected, you may have to reboo
t your computer. Like the keyboard, the mouse pad is sitting in the open most of
the time getting dusty, wet, slimed, or anything else that happens on you deskt
op. The mouse then rolls over whatever has collected on the mouse pad and gets i
nside, gumming up the works. To clean the mouse pad, wipe it off occasionally wi
th a damp cloth or get a new one. You also need to clean your mouse regularly, a
s often as twice a week. If you turn your mouse over, youll notice a round ball wit
h a cover over it. This cover can be twisted off and the ball will come out. Rol
l the ball on a clean, lint free cloth. Then take a look at the rollers inside t
he mouse. Take tweezers, a screwdriver, or even your fingernail to scratch the d
irt and lint off the rods. Next, you should look inside the mouse and clean out
any other dirt or lint that is hiding in there. Finally, replace the ball and tw
ist back on the cover. Back to Top the computer displays a disk error or non-sys
tem disk message? 1. You may have left a disk in the A drive. the keyboard to re
boot the computer. Remove it and press any key on If Wait a couple of minutes
2. If you dont have a disk in the A drive, and the message is accompanied by a "clu
nking" sound, turn the computer off and send for a technician.

Back to Top the computer starts up in "safe mode"? At

develop a problem which causes you machine to boot up
de". The easiest way to try and solve this problem is
Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools,
k on "Automatically fix errors".

times your computer could

in what is called "safe mo
to run a "scandisk". 1. 2.
and Scandisk. Place a chec

3. When Scandisk finishes, reboot your computer to see if this fixed the problem
. 4. If the computer still boots up in the Safe Mode, click on Start, Programs,
Accessories, System Tools, and Disk Defragmenter. If you receive the message "Yo
u don't need to defragment this drive now", continue with the process anyway. 5.
When Disk Defragmenter is finished, reboot your computer to see if this fixed t
he problem. 6. If the computer still starts up in safe mode, you need to contact
a computer technician. Back to Top the printer doesn't work? If the printer wil
l not print at all, you need to determine if the printer itself will not work or
if it is not receiving a print message from the computer. 1. Many models have a
built-in self test option which allows you to print a test page by holding down
the feed button for a few seconds. The power button will begin to flash and a t
est page will print. If the printer self test fails, your problem is with the pr
inter itself rather than the printer cable or computer. Should this occur, you s
hould contact a technician. 2. If the printer self test prints, the next step is
to have Windows print a test page. Click on Start, Settings, Printers, and righ
t click on the icon of the printer with the problem. Select properties and press
the Print Test Page button. If the test page fails to print, make sure the prin
ter cable is firmly seated in both the computer and the printer. You should also
check the ends of the printer cable to make sure that none of the prongs are be
nt. If the test print fails, or if the print consists of nonsense characters or
a few characters printed over many pages, you need to uninstall then reinstall t
he drivers for your printer.
Paper feed problems and jams can often be resolved by using paper which conforms
with the specifications provided by the printer manufacturer. On ink jet printe
rs, the rubber rolls which pick up each sheet can sometimes become coated with p
aper residue which decreases the friction. Cleaning off the residue can sometime
s solve paper feed problems. Special Note If your ink jet printer is making a ba
nging or grating noise, you need to clean two areas of the printer.

1. Some models of ink jet printers have a gray colored narrow plastic film which
extends almost the whole width of the printer just behind the rod on which the
print head travels. If this film gets dirty, the print heads can have problems d
etermining where it is and can crash against the end of the printer. Use tissue
or soft cloth to clean this strip. 2. The printer head moves across a rod that c
an also become dirty. With the printer power on, raise the front of the printer
and clean the rod with a paper towel. Put the front of the printer back down and
turn off the printer. This time when you lift the front of the printer, the pri
nter heads will move across the rod. This will allow you to clean the part of th
e rod that was covered when you cleaned it the first time. If you spray the pape
r towel with WD-40, this will do a better job of cleaning the rod. As the printe
r gets older, it may become necessary to perform these two cleaning jobs at leas
t once a week. Back to Top