Common Computer Problems You Can Fix Yourself
Follow these easy steps before you call for help.

By Burton Kelso

Good computer consultants and technicians don’t strive to make their clients dependent on them for every problem they experience with their computers. There are a lot of “nickel and dime” problems that even technology-challenged business owners can fix themselves.

Here are a few common computer problems and tips to fix them.

The Computer Is Not Getting Power
It may sound silly, but make sure the computer is plugged into the wall. Check the power cord to make sure it is plugged firmly into the back of the computer. If it is, unplug the power cord from the computer and then plug it in again. If this doesn't restore power, then purchase a new power cord. Cords can suddenly go bad and stop working for no apparent reason. Surge protectors and power strips can have bad outlets, so make sure that you switch the cords in those outlets to troubleshoot power problems. If none of this works, then it means the power supply is bad.

The Monitor Does Not Have a Display
As with the computer, make sure you are getting power to the monitor. Check the cords! If possible, plug in a monitor you know works, to determine if it's a monitor problem or a computer problem. If the monitor power light turns on and off, or changes from the standard green light to a pale yellow while the computer is on, you have a problem with the monitor. If you are receiving power to the monitor and you still are looking at a dark screen, you have a problem with the video card.

The Computer Will Not Boot Up
Remove any floppy disks or CDs from your computer drives, and turn the computer off and back on again. If it boots up, but the computer cannot find the C: drive, you might have a bad hard drive.

The Computer Keeps Freezing
If your computer consistently freezes while running a particular program, reinstall the program. If your computer freezes up randomly, this could point to a conflict with your operating system and another program. Use the following steps to troubleshoot this problem:

•    On a PC, start “Safe Mode” by pressing F5 while the computer boots up.
•    On a Mac, restart holding down the Shift key to shut down extensions.

If you've been working on the computer for an extended period of time and it freezes, you may have dust in the power supply or system. Use canned air to clear dust from the inside of your computer.

Printer Won't Print
Check the ready light on the printer to see if the printer is working. If the light is not on, turn off your computer and printer, disconnect the cable and reconnect. Reboot the computer and see if the printer light comes on. If this doesn't work, check the printer cover, toner or ink cartridge, and paper supply to verify that everything looks normal. Most printers have a self-test you can try. Consult your manual to find out how to perform this test. If the printer runs a self-test but won't print from your operating system, you could have a bad printer port on the computer.

Remember the Five-Minute Rule
If you can’t find an answer to your problem in five minutes, using the built-in Help, printed manuals or the Internet, call for help. Too often, computer users don’t call a professional until they are at their wits end and completely frustrated to the point that the technician cannot quickly solve the problem. The five-minute rule helps set in motion a plan of action to keep computers up and running at peak efficiency.

All computer users should be as self-sufficient as possible, and gain as much computer knowledge as their time and energy permit. That said, they should also know when to call for help when they experience problems. Computer users who overestimate their ability to fix a problem can often create more work for the professional. Conversely, computer users who underestimate their abilities don’t get frequency discounts!  So, know your abilities and check some handy resources, such as user manuals and the Internet to see if a solution is within your capabilities before calling a professional.

Burton Kelso is a computer technician with more than 15 years of experience in the computer service industry. He is owner of Integral Computer Consultants, a Kansas City-based computer service company specializing in the on-site repair of small business computers. He can be reached at (816) 942-0672 or by e-mail at .