Repair Your Own Computer A small effort may save money and frustration.
By Dale Griffin
It is very common for computers to have minor glitches from time to time. But not all problems require professional repair. If you take a few minutes to evaluate the situation, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. Of course, most users know the first thing to try is simply shutting down the computer and restarting. If computer problems remain, make a quick mental note of a few things as the computer reboots.
Listen and Observe Answers to these simple questions can serve as a guide to the next step in the repair process.
• Was there a change made to the computer’s setup or software immediately prior to the problem appearing? • Is the computer making any unusual noises? • If an error message appears on the screen, can the message window be closed, allowing continued operation of the computer?
Professional technicians listen and look at what the computer does and what it does not do properly. Beyond observing what symptoms exist, they also observe when the symptoms occur to gain clues. These clues help determine if the malfunction is related to hardware or software. New Hardware If a new hardware component was installed into or attached to your computer immediately prior to the problem presenting itself, chances are the new hardware and the problem are related. Look in the instruction manual that came with the newly installed device. Often, there are troubleshooting tips that will easily resolve the problem.
If necessary, remove the new device to restore proper computer operation long enough to visit the manufacturer’s Web site. Once there, look for updated software drivers for the device. A software driver is a small program written specifically for an individual hardware device. This software instructs the rest of the computer system on how to properly interact with and operate that device. Manufacturers often update drivers to resolve problems found in older versions. Computer Won’t Boot If the computer is acting as if the power cord is unplugged, it is likely that hardware components within the computer are damaged and new parts will need to be installed. While some new components are harder than others to install, installation typically requires only a moderate skill level and reasonable static electricity precautions. The greater challenge is to determine which component or components need to be replaced. Most computer users will choose to leave this determination to a professional technician. Unusual Noises If the computer tries to start up (or even successfully starts up) but makes unusual noises, one or more of several fans within the computer are probably worn and need replaced. Fans inside a computer move generated heat away from critical interior components. Often, a computer will work properly for several minutes but then exhibit problems after running for a while. This period of running is long enough for heat to build up within the computer system. This too is an indication that one or more fans are not performing properly and need to be replaced. Remove the cover from your computer and observe while it is running. This will usually allow you to easily identify a worn fan.
If the computer does not try to load the operating system and is making a clicking sound, the problem is probably the hard drive. If you suspect that this is the source of the problem, turn off your computer and leave it off until professional service is arranged. This provides the best chance to recover data from the damaged drive.
Random Symptoms Often computer problems are very difficult to diagnose because symptoms are inconsistent and difficult to reproduce. This may indicate defective Random Access Memory (RAM). Fortunately, diagnosing faulty RAM is easy. Once diagnosed, replacement of RAM is one of the simplest repairs to accomplish.
A very effective program, Windows Memory Diagnostic, can be obtained from Microsoft through a free download found at http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp. Once there, click on the appropriate link to download the diagnostic and follow the instructions. This program analyzes RAM and will often find the cause of illusive computer problems. If the diagnostic program reports a memory error, inspect your computer to see if it has more than one memory module installed. If so, remove all modules except one and run the utility on each module individually to determine which one is defective. Avoid touching any of the gold parts on the memory module and use common sense when handling these very delicate parts of your computer system. Don’t Be Afraid to Try While computers may seem intimidating, in the end they’re still only machines. Solutions to most computer problems can be found in troubleshooting books or online help sites. A little knowledge can go a long way toward saving time and money. If professional services are ultimately needed, you have lost little by making the attempt. More often than not, computer problems are not that complicated. You might just be successful and learn lessons that will help with any current problem and the next computer problem too. Dale Griffin is the vice president of Computer Depot, a company that provides products and services related to computers and networks for businesses and consumers. He is also the host of The Computer Hour on News Radio 980 KMBZ each Saturday at 2 p.m. He can be reached at (913) 381-0333 or . Visit on the Web at www.compdepo.com.
