If you own a computer and have had it crash or otherwise fail at one point, you are in good company. Computer owners usually wonder just how to repair a computer. Whether the problem is a printer not printing, not being able to get on the Internet, the computer freezing, or that it simply doesn’t power up, many have sought answers to such techno woes.
Fundamental Troubleshooting Questions
As a bit of an aid to diagnose the issues one is having with one’s computer equipment, one can ask several troubleshooting questions. Answering these questions will help in diagnosing the situation. These troubleshooting questions are one of the many tools that one can use to repair a computer. You can use them as landmarks to pinpoint possible causes of the computer problems you are experiencing.
Out of the Box Issues
One of the things that one can do is figure out if the computer has ever worked as it should before. If not, then the fault isn’t with the computer user or the programs that user has installed. The trouble may be caused by manufacturing faults. Components may have been shaken loose during assembly or even when the computer was shipped or delivered to your home.
Watch out for functionality indicators such as beep sounds, error LED lights, incorrect OS loading, scratching sounds, etc. You should also check if the cables and other components are securely connected.
Check for Changes
It will be well to check if the computer trouble is a recurring one. You should also check if there were changes in either the hardware or software made before the issue started. If so, then put things back before the changes were made and see if it corrects the problem.
Figuring Out the Changes
One should also try to determine what has changed and why it was changed. If a certain software application or hardware is added, then check if that software program is something that the user will use. If that software or hardware is essential to the user, check with the creators or manufacturers of the said software or hardware for known issues and solutions. This is sometimes an issue when a new game is installed and it doesn’t run properly.
Check for Error Messages
Another important thing to check when you repair a computer is the presence of error messages. The error messages may be generated by the operating system or a specific software application. You may check with the producers of the software programs as to what those error messages mean.
As you gain experience fixing computer issues your understanding about these machines will grow. You will learn how to repair a computer and how to diagnose many computer issues that come your way.