Basic Troubleshooting Steps
Table of Contents
|
Category |
See these tip numbers |
|
Printing Problems |
# 3 |
|
Windows XP Problems |
# 1 |
|
Sound Problems |
# 2 |
|
Word, Excel Problems |
# 5,12 |
|
Floppy Disk Problems |
# 6,7 |
|
Network Problems |
# 10 |
|
Internet and Browser Problems |
# 10 |
|
E-Mail Problems |
# 11 |
|
Monitor Problems |
# 8 |
12
BASIC
TROUBLESHOOTING
Steps to Take before Calling your
Network Administrator
Prepared by
1. A software program stops working, will not open, or will not close.
Step 1: Simultaneously press the CTRL, ALT & Delete buttons on your keyboard.
Step 2: In Windows XP, click on the Task Manager or Task List button and select the program that is "not responding."
Step 3: Click on End Task when a new screen option comes up.
Step 4: Click on End Task a second time, if necessary.
Step 5: An extra step that also helps in Windows XP is to repeat step 1 and go back to the Task Manager and click the Processes tab.
Step 6: Processes can be displayed alphabetically by clicking the "Image Name" column heading.
Step 7: Select the process with the name of the program (or abbreviation) that is not opening or closing properly. Click the "End Process" button.
Step 8: If none of these steps work, or if your computer locks up or freezes, you may need to hold the computer's Power button in for 5-10 seconds
until it shuts off completely. Then, press the Power button again to boot the machine. Normally, this fixes the problem.
2. Your computer has no sound, CDs won't play sound, or volume is too low.
Step 1: Single click the little speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your screen (known as the "system tray").
Step 2: Increase the volume level by holding down your left mouse button and sliding the volume level up.
Step 3: Increase the volume level on your computer through the monitor volume (either on the side or the front of the monitor).
Step 4: Double-click on the little speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your screen and make sure that the volume for WAV is turned up.
Step 5: Make sure that none of the Mute boxes (such as Master or Compact Disc) have a check in them.
3. You cannot print to your printer.
Step 1: Make sure your printer power or green light is on.
Step 2: Make sure that paper is in the printer.
Step 3: See that there is not a paper jam. If there is, open the front of the printer and carefully guide the paper through. Then close the printer lid and try printing again.
Step 4: Double-click on My Computer. Then double-click on Control Panel
Step 5: Double-click on Printers
Step 6: Right-click on the printer that you want to print to.
Step 7: Choose "Set As Default", close Control Panel windows and then try printing again.
Step 8: Make sure that the paper is pushed as far as it will go into the printer.
4. Your program (or computer) has "performed an illegal operation and will be
shut down."
Step 1: Click the X in the top right corner of the message.
Step 2: Try running the program again.
Step 3: If the program does not come on properly, go to StartàShut DownàRestart. (On some HP computers and Laptops, you will need to hold the Power button in for 5-10 seconds). Then, turn it on again.
Step 4: When your computer boots up again, log in and try the program again.
5. While typing a Word document, you receive the error message "You have
performed an illegal operation" and your document has to be shut down. To
see if the document can still be recovered:
Step 1: Double-click on My Computer.
Step 2: Double-click on "C" drive.
Step 3: Double-click on the Windows folder.
Step 4: Double-click on Temp folder.
Step 5: Search for the name of the document you were working on.
Step 6: Right-click on that document (if you find it) and choose "Send To".
Step 7: Send To a floppy disk or to your desktop (where you can find it easily).
Step 8: Double-click on the document to open it.
6. Your floppy disk is "not formatted"
Note: If this is a Macintosh disk, it cannot be read in a Windows PC.
Step 1: Once in "My Computer", right-click once on 3 1/2" Floppy [A:]
Step 2: Choose Format.
Step 3: Under Capacity, choose 1.44 MB if you have an HD disk, and choose 720 KB if you have a DD disk.
Step 4: Under Format type, choose Full.
Step 5: Click the Start button.
Step 6: When the disk is done formatting, click Close.
7. When starting your computer, you see the error message: "Invalid system disk.
Replace the disk, and then press any key."
Step 1: Check your floppy disk drive.
Step 2: If there is a floppy disk still in the drive, remove it.
Step 3: Press any key to continue.
Step 4: You may need to power off and restart, or press the reset button on the front of your computer.
8. Your monitor says "Check Signal Cable."
Step 1: Check to make sure your computer is on and that the power button is pushed all the way in and not stuck.
Step 2: Check the monitor cable to see if it is plugged into the back of the computer.
9. You have no sound coming out of your computer. Depending on the type of
computer you have-- For Hewlett-Packard:
Step 1: Check to see if one end of your speaker cord is plugged into the back of the monitor input hole (jack).
Step 2: Make sure that the other end of your speaker wire is plugged into the green
headphone hole (jack) in the back of the computer.
For Dell computers:
Step 1: See that the other end of the speaker cord is plugged into the back of the
computer to the green port labeled "Speaker Line"
If these steps do not improve the problem, other options include:
Step 1: Click on the speaker icon in the bottom right corner of your screen. See that
the volume is turned up at least halfway. If it isn't, then slide it up.
Step 2: If you have speakers connected to your monitor, either turn on the Power
button on the back of the speaker, or turn up the volume on the left side of your
monitor.
10. You cannot connect to the Internet.
Step 1: Make sure that the blue or gray Ethernet cable (which looks like a fat phone cable) is tightly plugged into the back of your computer, and is also plugged into the wall jack.
Step 2: Make sure that if your computer is at school, that it is plugged into a Network jack and not simply a phone jack. Network jacks are often blue, while phone jacks are normally gray. If it says Line on the jack, it is for telephone only.
Step 3: If your Ethernet cable was not connected properly, after any changes you make, restart your computer.
11. The E-mail message you just sent has been returned to you with an error message, such as: "Undeliverable Message", "Mailer Daemon", or "Message Could Not Be Delivered."
Step 1: Near the top of the returned message should be the address you typed into the To: box when you sent the message. Look closely to see if there is a comma in the address instead of a period (dot).
Step
2: After close inspection, if you discover that you have made a mistake in the
address, simply click NEW and retype a new address with the proper corrections
made, such as a different spelling, different punctuation, etc. And then either retype your letter or highlight your
message and go to EditàCopy, and in the New Message with the
correct address, click EditàPaste to paste the old message into the message
box of your new message.
Note: Returned E-mail is almost always related to a mistaken or mistyped address.
Other reasons for returned E-mail are as follows:
12. One or more of your toolbars has disappeared.
In WORD, EXCEL or PowerPoint:
Step 1: Click on View at the top of your screen.
Step 2: Choose Toolbars.
Step
3: Make sure that Standard, Formatting and Drawing all have check
marks next to them. If they don't, then click on
any these, and this will add them to your screen.
*In Internet Explorer, click View and choose either Toolbars (in Explorer), and then choose Standard
Buttons, Address Bar and Links. This should add the appropriate toolbars.
Step 4: A shortcut that allows you to do the same as above is to hover your mouse
pointer over the menu bar and right-click. This will bring up the Toolbar list. Then
click on the type of toolbar you want.