Basic Troubleshooting Techniques

Simple solutions to common problems

Most of the time, problems can be fixed using simple troubleshooting techniques,
like closing and reopening the program. It's important to try these simple solutions before
resorting to more extreme measures. If the problem still isn't fixed, you can try other
troubleshooting techniques.
1. Problem: Power button will not start computer

Solution 1: If your computer does not start, begin by checking the power cord to
confirm that it is plugged securely into the back of the computer case and the power outlet.

Solution 2: If it is plugged into an outlet, make sure it is a working outlet. To check

your outlet, you can plug in anotherelectrical device, such as a lamp or cellphone, and see if it
receives electricity properly.

Solution 3: If the computer is plugged into a surge protector, verify that it is turned on.
You may have to reset the surge protector by turning it off and then back on. You can also plug a
lamp or other device into the surge protector to verify that it is on.

Solution 4: If you are using a laptop, the battery may not be charged. Plug the AC
adapter into the wall, then try to turn on the laptop. If it still doesn't start up, you may need to
wait a few minutes and try again.

2. Problem: An application is running slowly

Solution 1: Close and reopen the application.

Solution 2: Update the application. To do this, click the Help menu and look for an
option to check for Updates. If you don't find this option, another idea is to run an online search
for application updates.

3. Problem: An application is frozen

Sometimes an application may become stuck, or frozen. When this happens, you won't be able
to close the window or click any buttons within the application.

Solution 1: Force quit the application. On a PC, you can press (and
hold) Ctrl+Alt+Delete (the Control, Alt, and Delete keys) on your keyboard to open the Task
Manager.

Solution 2: Restart the computer. If you are

application, restarting your computer will close all open apps.

unable

to

force

quit

an

4. Problem: All programs on the computer run slowly

Solution 1: Run your virus scanner. You may have malware running in the background
that is slowing things down.

Solution 2: Your computer may be running out of hard drive space. Try deleting any
files or programs you don't need.

Solution 3: If you're using a PC, you can run Disk Defragmenter (called Optimize
Drives in Windows 8). Doing so will make sure all pieces of each file or program are stored
close together in your computer, so the computer will be able to access them more quickly. In
most versions of Windows, the Disk Defragmenter can be found in the Start menu. In Windows
8, you can find it by typing defragment from the Start screen.

To learn more about Disk Defragmenter, check out our lesson on Comp`uter Safety and
Maintenance.

5. Problem: The computer is frozen

Sometimes your computer may become completely unresponsive, or frozen. When this happens,
you won't be able to click anywhere on the screen, open or close applications, or access shutdown options.

Solution 1 (Windows only): Restart Windows Explorer. To do this, press and

hold Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your keyboard to open the Task Manager. Next, locate and
select Windows Explorer from the Processes tab and click Restart. If you're using Windows 8,
you may need to click More Details at the bottom of the window to see the Processes tab.

Solution 3: Press and hold the Power button. The Power button is usually located on the
front or side of the computer, typically indicated by the power symbol
Power button for 5-10 seconds to force the computer to shut down.

. Press and hold the

Solution 4: If the computer still won't shut down, you can unplug the power cable from
the electrical outlet. If you're using a laptop, you may be able to remove the battery to force the
computer to turn off. Note: This solution should be yourlast resort after trying the other
suggestions above.

6. Problem: The mouse or keyboard has stopped working

Solution 1: If you're using a wired mouse or keyboard, make sure it's correctly plugged
into the computer.

Solution 2: If you're using a wireless mouse or keyboard, make sure it's turned on and
that its batteries are charged.

7. Problem: The sound isn't working

Solution 1: Check the volume level. Click the audio button in the top-right or bottomright corner of the screen to make sure the sound is turned on and that the volume is up.

Solution 2: Check the audio player controls. Many audio and video players will have
their own separate audio controls. Make sure the sound is turned on and that the volume is
turned up in the player.

Solution 3: Check the cables. Make sure external speakers are plugged in, turned on, and
connected to the correct audio port or a USB port. If your computer has color-coded ports, the
audio output port will usually be green.

Solution 4: Connect headphones to the computer, and see if you can hear sound from the
headphones.

8. Problem: The screen is blank

Solution 1: The computer may be in Sleep mode. Click the mouse or press any key on
the keyboard to wake it.

Solution 2: Make sure the monitor is plugged in and turned on.

Solution 3: Make sure the computer is plugged in and turned on.

Solution 4: If you're using a desktop, make sure the monitor cable is properly connected
to the computer tower and the monitor.

9. Can't start your computer? Check the basics.

1

Examine the cables, connectors, and power cords to make sure they're plugged in securely.
Often times a loose cable or connector (power, network, keyboard, mouse, speaker, monitor
cable, etc.) is the cause of the problem.

If you're using a power strip or a surge protector, make sure it's on and that it works. Remember
that a surge protector may not be working because it is designed to self-destruct. When an
electric jolt is too much, your surge protector takes the hit saving your more expensive hardware
from the voltage.

Try plugging something else directly into the electrical outlet to make sure there isn't a power
problem.

Check to see if your monitor is on. Sounds silly, but it has solved my own problem more than
once.

10. Cant get on to the network, Internet, SIS?

1

Check to see if anyone else around you is having a similar problem. If so, there may be a service
network outage affecting a wider area than just you.

Check to make sure the network cable is connected to both the computer and the wall jack.

Are you using the appropriate username and password?

Check where the network cable connection is made to the back of the computer, you should see
a little green light right where the cable connects. If the light isnt on or flashing, then you are
not getting a signal to the computer. If rebooting doesnt fix it, contact the Tech Coord.

If you are using a wireless computer/laptop, check to make sure the wireless is turned on.
There should be a blue light indicating the wireless is on, or you can look at the small icons at
the bottom in the task bar and see if a wireless network is connected.
13. Think about what changed recently on your computer.
Try to pinpoint when the trouble first started. Did the problem coincide with any recent changes?

a. Did you change any settings that you are allowed to change? If you did you might want to
change them back the way they were.
b. Any peripherals or software been added or removed recently?
c. Has anyone else been using your computer recently?
d. Have downloaded anything off the Web? Could have gotten spyware or virus.
14. The computer is on but
1

Everything on the screen is frozen and the keyboard and mouse are not responding.
Try tapping on the Num Lock key. Its located on the right-hand side of the keyboard above the
number 7. While tapping the Num Lock key, notice whether or not the Num Lock light goes on
and off. If it doesnt, the computer is completely locked up. Youll have to REBOOT the
computer. If the light does go off and on, wait a minute before giving up hope. It may come
back to life on its own.

Pressing Alt + F4

If a software program stops working or freezes up, try pressing the ALT+F4 keys to close the
window that youre currently working in. This can shut down a frozen window and bring the
computer back to life. If the keyboard is frozen as well, youll have to reboot.
3

The Blue Screen has appeared.

The dreaded Blue Screen of Death. Theres not a lot to be done except to reboot the machine.
If it keeps occurring, this is an indication of a major problem with the computer. You will need
to contact the Tech Coord.

The computer is on, but there is no sound.

Is there a speaker icon next to the clock on the taskbar? (Its in the lower right side of the screen)
If you can find it, double click the speaker icon to bring up the audio controls for the computer.
See if any of the volume controls have been muted or turned all the way down. Uncheck any
Mute boxes that are selected.

The computer is on, but the keyboard doesnt work

Swap the keyboard or try plugging the keyboard into another computer you will need to reboot
if you do this. If it doesn't work on the other computer, there is likely something wrong with the
keyboard. If it does work on the other computer, there is likely something wrong on the
computer or the connection to the computer.

CTRL-ALT-DEL
When you press the Ctrl-Alt-Delete buttons together, you will bring up a control panel where
you can select Task Manager and see if any of the programs are shown as not responding.
You may be able to shut down the offending program from there. If you cant get to this screen,
youll have to reboot.

15. Printer Problems.

If your printer is not printing correctly, turn the printer off then turn the computer off. Wait 15
seconds, turn the printer back on and then turn the computer on.
Make sure if you have a shared printer in your room, that the print monitor computer that runs
the printer is on and logged into.
Does your printer have paper in the paper tray?
Are there any error lights flashing that indicate paper jam or low toner?
Check your computer and make sure the correct printer is selected to print to. Go under control
panel printers/hardware view installed printers. The check mark is the one selected. You can
also click on the printer icon and see if it has other jobs to print or if it has been paused.

16. Solving more difficult problems

If you still haven't found a solution to your problem, you may need to ask someone else for help.
Try searching the Web for the problem you're having because other users may have had similar
problems. Also, if you have a friend or family member who knows a lot about computers, they
may be able to help you.

Keep in mind that most computer problems have simple solutions, although it may take some
time to find them. For difficult problems, a more drastic solution may be required, such as
reformatting your hard drive, reinstalling programs, or reinstalling your operating system. If
you're not a computer expert, it's possible that you could make the situation worse, so it's best
toconsult a professional if you believe a drastic solution is needed.

17. Non-system disk or disk error at boot

Remove any floppy disks, CD/DVD discs and USB memory sticks or external hard
drives and try booting up again.

If you can hear a repeated scraping or clunking noise, power off the computer as soon as

possible, as there may be a physical problem with the hard disk and you may lose data.
Challenge!

What do you do if a program on a PC is completely unresponsive? What about a

program on a Mac?
What should you do if you've tried everything and the problem still isn't fixed?
Do you have a family member or friend who knows a lot about computers and would be
able to help you with a computer problem?