Diagnosing a Computer Problem

Defining the problem

It is important to understand what is wrong with your computer. Once you know what the problem is, there are some simple things you can check to figure out what's gone wrong and possibly fix it yourself, or at least save yourself time on the phone with tech support when you try to explain the problem to them over the phone.

Ask yourself a few questions:
- Does the monitor go on when I turn on the computer?
- Does the computer turn on but run slowly?
- Do your browser settings seem to have changed by themselves?

Run some diagnostic tests

There are some basic things you can check on your own without any special training.

- As simple as this sounds, make sure to check that everything is plugged in correctly. Even when the power cord is initially plugged in correctly, it can loosen without anyone noticing.
- Can you hear the computer humming, even if the monitor is black?
- Hold down the "Ctrl, Alt, Del" buttons together to open the Task Manager. Take a look at the open programs and see if there are any running that you aren't using.
- Check if your anti-virus program is up to date.

Test some changes

See if the following things help with the problems you've been experiencing. Even if they do not solve the problem, you'll have more information to give the tech support person and you'll save yourself a lot of time on the phone.

- If everything is plugged in correctly, then check the contrast and brightness settings on the monitor.
- Close any programs in the Task Manager that you are not using to see if it speeds up the computer.
- Click "Run", type msconfig and click "OK". Click the startup tab. Uncheck all the programs you closed in the previous step.
- Update your anti-virus program and run a complete scan of your system. Just having an anti-virus program installed isn't enough, it needs to run regularly, so make sure to set this up in the program scheduler.
- Delete all the files in your Recycle Bin.
- Click "Start" -> "Programs" -> "Accessories" -> "System Tools" -> "Disk Defragmenter" and run the program. This should optimize your system and make it run faster.
- Click -> "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Control Panel". Uninstall any programs you no longer use. When you are finished, restart your machine.
- Open Internet Explorer. Click on "Tools" -> "Internet Options". Go to Temporary Internet Files and click "Delete Cookies". Then click "Delete Files" and then choose "Delete all Offline Content", and click OK. Click OK again and close the options box.