How to Troubleshoot Somthing You Dont Know

Lesson xix: Basic Troubleshooting Techniques

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Troubleshooting

Do yous know what to do if your screen goes blank? What if yous can't seem to close an application, or can't hear any audio from your speakers? Whenever y'all have a problem with your computer, don't panic! There are many basic troubleshooting techniques you can use to prepare issues like this. In this lesson, we'll show you some simple things to effort when troubleshooting, as well equally how to solve common problems y'all may run into.

Full general tips to keep in mind

In that location are many unlike things that could cause a trouble with your calculator. No matter what'southward causing the issue, troubleshooting volition always be a process of trial and error—in some cases, you may need to use several different approaches earlier you tin can find a solution; other problems may be piece of cake to fix. We recommend starting past using the following tips.

Write down your steps: Once yous start troubleshooting, you may want to write downwards each stride you have. This way, you'll be able to remember exactly what you've washed and can avoid repeating the same mistakes. If yous end up asking other people for help, information technology volition be much easier if they know exactly what yous've tried already.
Take notes about error messages: If your computer gives you an mistake message, exist sure to write down as much information as possible. You may exist able to utilize this information later to find out if other people are having the aforementioned mistake.
Always check the cables: If you're having trouble with a specific piece of computer hardware, such as your monitor or keyboard, an piece of cake start step is to cheque all related cables to make sure they're properly connected.
Restart the reckoner: When all else fails, restarting the computer is a proficient thing to effort. This can solve a lot of basic issues yous may experience with your computer.

Using the process of elimination

If yous're having an issue with your computer, you may be able to find out what's wrong using the process of elimination. This means you'll make a list of things that could be causing the problem and then examination them out i by i to eliminate them. In one case you lot've identified the source of your computer consequence, information technology will be easier to find a solution.

Scenario:

Let's say yous're trying to print out invitations for a birthday political party, only the printer won't print. You have some ideas nigh what could exist causing this, so yous go through them 1 by one to see if you can eliminate whatever possible causes.

Offset, y'all check the printer to see that it's turned on and plugged in to the surge protector. It is, so that's non the issue. Next, you cheque to make certain the printer's ink cartridge nevertheless has ink and that at that place is newspaper loaded in the paper tray. Things expect skilful in both cases, so y'all know the result has nothing to do with ink or paper.

Now you want to make sure the printer and reckoner are communicating correctly. If you recently downloaded an update to your operating system, it might interfere with the printer. But you know there haven't been any recent updates and the printer was working yesterday, and then you'll take to look elsewhere.

Yous check the printer'due south USB cord and discover that it'southward not plugged in. You must have unplugged it accidentally when yous plugged something else into the computer earlier. Once you plug in the USB string, the printer starts working again. It looks like this printer effect is solved!

This is but one instance of an consequence you might come across while using a computer. In the rest of this lesson, nosotros'll talk about other common calculator issues and some means to solve them.

Uncomplicated solutions to common bug

Near of the time, bug can be stock-still using elementary troubleshooting techniques, like endmost and reopening the program. Information technology'south important to endeavour these unproblematic solutions earlier resorting to more extreme measures. If the problem all the same isn't stock-still, you tin try other troubleshooting techniques.

Problem: Power button will not outset computer

Solution ane: If your estimator does not kickoff, begin by checking the power cord to confirm that information technology is plugged securely into the dorsum of the computer case and the power outlet.
Solution ii: If it is plugged into an outlet, make sure it is a working outlet. To cheque your outlet, you can plug in some other electrical device, such as a lamp.
Solution 3: If the estimator is plugged in to a surge protector, verify that it is turned on. You may have to reset the surge protector by turning information technology off so dorsum on. You tin can also plug a lamp or other device into the surge protector to verify that information technology's working correctly.
Solution 4: If you are using a laptop, the battery may non exist charged. Plug the AC adapter into the wall, and then try to turn on the laptop. If it even so doesn't showtime upwards, you may need to expect a few minutes and try again.

Problem: An awarding is running slowly

Solution ane: Close and reopen the application.
Solution 2: Update the application. To practise this, click the Help carte du jour and look for an choice to bank check for Updates. If you don't notice this option, another idea is to run an online search for application updates.

Trouble: 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 ane: Force quit the awarding. On a PC, yous can press (and hold) Ctrl+Alt+Delete (the Control, Alt, and Delete keys) on your keyboard to open the Task Manager. On a Mac, press and hold Command+Selection+Esc. You lot can then select the unresponsive application and click Stop chore (or Force Quit on a Mac) to close it.
Solution ii: Restart the computer. If you are unable to force quit an application, restarting your computer will shut all open apps.

Trouble: All programs on the computer run slowly

Solution 1: Run a virus scanner. You may have malware running in the background that is slowing things down.
Solution 2: Your computer may be running out of difficult bulldoze space. Try deleting any files or programs you don't need.
Solution three: If you're using a PC, you lot tin run Disk Defragmenter. To acquire more nigh Disk Defragmenter, check out our lesson on Protecting Your Calculator.

Problem: The calculator is frozen

Sometimes your calculator may go completely unresponsive, or frozen. When this happens, yous won't be able to click anywhere on the screen, open or close applications, or admission shut-down options.

Solution 1 (Windows merely): Restart Windows Explorer. To practice this, press and hold Ctrl+Alt+Delete on your keyboard to open the Job Director. Next, locate and select Windows Explorer from the Processes tab and click Restart. You may need to click More Details at the lesser of the window to see the Processes tab.
Solution ii (Mac only): Restart Finder. To practice this, press and hold Command+Option+Esc on your keyboard to open the Force Quit Applications dialog box. Adjacent, locate and select Finder, and then click Relaunch.
Solution 3: Press and agree the Ability push button. The Power push is normally located on the front or side of the computer, typically indicated by the power symbol. Press and hold the Power button for 5 to 10 seconds to force the computer to shut down.
Solution 4: If the calculator still won't close downwardly, you lot can unplug the power cable from the electric outlet. If y'all're using a laptop, y'all may exist able to remove the battery to force the computer to turn off. Note: This solution should be your last resort subsequently trying the other suggestions in a higher place.

Problem: The mouse or keyboard has stopped working

Solution 1: If yous're using a wired mouse or keyboard, brand certain it's correctly plugged into the computer.
Solution 2: If you're using a wireless mouse or keyboard, brand certain it's turned on and that its batteries are charged.

Problem: The audio isn't working

Solution 1: Check the volume level. Click the audio push button in the top-correct or bottom-right corner of the screen to make sure the sound is turned on and that the volume is upward.
Solution 2: Check the audio player controls. Many sound and video players will have their own separate audio controls. Make sure the sound is turned on and that the volume is turned upward in the role player.
Solution three: Check the cables. Make certain external speakers are plugged in, turned on, and connected to the correct audio port or a USB port. If your figurer has color-coded ports, the audio output port will usually be green.
Solution 4: Connect headphones to the reckoner to notice out if you can hear sound through the headphones.

Problem: The screen is blank

Solution one: The estimator may be in Sleep mode. Click the mouse or press any key on the keyboard to wake it.
Solution ii: Make sure the monitor is plugged in and turned on.
Solution three: Make sure the calculator is plugged in and turned on.
Solution iv: If you're using a desktop, make sure the monitor cable is properly continued to the computer tower and the monitor.

Solving more difficult problems

If you nonetheless haven't constitute a solution to your problem, y'all may demand to enquire someone else for help. As an piece of cake starting point, nosotros'd recommend searching the Web. It's possible that other users have had similar problems, and solutions to these issues are often posted online. Also, if yous have a friend or family member who knows a lot nearly computers, they may exist able to help y'all.

Google search of Windows 10

Keep in listen that most calculator problems have unproblematic solutions, although it may take some fourth dimension to find them. For hard problems, a more drastic solution may exist required, similar reformatting your hard drive or reinstalling your operating system. If y'all think you might demand a solution similar this, we recommend consulting a professional get-go. If you're not a computer skilful, it's possible that attempting these solutions could make the situation worse.

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