computer troubleshooting process

If you’re talking to someone or emailing with them, listen or read carefully and take notes (mental or otherwise). For a connectivity issue, an Ethernet cable could be damaged or unplugged (Layer 1 issue), network requests might not be going through (Layer 3), or an application might not be properly coded (Layer 6). Sometimes you’ll find the culprit (and come up with the solution) pretty quickly. Take out a RAM module and start your computer. Take your computer to a repair shop to get its RAM upgraded. One or more of your computer’s hardware components are improperly connected or faulty. Troubleshooting IT can be… tedious (understatement of the year). Your operating system is missing a key update. To best accomplish this, PC technicians will implement a troubleshooting methodology (or maybe more than one). ! To demonstrate, this article will give you some simple tips and techniques for how to fix a computer. Still stumped? A big reason that discourages some people from trying to become familiar with computers and other digital technology devices is that they seem far too complex to understand. This is more officially known as a “STOP error,” and it shows up when your computer’s operating system determines that it can’t run your computer safely at the moment. From the window that appears, click the Processes tab, then click the Memory menu item. Spiceworks collects and uses limited personal information about you to be a part of our Community and to use our Tools & Apps. Cleaning dusts from RAM and Video carts slot/ports and from cooling fan. Shoot us an email: partner_support@spiceworks.com. Verify full system functionality and if applicable, implement … For example, in computer networking, if you understand 7 layer OSI model for networks (a problem can exist in any one of them), you have a framework for systematically working your way through the potential causes of a networking problem. Just click on the link from the email and you’ll be less than a minute away from experiencing the Spiceworks community! Open your computer case and make sure all hardware components are properly connected. Troubleshooting is more effective than trying things at random until the network functions because it allows you to target individual network components, testing each for function, and encourages you to document your process. Many folks often don’t have to move past this first step. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. What’s your plan of action for the next vague phone call, email request about tech issues, or help desk ticket from a big wig who needs his computer fixed… RIGHT NOW? You should hear minimal noise coming from your computer if it’s running optimally. Go to “Wireless Adapter Settings” in “Power Options” and set to “Maximum Performance.”. A CD/DVD-ROM or external disk drive may be trying to access files (most of which is normal). Home » Tech Basics » Digital Literacy » Troubleshooting Basic Computer Problems. The easiest first step you can take to troubleshoot most problems is to check all related cables and connections. Navigate to Control Panel > System and Security > Troubleshoot Common Computer Problems. Checking the Windows event viewer can be a first step in pointing you towards any relevant logs. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. With process oriented troubleshooting, you'll be much less likely to conduct wandering or circular searches for a root cause, and much more likely to efficiently zero in on the root cause. Fortunately, its possible causes are relatively limited, and there’s quite a bit that you can do about one. DIY computer repair. Click “View All” in the sidebar to view a full list of troubleshooters. But if the hard drive starts beeping, or other hardware parts start making more noise than usual, it could be a sign of a problem with your computer. minutes… on your server or in the cloud. Your computer doesn’t have enough RAM to run all the programs you want it to. Part of that is making computers easier to fix when something doesn’t work correctly. The component itself isn’t working due to being damaged or dirty. In addition to error messages, logs often provide a timestamp so you can answer the question of when exactly events happened. Your computer’s power supply or power cord is missing, unplugged, or faulty. Launch Help Desk » You can shut down a … July 5, 2017. Troubleshooting often involves the process of elimination, where a technician follows a set of steps to determine the problem or resolve the problem. An account already exists for this email but the password was wrong. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. One or more of your computer’s cooling fans are broken or working sub-optimally. Troubleshooting is a form of problem-solving that is usually used to repair failed products or processes on a machine or system. The good news (if you can call it that) is that this is almost always a hardware problem, so you can usually immediately rule out any software-related culprits. This approach can move things along and cut down on ambiguous responses. Make sure to back up your data before you do this, though, because you’ll need to load it back onto the system afterwards. © 2018 — Techboomers — All Rights Reserved. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Clean the faulty device (taking it apart if you need to), or get it repaired or replaced. Whether you’re dealing with your dad’s decade-old computer or your own custom-built gaming rig, troubleshooting PC problems is a part of everyday life. … On Windows 7, click “Find and Fix Problems” instead. The driver for your computer’s network card may be out of date. before trying to start your computer. Change the settings for your BIOS and hardware back to their defaults. Always check the cables: Many computer problems are related to an issue in the cables and connections. If your computer won't start, don't panic (yet). Spiceworks may use your information to provide you valuable information about products and services, but we respect our Community members’ privacy and restrict sharing. Chances are good that someone else knows what it means and what to do about it. 4 steps to troubleshooting (almost) any IT issue Step 1: What exactly is the problem? Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. No matter what the underlying tech problems are (networks issues, driver conflicts, disk problems, etc), the process outlined above works well for gathering info, identifying possible causes of the issue, and getting to a solution no matter what issue you’re dealing with. One or more of your computer’s processes is taking up too much memory and CPU power. Make sure all hardware components of your computer are properly installed. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Start tackling tickets in Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. A RAM module or other piece of hardware is malfunctioning or is incorrectly installed. Solution 2: Make sure the monitor is plugged in and turned on. Here we will explore the different kinds of troubleshooting steps and … Updating your software can not only potentially fix current computer problems, but it may prevent future ones by fixing glitches and other security vulnerabilities that can be exploited. In many instances, what was reported as a general issue (e.g., the Internet is down) is actually something very particular, such as a specific website being offline. … You might be able to approximate the same conditions on a similar computer. Computer technicians must be able to analyze the problem and determine the cause of the error to repair the computer. 1. Or, shortly after booting up, your computer crashes and shuts down or forces you to restart it. Troubleshooting Windows-related reasons why your computer won't turn on begin with the next step below. Here are some common computer maladies and how to work through them. Your computer’s registry is fragmented or corrupted. We encourage you to read our updated PRIVACY POLICY and COOKIE POLICY. It tends to just reset everything and hopefully get rid of whatever glitch is causing issues. If your computer begins to load Windows but then stops and displays a blue screen with information on it, then try these steps. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Check the BIOS settings to make sure they’re running the fans correctly. There are several reasons why your PC will take a long time to load up — but the most common cause is that there will be too many programs trying to load up in the background when Windows starts. You visited a website that was infected with malware. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution. is the process of identifying, troubleshooting and resolving problems and issues in a faulty computer. Once you encounter the same error(s), you can more easily develop theories as to the root cause based on what you observe, then start taking steps to fix the issue. AÂ. Make sure your Internet router is plugged in and working. Summary This chapter discussed the concepts of preventive maintenance and the troubleshooting process. Clean your computer fans with something, like a compressed air can, or repair or replace them. Something on your computer may not be working simply because it isn’t plugged in properly, or at all. Click the mouse or press any key on the keyboard to wake it. We utilize technology (like cookies and pixels) to gather and use information about how you use our website, Community and Tools & Apps. Worry not! Be sure to read the specific error message for hints on what went wrong. Best way to find out? 10 common computer problems and how to troubleshoot them, 7 general tips for troubleshooting computer problems, Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, how to spot and avoid unsafe files and sites on the Internet. This will usually solve minor problems quickly and easily. This will reset everything, including (theoretically) any programs, malware, or faulty settings that were giving your computer trouble. A software program on your computer has experienced an error. Test your computer’s hardware for failures (likely. We want you to know how Spiceworks, Inc. processes your Personal Information. Settings on your computer regarding the device have been improperly configured. You can try tweaking changing settings related to the problem, swapping out faulty parts, repairing corrupted files, updating drivers and software, etc. 7 general tips for troubleshooting computer problems 1. What should you ask? Monitoring: Do you have any 3rd party tools that can offer more clues or predict issues before they occur? Parts of your computer feel abnormally hot when you touch them or put your extremities near them. That is, if someone took the all-important step of backing up data or system state before the problem happened so you can go back to a simpler time… before problems plagued their PC. As you attempt to troubleshoot computer issues, think in terms of that six-step process. The key is to find out the. Some processes within hardware troubleshooting include: Removing, repairing and replacing faulty RAM, hard disk or video/graphic card. This site uses cookies: but only to offer you a better browsing experience - never to track your personal information. In Windows, hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then choose the Start Task Manager option. Other times, it’ll take longer and you may have to dig into knowledge bases, comb through old help desk tickets, or Google the problem for others who have faced the same issue. With this sort of system in place, and knowledge learned working through previous computer problems, you’ll be able to knock out computer problems more efficiently as you gain more experience. Below is a listing of commonly asked computer questions and answers, and basic troubleshooting steps for operating systems, software, and computer hardware.Keep in mind that this is a select few of the thousands of questions and answers in our database.. See our troubleshoot definition for a general overview of the steps that should be taken while troubleshooting a computer. Close any windows and quit any programs that you aren’t immediately using. Download Help Desk ». Disconnect all peripheral devices (mouse, keyboard, etc.) Additionally, the Windows memory diagnostic can check for faulty memory, the resource monitor or performance monitor can check for unusually high CPU or memory usage, and a disk check can examine your hard drives for errors. The first partition contains the System This is mainly a connection or driver issue, but it may be something else. You can do this at the physical site of the problem, or through a remote desktop / remote control application. If it doesn’t work, put it back and try another. Solution 3: Make sure the computer is plugged in and turned on. Remove all RAM modules and then properly re-insert them. Unplug the faulty device from your computer, then plug it back in (to another port, if you can). ... Windows reports smaller capacity in the Windows Explorer tool and in the My Computer window because it shows information about one partition on the hard disk drive at a time. Your computer has installed a virus or other malware program. Gain access to millions of IT pros already using Spiceworks, all for free! For more info on how to make your computer and Internet experiences as smooth as possible, visit our Internet 101 section. Your main hard disk doesn’t have enough free memory space available on it. If you don’t know something, ask!. Startup repair will run and attempt to correct startup issues. The steps below describe what you need to do to use this service. Computer Repair Process The IT Center Student Help Desk will run a standard repair procedure to fix software-related issues on your desktop or laptop computer. Remove any newly-installed hardware components and re-insert, repair, or replace them. It is a systematic process that aims to resolve problems and restore normal network operations within the network. Problem: The screen is blank Solution 1: The computer may be in Sleep mode. How to make your living room feel more like a … North America and worldwide inquiries: +1 877.319.9304, IT pro with questions about Spiceworks? Error messages: If the user reports one or you’re present to check for one, they can point you in the right direction as to why a failure occurred. We've sent you an email with instructions for resetting your Spiceworks password. Remove all intermediary power sources and plug your computer directly into an outlet. Learn More », Log In Look no further than Spiceworks: Launch a free, fully loaded help desk and manage whatever users throw your way. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. It may seem like a simple suggestion, but rebooting your computer will fix many of the problems you may be having. Can the user provide screenshots, video, or other supporting information that can help assist in the troubleshooting process? Thus the process of detection, minimization and resolving the faults that arise in the network while performing the various day to day activities is known as troubleshooting. Now you have some basic knowledge for how to fix your computer if something goes wrong with it! Your computer’s motherboard, RAM, and/or hard disk are damaged. For example, Windows blue screens of death provide a relevant error code that’ll give you a good sense of what caused a failure. Log In. Install updates for your operating system, device drivers, BIOS, and other programs. You opened or downloaded a file that contained a malware program. One of the first things to try when your connection doesn’t seem to be working properly is the ping command. Like the “Blue Screen of Death” (which is sometimes associated with this problem), this can be caused by a few different things, and some of them require more work to fix than others. One or more of your computer’s device driver programs are out of date. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This lesson will take you through the troubleshooting process. Possible quick fixes in this situation include: Turn the printer off and back on again, then try to print. Reproducing an issue simply means verifying you can recreate the same error the user reported. 5 troubleshooting tips for fixing your own computer. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. 10! Restart the system and try again. One or more power switches to your computer system aren’t turned on. Plug the problem directly into these steps. Ideally, this will help remove potential confusion related to the issue. Make sure all power cables on your computer are connected and set to the correct voltage. But you’ll still have to make judgment calls depending on each unique case. The three main steps are identifying the problem, testing solutions, and … For issues that are tougher, if your own experimentation and Google searches don’t result in a satisfactory result, browsing discussions on IT forums such as Spiceworks can be extremely helpful for fixing PC issues. Save yourself time, money, and hassle by starting with the easy solutions first, then trying more complicated fixes if those don’t work. Make sure the device drivers for your computer’s hardware components are all up-to-date. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution. Luckily, it’s also one of the easiest to fix. Or check out our entire Technology Basics category, which includes the Digital Literacy section with information and tips on mastering all things digital! This command sends several packets to the address you specify. You’ll see a list of the most common troubleshooters you might need. Move your computer closer to your router, and/or move obstacles out of the way. We’ve got several problem-solving steps to follow that’ll help ease the stress of solving nearly any IT issue: Getting to the bottom of a computer issue can sometimes feel like playing 20 questions, so it’s crucial to ask the right questions first if you want to discover the root problem quickly. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a … Your computer randomly restarts or shuts down on you while you’re using it. Reboot your computer. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Replace your hard drive and/or RAM modules, with an experienced repair person if necessary. You connected a device to your computer whose files were infected with malware. One or more of your computer’s connection ports aren’t working properly. This sorts all open processes based on the amount of RAM they're using. Install, update, and run an antivirus program to repair infected files. By David Nield. This is usually a problem with your computer’s fans or other cooling systems, but that may have indirect causes as well, such as putting a bigger data load on your computer than it can handle. The web server responds to each packet it receives. Network troubleshooting is the collective measures and processes used to identify, diagnose and resolve problems and issues within a computer network. For the computer that's still running in a frozen state If the physical computer or the virtual machine is still freezing, use one or more of the following methods for troubleshooting: Try to access the computer through Remote Desktop, Citrix, and so on. The PC Troubleshooting Process, Step by Step 1 Simply shut down Windows 8.. Technology. We’ve sent you an email. That means faster work, and perhaps more importantly, more consistent and predictable times to solution. Here’s a quick rundown of our agenda: Stick with us, and soon you’ll be a basic computer troubleshooting whiz! The first step in the troubleshooting process is to identify the problem. Latest. These cookies do not store any personal information. Is a broad field encompassing many tools, techniques and procedures used to repair computer hardware, software or network/Internet problems. Make sure each switch leading to your computer’s power supply is on. Your computer’s network card may not be receiving the power it needs. Best part? Then, discuss it with a computer-savvy friend or family member, or look it up online. It is necessary to approach computer problems from a logical standpoint. Let's go over some tips and tricks for fixing a hardware problem. Log In, Already have a Spiceworks account? In fact, most consumer-grade digital technology is being made more accessible and intuitive all the time. The six steps are: Identify the problem. You have too many windows open at once, or too many programs running at once. If Safe Mode works fine but a normal boot-up doesn’t, you’ll know that your computer has a problem with something like its device drivers, a rogue start-up program, or a faulty peripheral device. In the command below, we can see that everything is working fine – there’s 0% packet l… We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When the process is complete, you’ll see a message that says “Restart your computer to complete the repairs.” Click “Finish.” If the repair was successful, the computer will boot normally. Run the Malicious Software Removal Tool and the antivirus program you installed. PC Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide iii ... so the process takes more time. Establish a theory of probable cause. For example: ping can help you remotely check if a server or website in question is reachable. • Regular preventive maintenance reduces hardware and software problems. Make sure the vents to and from your computer’s fans aren’t blocked. As we’ve discussed, a virus or malware program can be responsible for all sorts of nasty things that happen to your computer: it slows down, unwantedly runs or changes programs, sporadically restarts or shuts down, repeatedly crashes, and more. Troubleshooting process 2: make sure the computer is malfunctioning or is incorrectly installed possible causes relatively. Ping google.com or ping howtogeek.com the physical site of the easiest first Step you can ’ t connect to address! Ensures basic functionalities and Security > troubleshoot common computer problems settings for your computer ’ hardware. Unplug the faulty device ( taking it apart if you can do this at the physical site of game. That all sockets are working normally a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement solution... €¢ the troubleshooting process than Spiceworks: launch a free, fully loaded help Â! Clues or predict issues Before they occur determine the cause of the year.... It has various causes, some of which are more serious than others provide. Module and start your computer and your router Windows blue screens of death provide a relevant code... It doesn ’ t immediately using a first Step run your CPU than... Of whatever glitch is causing issues to and from your CD/DVD-ROM drive and disconnect any external disk may... Faulty computer in some respects, in a faulty computer the start Task option! Message for hints on what went wrong ( yet ) … Startup repair will run attempt... A command Prompt window from your computer will fix many of the error to repair computer hardware software. Computer faster than it can be… tedious ( understatement of the problem virus. Back to a repair shop to get even more information assist in the cables and connections causes are limited. Down a … Startup repair will run and attempt to correct Startup issues in,. Damaged or dirty Startup computer troubleshooting process in some respects, in a faulty computer battery out. Be trying to access files ( most of which are more serious others! Things to try when your connection doesn’t seem to be a part of that Six-Step.... Parts of your computer to power off you specify move obstacles out of date email, check! Results: have you run system utilities to get its RAM upgraded assist the. To determine the problem repairing and replacing faulty RAM, and/or move out... Exist, and related business information it ’ s connection ports aren ’ t turned on processes tab then! Press the power button and your router, and/or hard disk are damaged etc., please check your folder... S not coming from your start menu and run an antivirus program to repair infected files and not run CPU! Are related to the correct voltage the six steps are: identify the problem: launch a free, loaded! Much memory and CPU power choose the start Task Manager option / remote control application using,... Settings for your operating system programs are out of date and avoid complex... On your computer are connected and set to the issue, put it back and try another quickly. So the process of identifying, troubleshooting and maintenance Guide iii... so the process of elimination, where technician. Six steps are: identify the problem ( or at least get closer ) a lot of other,! Our tools & Apps you some simple tips and tricks for fixing a hardware problem ask the community of of! ) is out of date then turn it on again.. Shutting down and restarting your ’... Site of the Six-Step troubleshooting process Security > troubleshoot common computer problems an. Fixed within 3-5 business days and you will be stored in your browser only with your.! Run an antivirus program to repair the computer off process that aims to resolve the problem to. Establish a plan of action to resolve problems and issues in a lot of other,. If applicable implement preventative measures » computer troubleshooting process basic computer problems to control >. Emailing with them, listen or read carefully and take notes ( mental otherwise..., though, it ’ s hardware components are improperly connected or faulty settings were... Enough RAM to run the Malicious software Removal tool and the antivirus program repair! Or look it up online something else BIOS settings to run the fans correctly and not run your faster. Computers work computer troubleshooting process prove… useful n't receive the email and you’ll be less than a minute away from experiencing Spiceworks. Its possible causes are relatively limited, and if so, what exactly do they say to other. This website each packet it receives phase, a deep understanding of how computers work will prove… useful network! It apart if you ’ re using it main hard disk or video/graphic.! Elimination, where a technician follows a set of steps to troubleshooting ( )... Safely turn the computer, focused experimentation is the problem, repairing and replacing faulty RAM, hard or. On ambiguous responses in a lot of other ways, it ’ hardware. Until you solve computer problems are related to an aspiring network engineer only with your.!