Welcome to Computer

Troubleshooting in Tonopah!

Pavan Kumar soni

 Our Mission:
– Provide you with some basic troubleshooting
skills.
– Provide knowledge of troubleshooting
resources.
– Provide confidence in your ability to work with
computer hardware and software problems.
– Have fun doing it.
 When We’re Finished:
• You should be able to solve simple
computer problems yourself.
• You should be able to communicate
effectively with a technician when you need
help.
• You won’t be able to quit your teaching job
and become a full time geek.
 Overview
• Troubleshooting methodology
• Hardware basics
• Software basics
• Printing basics
• Networking basics
• Buying computers
Troubleshooting Methodology
 Get in the Right Frame of Mind
• Relax
– Murphy’s law
• Do no harm
– Make a backup
– Make sure you can undo your work
 Try a Quick Fix
• Eliminate user error
– Make sure you are following the correct
procedures
– Make sure the results really are an error
• Check the inventory - make sure
everything is plugged in and turned on
• Turn everything off and back on again
(after you have saved your information)
Use the Scientific Method
Identify the Gather Propose
problem Information Solution

No

Problem Test
Solved? Solution

Yes

Document
Solution
 Identify the Problem
• Describe symptoms as completely and
accurately as possible.
– Date, time.
– Scope of problem.
– What you were doing when problem occurred.
 Gather Information
• Is the problem
reproducible?
• Recent changes
• Current configuration
• Assemble resources
 Troubleshooting Resources
• Plan ahead.
– Get copies of software, etc.
– Find vendor sites for your hardware/software
– Find internet support communities
 Propose a Solution
• Easiest solutions
• Most likely solutions
• Use a strategy:
– Process of elimination
– Divide and conquer
 Test the Solution
• Test only one thing at a time!
 Problem Solved?
• Yes
– Congratulate yourself
– Document the solution
• No
– Undo the solution
– Gather more information
– Propose and test another solution
 Methodology Summary
• Get in the right frame of mind
• Try a quick fix
• Use the scientific method
• Use your Internet resources
• Use the right strategy
 Initiation!
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the secret
world of troubleshooting.
 Hardware Troubleshooting
Objectives
• Recognize the main
components and
understand their basic
function.
• Understand that there are
different types of
components.
• Get familiar with how the
components are installed.
• Understand common
hardware problems.
 Safety Note
• Protect yourself
– Power off
– “One hand rule”
– Don’t open a monitor
• Protect the equipment
– Power off
– Grounding strap
 Take It Apart
• Motherboard overview
• Hard drive/CD/DVD
• NIC/expansion cards
• Memory

Put It Back Together

 Software Objectives

• Be able to use basic operating system utilities to

monitor system functions and identify software
related problems.
• Be able to install a desktop operating system and
perform basic configuration functions.
• Be able to obtain and install software updates
and patches.
 Agenda
• Finish Software
– Troubleshooting tips/drivers
– Install software in lab
• Networking Overview
• Printing
• Computer purchasing?
 Review
• What’s the first step in troubleshooting?
 Software Problems
• Isolate the problem
– Document
– Application
– Operating system
 Document Problems
• Try opening a backup copy
• Try opening on another machine
• Try opening with a different version of the
program
 Application Programs
• Try another document
• Uninstall any new items
• Apply vendor updates
 Operating System
• Try a different application
• Check disk drive space
– Use scan disk and defrag for maintenance
• Try a Windows troubleshooting wizard
• Apply vendor updates
 Let’s Install Software
• Install Windows
– Work with drivers as required
• Find Windows update
• Download and install Adobe Acrobat
• Uninstall Adobe Acrobat
 Printing Objectives

• Be able to properly
connect a printer.
• Be able to install print
driver software.
• Be able to access and
understand the windows
tools used for print
troubleshooting.
• Be able to perform basic
troubleshooting of network
printing.
 Printing Basics
• Install a new printer
– Get correct cable and driver
• Troubleshoot printing
– Start at printer and use process of elimination.
• Network printing
– Things to look for
 Network Objectives
• Identify and solve basic
networking problems.
• Differentiate between problems
with a single machine and the
entire network.
• Identify the reasons for
common internet error
messages.
• Find and use windows utilities
helpful in identifying network
problems.
 Common Network Problems
• Internet Problems
– Bad URL
– Server down
– Missing or old plug-in
• Network Problems
– Cable
– Software/client
– Server
 Buying a Computer

• Name brand, but:

– HP, Compaq
• Mid-range are best buys
• Exceptions are:
– Graphic arts
– Video production