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PC Repair
Computer Repair
Computers... We love 'em and love to hate 'em. But before you buy that
new computer you may only need some tweaks/fixes/upgrades to your current
PC. If you are in the Parker, Colorado area, I can help you. If you are
outside that area, please use this site as a resource. I've assembled
loads of articles, links and resources for you to use.
One of these sections within this site may help you.
Related articles:
Basic Diagnosis Guidelines for Your PC
by: Priyanka Agarwal
Simone is exasperated. She has to work on her university assignment but
her PC is not working properly. For example, she would like to open a
single Internet Explorer window but a whole series of windows are opening
up. Simone is not alone when it comes to this sort of problem. As a matter
of fact, most of us will come across these kinds of problems in our life.
When you fall sick you go to a doctor and he/she asks you a couple of
questions as well as taking a look at your case history before giving
any medication to you. In a similar way you have to find out what’s
wrong with your PC before treating it, if it’s working in an abnormal
manner. This article will help you in finding out what’s troubling
your PC.
The first symptom that shows us your PC has got a problem is an error
message. For example, you get a pop-up box on your screen, a Windows message,
asking you to send an error report and says the application will be closed.
Error messages just tell you that something is wrong so you can then work
at getting to the cause of the problem. When you get an error message,
try to analyze the situation with respect to what you were doing when
you received it. Write down the error code. At times, error messages can
be very confusing. For example, you want to open a file but it’s
saying some other application is using that specific file. If you do get
error messages like this, then it is time to question some of your recent
activities such as:
* Did you install any software or hardware recently?
* Did you install anything from the Internet?
If you have installed some software and after this your PC has become
unstable, by using System Restore you can remove any system changes that
were made after the last time your PC was working properly. It automatically
creates restore points (or system checkpoints) when you make a change
to the system. If your PC has become unstable after you made some changes,
open System Restore, choose a restore point, and return your computer
to its previous stable state.
To use the System Restore utility:
1. Click Start
2. Point your cursor to Programs.
3. Point to Accessories
4. Point to System Tools
5. Click System Restore and follow the instruction on the wizard.
If the error messages or the recent history of your PC doesn’t provide
much information to you, you have to explore your PC in some of the following
ways:
1. Scan you system for viruses, Trojan horses, spyware or other malware.
2. Use a Process Explorer (freeware program) tool. Windows Task Manager
shows which processes and files are currently being used and how much
memory they are using, but some process names aren’t clear. Process
Explorer not only gives all this information to you but also tells you
which application started a process and which resources that particular
application is currently using. It also has a potent search capability
that quickly shows which processes have particular handles opened or DLLs
loaded so that you can close any unwanted applications. Process Explorer
works on Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Server
2003, and 64-bit versions of Windows for x64 processors.
3. Go through the error log file created by Dr Watson. Dr. Watson is a
program that is used to help detect, debug, and log errors that are encountered
while Windows or Windows programs are running. It automatically creates
a text file when an error is detected. When running Windows 2000, the
error is logged under the file "drwtsn32.log" or "user.dmp",
and when running Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or ME the file is logged with
a .WLG file extension and stored under the \Windows\Drwatson or \Documents
and Settings\All Users\Documents\DrWatson folder.
4. If you are having a networking-related problem you can use a Network
Diagnostics system utility tool. You can run various tests using this
so that it can collect different types of information. It scans your system
to see whether you have network connectivity, and whether or not your
network-related programs and services are running.
By going through these basic procedures, hopefully, you will find out
what’s troubling your PC and, once that is known, you can commence
treatment.
A lot of Beepen and Tooten, But No Booten?
By: Stephen Bucaro
You start your computer and all you get is a blank screen and some beeping
noise. You panic because you think you have some very serious computer
problems. Actually, your concerns are justified. The reason your computer
is beeping is because it has a serious problem that prevents it from communicating
via its standard output, the screen. But don't lose hope, here are some
troubleshooting steps you can take.
The beeps coming from your computer are most likely not coming from your
sound board or on-board sound circuitry. They are coming from a tiny PC
speaker mounted inside the computer case for the specific purpose of communicating
with humans when it can't communicate via the screen.
You may have noticed that every time you start your computer the beeps
come in the same pattern. They are not random beeps. The computer is sending
a special beep code. Beep codes are programmed into the computers BIOS
(Basic Input Output System). Unfortunately, there is no standard for beep
codes. Each BIOS manufacturer has their own patterns. They are not even
standard by manufacturer. They vary by the BIOS version, the motherboard,
and computer manufacturer.
Your first step is to look in the information that came with your computer
for the meaning of beep codes or for the identity of your BIOS. If you
didn't get that information, try to find it at the web site of the manufacturer
of your computer. If you can't find it there, you'll need to open the
case of your computer and read the manufacturer's name and BIOS version
off the BIOS chip.
Although there are thousands of different computer and motherboard manufacturers,
fortunately, there are only a few BIOS manufacturers. Below is a list
of the major BIOS manufacturers’ websites.
AMI (American Megatrends, Inc.) www.megatrends.com;
Phoenix Technologies, www.ptltd.com;
IBM, www.us.pc.ibm.com.
If you can't find useful information about your computer's beep codes
at the computer manufacturer's or BIOS manufacturer's web site, you'll
need to troubleshoot by process of elimination.
A single beep when your computer starts is not an error. It's to test
the PC speaker. If you don't hear a single beep, either your computer's
power supply, motherboard, or PC speaker is bad.
It's unlikely that you have a bad keyboard, but a bad keyboard can cause
a computer to emit beep codes, and changing out the keyboard is cheap
and easy.
Open your the case of your computer and perform a close inspection of
the motherboard with a magnifying glass. It's unlikely, but possible that
something like a staple has been sucked into the case and is causing a
short.
A common cause of beep codes is a problem with RAM. Make sure the memory
modules are installed correctly by gently, but firmly, pushing down on
each module. If that doesn't fix it, remove all but one memory module.
Usually a single memory module must be installed in the first bank. If
that doesn't fix it, swap out that module with the next one. You may need
to identify the type of memory your computer uses and try a brand new
memory module.
The reason your computer is emitting beep codes may be because the video
circuitry is bad. If your motherboard has on-board video, try disabling
it and installing a video adapter card. If your computer uses a video
adapter card, try replacing it or removing it and enabling on-board video.
If that doesn't fix the problem, try removing any expansion cards, except
the video adapter card, and disabling any I/O circuitry such as USB ports.
If that doesn't work, try replacing the power supply.
If your computer still has a blank screen and is emitting beep codes,
the only possibility left is a bad component on the motherboard. It could
be a CPU failure, but replacing the CPU is usually expensive - if the
type your motherboard uses is still available.
Replacing a motherboard involves almost totally disassembling the computer
and may require reinstalling and/or reactivating the operating system
and replacing some drivers. Hopefully, you will find information about
the meaning of the beep codes and they will indicate a problem easier
to fix than replacing the motherboard.
Copyright(C) 2005 Bucaro TecHelp.
Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute,
use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product
for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and
the resource box below is included.
About The Author
Copyright(C) 2005 Bucaro TecHelp.
To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to
design a Web site and make money on the Web visit
bucarotechelp.com
To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp
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