Whoops, your PC just died. What happened? And how do you fix it? Here's my rundown of 10 common mistakes that seem embarrassingly obvious--but cause more havoc than you'd expect. If you're an expert, save this list for the next time someone calls for help. Everyone else: Make it your first stop on the troubleshooting trail.
It's amazing how many friends I have--at least when they are having computer problems. People I haven't talked to since high school have, on more than one occasion, called or sent an e-mail asking for help when their computer stops working properly.
I try to help as many of these people as my patience--which is limited and becomes more so with every call--allows. Recently, after a spate of problems caused by the most obvious (to "real" computer people, anyway) of causes, I put together a list of questions that I sometimes forget to ask because I wrongly assume that anyone would have checked these things before calling.
So here's my list of idiotic mistakes, some of which, I have to admit, I've made myself:
1. Is the computer plugged in? This sounds simple enough, but you'd be amazed how often a power cord is the source of the trouble. Show me a stone-cold dead PC and I'll find a loose power cord, usually at the computer end. Alternately: The power strip/surge protector has somehow been switched off.
2. Are you looking at the right cord? The corollary to the first item: If the computer starts but the monitor doesn't, guess which power cord it is? That, or it's the monitor cable if the monitor turns on but there is no picture.
3. Plug and replug. And if the network, modem, keyboard, or mouse is on the fritz...see where I am headed here? Until proven otherwise, it is always a cable problem. Turn everything off and unplug and replug all the cords and cables, and many problems will amazingly work themselves out.
4. Have you checked your PC cards? Likewise, check to see if a cable has somehow wiggled one of the add-on cards out of its socket. If any of the cables attached to your PC want to wiggle around despite being firmly screwed in, this is likely your problem. You'll have to open the computer to fix this one.
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