Basic Troubleshooting of your computer

You don't need a fully equipped computer repair shop!

Why? Because it is an art, it is not an exact science.

Some experts will say that to troubleshoot a problem (the IT people call it an issue) you have to have the education, training, and experience in the profession.

Ummmm, no I don't think so.

You can recognize a problem with your car, you air conditioning, the wife's washing machine, etc. You can tell if the impeller in the washing machine isn't turning, if it isn't turning it isn't agitating the clothes to clean them. So there is a problem between the motor and/or the impeller. You call an expert in washing machine repair and they fix it.

Troubleshooting, you go through your day and do it all the time, troubleshooting is just problem resolving. The difference is that the problem resolving is with electronic/mechanical items not humans.

Basic Troubleshooting (TS) is like a tree, at the top is the problem, each branch has a yes or  a no. Yes will take you in one direction, a no will take you in another.

So you need a few tools in that TS (IT) tool box.

Where to begin?

Basic Troubleshooting techniques:

Before going off to find the bad part, think for a minute, did you change anything on the computer? Software? Hardware? If not then proceed. If you changed something try to put it back the way it was then if the problem persists proceed.

Well first there is common sense, then there is the logical sequence, then there is the actual dang! I figured it out! So follow the sequence of TS down the tree.

So common sense stuff:

The first question is: Did you change anything since the last time it was running?

No - go to power problems.

Yes - go to installing devices.

Power problems:

Is there power to the receptacle that the computer uses?

Is the computer plugged in? Both the receptacle and the computer power supply, remember that the power cord is removable from the computer.

We have power, did it start?

Yes - Done!

No - go to other problems

Installing devices, have you installed any new hardware?

Yes -  go to installing new hardware.

No -  go to power supply Troubleshooting

Other problems:

The 5 Steps to high quality and cheap DIY Computer Repairs Get It Today...

No Start - Blank or Blue Screen

Or maybe you get the dreaded Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD) using Basic Troubleshooting  this is a diagnostic screen that Microsoft uses to tell you the general area of the problem that cause your computer to not start or crash.

BSOD - Non System Disk Error

Or you see this "non system disk error" this could be a hard drive failure, a corrupt hard drive, or a virus infecting the hard drive.

HD failure - Problems inherent to hard drives, a SSD is immune to some of these.

These are the main problems you will run into, there are others that are caused by installing hardware or software. So with some common sense, a little logic, and a step by step sequence of events you can fix that computer!

Down load this Free Computer Repairs Eight Part Checklist save it to your hard drive, print it out when you do your repair. Send your friends here for their copy!

XP /Vista / Win 7 / 8 / 10  Registry problems - Unfortunately there isn't a realable registy editor for Win 7 / 8 /10 at this time. I wish I could find one for you...

If you have a piece of hardware and can not find a driver for it try this resource:

NoDevice.com - Windows Drivers available for direct download. Featuring instant driver request.