Printer won't print
Scanner won't scan
Mouse not mousing well
Mouse not mousing at all
Keyboard not keyboarding
Computer takes a long time to start up or you have low resources
Computer won't shut down
How to get help - where to look
A good cleanout - often fixes everything
Everything is all screwed up - sure way to unscrew it
Installing - reinstalling drivers
Check to see if it is plugged in - at the wall, the surge protector (if you have one) and the back of the computer.
Plug something else in the wall outlet to see if there is power there.
Check the plugs to see if they are bent - not making good contact in the sockets.
Listen to the computer. It might be on and the trouble is with the monitor.
If the computer is on but the screen is blank, check to see if the monitor is turned on - all plugs are securely plugged in. If all is on, check the settings on the monitor - contrast, brightness
Checked all AC plugs from the wall to the printer and anything in between.
Check the cord from the computer to the printer. Jiggle the connectors gently to see if they are firmly seated.
Is there paper in the printer? If so, is it feeding properly?
Is there any paper jammed in the printer?
Are the ink cartridges empty?
Turn the printer off and shut down the computer. Re-boot and turn the printer on. Try the printer again.
Click "Start" - "Settings" - "Printers". Click on your printer and make sure that it is the Default Printer. (XP - Click "Start" - "Control Panel" - "Printers and Faxes")
In Printer Settings, make sure that there is not already a printing job in progress that shows an error.
Test your printer communications. If you don't know how, check the documentation that came with your printer or, in the programs menu (click "Start" - "Programs" then your printer software listing), there should be a "Help" or "Read Me" listing. Re-install your printer software. Go to the printer manufacture's homepage and download the printer driver (little program that makes it work) for your printer. You can probably find their site by typing "www.(name of company).com" in your browser's address field. If not, find the homepage by typing the name of your printer in your browser's search field and look for the company's homepage. Look around in the site and you will find the driver for your specific printer and your operating system (Windows 95/98/XP, etc.). Download and install the driver. Restart your computer and try the printer again. You will probably need "Winzip" to unzip and install the driver. Get it at "www.winzip.com". Download the evaluation copy for this (it will work) but if you think you will need Winzip in the future (if you download a lot of things) you should pay for it.
Make sure that whatever you are scanning is inserted properly (right side up, etc.).
Often, the scanner is working but is putting the scan where you can't find it. Check your documentation to see how to set it to put your scans where you can find them
Right-click the "My Computer" icon your Desktop. In the menu that appears choose "Properties". Look in the "Device Manager" for "Mouse". (XP - open Device Manager by hitting the Winows key - the one with the win flag on it - and the Break key together) If there is a yellow exclamation point beside it you will probably have to re-install the mouse driver (see www.oocities.org/johnniemccoy/drivers.html for driver installation or reinstallation for all peripharals)
If you have recently installed or re-installed hardware, especially a scanner, you may have an IRQ conflict (we are not going into that here - email me for this one)
Take it apart and wash it with mild soap and water...really. Do not wash anything that looks electronic (there's hardly anything in there like that). Make sure it's good and dry before putting it back together.
Buy a new keyboard...they're cheap
In the "Open" field type "msconfig" and click "OK".
The utility that opens will have "Tabs" at the top. Click the one that reads "Startup".
You will see a list of all the programs that run when you start Windows. They will have check marks in the boxes to their left. We do not want them all to start.
Remove all the check marks (by clicking on them) except the ones beside "SystemTray" - "ScanRegistry" - "LoadPowerProfile" and "Task Monitor." Also leave a check mark in anything that has the name of, or abbreviation of, your antivirus program or anything that looks like it might apply to "Norton" products.
Click "OK" at the bottom. You will be asked if you want to re-start your computer - do it. If, in the future, you notice things that you are used to loading when you boot up, but aren't - and that you want to load - then go back and check their boxes
Uninstall every program that you don't use very often (never! ever! delete a program). Goto: "Start" then "Settings" then "Control Panel" and choose "Add/Remove Programs. Uninstall them from there. When you have finished, restart your machine.
Delete all your Temporary Internet Files. Right Click on the Internet Explore icon on your desktop. In the menu that appears choose "Properites." The "Internet Properties" box will appear - In the "Temporary Internet Files" section, click "Delete Cookies." When it finishes deleting the cookies, click "Delete Files." - a smaller box will appear, in it, put a check mark in "Delete all Offline Content" and click "OK." The pointer will turn into an hourglass - when it finishes it will turn back into a pointer and you can click "OK" and the bottom.
Now goto: "Start" then "Find" then "Files or Folders." When the "Find: All files" window opens, make sure that "C" or "Local Drive" (you get the idea) appears in the "Look in" field. In the "Named" field, type "*.tmp" - that's an asterisk - a dot - and the characters t m p. Click "Find Now." When it has finished searching, go to the top-left of the screen and click "Edit." In the menu that appears choose "Select All." All the files will turn blue. Right click them and delete them.
Scroll back up this page and do what it says under "COMPUTER TAKES A LONG TIME TO START." This fixes a world of problems.
Start your computer and just start tapping the F8 key. Eventually you will see a black screen with some old-style white print on it (just like the old days before windows). It will say "Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu" at the top. Using the "down arrow" on your keyboard, choose number 5 which is "Command prompt only." and hit "Enter." It will display the C prompt. After "C:\>" type "scanreg /restore" (there is a space between scanreg and /restore) and hit "enter.". The "Microsoft Registry Checker" will open. You will see some dates with the word "Started" beside them. Use the down-arrow to choose the latest one. If the word "Restore" is not highlighted, use the "TAb" key to highlight it. Now hit "Enter." and just do anything it tells you to do. When all is finished your computer should reboot and work the way it did on the date you chose.
Go to "www.paltalk.com". Download and install the Paltalk program. Paltalk is a voice chat program. You will need a microphone (about $15) to use it effectively although you can type just like any chat rooom if you don't have a mic. When you have it installed, go to the PC help rooms and you will find many people there who are anxious to help.
Try using your browser to find the homepages of the manufacturers of your computer or peripherals (just type the name of the stuff you're having trouble with) and check their "Customer Support links" for information and troubleshooting.
TrevTech Internet Information Specialist
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