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These tips and fixes are very basic and only cover very common problems with computers using Win 95/98. Other versions of Windows, like XP, ME, etc., may appear different depending on how you have them setup but the fixes and tips are basically the same.. If you want to print this page - refresh the page and click "OK" when your printer app appears.


COMPUTER DOES NOT START
Push the on/off switch. Sometimes they get dirty or just plain old.
Check to see if it is plugged in at the mains, the surge protector and the back of the computer.
Plug something else in the wall outlet to see if there is power there. any electrical appliances such as fan, iron etc)
Check the plugs to see if they are making good contact with 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 such as contrast, brightness

PRINTER DOES NOT PRINT
Is it turned on? If so, turn it off then back on.
Checked all AC plugs from the wall to the printer and anything in between.
Check the cord from the computer to the printer. gently move the connectors 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 by pressing and holding down paper feed button and start button together for about 10 seconds. By this you should get a printer test page from your printer. If not working still re-install printer software.

SCANNER DOES NOT WORK
Basically, do the same things that apply to a printer that won't print (plugs, cords, test communications, driver, re-install, etc.) except for paper and ink stuff.
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

MOUSE NOT WORKING WELL
Remove the round thing on the bottom that holds the ball in and take the ball out. Wash the ball with soap and water. Notice the 3 rollers inside the mouse. They probably have dirt on them. Scrap it off so that the rollers are clean. dry the ball and put the ball back in and replace the cover. Wow, works great now.

MOUSE NOT WORKING AT ALL
Shut down the computer. Unplug the mouse and plug it back in. Restart the computer.
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 Windows 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

KEYBOARD NOT WORKING
Shut down the computer. Unplug the keyboard and plug it back in. Restart the computer.
If that doesn't do the trick, buy another one.

COMPUTER TAKES A LONG TIME TO START UP
Click "Start", then "Run".
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

COMPUTER WILL NOT SHUT DOWN
Go through the same procedure as in "COMPUTER TAKES A LONG TIME etc." This will minimize the number of programs that Windows has to close before shutting down.
Click "Start" then "Run" In open, type "msconfig." When the System Configuration Utility appears, click "Advanced." Put a check mark in "Disable Fast Shutdown. That usually fixes it. Incidentally, Instead of unplugging a stubborn computer, holding the on/off button in for about 10 seconds will usually shut it down.

SIMPLE CLEANOUT MAY CURE SOME PROBLEMS
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" appears in the "Look in" field. In the "Named" field, type "*.tmp" 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.

COMMON 4S YOU CAN FIX
1. You turn on the computer and nothing happens. No lights, no beeps, no fan noise. What is the first thing you do? Be sure the darn thing is plugged in! Even if you're absolutely certain that it is connected, double check. Assuming that it is plugged in, you probably have a bad power supply. This is a metal box located in the top and back of the computer.
It is usually held in by four screws and the power cable connects to it. A fan blows air out the back. A wiring harness exits the power supply inside the computer. Numerous power connectors are attached to the ends of the wires. These plug into drives, fans and possibly other gizmos. The harness also will have connectors to the
motherboard. It doesn't matter which wire connects where, as long as the connector fits. When you open the computer, this mess of wiring can be very intimidating. Study it, and you'll find it less mysterious. Note the connections in writing, if necessary. Disconnect the wires and
remove the power supply. Take it to the computer store and get a replacement with the same voltage. Figure on spending £20 to £35.

2. The computer comes on, but nothing appears on your monitor. In other words, Windows never shows up. You may have a monitor problem. Try using another known-good monitor on the computer and see if anything shows up on the screen. If
the second monitor works, the first one is bad. Monitors are not worth repairing. Just buy a new one. Never open the back of a monitor to fix it. The capacitors inside monitors store electricity. You could be injured or even killed. If the screen is dark, it could be a video card problem. First, find the video card. This is a circuit board that fits into a
slot in the motherboard. The cable from the monitor connects to the VGA (video graphics adapter) port, which sticks out through the back of the computer. If the VGA port is part of the motherboard, the video is built-in. You can't fix that. Otherwise, it will be part of the video card.Assuming you have a
separate card, be sure it is firmly seated. The front end of the card can rise out of the slot inadvertently when the back end is screwed down to the computer frame.If you have a computer that is working perfectly, turn it off and remove the video card. Put the card that works in the problem computer. If the system works, you need a new card. If you don't have an extra card to test your system, buy a cheap one (£9.99-£15). If it doesn't solve the problem, take it
back and get a refund. You can spend hundreds of dollars on a video card. But if you're running business applications and surfing the Web, buy on price. The expensive stuff is for serious gamers.

3. If you regularly get the "Blue Screen of Death," you may have a random access
memory (RAM) problem. Note the message on the blue screen, especially the numbers. Check it in Microsoft's Help and Support Knowledge Base. Also, put the text of the error message in a search engine and check the Internet. Assuming you can diagnose it, a memory problem is easy to fix. If you can't find the diagnosis information you need online, you can try swapping out memory sticks from another computer. But that memory must be the same type. If all else fails, take the old memory to a computer store. The people there may be willing to test it. Sticks of memory go in slots near the microprocessor. They're about four inches long. Remove the old memory and match it at the store. Memory prices are all over the map, depending on type and speed.
Be sure you get the same type. When you press the new memory into the slot, you will probably have to use some force. The clips on each end will snap into place when the memory is seated properly.

4. If you boot up, and the computer cannot find the C: drive, you might have a bad hard drive. If you have another computer, swap hard drives to diagnose the problem. If your computer boots with the other drive, yours is probably bad.Sometimes, a reboot will work. Your drive might have enough life to spin up occasionally. If this works, transfer your data to another drive, you can seal a noneworking drive in a bag and put it in a freezer overnight. That could shrink things enough to free them up. I've used this trick a few times and it's worth a try. A regular backup regimen will save you in case of hard-drive failure, assuming you aren't backing up to the same hard drive. If the drive is dead and you don't have a backup, a computer shop may be able to save your data. Hard drives are cheap. You can get a replacement for
less than £10 on ebay. Get one boxed for retail, which will include instructions and any hardware needed.Your hard drive is in the front of your machine. It will be about the size of a paperback book and is probably held in by four screws, two on each side. Power and ribbon cables connect to the back.Put the new drive in and install it as the
master. Reconfigure the old drive as the slave. The instructions that come with the new drive should explain that. Boot the computer and install Windows on the new drive. If you're lucky, the computer will see the old drive (it will be D:). You can then transfer your data to the new drive.Replacing a hard drive is more difficult than the other operations. However, if you pay to have the work done, it may not be cost effective. You might be better off buying a new machine. So if you are adventures, and you have the time, changing the hard drive may be worthwhile.

KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS
Some things may be beyond
your ability. For instance, upgrading a microprocessor can be dicey. Even if a faster microprocessor will fit in your motherboard, you probably need to upgrade the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). This is done through a process called "flashing," in which information is downloaded to change the BIOS. If flashing isn't done
correctly, the computer can be rendered useless. Leave that to the experts.

There are times when fixing a computer just isn't worthwhile. New machines can be less than £300. That might be all you need for business purposes. So, if you're facing a £150 repair,
maybe it's time to look around. That repair probably won't be the last.