| Home computer repair is not brain surgery! | | | | etc. are causes for alarm. Don't wait until |
| Most computer repairs can be broken down into | | | | the computer literally dies, if any of these |
| two specific areas, software and hardware. | | | | events start occurring, go to the proactive |
| Now I do admit that in some people's hand, a | | | | mode and replace the power supply, hard |
| screwdriver can be a dangerous object. But if | | | | drive, or ram. Which one? That's a challenge, |
| you can change a light bulb without shocking | | | | I've found that some diagnostic programs can |
| yourself, I'd bet you could swap out a | | | | be helpful, but a lot of the time it's |
| computer part. Software gets a little | | | | experience. |
| trickier but is still within the grasp of | | | | |
| most computer users. | | | | Basic rules of thumb; Freezing, rebooting can |
| | | | be both flaky power supply and RAM going bad. |
| I've been involved in computer repair in one | | | | Power supplies slowly loose ability to supply |
| way or another for over 25 years. The three | | | | enough wattage, so if you run fine for the |
| major repairs I get called for on a weekly | | | | first 30 minutes that's another tip it could |
| basis are: | | | | be the power supply. RAM just gets flaky due |
| | | | to constant heating and cooling. It will |
| Spyware/Malware Issues | | | | usually start dying slowly too. Both are |
| | | | cheap to replace but the power supply has |
| Hardware failure (power supplies, hard | | | | anywhere from 8 to 10 plugs you get to keep |
| drives, and ram usually) | | | | an eye on when changing out. Any power supply |
| | | | above 250 watt will be fine for most |
| Computer boot problems (lost password, | | | | computers, 300 watt is better. Match the |
| toasted OS, hardware failure) | | | | power supply or RAM exactly or look up the |
| | | | motherboard requirements if you want to jump |
| All of these can be quite a challenge | | | | up in speed or wattage. |
| depending on the value and risk of losing | | | | |
| important data, which can be anything from | | | | On hard drives, boot failure with the message |
| tax records to photos. Any computer can be | | | | "no operating system" or similar is almost |
| repaired; it just depends on time and budget. | | | | always a controller or hard drive (some hard |
| But not all data can be rescued. If a hard | | | | drives have controllers on them that go south |
| drive suffers a catastrophic hardware | | | | too). When you go to save or copy files and |
| failure, data recovery is doubtful (unless | | | | get an error can also indicate a hard drive |
| you want spend 100's if not 1000's of dollars | | | | issue. Noises of any kind coming from your |
| for special services). | | | | computer can only be the power supply fan or |
| | | | hard drive. Sometimes you can low level |
| So the best scenario in any home computer | | | | format a drive and bring it back but with the |
| repair solution is have a good backup of your | | | | cost being so low on new hard drives, why |
| important data before you start any repair. I | | | | take a chance. |
| never work on anything for over an hour | | | | |
| without immediately backing it up on another | | | | Boot Up Problems - Number one offender is |
| media (USB thumb drives are only about $30 | | | | Windows of any flavor. All versions use a |
| for up to 5 gigs of storage and CD or DVD | | | | "registry" to manage all software, user, and |
| prices are under a buck). I learned the hard | | | | hardware settings. This is just a fancy |
| way very early in my computer using | | | | database of settings but can easily destroy |
| experience. It's much easier to deal with any | | | | itself. Open files don't close properly when |
| home computer repair if you don't have to | | | | there's a software problem and there goes the |
| worry about important data. *Please, backup | | | | database integrity. When you go to reboot, |
| your data right after you finish this article | | | | the registry is not readable or flat gone. In |
| and start doing it on regular basis. | | | | Windows XP, there are several files involved |
| | | | in the "hive" (5 to be exact). Any one of |
| When you have a secure backup, the home | | | | these can toast itself, but I always replace |
| computer repair is a matter of a little | | | | all five since they are so interdependent on |
| investigative work (to determine the real | | | | settings. |
| issue - sometimes Windows will point you in | | | | |
| the wrong direction) and coming up with a | | | | The easiest fix, if you can access the |
| good solution. Let's look at the best way to | | | | Recovery Console, is to find a usable set of |
| prevent each of the three most common | | | | back up files and copy them to the current |
| computer repairs and if you already have the | | | | area of access. This sounds pretty simple but |
| problem, some possible solutions. | | | | the directory structure is fairly long and |
| | | | you have to unhide the backup locations. If |
| Spyware/Malware - Two good preventive | | | | you go to Microsoft's knowledge base here you |
| measures to eliminate Spyware and Malware is | | | | can read all about the Recovery Console and |
| to keep your OS (normally Windows) up to date | | | | how to replace registry files: . |
| on security patches from your friends at | | | | |
| Microsoft. This is pretty easy to do if you | | | | You can run the Recovery Console from Windows |
| turn on Automatic Updating in your Security | | | | XP if it is installed or from your install CD |
| Center (go to Control Panel, click on | | | | if not. But what if you don't have an install |
| Security Center, then check that Automatic | | | | CD (many computers manufacturers don't |
| Updates is turned on). The other is to make | | | | provide one anymore)? You can always use a |
| sure you have a good Anti-Virus software | | | | bootable CD with an NTFS write enabled OS |
| installed and it gets updated automatically. | | | | (like Linux) and do the same copying of files |
| These two programs give you about a 93% | | | | recommended in the Recover Console |
| solution. | | | | information. If that sounds too scary, you |
| | | | can always borrow some friends Windows XP |
| Another 5% can be addressed with Anti-Spyware | | | | install CD of the same flavor (Home or Pro) |
| software such as Windows Defender (free from | | | | to use Recovery Console. OK, no friends have |
| Microsoft, just do a search for it on your | | | | an install CD and no access or desire to |
| choice of Search Engine) or Spybot, a free | | | | Linux CD, now what? |
| program from that does a good job too. | | | | |
| Where's the last 2%, well there is no 100% | | | | Well, plan B is to take your hard drive out |
| solution I'm sorry to say. Although common | | | | of the computer, change the little connector |
| sense on where you surf, what email you open, | | | | on the back of the hard drive to slave (most |
| and where you click can generally keep you | | | | hard drives have instructions right on the |
| safe. | | | | case to show how), and connect it to a |
| | | | working Windows XP computer. Now you have |
| What if you are already infected? Well, there | | | | access to the drive with an NTFS write |
| are manual ways of removing Spyware/Malware | | | | enabled OS. Go back to the instructions on |
| programs but they aren't pretty and involve a | | | | Recovery Console fix and get after it. |
| whole lot of searching around and rebooting | | | | |
| in safe mode. If you search on the offender | | | | If the hard drive won't even light up or |
| (normally most have a common problem) you can | | | | spin, well then you get to install a new one. |
| find a manual solution. If you would rather | | | | Most of the new units have a CD that will |
| skip all that hassle, the most effective | | | | handle all the details of adding the new hard |
| commercial program I've seen is SpySweeper. | | | | drive. Then you get to use your Recovery CDs |
| Last time I looked it was only $30 per year | | | | from the manufacturer to install the all the |
| and could save you a lot of time and pain. | | | | original software on the new hard drive. |
| You can find it here: | | | | Don't have the restore disks? Check with the |
| | | | computer manufacturer and they'll sell you a |
| Hardware Failure - OK, not a lot of | | | | set for under $20 usually. Make sure you give |
| prevention available for this home computer | | | | the exact model number to get the right |
| repair. Keep in mind that most modern | | | | software for your unit. Whenever I buy a new |
| computer components have a 3-5 year mean | | | | computer, if I don't get a set of recovery |
| failure rate. Depending on how much you use | | | | CDs, I order them right then and there. That |
| or leave your computer on each day, this time | | | | way I'm ready for what ever happens. |
| period can expand. I have several testing | | | | |
| computers that are very old (plus 7 years) | | | | So, now you have the basics on home computer |
| that don't get used often. | | | | repair for the three most common problems. |
| | | | It's not that hard for most people, just take |
| But one point I do want to make is that | | | | it slow and read the instructions. Push comes |
| almost every customer I call on for a | | | | to shove, find a friend who may have a little |
| hardware failure issues had warning signs | | | | more experience to help. You buy the pizza |
| before the final crash. Strange noises, | | | | and they provide a little experience and |
| computer freezing up, frequent re-starts, | | | | moral support. |