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