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