After
you work with PCs for a while, you learn some really simple tricks that
solve many of the problems that plague PC users. These tricks are not
in any instruction book but they work in a surprising number of
situations. Here are five that I have used over and over. They are
probably well known to Gizmo’s readers but they are so useful that it’s
worth mentioning them here so you can pass them along to your less
knowledgeable acquaintances. They require no technical expertise
whatever, are easy to remember, and can be used by anybody.
1. Disconnect and reconnect devices that aren’t working
This
simple procedure often fixes problems for all sorts of electronic
devices. A common example is the USB port that does not seem to work.
Unplug and plug back in the USB mouse or keyboard or whatever USB device
is not functioning.
2. Make sure that all your cables and power cords are tightly connected
Computer
won’t come on? Maybe the power cord isn’t quite plugged in or the cat
loosened it. Video not working? Maybe a connector is loose. Sounds
ridiculously simple but a loose connection causes problems a lot more
often than you might think. Every savvy user of electronics learns to
check connections. A corollary is to make sure all the power switches
are on.
3. The master solution to a lot of Windows problems
Windows
has a frustrating variety of glitches that can occur but Windows also
has a surprising capacity for fixing itself. The trick is to reboot. As
experienced PC users know, rebooting will more likely than not fix a
momentary hiccup. I've been asked many times for help with a Windows
problem that was fixed just by restarting the PC. If all beginners were
taught this, it would save a lot of time and trouble.
4. Fix a lost Internet connection
I
can’t count how many times I have found that a lost Internet connection
could be restored by simply turning the router off for 30 seconds and
then turning it back on. If you have a second box with a modem, turn
that off as well. Then turn the modem box back on, followed by the
router.
5. Second way to fix a lost Internet connection
Many
laptops have a sliding switch on the side that turns the wireless radio
on and off. It is easy to unknowingly slide the switch to the “off”
position. I have restored a lost connection quite a few times by just
putting this switch back to “on”.
These
simple tricks may be elementary but knowing them can save a lot of time
and anguish. They may not be new to Gizmo’s readers but there are
hundreds of millions of home PC users who know almost nothing about the
computers they use. Pass these tricks along to your friends and family -
then they won’t have to ask you for help as often.
