Lowell Millis Teacher/Tech Support
Mater Dei High School
1202 West Edinger
Santa Ana, CA 92707
714-957-3796 lmillis@materdei.org
Summary of November 13, 2009 Presentation
"A Teacher's Guide to Technology Troubleshooting OR
Technology Triage for Non-Techies
This is based on a computer running Windows XP or Vista
Slow Computer
Here are the steps in order to try and get that slow computer moving again:
1. Remove unnecessary programs and files
2. Configure the performance settings
3. Run Disk Cleanup
4. Run Disk Defragmenter
5. Disable unneeded services
6. Remove any malware (Viruses)
7. Use top-notch cleanup software (Windows Defender, Spybot, Adaware) Level of Ease
eeeee=very easy
eeee= pretty easy eee=moderate ee=be careful e=find a nerdy friend if you are nervous
1.Delete files you no longer use. The largest types of files are pictures, videos and music. Word documents or PowerPoints will rarely bog down a computer. So look through the My Music and My Pictures folders and delete any that you don’t use or need. eeee 2.Removing unnecessary programs can be done by going to Start>Control Panel> Add/Remove Programs. Use caution when removing programs, if you are not certain if you are using the program, best bet is to leave it alone. Common problem programs include Coupon printing programs, programs with names like Driver Detective, Cyber Security and other Internet based downloads. eeee 3.Right click on My Computer>Left Click on Properties>Click on the Advanced tab. Click on Settings under Performance. Either click “Adjust for better performance” OR click on “Custom” and uncheck the visuals you can live without. This may change how your computer looks but it will run faster. eeee 4.Go to Start>All Programs>Accessories> System Tools>Disk Cleanup. By running this little program will rid your computer of many unnecessary files that can slow down your computer. Put checkmarks next to each item. If you are short on time, do not check mark the Compress Files as this may take over an hour. eeeee 5.After you run the Disk Cleanup, it’s best to run a disk defragmenter. You can find the Windows Disk Defragmenter under the same path as Disk Cleanup. Defragmenting your disk puts your file in consecutive order rather than spreading them over the whole hard drive. This can help your performance greatly. eeeee 6.To disable unneeded services- Go to Start>Run>Type in MSCONFIG>Click OK. Click on the tab that says “Startup.” You can safely uncheck all items, however your computer may have some programs load slower or not be available in the task tray. So it’s best to uncheck things you rarely use or that you know are causing your computer to be slow. Each time you use MSCONFIG it prompts you to restart your computer. After you restart, there will be a notice on your screen reminding you that you used the System Configuration Utility. Check mark the “Don’t show this message again” and then click OK. eee 7.All computers connected to the Internet must have some name brand anti-virus software installed or you will be faced with losing important files. Symantec, Norton, MacAfee should be provided by your school. If not, you can download and install AVG or Avast for free. To run a virus scan, Go to Start>All Programs> Find your Anti-Virus Program> Run a full system scan. Follow the recommendations of the scan results. ee 8.Spyware/Scareware/Adware/Junk.Many websites download junk onto your computer without your knowledge. This can cause your computer to be so slow that is barely runs. Depending on whether you can install programs on your school computer, two great free programs exist for cleaning this web debris off your hard drive. These free programs are called Windows (Microsoft) Defender, Adaware Free and Spybot Search and Destroy. It is best to install these programs while you computer is running well, because some of these spyware programs limit your ability to install programs. ee
Be very cautious when you get some sort of Internet page warning you of some horrible infestations. These can be very tricky to remove because some of the newer spyware/adware has gotten to the point where it acts more like a virus than spyware. For these, call your IT desk and get help. BEWARE! Don’t download any other types of spyware removers or adware removers. Most of them actually slow down your computer and charge you for your inconvenience!
A dead computer means that no lights come on and you hear no fans or drives spinning. Also, there is nothing on the screen. 1.Check the power adaptor by wiggling the plug at the wall, at the power supply, and at the back of the computer.Loose or weak connections can cause this problem and cause your battery to die. eeeee 2.Plug something (light or a radio) that you know works into the wall outlet and check the wall outlet. If the light or radio works keep going, if not, call your facilities person. eeeee 3.Take the battery out and try again, sometimes the computer will start and get you through the lesson. You will still need to contact your tech person to have this fixed, but at least your lesson can be salvaged. eeeee
Dead Computer/Desktop
A dead computer means that no lights come on and you hear no fans or drives spinning. Also, there is nothing on the screen. 1.First you need to make sure it is dead. Look at your mouse, if it is a LED mouse check to see if the light is on. Repeatedly press the caps lock key on the keyboard and see if the caps lock light flashes as you press the key. Also listen for any sounds, fans or beeps. If none of these are present, it’s dead. eeeee 2.Check on the back of the computer, there is a rocker switch, many times this gets bumped to the off position, rock it to the on position and retry starting the computer. eeeee 3.Check the plug where it plugs in to the wall and where it plugs in the back of the computer. Both connections should be tight. Try again. eeeee
Nothing on the Screen/Laptop
This is assuming you hear fans spinning, a couple of lights blinking etc. 1.Your laptop may think that it is connected to an external video and not sending the signal to the screen. If this is the case you will need to press a keystroke combination to get the signal sent to the laptop screen. To find the combination of keys can be a little bit of a challenge, but here’s your best bet. Look for a key that has the words CRT/LCD like this one or like this . Press the Fn key and the one that has the CRT/LCD on it. Be patient, because it takes a few seconds and see if an image shows up. If not, try it one more time. eeee 2.Look at the screen in the light, if you can see a faint image of your screen, you can try to brighten it up. Press the Fn key and the key that looks similar to the sun with an arrow pointing up. Here is an example. If it is really dim and this keystroke combination doesn’t help, your LCD needs replacement. Call your IT desk for replacement. eeee
Nothing on the Screen/Desktop
Lights on the computer are flashing and you can hear fans and disks spinning and a normal amount of beeps. 1.Check the cord that connects the monitor to the wall outlet. It should be in securely. If it is in a power strip, check that it is on and the power strip does not need to be reset. Also, many of the flat screen monitors have a power supply (brick ), be sure and check both sides (at the brick and where it plugs into the monitor) for a good connection. eee 2.The cable that plugs into the back of the computer can sometimes lose connection, particularly if the unit has been moved. Be careful when putting this in, there are 13 little pins that have to line up correctly or you will bend one of them. Gently rock it in and hand tighten the little screws. There may also be a similar connection on the back of the monitor, check it as well. eee 3.If these steps don’t bring up your video, your video card may be loose in the slot. Shut down your computer before trying to reseat the card in the slot or damage may result. e
No Internet/ Wired Connection
1.Find your connection icon for your network connection. This can be found by going to Start> Right click on My Network Places>Click on Properties.
This can tell you a lot about your connection. If the cable is not making contact (wired connection) it will say “A Network Cable is Unplugged.” This can mean a number of things. First check the physical connection to the back of the computer, the wire should be connected tightly to the computer and to the data port on the wall. There should not be looseness or any play in the connection. 2.If it doesn’t say anything about a cable being unplugged, right click your mouse over the Local Area connection icon and choose “Repair.”This will run a short diagnostic and reset your connection. Give this a few moments to repair. eeee 3.If there is a message saying “Limited or no connectivity” call your IT help desk. They possibilities for this error are endless.
No Internet/Wireless Connection
1.Find your connection icon for your network connection. This can be found by going to Start> Right click on My Network Places>Click on Properties. Find your wireless connection. Right click your mouse over the Local Area connection icon and choose “Repair.”This will run a short diagnostic and reset your connection. Give this a few moments to repair. eeeee 2.Double click on your wireless connection.Click on “View Wireless Connections” look for your connection.If it is low on the list, you may have to click on “Change the Order of Preferred Networks.” Then move your connection to the top of the list. This can happen if you connect to many different networks. eee 3.You may have to click on Advanced and re-enter your password. ee
Won't Project
1.Most projectors have an input switch. Some projectors have a single switch that you press and it cycles through the available inputs. In general, the one marked VGA (sometimes it simply says “computer”) is the one that is compatible with most Windows computers. Be patient when cycling through the inputs. It takes a second or two for the screen to be projected. eee 2.Your computer is not set up to project to both the screen and the local computer. Right click on any blank area of the desktop. Left click on Properties from the submenu. Click on the far right tab that says Settings.There should be a graphic of two monitors (if it doesn’t show two monitors, call your IT desk for help). Right click on the secondary monitor.Click on Attached and uncheck the box that says extend my Windows desktop on to this monitor. If this corrects the problem but the screen is sized incorrectly, move the screen resolution slider until it displays correctly. You may have to click on Apply each time you move the slider to see the results. Once you have it set, click on OK. ee</body>
Lowell Millis Teacher/Tech Support
Mater Dei High School
1202 West Edinger
Santa Ana, CA 92707
714-957-3796
lmillis@materdei.org
Summary of November 13, 2009 Presentation
"A Teacher's Guide to Technology Troubleshooting OR
Technology Triage for Non-Techies
This is based on a computer running Windows XP or Vista
Slow Computer
Here are the steps in order to try and get that slow computer moving again:1. Remove unnecessary programs and files
2. Configure the performance settings
3. Run Disk Cleanup
4. Run Disk Defragmenter
5. Disable unneeded services
6. Remove any malware (Viruses)
7. Use top-notch cleanup software (Windows Defender, Spybot, Adaware)
Level of Ease
eeeee=very easy
eeee= pretty easy
eee= moderate
ee= be careful
e= find a nerdy friend if you are nervous
1. Delete files you no longer use. The largest types of files are pictures, videos and music. Word documents or PowerPoints will rarely bog down a computer. So look through the My Music and My Pictures folders and delete any that you don’t use or need. eeee
2. Removing unnecessary programs can be done by going to Start>Control Panel> Add/Remove Programs. Use caution when removing programs, if you are not certain if you are using the program, best bet is to leave it alone. Common problem programs include Coupon printing programs, programs with names like Driver Detective, Cyber Security and other Internet based downloads. eeee
3. Right click on My Computer>Left Click on Properties>Click on the Advanced tab. Click on Settings under Performance. Either click “Adjust for better performance” OR click on “Custom” and uncheck the visuals you can live without. This may change how your computer looks but it will run faster. eeee
4. Go to Start>All Programs>Accessories> System Tools>Disk Cleanup. By running this little program will rid your computer of many unnecessary files that can slow down your computer. Put checkmarks next to each item. If you are short on time, do not check mark the Compress Files as this may take over an hour. eeeee
5. After you run the Disk Cleanup, it’s best to run a disk defragmenter. You can find the Windows Disk Defragmenter under the same path as Disk Cleanup. Defragmenting your disk puts your file in consecutive order rather than spreading them over the whole hard drive. This can help your performance greatly. eeeee
6. To disable unneeded services- Go to Start>Run>Type in MSCONFIG>Click OK. Click on the tab that says “Startup.” You can safely uncheck all items, however your computer may have some programs load slower or not be available in the task tray. So it’s best to uncheck things you rarely use or that you know are causing your computer to be slow. Each time you use MSCONFIG it prompts you to restart your computer. After you restart, there will be a notice on your screen reminding you that you used the System Configuration Utility. Check mark the “Don’t show this message again” and then click OK. eee
7. All computers connected to the Internet must have some name brand anti-virus software installed or you will be faced with losing important files. Symantec, Norton, MacAfee should be provided by your school. If not, you can download and install AVG or Avast for free. To run a virus scan, Go to Start>All Programs> Find your Anti-Virus Program> Run a full system scan. Follow the recommendations of the scan results. ee
8. Spyware/Scareware/Adware/Junk. Many websites download junk onto your computer without your knowledge. This can cause your computer to be so slow that is barely runs. Depending on whether you can install programs on your school computer, two great free programs exist for cleaning this web debris off your hard drive. These free programs are called Windows (Microsoft) Defender, Adaware Free and Spybot Search and Destroy. It is best to install these programs while you computer is running well, because some of these spyware programs limit your ability to install programs. ee
Be very cautious when you get some sort of Internet page warning you of some horrible infestations. These can be very tricky to remove because some of the newer spyware/adware has gotten to the point where it acts more like a virus than spyware. For these, call your IT desk and get help.
BEWARE! Don’t download any other types of spyware removers or adware removers. Most of them actually slow down your computer and charge you for your inconvenience!
Anti-Spyware
Dead Computer/Laptop
A dead computer means that no lights come on and you hear no fans or drives spinning. Also, there is nothing on the screen.
1. Check the power adaptor by wiggling the plug at the wall, at the power supply, and at the back of the computer. Loose or weak connections can cause this problem and cause your battery to die. eeeee
2. Plug something (light or a radio) that you know works into the wall outlet and check the wall outlet. If the light or radio works keep going, if not, call your facilities person. eeeee
3. Take the battery out and try again, sometimes the computer will start and get you through the lesson. You will still need to contact your tech person to have this fixed, but at least your lesson can be salvaged. eeeee
Dead Computer/Desktop
A dead computer means that no lights come on and you hear no fans or drives spinning. Also, there is nothing on the screen.1. First you need to make sure it is dead. Look at your mouse, if it is a LED mouse check to see if the light is on. Repeatedly press the caps lock key on the keyboard and see if the caps lock light flashes as you press the key. Also listen for any sounds, fans or beeps. If none of these are present, it’s dead. eeeee
2. Check on the back of the computer, there is a rocker switch, many times this gets bumped to the off position, rock it to the on position and retry starting the computer. eeeee
3. Check the plug where it plugs in to the wall and where it plugs in the back of the computer. Both connections should be tight. Try again. eeeee
Nothing on the Screen/Laptop
This is assuming you hear fans spinning, a couple of lights blinking etc.1. Your laptop may think that it is connected to an external video and not sending the signal to the screen. If this is the case you will need to press a keystroke combination to get the signal sent to the laptop screen. To find the combination of keys can be a little bit of a challenge, but here’s your best bet. Look for a key that has the words CRT/LCD like this one or like this . Press the Fn key and the one that has the CRT/LCD on it. Be patient, because it takes a few seconds and see if an image shows up. If not, try it one more time. eeee
2. Look at the screen in the light, if you can see a faint image of your screen, you can try to brighten it up. Press the Fn key and the key that looks similar to the sun with an arrow pointing up. Here is an example. If it is really dim and this keystroke combination doesn’t help, your LCD needs replacement. Call your IT desk for replacement. eeee
Nothing on the Screen/Desktop
Lights on the computer are flashing and you can hear fans and disks spinning and a normal amount of beeps.
1. Check the cord that connects the monitor to the wall outlet. It should be in securely. If it is in a power strip, check that it is on and the power strip does not need to be reset. Also, many of the flat screen monitors have a power supply (brick ), be sure and check both sides (at the brick and where it plugs into the monitor) for a good connection. eee
2. The cable that plugs into the back of the computer can sometimes lose connection, particularly if the unit has been moved. Be careful when putting this in, there are 13 little pins that have to line up correctly or you will bend one of them. Gently rock it in and hand tighten the little screws. There may also be a similar connection on the back of the monitor, check it as well. eee
3. If these steps don’t bring up your video, your video card may be loose in the slot. Shut down your computer before trying to reseat the card in the slot or damage may result. e
No Internet/ Wired Connection
1. Find your connection icon for your network connection. This can be found by going to Start> Right click on My Network Places>Click on Properties.
This can tell you a lot about your connection. If the cable is not making contact (wired connection) it will say “A Network Cable is Unplugged.” This can mean a number of things. First check the physical connection to the back of the computer, the wire should be connected tightly to the computer and to the data port on the wall. There should not be looseness or any play in the connection.
2. If it doesn’t say anything about a cable being unplugged, right click your mouse over the Local Area connection icon and choose “Repair.” This will run a short diagnostic and reset your connection. Give this a few moments to repair. eeee
3. If there is a message saying “Limited or no connectivity” call your IT help desk. They possibilities for this error are endless.
No Internet/Wireless Connection
1. Find your connection icon for your network connection. This can be found by going to Start> Right click on My Network Places>Click on Properties. Find your wireless connection. Right click your mouse over the Local Area connection icon and choose “Repair.” This will run a short diagnostic and reset your connection. Give this a few moments to repair. eeeee
2. Double click on your wireless connection. Click on “View Wireless Connections” look for your connection. If it is low on the list, you may have to click on “Change the Order of Preferred Networks.” Then move your connection to the top of the list. This can happen if you connect to many different networks. eee
3. You may have to click on Advanced and re-enter your password. ee
Won't Project
1. Most projectors have an input switch. Some projectors have a single switch that you press and it cycles through the available inputs. In general, the one marked VGA (sometimes it simply says “computer”) is the one that is compatible with most Windows computers. Be patient when cycling through the inputs. It takes a second or two for the screen to be projected. eee
2. Your computer is not set up to project to both the screen and the local computer. Right click on any blank area of the desktop. Left click on Properties from the submenu. Click on the far right tab that says Settings. There should be a graphic of two monitors (if it doesn’t show two monitors, call your IT desk for help). Right click on the secondary monitor. Click on Attached and uncheck the box that says extend my Windows desktop on to this monitor. If this corrects the problem but the screen is sized incorrectly, move the screen resolution slider until it displays correctly. You may have to click on Apply each time you move the slider to see the results. Once you have it set, click on OK. ee </body>