Troubleshooting
Most
computer problems are actually software related and can be avoided with good
preventative maintenance. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, the monitor
screen is blank or the damned PC just won't start and you need to do some
troubleshooting.
In the past I have seen charts which walk you through a series of questions/checks which are supposed to help you identify the problem, but I don't have the patience to use them. Instead I use a few guiding principles and trust to common sense. But you know what they say about common sense? It ain't so common...
Tip 1
I once read that over half the cameras returned to manufacturers as "faulty" actually have flat batteries! Similarly, a lot of computer problems are due to bad connections - with so many wires trailing around it's hardly surprising. So the first thing to do if something isn't working is to unplug everything and then remake all the connections. Turn the power off first of course. You may need to disconnect and then reconnect internal components such as hard drives too if they are not working.
Tip 2
If you're not sure if a component is working, swap it with a spare. If the spare works okay then the component is most likely faulty; if the spare doesn't work either then look elsewhere for the problem.
Tip 3
Look for clues! Are there any power lights? Any strange noises? Any error messages? Read all the text as the computer boots (if it does) and check if it finds all the hardware during the POST. Computers do have a certain amount of error checking built in and will do their best to alert you to any problems. One of my favourite start-up error messages says "cannot find keyboard - press any key to continue".
Tip 4
If a component such as a modem or network card stops working, try uninstalling it (from the Control Panel) and then reinstalling it. This reloads the drivers and might just do the trick. If you don't have the drivers then you'll have to search for them on the internet; DriverGuide.com is a good place to start.
Tip 5
If the computer is running but starts behaving erratically, shut it down, wait ten seconds and then switch it on again. If it is frozen and won't shut down, try pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del and selecting Shut Down. If that doesn't work then you'll have to turn the power off. Windows has a habit of getting itself in a twist (even Win 2000) and sometimes only a restart will suffice.
Tip 6
If you suspect that a system file has got corrupted then run the System File Checker (Win 98 onwards) which is cleverly buried on the Tools menu of Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Information. If you suspect registry problems then run RegClean. If you're feeling adventurous you can also boot to Dos and run Scanreg with the /fix switch. This repairs and compacts the registry.
Tip 7
If you've tried everything and the computer is still behaving strangely, suspect a virus. Shut down, leave the power off for 30 seconds and then scan the machine using a floppy scanner such as the AVG recovery disk set.
Tip 8
Computer settings don't often change all by themselves, so suspect meddling by bored/curious/mischievous students or (more likely) teachers. Compare settings with a working machine. When you find out who messed it up, humiliate them in front of the class and break their legs :)