Common Computer Problems

By Kaitlyn Sands

Freezing

• Problem: My computer won't do anything.

• Solution: Make sure your computer is turned on, plugged in, and there is no little square thing (called a disk) in the slot (called a drive) in your computer when you turn it on.

Illegal or Invalid

• Problem: My computer says I did something "illegal" and "invalid", am I in trouble?

• Solution: If you click the Details button, you will see the program that is having the problems but not necessarily causing the problem, which may give you a hint of what to check.

Printer Jam

• Problem: Printer will not print.

• Solution: Check and make sure that the paper isn’t stuck.

No Sound

• Problem: The sound will not work.

• Solution: Make sure your speakers are plugged in or turned up.

Viruses

• Problem: Getting a virus.

• Solution: Do a virus scan all the time (and be sure your virus scan definitions are updated).

• Problem: I don’t know how to change my font.

• Go to the top of your screen and there is a little box that has the names of the font styles, if you want to change your font then you just go up there to the top and change it to any font you want.

Font in Office Programs

Keyboard and Mouse

• Problem: My Keyboard or Mouse won’t work.

• Solution: Make sure that the cables are securely connected.

Monitor

• Problem: My monitor won’t work.

• Solution: Make sure that your monitor is plugged in and on.

Printer

• Problem: My printer won’t work.

• Solution: Make sure that your printer is plugged in and on.

My Document

• Problem: When I open my documents, it looks like a foreign language.

• Solution: You are in the wrong program.

Background in Office Programs

• Problem: I don’t know how to change my background.

• Solution: Go to Format and Background then pick your color and push ok.

Maximize

• Problem: Window does not fill the screen.

• Solution: Push the square beside the X.

Typing

• Problem: When I type the words that I am typing are going over other words.

• Solution: Push the insert key.

Capital Letters

• Problem: I can’t get my words to all be capital.

• Solution: On the left of your keyboard is a button that says Caps Lock. If you want all capital letters then push this button.

Number Keys

• Problem: My number keys won’t work.

• Solution: Push the Num Lock key.

Internet

• Problem: My Internet is not responding.

• Solution: Push the button at the top of your screen that says Refresh.

Slow Computer

• Problem: My computer is so slow!

• Solution: You need to exit out of all the extra programs, then reboot, and be very patient.

Favorites

• Problems: I don’t know how to add favorites to your computer.

• Solution: Go to the Internet, find a website you like, and then click favorites at the top of your screen and then push add and click ok.

Folders

• Problem: I can’t find anything after I save it!

• Solution: Set up folders for the things you use the most. Sort things into these folders the same way you would use a file cabinet to organize things.

• To make a new folder just click File-New-Folder, and then give it a name.

Home Page

• Problem: I don’t know how do change my home page.

• Solution: Pull up the Internet, go to tools at eh top of your page, and click Internet Options, then you can change your home page to anything you want.

Cookies

• Problem: I don’t know what cookies are on the computer.

• Solution: Cookies are temporary Internet Files.

Mouse Stick

• Problem: My mouse is frozen and will not click.

• Solution: Make sure that is is clean and plugged in.

Wallpaper

• Problem: I don’t know how to change my background on my desktop.

• Solution: Go to your desk top and right click then go down to properties and click on it then go themes and you can change your background to what every you want. Make sure that you push APPLY and OK.

Task Bar

• Problem: I don’t know where my task bar is.

• Solution: Click in the blank blue space and drag it back to the bottom.

Back Button

• Problem: I lost my back button.

• Solution: Click View-Toolbars-Standard Buttons.

Sticky Keys or Filter Keys

• Problem: My keyboard is not working.

• Solution: Just look at the bottom of the screen where the time is and there will probably be a little old fashioned clock just double click that clock and uncheck everything that is checked

Text Size On the Internet

• Problem: I don’t know how to change my text size on the Internet.

• Solution: Move the mouse wheel and push the Control at the same time.

Icons

• Problem: I’ve lost an icon!

• Solution: Open your Recycle Bin and see if it’s there. If it is, right click on it and restore it. If it isn’t, then go to Start-Programs-The program you need an icon for-right click, and send to desktop.

Popups

• Problem: Pop ups are always popping up.

• Solution: Use Ad-aware or Spybot to eliminate spyware. Make sure you have the Google toolbar installed to block most popups.

Popup Bubbles

• Problem: Popup bubbles are always popping up at the right bottom of my screen.

• Solution: Install whatever updates Microsoft is asking you to install.

Google Toolbar

• Problem: I don’t know what the Google search bar is.

• Solution: The Google search bar is a place where you type in thing to get either information or pictures. It also blocks popups. You can get it free from http://toolbar.google.com/

Files

• Problem: I don’t know how to transfer files.

• Solution: You just have to drag and drop.

Reboot

• Problem: I don’t know how to reboot my computer.

• Solution: Just go to start and shut down. Once it’s all off, push the power button to restart it.

THE END