Answers to Common Computer Questions and other helpful hints

1. My computer will not turn on

   ~ A power outage may have caused you computer’s soft switch to become confused.
   ~ The switch in the back of the computer has been flipped to 0.
   ~ There is no electrical power reaching the computer.
   ~ The computer has a bad power switch.

2. I lost my file somewhere

   ~ File was probably saved unknowingly somewhere in the Windows File Directory
   ~ Default in your application is not set to place files in My Documents
   ~ Use the Start / Search function to search your drives for the file name

3. My computer is locking up

   ~ Screen saver problems
   ~ Too many applications open at once
   ~ There is a multitude of other possibilities / contact support

4. A blue screen appears saying there has been a fatal error

   ~ The computer has become confused for any number of reasons
   ~ Follow instructions on screen

   Note: It is suggested that you reboot your machine to make sure there are no glitches within the program even if the program reappears.

5. I have lost my work because of a computer lock-up or shut down

   ~ Is Auto Backup setting selected in your program?
   ~ File may be in Temp or My Documents as .bk or .bak file
   ~ Preform a search using Start and Search functions

6. My printer won’t print

   ~ Is the printer cartridge empty
   ~ Is the wrong cartridge loaded in printer
   ~ Has the alignment process been run when you installed new cartridge
   ~ Communication to printer has been lost
   ~ Print job was stopped by turning off printer

   Solutions
   ~ Shut down printer and restart it.
   ~ Check printer cartridge
   ~ If all else fails, reload printer driver from CD that came with printer.

7. How do I stop a print job

   ~ Go to the My Computer icon and double click
   ~ Open the printer folder by double clicking on it.
   ~ Choose the printer that that you have in operation and double click on it.
   ~ In menu bar, click on Printer to get drop down menu.
   ~ Choose “Pause Printing” to stop print job (It will not stop immediately)
   ~ To remove print job, click on “Purge Print Documents”
   ~ Click on “Pause Printing” to remove check mark so that printer is back in operation mode
   ~ If the print job remains reboot the computer

8. Laser printer prints light or dark streaks

   ~ Remove toner cartridge and rock back and forth several times this will even out the toner.
   ~ (indicates the cartridge is low and needs to be replaced soon)

9. My inkjet printer leaves voids in the print

   ~ If the ink cartridge is new was the alignment test run from the printer software?
   ~ Was the cleaning procedure performed using the printer software?

   Solutions:
   ~ All inkjets have the above options available in the software that was installed with the printer driver
   ~ Ink cartridge may be low on ink

10. Printer (inkjet/laser) will not feed paper

    ~ Make sure paper is loaded correctly
    ~ Remove all paper from paper tray and check for foreign objects (paper clips, staples etc).

11. Sent print job to printer but nothing happens

    ~ Are any lights flashing on the printer or is more then one light on?
    ~ Check the printer’s user manual to see what code is indicated

    Solutions
    ~ Printer is out of ink/toner (20% of all printer problems are caused by this)
    ~ Paper problems: printer is out of paper / paper jam/paper will not load
    ~ Make sure printer cable is plugged into printer and computer
    ~ Make sure you are printing to the correct printer. your print job can easily be sent to somebody else’s printer.
    ~ Turn off computer and printer, wait 10-15 seconds, and turn it back on.
    ~ Make sure printer is plugged into power and turned on.
    ~ Make sure surge protector is turned on.

12. I can’t open some of my email attachments

    ~ Save file to your desktop before opening it !!
    ~ Choose Notepad or WordPad from the list on the drop down menu and see if one of those programs will open your attachment.
    ~ Ask sender to note in the body of the email what application was used.
    ~ If all else fails, ask sender to include attached information in body of email message.

13. Program won’t open a document

    ~ If you are using a newer version or a different application and want to access it on an older version or different application, you must save it as that version or application.
    ~ Do a “Save As” and then check the drop down menu next to “Save as Type” to see if the older version or different application is there.
    ~Save your file as that version or application.
    ~ The newer version or different application should be able to read the older version or different application, but if you do a “Save or Save As” it may ask if you want to upgrade the old version or change the application.

14. Machine comes up in “Safe Mode”

    ~ This problem can usually be fixed by going through the shutdown process and rebooting.
    ~ If this does not work, you should contact technical support

15. Why can’t I hear my audio

    ~ Audio has been turned off, or is set on a low volume.
    ~ Sound card may not be installed

    Solutions
    ~ Make certain the machine has a sound card in it.
    ~ Left click on the little speaker located at the bottom left-hand side of your taskbar and adjust the volume. If you double click on the icon, it will produce a volume control list for everything. Make sure “mute” is not checked.
    ~ If there is no speaker on your taskbar, go to Start menu and then to programs and then to accessories and then to entertainment and then to volume control. The volume control list should appear. Follow above directions.

16. I placed a new program CD in my drive, but it did not automatically come up, or drive was not recognized

    ~ Go to the Start menu and then click on “Run”. When the Run window appears, click on browse.
    ~ Choose your CD drive. Look for a file that ends in setup, execute, or install.
    ~ Double click on the file and it should be displayed next to “open” in the “Run” window.
    ~ Click okay and the program should begin to install.

17. My computer won’t recognize drives

    ~ Reboot computer.
    ~ If drives still do not appear, get technical support

18. My icons have disappeared

    ~ Shut down Windows and reboot in case there was a glitch in the system
    ~ Contact support for further assistance

19. Why are there multiple different versions of XP?

    XP was released in two different versions: Windows XP Professional (for businesses) and Windows XP Home Edition (for consumers.) Although the kernel for both operating systems are the same, the Home Edition is a stripped down version of the Professional version. Its main focus is the consumer home PC market, and it is designed to be easier to use. Much of its interface assumes that you have a full time internet connection and that your primary online activities are browsing, e-mail, instant messaging, listening to MP3 and online music, and sharing photos and other digital media on the web. XP Professional is designed for business and advanced home users who need security and enhanced networking capabilities. It looks and feels just like Windows 2000 once you drop the XP color scheme and choose “Windows classic.” Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition are special versions of the operating system designed for specific hardware. You can only get these versions when you purchase the specialized hardware directly from the manufacturer.

20. Is Windows Vista more secure than Windows XP?

    Yes. Windows Vista builds on the security features in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and adds some deep-seated security improvements that will finally make the Windows platform competitive with Linux and Mac OS X from a security standpoint. With Windows Vista, the system will inform users about security and privacy choices so they feel more confident that they are as secure as possible, and that their privacy is protected. The question, of course, is whether Windows Vista will be more immune to security threats than was XP. Only time will tell.

21. What are the five versions of Vista?

    Windows Vista Home Basic is ideal for homes with basic computing needs like e-mail, browsing the Internet, and viewing photos. Easy to set up and maintain, it enables you to quickly find what you’re looking for on your PC and the Internet, while providing a more secure environment to help protect you from an unpredictable world.

    Windows Vista Home Premium is the preferred edition for home desktop and mobile PCs. It provides a breakthrough design that brings your world into sharper focus while delivering the productivity, entertainment, and security you need from your PC at home or on the go.

    Windows Vista Ultimate is the choice for those who want to have it all. Easily shift between the worlds of productivity and play with the most complete edition of Windows Vista. Ultimate provides the power, security, and mobility features needed for work, and all the entertainment features that you want for fun.

    Windows Vista Business is the first edition of Windows designed specifically to meet the needs of small businesses. You’ll spend less time on technology support-related issues - so you can spend more time making your business successful. Windows Vista Business is the definitive choice for your business today and tomorrow.

    Designed to significantly lower IT costs and risks, Windows Vista Enterprise meets the needs of large, global organizations with complex IT infrastructures.

22. What are “cookies” and why do I receive them while connected to the Internet?

    A cookie in Internet terms is a small text file sent from an Internet server to a web browser to be stored on a user’s computer. The file is stored for future access by the same server. Usually, cookies store basic information about an individual to identify him to the server and often to setup a personalized web page or web browsing experience for that user. For instance, when you visit a web site it will ask for your name or other information. The information is sent to your web browser for storage as a cookie file. The next time you access that server, you don’t have to re-enter the same information. It will retrieve the information from the cookie file. This allows companies and individuals to personalize their web sites for each visitor.

23. How can I make sure my computer is ready for an upgrade to Vista?

    The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor will help you to determine if your Windows XP-based PC can run Windows Vista. Please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx

24. How do I setup Outlook email archive folders

    To start the archive process, you will need to create an Archive.pst file:
    - Open Outlook.
    - Click the File menu, click New, then choose Outlook Data File.
    - Select Personal Folders File (.pst) and click OK.
    - Type archive.pst in the File name field and click OK.
    - Type Personal Folder Archive in the Name field and click OK.
    You should now see Personal Folder Archive in your Folder List. If Outlook is not configured to show the Folder List, click on the View menu then click Folder List.