Troubleshooting PCs
From WikEd
Descriptions, definitions, synonyms, organizer terms, types of
The two basic parts of every computer are:
- Hardware - any part of a computer that you can touch or see.
- Software - is the set of electronic instructions that tell the hardware components what to do.
The major hardware components you will find in a computer are:
- Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- Random Access Memory (RAM)
- BIOS - Basic Input-Output System
- Hard Disk Drive or HDD data storage unit
- Optical Drive (i.e. CDRom, DVDRom)
- Floppy Disk Drive or FDD
- Motherboard
- Expansion cards
- Power Supply PSU
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Monitor
Software is divided into two categories:
- System software (operating system) - The System software manages the computer hardware and ensures that all parts of a work together efficiently. Examples would be: Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, UNIX, Mac OS8, Mac OSX.
- Application software tells the computer how to do specific tasks, like write letters, play games, manage your finances, edit pictures.
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Application in classrooms
Troubleshooting PCs involves the following five steps:
- Identifying Symptoms
- Getting details about the symptoms
- Identifying possible causes
- Isolating the most appropriate cause
- Providing the solution and verifying
Always remember to:
- Check all connections (Unplug and replug if necessary)
- Shut down and reboot
Usage of Free support applications for troubleshooting assistance
Diagnostic Software
- Scandisk - HDD checking tool that checks for bad sectors and clusters on the drive (Windows OS)
- MemTest86[1]- used to check RAM from a Boot state versus within the OS
Cleaning Software
- Ad-Aware[2] for use in removing adware programs
- Spybot[3] for help in removing spyware
- ewido[4] spyware and mal-ware removal tool. This one is a 30 day free trial but it is a very good tool
- AVG Anti-Virus Free[5]
Lastly a good site for good free software "The 46 Best-ever Freeware Utilities"[6]
Evidence of effectiveness
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Critics and their rationale
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Alternative explanations due to Diversity considerations
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Signed “life experiences”, testimonies and stories
I have been using computers for over 20 years. In the field of agriculture there are drivers (Unskilled operators) and Operators (skilled). I am a driver. I couldn't troubleshoot a pc if I had to. Recently a news story was on the radio of a true computer troubleshooting genius that couldn't get power to the computer because the power strip was plugged into itself. I hope some computer genius fixes this site for Tom because it could be great. Phil [edit]
