Three Tips for Troubleshooting Computers
Do you sometimes feel you are surrounded by shit that doesn’t work? Your car makes a funny noise, your computer quits connecting to your external drive, the furnace stops turning on as scheduled?
When you think about all the things in your life that have computer components inside, a lot of these things can -- and do -- go wrong.
I'm old enough to remember when cars, phones, and TVs only had mechanical parts. Now cell phones, .mp3 players, drones, and many household appliances are computerized and/or connect to the internet. It's frustrating when these things quit working.
I've been working with computers now for twenty years -- mostly creating websites but also logging about fifty hours a week or more in front of a computer screen.
I've gone from avoiding having an email address until graduate school, to being the go-to person in my family and at work for computer issues.
In that time, I've developed a three step process for troubleshooting computer problems. If you're not as good with computers as you'd like, check these three steps first:
- Turn it off and turn it back on again
- Google the problem
- Ask an expert
And finally, there is one last thing you must have to successfully troubleshoot computer problems: The correct attitude or frame of mind.
Step One: Turn it off and turn it back on again
I know, you think it's a bullshit tactic that just stalls for time. But the reason the techs have you do that is because sometimes when you unplug it and restart it, it fixes the problem.
Why it works
When you see something go wrong on your computer, sometimes it's because your computer has gone down a complex path and the more you try to fix the problem, you actually only make it worse. Best to shut everything down and let the computer start with a clean slate.
Sometimes when you restart the machine, various patches and codes might be able to run and fix your issue.
One time I was helping a physics professor who reported that his screen went blank and you know what? It was because the monitor was not plugged in. Swear to God.
And yes, at work I often tell people to first try restarting their computer.
It gets you out of my hair.
Because it works.
Step Two: Search for a solution on Google
When I first started using the internet in graduate school, the internet wasn't very big. It took a certain amount of time investment to figure out how to post things online.
Also, back in 1997, Google didn't exist. Yahoo search wasn't that great. There just wasn't that much material out there.
But now, almost anything you can think of, someone has had a similar problem and often, they've put their question and if you're lucky, their solution, online.
Here's how to increase your chances of finding the answer:
- Enter the exact wording on the error message
- Use brand and model number
- Search for a manual, if it's a stand alone product
The other day John noticed that our thermostat had quit working. I googled the brand and model number, and found that someone else had the same problem. They suggested that some of the pins on the back of the unit were not connecting to the wall unit, and therefore the furnace did not know the house was too cold. I checked, and nudged the pins back into place and instantaneously, the furnace kicked back on.
The takeaway? Finding solutions online is not limited to computers only.
Step Three: Ask an Expert
To be honest, I often turn to this step sooner rather than later. I'm not embarassed to ask for help, because so often, people are willing to take my problems seriously. It's sometimes embarassing how quickly they solve the problem that I've been banging my head against for hours if not days or weeks.
I also find that coming humbly to a higher authority and asking for assistance reminds me how others feel when they come to me asking for help, and to not be cocky or obnoxious about what to me seem like easy problems.
None of the Above Steps Will Work Without This Last, Critical Step
This last step comes out of a book I read back in college: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I'm bad at remembering details about books unless I re-read them several times, but I do remember the general gist of one of his themes: It's useful to have the frame of mind, "I can do this" when it comes to tackling mechanical problems. Rather than sending your motorcycle off to a repairman, he claims it's better to get to know your bike intimately so you can troubleshoot problems right away.
Having that can-do attitude is also essential for tackling computer or coding problems. I'm not a coder but the few times I've been coaxed to look under the hood and poke around, I've had some surprisingly good results. Be willing to learn, and you'll find you do end up learning.
Then you'll be the person that people come to for help fixing their computers.