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Denton Croft
Basic Computer Trouble Shooting.
The following steps are for a computer that freezes up or something (mouse, printer, keyboard, etc) quits working. I would suggest that you read the whole article before you start. The information is basic but if you feel intimidated by it, you can contact the Elfers computer department and someone there will help you. Future columns will discuss other problems.
First reboot the computer, if it is locked up, press and hold the off/on switch until the computer turns off. Let it sit for about 60 seconds or more. Turn the computer back on. During the boot up process you may be asked questions; press the Enter key to take the default action in each case. The computer may boot up in the safe mode, if that happens just reboot in the normal way. It is easy to tell if you are in the safe mode: First the computer opens a dialog box and tells you that you are going into the safe mode. At this time it may offer an alternative action such as "Restore.” Do not immediately consider this option but save Restore for more desperate times. If after a few minutes, you boot up normally and everything works, you are done.
The previous method will probably work 80 to 90 percent of the time. If it doesn't work for you, you may have reached desperate times. Again press the off/on switch for 10 seconds and wait a minute before restarting. As the machine boots, you should see a list of options, one option may say something like "Restore to last known good configuration". Choose that option. At this point you may be offered a choice of dates to restore to. Pick a date that is a week or more in the past. You will not lose any work or e-mail that you have received during the restore period but you will lose any software that has been installed. That is a good thing because that software may be what is causing your problem.
If you were not offered a "Last Known …" option, select safe mode. Once the computer boots into the safe mode, select "Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore". You will go through a series of windows explaining what will happen and how you can reverse anything you do. Eventually you will end up at a calendar with some dates highlighted or just a list of dates. In either case these dates are dates you can restore to. Pick a date that is a week or more prior to the current date.
At this point you have exhausted the basic trouble shooting methods. The last step would be to reload the operating system. Since you would lose everything you have installed on your computer I do not consider that a basic fix.
Future columns will touch on other problems, such as computer slow downs and random reboots.
Send your computer-related
questions to:
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Classes Start in October
COMPUTER I
COMPUTER II PICASA 10/25 10:00am – 12:00pm
EMAIL BASICS
Cost of the 3-day, 6-hour course is $33.00 and includes a student manual.
The one-day Email Basics class is $11.00. Call (727) 847-1290 to inquire or register, or come to the front desk at CARES Elfers Center, 4136 Barker Drive, New Port Richey.
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Can You
Guess
Answer to July: Diane Dare, a longtime volunteer at Elfers. Diane worked in the library in the old school building (we hope she will work there again in the renovated building). Nowadays she is to be found playing Bingo on Monday afternoons. Diane takes many trips with the Travel Dept. and writes for the Communicator every month.
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