I received a lot of requests for copies of a document I published a year ago, Troubleshooting Common Computer Problems. At the suggestion of Edtech Sandy (aka Sandy Kendell), I tried to upload it through Google Docs to no avail (though it kind of worked in my WordPress.org site) so I’m guessing WordPress.com doesn’t allow Google Docs. Please feel free to disabuse me of that conclusion.
I uploaded instead through my Scribd account. Here is the original document and a different way of displaying the same problems (viewed best in FireFox):
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-8 technology for 15 years. She is the editor of a K-6 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, creator of two technology training books for middle school and six ebooks on technology in education. She is the author of Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, Cisco guest blogger, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeacherHUB, Technology in Education featured blogger, IMS tech expert, and a bi-weekly contributor to TeachdHUB and Write Anything. Currently, she’s editing a thriller that should be out to publishers next summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.
Gee thanks for this wonderful post! You always give us great information. I personally find this interesting and really clears me off from my questions.
I’m, beginning to know that I really learn lesser than I knew..
Anyway,
thanks mate!
I’m always surprised how many parents of my students don’t know these simple solutions. They think I’m brilliant when their children come home with these fixes. Hehe.
[...] you read my post claiming WordPress didn’t allow Google Docs, that’s old news now. It seems WordPress [...]
Hi, I’m Nicolene Esperanza Menezes and I am from Cape Town, South Africa. I have a problem; When i turn my p.c on It powers up and makes one beep which is good but my monitor doesn’t go on even though my monitor goes on when any other p.c is connected to it. What is the problem and how do i solve it. Thank you.
Hi Nicole, I’m sure you wiggled the plugs–that’s always a good starting point. Then unplug, count to ten and replug. Sometimes (more times than you’d believe) that fixes it.
If there’s no joy, it sounds like either the software for the video card in the computer box–the CPU–or the hardware itself. Is it still under warranty? Or, can you have someone check that?
Good luck! This is definitely a problem a third grader can’t solve!
i double click on the icon then a circle actually rotates near da curser and in another ten second it goes off …. tats it the applications are not working …it happens for fifa 10 and fifa 12
but not with all
in starting wen i tried fifa 12 it showed some dl_dx is missing and i used da dxl fixer and after tat i didnt get a mesage but instead am getting da circle rotates near da curser and goes …the app is not working.. .wat am i supposed to do
What app are you trying to use?
pls I need a solution to my problem.
My del laptop can not detect any external accessories or peripheral if I insert in my laptop port hub.
Check your drivers for the port. They may need an update. I have a similar problem right now with my HDMI port.
why cpu makes a beep sound.
Many beep sounds are standard. Is it giving you a problem?
i see a green line left side of my screen. it is present even in the time of booting. will you tell me a solution ? pls…….
It sounds like a hardware issue. How old is the monitor?
just 2 years
That’s not very old. Monitors should last 5+ years. It could be a driver issue, but those are hard to diagnose via internet. Are your video drivers up to date?
Hi I’m Mark and I have a problem with my PC. It beginning to run slow. I have a licensed antivirus and it say’s that my PC doesn’t have any virus. I want to know what is the possible cause why it turns slow.(i don’t have many files saved)
Good you don’t have a virus. There are a lot of reasons why it could run slowly. Try Adaware and Spybot. They’ll help clean things out also. Also, run a defrag.
Good luck!
Why is my computer not being able to download resumes and won’t open them to see them?
Can you give me more detail? What’s the error message?
[...] 20 Common Computer Problems and Solutions (a Third Grader Can Do) [...]
[...] 20 Common Computer Problems and Solutions (a Third Grader Can Do) [...]
my computer dell processor fan produces a racing sound and does not display on the screen what could be the problem
[...] 20 Common Computer Problems and Solutions (a Third Grader Can Do) [...]
hi, im having a annoying problem ,my pc when turned on it wont beep and process info to the monitor. what may b the prob? pls help
Hi Rob
I always start with the basics–is the monitor plugged in, turned on? If you attach a different monitor to your CPU, does it work?
your cpu ,mother board 20 pin power connecion,12 volt 4 pin connection are not in good service, take out the connectors and replace it, remove memory card clean the connecting edges,replace it
Pleace am junioer computer maintainance. Pleace can u send me document by my address computer problem & solution. Pleace & 10q!
hi my problem is about desktop icons many times it changes different many files shape and not open y?
Cn you give me a few more details? I’ll see if I can help.
when i turn on my computer power supply(socket) the cpu turns itself on and the monitor displays a yellow light instead of a blue light on the power button.Neither does the mouse nor the keyboard turn on.its a dell vostro.
Yellow is stand-by. The monitor is getting power, but not connected to the CPU. Start by checking the connections.
if any problem is encountered that seems unsolvable do visit the following site:
http://remotetechhelp.us/windowsseven.html
I do get questions about hardware which I can’t answer. I’m more of a software/widget gal.
BTW, the link doesn’t work. Can you update?
my system is running very slow at the booting time
Always start with a virus check and a defrag.
when I bring up internet explorer msn homepage I get a warning box message form webpage -object error – then I can’t do anything
Hi Ron
My first solution when browsers act up is to change browsers. There are so many add-ons and widgets, I don’t think any one browser can keep up. I keep FireFox, Chrome and IE open at all times so I can copy-paste an address from one to the other to get it to work correctly. I teach my students to do that, also.
What operating system are you using, some OS do not work with internet explorer, pliz try the latest browsers
Windows. I need to do a problem-solving for Macs!
hi mam
my computer problem
computer start and some minutes Before computer Turnoff Automatically
next time i will try open the computer but computer don’t open
but open next Day computer open & Turnoff Automatically
That’s happening to several of my lab computers. I’ll let you know if my IT guys come up with a solution.
My Toshiba satellite Laptop takes too long to start up, i even get bored sometimes switch it off before going on
I will have to leave this for readers. I’m not too savvy about hardware.
[...] 20 Common Computer Problems and Solutions (a Third Grader Can Do) [...]
Reblogged this on Solving Problems, with fun and commented:
Great guide for common computer challenges. MUST READ
Thanks, KC!
why cpu’s green globs continuously and seems not display on monitor?
I don’t understand, Oscar. Can you clarify?
blue sound bar pops up on my screen at various times freezing my keyboard. I replaced keyboard but problem still exists. Can you help ?
I’m not sure what a ‘blue sound bar’ is. Can you send a screen shot to askatechteacher at gmail dot com?
blue sound bar is a blue bar shown on my screen created by using the top right keys on a standard keyboard to increase ,decrease, or mute sound . shoud only appear whenkey is depressed to adjust sound butthe bar pops up at different times on its own and freezes my keyboard
I’m afraid I’m useless on this. When I depress those keys, they accomplish their purpose without bringing up a blue bar. Twere me (in your shoes), if it happens every time, I’d unprogram those buttons and use the volume control in the systray until I figured out the answer.
I suspect you tried reboot already?
I have a Asus DVD weiter. It’s not ejecting. I had this problem before. But now it’s not ejecting for about a month. Plz, give me solution……..
There’s a small hole under most DVD drives that allows for emergency eject. Slip a straightened paper clip into that hole, wiggle around until you feel it catch on something and then slowly remove. It should pop the drive out.
Hi Mam,
Am using acer laptop .. In this via touch pad not able to click any ico.. i need click the i.e left and right hand what ever we have in laptop.. via touch pad i can able move cozer but not able click or select..Please help me out this
Hi Ravi
I’m sorry I don’t think I understand your question? Will the laptop not allow mouse clicks or finger clicks?
Dear Jacqui
Finger click not working
Ravi, hook up a mouse through the USB drive and see if that works. That will narrow down the problem
in mouse no problem.. only in touch laptop touch this problem..
It could be a driver issue. Go to the Acer website. Search your laptop and see if there are fixes they offer. If it’s still under warranty, have the seller swap it for you.
I’ve heard of others with this problem. It’s not as unusual as you’d hope with laptops.
k Mam Thks Lot .. One more doubt.. Am using data cardin my laptop.. shall i connect in my mobile via bluetooth using same data card.. if possible how can do that
Now you’re outside my expertise. When I get stuck on a problem, I google it and YouTube it. Often, you’ll find help. Good luck! Tech surely stretches the brain, doesn’t it?
These are very frustrating issues!! visit yourpcproblems.com for professional technical support or any questions or email me at colin@yourpcproblems.com
Well, these 20 require only brainpower. Others–like crashed hard drive–not so much.
Im better than you challenge me .
[...] 20 Common Computer Problems and Solutions (a Third Grader Can Do) [...]
[...] 20 Common Computer Problems and Solutions (a Third Grader Can Do)Great Websites [...]
my computer having a green in the screen and i can’t read anymore the words in the screen because my screen is dancing …please can you help me
It sounds like a monitor problem. Can you give me more details?
My PC sound system did not work well..
i think i deleted some software by mistically…
so, what i do now..
Can you reinstall?
My laptop does not shutdown. When you click shutdown, it rather restarts unless I use the power button to shut it. What is the problem and how can I resolve it?
Something in the shutdown routine is hanging it up. Ctrl+Alt+Del and see if you can identify it.
Your advice has not offered real solution to my problem. Are there other steps that I can take?
Twere me, I’d probably do a reformat (after running virus/malware checks, defragging, and cleaning out the computer of old files. If you download a lot (don’t know if you do), expect to reformat every 6-12 months. It’s a pain.
I was charging my laptop when l noticed the laptop and the battery were extremely hot.now it won’t come on what do?
Oh boy. Let it cool and try again. Doesn’t sound good.