Over the years I have been asked some questions frequently.
Here is a list of the most commonly asked questions:
Q: Why is my computer running slow??
A: Here are a few reasons:
1- There may be too many background programs running
2- Your hard drive may lack enough space for programs to run efficiently
3- The hard drive may be fragmented and needs to be defragged
4- Your system memory may need an upgrade. 512MB or more is suggested
5- You may need to check for device driver conflicts
6- Your system may need a registry optimization. Every time software is installed and removed the registry information is left behind
7- Your system may have been infected with a virus or malware that needs to be removed
Q: Why can’t I print?
A: Here are a few things to check:
1- Is it plugged in and is it on?
2- Check the print queue and cancel any jobs before printing again
3- In most cases restart your computer and printer
4- Check the printer cable
5- Check the printer option
6- You may need to change the ink cartridge
7- Check the print job and make sure your printer is not paused
8- Make sure the printer you are trying to print to is set as a default printer or is selected when printing
Q: Is it best to leave my computer running all day??
A: This is a question that I believe I’ve been asked the most and here is what I answer every time.
It is best to leave your machine running and maybe turning it off over night. The electricity used by your computer and monitor is about $125 a year if left on constantly. Every time you turn off your computer the hard drive shuts down discharging its electric current and on every boot up it needs to regain that charge. Continues shutting down and restarting of your computer can end the life of your hard drive prematurely. Your computer needs to warm up much like a car every time it is turned on. For these reason I believe it is best to leave your computer running.
Q: My Computer is “frozen” what do I do??
A: Here is what you can do:
1- Press & hold CTRL ALT DEL and click on Task Manager and restart your computer
2- If this cannot be done, press the reset button. If your computer doesn’t have a reset button you can press and hold the power button until the computer powers off and turn it back on
3- It is rare, but if that doesn’t seem to work, you can turn the computer off by unplugging the power chord
4- If the computer “freezes” more than once or twice you should have it repaired