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When the computer goes down, you panic. And it's no wonder.. you have reports due, the kids have homework, or your business has payroll to complete. How can you help speed things up and get back up and running quicker? If you have determined that your system needs to be taken in for repair, help your technician. Carefully document all errors you see on the screen. Does the error occur when the system is cold or only when it is warm? Note whether it happens only after being on the internet or running a certain game. A description such as, "It does this when I click on THAT" can be very helpful.Also pay attention to what hardware you have accessed such as recent use of the scanner or printer. Document at what point it fails.. is it after it counts the ram or before it loads the windows logo? Does it reboot on its own?Have you installed new software recently? If you recently loaded a new game or even a new internet provider cd, you could experience problems severe enough to require a reload of your operating system. If an installation failed without completing properly, you also may have problems. When you take your system in for repair, realize that there are no magic wands. Properly diagnosing a system can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Systems with problems that occur randomly are the most difficult to troubleshoot. If the problem cannot be duplicated for the technician, it may need to be run for hours or days to recreate it. Patience is important. Screaming or becoming irate can create unnecessary stress for you as well as the technician. Remember, he or she is there to help you, and I'm sure there are times the technician would like to shoot the computer just as much as you would! Bring all cables for accessories which require testing, such as printers and scanners. Most shops already have standard mice, keyboards, monitors and speakers. You will not need to bring these items unless they are suspected of having a problem. If you have your original documentation you may speed up the repair time on you system considerably. Also be prepared to bring in all your original disk or CD's you received with the system to save a second trip if they are needed. These contain drivers for internal devices such as the sound, video, network and modem cards, dvd players, and external items like scanners and printers. If it is determined a reload of your OS is required theses device driver files will be needed.It may also be helpful if you know what company the system was originally purchased from. Sometimes extended warranty information can be retrieved from them, or information on the components in the system.In addition, If there is excessive moisture, dirt, vibration (washing machine or railroad for example) or other factors where the system is located, please bring attention to it. You will also want to tell the technician if a storm recently passed through your area, and if there have been any power outages or brown-outs. In some cases, your homeowner's insurance may cover your electronic equipment if it was on a properly grounded surge protector strip. Transporting your system to the shop should include care as well. On the way to and from the repair shop, never put the computer in a trunk or back of a van or pickup without very thick padding or proper styrofoam packaging. It is still best to place the unit in a seat and strap it in to avoid jarring. Impacts of this nature can loosen cards and cause the system to stop working, or damage the hard drive irreparably.Keeping good notes and following these guidelines can help cut downtime and save you money in repair costs. |
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