“You can Fix your computer yourself”

Here are some common PC problems you may be able to fix by yourself:

Before we start a word of warning about (ESD). (Electric Static Discharge) ESD is the sudden discharge of electrons from positively charged objects to negatively charged objects. The transfer of electrons occurs frequently. The human body generates ninety percent of ESD occurrences. The human body can feel static electricity at levels over 3.500 volts.

Costly damage to electronic components can occur with the transfer of electric static from the human body as small as 15 volts of discharge. The movement of a technician at an unprotected workstation can generate as many as 6,000 volts of static electricity causing major damage to electronic components. 

To prevent ESD you can buy ESD kits from computer stores. If you do not buy one make sure that you don't touch any computer components with out discharging your self first. Touch something else first. Or touch the PC case first before touching the components. Make sure it is metal and make sure you don't move your feet after discharge.

1. You turn on the computer, but nothing happens, no lights, no noise, no nothing.

No lights, no beeps, no fan noise. What is the first thing you do? Be sure the PC is plugged in! Even if you're absolutely certain that it is connected, double check. It could be a power strip that is not working properly. Try plugging the PC directly into the wall plug bypassing the surge protector or power strip.

Assuming that it is plugged in, you may have a bad power supply. This is a metal box located in the top and back of the computer. When it is on you can hear and feel the air coming out of the back of it. It is usually held in by four screws and the power cable connects to it for the back of the PC. Some of the power supplies have a switch on them. Make sure that switch is on as well.

On the inside of the PC the power supply has a wiring harness coming out of the side or front of it. Numerous power connectors are attached to the ends of the wires. These plug into drives, fans and other devices that may be installed in the PC.  It doesn't matter which wire connects where, as long as the connector fits. The harness also will have connectors to the motherboard.

When you open the computer, this mess of wiring can be very intimidating. Study it, and you'll find it less mysterious. Note the connections in writing, if necessary. Disconnect the wires and remove the power supply. Take it to the computer store and get a replacement with the same wattage or higher. This can cost as little as $25 and as much as 75.00. Depending on what wattage and manufacture you get.

2. The computer comes on, but nothing appears on your monitor.

In other words, Windows never shows up. You may have a monitor problem. Try using another known-good monitor on the computer and see if anything shows up on the screen. If the second monitor works, the first one is bad. Monitors are not worth repairing. Just buy a new one. Never open the back of a monitor to fix it. The capacitors inside monitors store electricity. You could be injured or even killed.

If the screen is dark, it could be a video card problem. First, find the video card. This is a circuit board that fits into a slot in the motherboard. The cable from the monitor connects to the VGA (video graphics adapter) port, which sticks out through the back of the computer. If the VGA port (video graphics adapter) is part of the system board, the video is built-in. You can't fix that. You can buy a video card or replace the system board. (Which we will cover later.)

Assuming you have a separate card, be sure it is firmly seated. The front end of the card can rise out of the slot inadvertently when the back end is screwed down to the computer frame. This can happen buy unplugging the monitor or the monitor cable was yanked or just by heat expansion. One other thing to check is the pens on the end on the monitor cable. Some times these pens get bent. Make sure all the pens are straight, they will plug into the the holes on the video card.

If you have another computer that is working perfectly, turn it off and remove the video card. Put the card that works in the problem computer. If the system works, you need a new card. If you don't have an extra card to test your system, buy a cheap one ($30-$50). If it doesn't solve the problem, take it back.

You can spend hundreds of dollars on a video card. But if you're running business applications and surfing the Web, buy on price. The expensive stuff is for serious PC er's. However the better the video card is, better the performance will be.

3. When you turn the computer on and it cannot find the C: drive.

If you have another computer, swap hard drives to diagnose the problem. If your computer boots with the other drive, yours is probably bad.

Sometimes, a reboot will work. Your drive might have enough life to spin up occasionally. If this works, transfer your data to another drive, quickly.

You can also check the system bios. ( oh no not the bios ). This can be a little intimidating going in their, but it can be done. When the PC is first booting hit the DEL key (Delete Key) or F1 depending on your computer manufacture. When the  CMOS setup utility screen comes up their will be a list of categories that will be seen. You want to look for standard CMOS features or IDE HDD auto detection. All CMOS screens can be a little different so you may have to look around. (Be careful not to change anything, if you do by accident just exit with out saving the settings and go into the CMOS utility again.) Once you find The IDE settings or IDE HDD Auto detection make sure your drive is listed. If the drive is not showing up try the auto detection. If it shows up you are ok on this setting. If it does not show up you may have a bad hard drive or a bad system board IDE controller.

Your hard drive is in the front of your machine. It will be about the size of a paperback book and is probably held in by four screws, two on each side. Power and ribbon cables connect to the back.

If you have 2 hard drives your 2nd hard drive could be is bad preventing your boot drive (C:) to start up. Try unplugging the seconded drive. Remove the power cord and the flat ribbon cable from the drive. Then on the the 1st drive make sure it set to a master or master with out a slave drive. This is done by a little jumper that is on the drive. Most drives have a legend on the drive showing you the settings.

Also a good trick is to unplug the power cord and the flat ribbon cable from the hard drive and plug it back in, sometimes heat and vibration can loosen these connections. Also unplug the flat ribbon cable that plugs into the system board and plug it back in.

Hard drives are cheap. You can get a replacement for less than $100. Get one boxed for retail, which will include instructions and any hardware needed.

Put the new drive in and install it as the master. Reconfigure the old drive as the slave. The instructions that come with the new drive should explain that. Boot the computer and install Windows on the new drive. If you're lucky, the computer will see the old drive (it will be D or greater:). You can then transfer your data to the new drive.

Replacing a hard drive is more difficult than the other operations. However, if you pay to have the work done, it may not be cost effective. You might be better off buying a new machine. So if you are adventuresome, and you have the time, changing the hard drive may be worthwhile.

A regular backup regimen will save you in case of hard-drive failure, assuming you aren't backing up to the same hard drive. If the drive is dead and you don't have a backup, a computer shop may be able to save your data. But it can be costly.

4. If you regularly get the "Blue Screen of Death," you may have a random access memory (RAM) problem.

This can be difficult to identify, it could be (RAM) hardware or it could be software trying to access protected memory in windows. For now we will stay with the hardware check.

Note the message on the blue screen, especially the numbers. Check it in Microsoft's Help and Support Knowledge Base.

Assuming you can diagnose it, a memory problem is easy to fix. If you can't find the diagnosis information you need online, you can try swapping out memory sticks from another computer. But that memory must be the same type. If all else fails, take the old memory to a computer store. The techs may be willing to test it. Not all places have a memory tester.

RAM memory are in slots near the microprocessor. They're about four inches long. Remove the old memory (they are secured by small clips on each side just push the clip down to release them) bring them to the store with you in a plastic bag (baggie) and the techs can test or match  it at the store. Memory prices are all over the map, depending on type and speed. Be sure you get the same type.

When you press the new memory into the slot, you will probably have to use some force. The clips on each end will snap into place when the memory is seated properly.

Know your limitations

Some things may be beyond your ability. For instance, upgrading a microprocessor can be dicey. Even if a faster microprocessor will fit in your motherboard, you probably need to upgrade the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). This is done through a process called "flashing," in which information is downloaded to change the BIOS. If flashing isn't done correctly, the computer can be rendered useless. Leave that to the experts.

There are times when fixing a computer just isn't worthwhile. New machines can be had for less than $500. That might be all you need for business purposes. So, if you're facing a $300 repair, maybe it's time to look around. That repair probably won't be the last.

More Tips -N- Trick and How to's coming soon