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Troubleshooting common problems with hardware in the classroom

By: Andrea Jacobs

Please look through this guide and see if your question can be answered by following the directions provided. If you still can’t fix the problem or your problem is not listed, contact the technology coordinator. Thank you!

My computer won’t turn on??Is the battery charged? If not, plug in the

charger and plug into an electrical supply.Is it in sleep mode?Hold down the power button for a few

seconds and see if it will turn on.

My computer takes a long time to startup?

Check to see if programs are set up to start when the computer is started. This will slow down startup and is likely the cause.

To check this, go to Control Panel and click on system configuration and deselect programs that are not needed on startup. Also a performance check can be ran from the control panel to disable unneeded programs at startup.

If your computer does not have enough hard drive; it could cause a slow startup. This is most likely not the case though.

Also updating Windows may help speed startup. This can be done on the bottom panel or through the Control Panel.

Information by Computer Hope, 2012

Screenshot of System Configuration

I can’t connect to the internet??Check to make sure the wireless button is pushed.Click on the little icon on the bottom of your screen

with two computers and a wireless signal coming from them.

Make sure that it is connected. If it is connected, press disconnect and then reconnect.

Check your password for that wireless connection that you are trying to connect to.

Also try running network troubleshoot from the Control Panel.

The wireless router may need to be restarted if nothing else works. Contact one of the Techs.

Checking wireless properties and password

My sound doesn’t work??Check the volume by clicking on the icon in

the bottom right corner with the speaker. Is it on mute??

If using headphones, are they plugged in?? Is the cord loose?? Are they plugged into the right place??

Check other volume settings in the program you are using. Are they clicked to on??

My screen froze???Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete at the same time. Then

click on Task Manager. Close the programs that are not responding or all of them.

Restart the computer.If all else fails, shut the computer down by

holding power button. This will cause unsaved work to disappear. Only do this if nothing else works.

My SMARTBoard does not react to touch correctly (puts marks in wrong spots)

It is out of alignment. It needs to be calibrated. On the SMARTBoard hold the mouse key and the keyboard key on the base of the board at the same time.

Follow the instructions on the SMARTBoard and click the nine locations in the center to realign .

Screen shot of calibrationhttp://webpage.pace.edu/ms16182p/troubleshooting/interactivewhiteboard.html

I can’t log in to the computer- it’s locked??Try username: user

password: eaglesIf the student forgot to log off, the username

and password would be theirs.If those two ways don’t work, take computer

to library because only the technology coordinator can unlock the computer.

My overhead projector is on and the fan is running, but I can’t see anything??

The lightbulb is most likely blown out. You will need to put a new lightbulb in.

If the picture is not clear, refocus the lens or clean the lens carefully.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4485253_repair-overhead-projector.html

My pens are not working on my SMARTBoard??

First check and make sure all pens are in the trays and then try using a pen.

Check the pen trays and make sure that nothing is blocking the sensors such as pieces of paper.

Make sure the pen is making direct contact with the board and writing is not too fast.

http://www.cvs.k12.mi.us/21/Documents/SMART-Board-Issues-b.pdf

SMARTBoard projector keeps turning off??Check to make sure all cables are connected

properly.Clean the filter.Change the bulb.

www.bsapp.com/smartboardfiles/Smartboard Trouble Shooting Guide.doc

The netbooks will not charge??Make sure the cart is plugged into the

electrical outlet.Check the charger and make sure it is not

broken and plugged into the cart securely.Make sure each netbook is plugged into a

charger inside the cart.Make sure the light is lit on the back of the

cart. This will indicate if the cart is charging.

The SMARTBoard’s light on the front is red or blinking green???

The light must be a solid green to work.If it is red, the projector is not connected to

your computer.If it is blinking green, the computer must

have the SMARTBoard software installed.

My print job is sent to a different printer??Check to make sure that it is not being sent

to a default printer each time.To change the default printer, go to devices

and printers and right click the printer and select to make your default printer. This is sometimes a problem with Windows 7.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/185111/10_biggest_printer_problems_and_how_to_fix_them.html

My document won’t print??See if the light is blinking on the printer. If it

is blinking, that means that it was sent. Check to make sure there is paper loaded. Also make sure there are not paper jams.

If the light is not blinking, check to make sure that the print job was sent to the right printer. Also make sure that printer software is installed on your c0mputer. See the previous slide if it is not printing to the right printer.

Resources Computer Hope, 2012. http://

www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000179.htm Pace University, 2012.http://

webpage.pace.edu/ms16182p/troubleshooting/interactivewhiteboard.html

PC World, 2012.http://

www.pcworld.com/article/185111/10_biggest_printer_problems_and_how_to_fix_them.html

www.bsapp.com/smartboardfiles/Smartboard Trouble Shooting Guide.doc

Chippewa Public Schools, 2010.http://www.cvs.k12.mi.us/21/Documents/SMART-Board-Issues-b.pdf