Topic : Introduction Maintenance and Troubleshooting.

Topic : Introduction Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Maintenance fundamentals

As long as you operate the computer, you will face some common problems. The most likely problems that can be happened are slow down the operation, shutting down the applications unexpectedly and hanging up the application or the whole PC.

There are some steps that can help you not to face those problems.Using Backup

The Backup utility helps you create a copy of the information on your hard disk. In the event that the original data on your hard disk is accidentally erased or overwritten, or becomes inaccessible because of a hard disk malfunction, you can use the copy to restore your lost or damaged data.

To start Backup, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.

Follow the instruction as you need.It is the best practice to create a backup after installing the OS and other applications first time, so that you can role back to a stable position any time.

Detecting and repairing disk errors :

You can use the Error-checking tool to check for file system errors and bad sectors on your hard disk. All files must be closed for this process to run. If the volume is currently in use, a message box will appear prompting you to indicate whether or not you want to reschedule the disk checking for the next time you restart your system. Then, the next time you restart your system, disk checking will run. Your volume will not be available to perform other tasks while this process is running.

•E-Mail (Sending/Receiving)•Network Connectivity (User Logons) •Issues With the “Green Screen”•Printer Issues•The Blue Screen of Death

Top Five PC Problems

Ways to keep your PC running smoothly

•Reboot at least once a week•Run a virus scan and update once a week•Defragment your PC once a month•Run disk clean up once a month

• If your volume is formatted as NTFS, Windows automatically logs all file transactions, replaces bad clusters, and stores copies of key information for all files on the NTFS volume.

To start the utility follow the steps described below-

• Open My Computer, and then select the local disk you want to check.

• On the File menu, click Properties. • On the Tools tab, under Error-

checking, click Check Now.

• Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box.

Using Disk DefragmenterYou might need to be logged on as an administrator or a member of

the Administrators group in order to perform some tasks.• Disk Defragmenter consolidates

fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk, so that each occupies a single, contiguous space on the volume. As a result, your system can gain access to your files and folders and save new ones more efficiently. By consolidating your files and folders, Disk Defragmenter also consolidates the volume's free space, making it less likely that new files will be fragmented.

• A volume must have at least 15% free space for Defragmenter to completely and adequately defragment it. Defrag uses this space as a sorting area for file fragments. If a volume has less than 15% free space, defrag will only partially defragment it. To increase the free space on a volume, delete unneeded files or move them to another disk.

• You cannot defragment volumes that the file system has marked as dirty, which indicates possible corruption. You must run chkdsk on a dirty volume before you can defragment it.

• To open Disk Defragmenter, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.

Using Disk Cleanup

• When running an operating system as complex as Windows, you may not always know the significance of all the files on your computer. Sometimes Windows uses files for a specific purpose and then retains them in a folder designated for temporary files. Alternatively, you may have previously installed Windows components that you are no longer using. For a variety of reasons, including running out of space on your hard drive, you may want to reduce the number of files on your disk, or create more free space, if it can be done without harming any of your programs.

• Disk Cleanup helps free up space on your hard drive. Disk Cleanup searches your drive, and then shows you temporary files, Internet cache files, and unnecessary program files that you can safely delete.

Disk Clean up

• You can direct Disk Cleanup to delete some or all of those files.

• Use the Windows Disk Cleanup Wizard to perform all of the following tasks to clear space on your hard disk:

• Remove temporary Internet files. • Remove any downloaded program

files (ActiveX controls and Java applets downloaded from the Internet).

• Empty the Recycle Bin. • Remove Windows temporary files. • Remove Windows components that

you are not using. • Remove installed programs that you

no longer use. • To open Disk Cleanup, click Start,

point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.

• Or, click Start, click Run, and then type cleanmgr and then click on OK

Power Options overview

• Using Power Options in Control Panel, you can reduce the power consumption of any number of your computer devices or of your entire system. You do this by choosing a power scheme, which is a collection of settings that manages the power usage by your computer. You can create your own power schemes or use the ones provided with Windows.

• You can also adjust the individual settings in a power scheme. For example, depending on your hardware, you can:

• Turn off your monitor and hard disks automatically to save power.

• Put the computer on standby when it is idle. While on standby, your entire computer switches to a low-power state where devices, such as the monitor and hard disks, turn off and your computer uses less power. When you want to use the computer again, it comes out of standby quickly, and your desktop is restored exactly as you left it. Standby is particularly useful for conserving battery power in portable computers. Because Standby does not save your desktop state to disk, a power failure while on Standby can cause you to lose unsaved information.

• Put your computer in hibernation. The hibernate feature saves everything in memory on disk, turns off your monitor and hard disk, and then turns off your computer. When you restart your computer, your desktop is restored exactly as you left it. It takes longer to bring your computer out of hibernation than out of standby.

• Typically, you turn off your monitor or hard disk for a short period to conserve power. If you plan to be away from your computer for a while, you put your computer on standby, which puts your entire system in a low-power state.

• Put your computer in hibernation when you will be away from the computer for an extended time or overnight. When you restart the computer, your desktop is restored exactly as you left it.

• To use Windows Power Options, you must have a computer that is set up by the manufacturer to support these features. For more information, see the documentation that came with your computer.

Troubleshooting

Error-1: Computer does not turn on and appears completely dead.

Cause: a) Power cable connection is loose or disconnected. b) Power supply unit of System may be defected.

Symptom: Power indicator lead of system unit remains off after switching on.

Remedy:

a) Check the power Cable Connection from Main switch to System Unit power socket through UPS and Extension board.b) Measure the DC Voltage of the output of Power Supply that are connected to HDD, FDD, CD-ROM Drive etc. using Multi-meter. If 0 Voltage found then the System Unit power supply may be damaged. Repair/ Replace the power supply unit.

Error -2: The computer is ‘Shuts down’ frequently-

Cause: Generally it is due to faulty cooling system of processor.Symptom: Computer does not respond with the instruction from user before the computer shuts down.Remedy:

a) Shut down and open the casing of system unit. Check for the processor cooling fan and clean all the parts of the of the system unit. Restart the computer. b) Check the RAM.

• Error – 3: Printer prints garbage. • Causes:

a) Proper printer driver is not installed. b) The proper printer driver is not set as default.

• Remedy: a) Install proper printer driver. • b) Click start > Settings > Printer > Right click on your

physical printers driver > if the tick (√) mark is not exist before ‘Set as default’ then click on it.

• Error – 4: Printer output page is Blank.

• Cause: Printer data cable may have defect.• Remedy: Change printer data cable (One or more pin of

the printer data cable may disconnected or broken)

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