Computers -- and their owners -- are trapped in a never-ending soap opera. And just as is true for any self-respecting soap opera, you and your PC have fine moments together followed by heart-rending problems.
I am a regular viewer of this soap opera. Reader e-mails give me a pretty good way of knowing what the most common computer glitches are. Today we'll take a look at some of the problems you are most likely to face, their causes and how to fix them.
To start things off, I'll introduce you to the single most likely cause of any computer problem. Actually no introduction is needed. You've already met. The creator of most computer problems is the person sitting at the keyboard. Barring a relatively rare hardware failure, what you do and don't do is the usual source of most computer woes. So along the way, we'll discuss how you can become much less of a troublemaker.
Slow going
The machine, once fast and dependable, is just creeping along now. That sets readers to wondering if they need more RAM, or maybe a new hard disk or even a brand new PC. A slow computer is, by a mile, the most common problem that readers report.
But in almost every case, you can keep your credit cards tucked away. Adware and spyware -- stealthy little programs that track what you do on the Internet -- are a bigger problem than computer viruses these days. It seems that every other Web page is eager to plant one of these programs on your hard disk. It's not uncommon to see a hundred or more of these little programs infecting a computer.
When you think of how these programs work, it's easy to see why they slow down your computer. For one thing, each of these small and ugly programs takes up some of your computing power. When your computer has a bunch of them working away, it can slow your machine in a dramatic way. And since these programs are designed to use the Internet to report back to their creators, your Internet connection gets an added load too.
The good news is that there are excellent programs that keep adware and spyware out of your computer and find and eliminate sneaky ones that slip past. I'm most impressed with Superantispyware (www.superantispyware.com). That website offers both a free program that does an excellent job and a for-pay one that is even better. It's not the only kid on the block; other programs can also do the job. But your mission is clear: Install a program to guard your computer against this mess.
If you'd like to check out some of the other candidates for doing that, this web page does a good job of rating some of the best free programs: http://tinyurl.com/57cmn7 .
Stay well-connected
Most of what we do depends on having a good Internet connection. Without it, there's no e-mail, no way to use the web, no way to kill ugly-headed monsters in our favorite online games.
So when your Internet connection becomes undependable, or goes out entirely, panic sets in. Luckily there's a mindlessly simple way to restore that connection more than half the time. Turn off your computer, turn off or unplug your modem and any router you use. Count to exactly 22 and then turn everything back on. Doing this forces a new connection to the Internet and most often solves the problem.
At times, that won't work. The sensible thing to do next is to call your Internet provider and ask for help. Uninformed tinkering can take a pebble-sized problem and turn it into a boulder. For one thing, if the trouble is on your provider's side, nothing you do will make things better. For another, tech support by an outsider will force to you go through a logical series of steps that usually will get things working again quickly.
Freezes, glitches and bugs
Maybe your mouse is acting as if it's drunk, with the cursor jumping around the screen. Or the screen has frozen solid. In many cases, what you are experiencing is a computer with the hiccups. Before you dive in with more dramatic cures, try this. Turn the computer off and take a break for a few moments. Then turn it back on. If the problem goes away, stop fixing. One-time problems should be ignored, not fixed.
Not all problems will disappear after restarting a machine. But, even then, it's not wise to jump right in.
My advice: Try to think of any changes you made just before the start of a recurring problem. If you can come up with a recent change, then undo it if you can. If you just installed a printer, temporarily remove the printer and uninstall the software that came with it. If you added a new program, remove it. Even if you just updated an existing program, remove that. Once you've returned things to normal, see if the problem persists. If the problem is gone, you now know what caused it. Contact the manufacturer of the device or software you removed and ask for help before adding it back.
One last try
If the problem persists. There's one other thing to try. Windows has a wonderful little helper called System Restore. It is an actual working time machine. Using it will return your computer to the way it was set up before the problem started. While it may remove some new program or driver you installed, it will not remove any data you've created.
It can be a real lifesaver. To use it, use the Start button to navigate to Windows Help. You'll see a search box. Type the words "system restore" into that box. You'll then be guided through the process of using System Restore.
The final opttion
So, things are still a mess despite all your efforts. You're on the verge of calling that nice fellow at work who says he's practically a computer genius. Well, maybe he is. But what if he isn't? He could leave a trail of death and destruction behind. And if he does, it's unlikely that he'll pay for the cost of having a professional undo the damage. Skip the middle man. Unlimber that credit card of yours and take the machine in to a good repair shop.
