| Troubleshooting a laptop or a desktop computer | | | | You will then be able to access your drive and |
| can be a daunting task but with a systematic | | | | backup all important data directly to that |
| approach you can learn to cope with some of the | | | | computer. |
| headaches when facing a computer crash. There | | | | Once the backup is done and most important |
| are so many possibilities and scenarios that can | | | | configuration are written down, again if your |
| cause your computer or laptop to go down. When | | | | operating system is somewhat accessible. You |
| problems occurs the first thing to do is to | | | | are now ready for the following step, formatting |
| determine if you have a software or hardware | | | | (wiping your hard disk clean) and re-install the |
| problem, finding out if the problem is actually a | | | | operating system, providing that you have your |
| physical issue like a bad component such as | | | | official operating system license cd, then once the |
| memory, hard disk, motherboard etc. or a | | | | operating system is installed, you will need to |
| software issue like a bad driver, a virus or | | | | re-configure all your internal and external |
| spyware, corrupt system files etc. | | | | peripherals such as: sound card, video card, |
| If you suspect a software issue and don't really | | | | network card, modem, printers, scanners |
| want to spend the whole day finding out if you | | | | etc.(keep in mind that on some systems |
| have a bad video driver or virus , spyware, or | | | | depending on the chipset of the motherboard, |
| system file corruption, then the best thing to do is | | | | you will be spared from installing some drivers, |
| to format your computer or laptop, meaning | | | | nevertheless it is always advisable to get the |
| wiping out the hard disk clean. I suggest doing a | | | | latest drivers from the manufacturers sites. Your |
| backup of important data if possible if your | | | | final step will be to restore all backed up data, and |
| operating system is accessible. If your data is | | | | finalize the installation of all additional software and |
| extremely important like for most people and a | | | | other downloads that you may require. Don't i |
| backup system was never put in place before the | | | | repeat please don't forget your email and address |
| time of the crash, and the operating system is | | | | book backup too. Once the computer is |
| not accessible, then you will have no choice but to | | | | formatted, it will be impossible for you to go back |
| remove your hard disk physically from the | | | | and recover lost data if you are not a |
| computer or the laptop and place it in another | | | | professional with specialized tools and software. |
| computer as a slave. If you are equipped with an | | | | A hardware issue is a little difficult to pin point |
| external hard disk enclosure, you could simply | | | | especially on laptops, many issues can make a |
| install that drive that needs to be backed up inside | | | | computer or laptop not want to boot up or even |
| that enclosure and you will directly connect the | | | | turn on. I would advise calling a professional if you |
| enclosure via a USB port to a working computer. | | | | aren't sure what is it you are up against. |