Troubleshooting computers

Your computer switches on and works fine for around half an hour, and then switches off. What should you check?

• cooling system (fans, heat sync etc.)

• processor

• memory

• power supply

Answer explanation

If your computer works fine, and then switches off when it warms up. it means that the processor is overheating and the system is shutting down to protect itself. Occasionally, this can also be caused by swollen or popped caps on the motherboard.

Your computer runs correctly with no problem, but it is very noisy. What can it be? Choose all that apply.

• bearings on cooling fans

• power supply fan

• a wire is touching a fan

• a faulty SSD drive

• CMOS battery flat

You have an old computer with a VGA monitor. The colours displayed on the screen just don't seem right. There are colours missing or some colours are incorrectly shown.

• hard drive is faulty

• not enough memory

• monitor cable not connected properly

Answer explanation

Check both connectors; at the PC and at the screen.

When you switch off your computer and turn it back on again, it keeps losing the date and time settings.

• CMOS battery needs replacing

• You need to change a setting in Windows

• Faulty memory module

You bought a new printer, plugged it in, switched it on, and tried to print. The printer doesn't come up in the list of printers. What could the problem be?

• Printer is off

• Device drivers need to be installed

• You are using the wrong HDMI cable

Answer explanation

HDMI cables are for sound and pictures, not printers.

You bought new speakers for your computer. You plug them in and switch them on. You open your music software and begin playing a song. No sound comes out the speakers! What can you check?

• Update the drivers

• Check the volume level on the notification bar

• Check to see if the volume is turned up on the speakers

• Check to see if they are plugged into the correct AUX output on the PC

Answer explanation

Speakers plug into the GREEN aux sockect

You buy a new 128Gb USB 3.1 flash drive for your data backup. However, when trying to use it for backing up data, it is very slow. What can the problem be?

• The computer needs more memory

• The flash drive is plugged into a black or white USB port instead of a high-speed blue, orange, teal or red port.

• The hard drive needs to be defragmented.

Answer explanation

You will only get good speed from a USB device if it is plugged into a 3.0 or above port on the computer. The device must obviously also support USB 3.0 and above.

Your computer freezes and you need to switch it off, but when you push the power button, nothing happens. How can you switch it off? Choose the TWO BEST options.

• Kick the computer

• Press the reset button

• Hold the power button in for 5 - 10 seconds till it switches off

• Move the boxes next to your computer, get a torch, and climb under the table. Try and guess which is the power cable for the computer at the plug and pull it out.

You connect a second computer screen to your PC. However, both screens now show the same desktop. You want the screens to show different backgrounds so that you can use more than one program at a time. What should you check?

• Check to see that your display settings are set on "extend this display"

• Make sure that your display settings say "duplicate this display"

• Phone a friend.......

Answer explanation

Duplicate this display will make the screens the same, and extend will allow you to have two different screens.