Troubleshooting
You should always consider the simplest solution first - the items detailed in this checklist are easy to fix and yet may cause what appears to be a serious problem:
Make sure you turn on all peripheral devices before you turn on the computer - this includes your printer and any other external device you are using.
Before you attach an external device you should first turn the computer off, then when you turn the computer back on again it will recognize the new device.
Make sure all optional accessories are configured properly in the computer's setup program and that all required driver software has been loaded (please refer to the documentation included with the optional accessories for further information on its installation and configuration).
Check all cables to ensure they are correctly and firmly attached to the computer - loose cables can cause signal errors.
Inspect all connecting cables for loose wires and all connectors for loose pins.
Check that your floppy diskette, CD or DVD media is correctly loaded and, in the case of a floppy diskette, that its write protect tab is correctly set.
Always try to make detailed notes of your observations and keep them in a permanent error log - this will help you to describe your problems to your reseller, dealer or service provider. In addition, if a problem recurs, the log you have made will help to identify the problem faster.
Sometimes the computer will give you clues that can help you identify why it is malfunctioning. In view of this you should keep the following questions in mind:
Which part of the computer is not operating properly - keyboard, hard disk drive, optical disc drive, display panel, touch pad, touch pad control buttons - as each device will produce different symptoms.
Check the options within the operating system to ensure that its configuration is set properly.
What appears on the display? Does it display any messages or random characters? If you have a printer attached, print a copy of the screen using the PRTSC key and, if possible, look up the messages in the documentation included with the computer, software or operating system.
Check that all connecting cables are correctly and firmly attached as loose cables can cause erroneous or intermittent signals.
Do any indicators light up? If so, which ones, what color are they and do they stay on or blink? Write down what you see.
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