Being your own tech support person speeds up fixing the problem. While you’re not the expert in whatever fails to work the way you expect it, many companies have set up self-help systems anyway or they’ll ask if you did this ‘n that. So trying to solve the problem — or narrow it — can save you time as you’ll have the answers to standard tech support questions.

Photo from sxc.hu user laser

Tech support often follows a script. You contact them to report a problem. “Is it plugged in?” “Is it turned on?” They’ll continue down the list from the simple to the complex depending on your answers. Think of it like a flow chart: if yes, go this way. If no, go that way.

These steps are not in a specific order as different problems call for different approaches. The 10 steps will solve the most common problems.

• Reboot or shut down/turn back on. This works for almost every computer, accessory, mobile device and other electronics. When my digital video recorder (DVR) freezes or acts weird, I shut it down and turn it back on. This solves the DVR’s problem 99.99 percent of the time. We had to call the service provider once or twice in all these years. With laptops and PCs, try to shut down the computer before rebooting. Sometimes it can take a long time to shut down. Go do something else for a while and if the computer looks frozen, then turn it off. Wait a few minutes before turning it back on. I had a monitor acting weird (the other was fine) and asked my husband about it. He told me to turn it off and back on. (I can’t believe I didn’t even think of this.) It worked. I had never encountered this problem and sometimes we overlook the obvious.
• Run and update your anti-virus (daily) and anti-spyware software (weekly). I know plenty of successful professionals who don’t have their anti-virus applications automatically checking for updates on a regular schedule (more than once a day). Sometimes a situation requires turning off the anti-virus app and people forget to turn it back on. They forgot they turned off the software and never turned it back on. Most standard anti-virus apps run a full-system scan at least once a week.  Make sure yours does.
• Check cables and switches. The cable on my printer sometimes falls out. (The cable is barely long enough.) So first thing I do when printer doesn’t turn on — check that cable. My son has a laptop that only works if plugged in because the battery is dead and not worth replacing. He said the laptop wasn’t working. It was the surge protector where he had it plugged that was turned off.
• Go to manufacturer and developer websites. Manufacturer and developer websites often have forums, Q&As, support pages, knowledgebases and documentation with common problems and their solutions.
• Search the problem. Some of us forget that people experience the same problems and post them somewhere outside of the developer or manufacturer website. Look at this post I did in 2008 that solves the problem of the mouse not working in Microsoft Word. Notice the latest comment is a couple of months old. This is a three-year-old post. It’s tempting to ask a blogger, writer or expert for help. They won’t all respond or take the time to help because they get many requests like yours. They’re not trying to be rude, but they have jobs to do plus they are thinking “Let me Google that for you.” Be specific as possible in your search by entering error messages (if you get one) and the name of the application. Copy the error message or take a screen shot.
• Know how to save, export and import files in different formats. Many people emailed me when Office 2007 came out because they couldn’t open the .docx, .xlsx and .pptx files. Two solutions: Have the sender save these files as .doc, xls and ppt, and download the free Office file converter from Microsoft. Make “File > Save as” your friend. Thankfully, we’re seeing more standard formats like CSV files and ical, which you can import into Outlook, Gmail, Apple Address Book and more. Also find a resource (search for them — many free ones out there) that lets you save files into Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format because the reader is free and everyone can open and view them.
• Narrow down the causes. A new tablet kept posting a notification that the new microSD card may be corrupted. I looked for a microSD card reader so I could test it out to rule out the possibility it was a bad card. Two of my readers were broken! Luckily, I found one and it confirmed the microSD card worked. I also verified there were no files on it. If it had files, I would transfer them somewhere else for safekeeping before reformatting the card. Problem solved. No more notifications.
• Uninstall and reinstall. After trying everything, remove and reinstall the app unless it’s something big like an operating system. First, back up your data files to a safe place.
• Test it on another computer or app. A client’s website looked weird in Firefox. Rather than panicking thinking the client’s website had a serious problem, I checked the website in other browsers and it showed up fine. The problem was a small one (it would’ve been a biggie had it happened on all browsers).
• Backup and sync all data. I have a stand-alone external drive that holds a backup of all my computer data AND I also backup to a cloud service. The cost of various backup solutions have gotten cheaper so there’s no excuse for not having a backup. Remember to backup your devices, too.

Solving the problem on your own saves time, avoids sugary sweet scripts thanking you for being a valued customers and how they want to help you or waiting for someone to respond to your call or email. Even if you can’t find the answer, you have a list of steps you’ve taken and can get through the script faster.

What tech support tricks do you have?

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Meryl Evans

Michael is my much older brother. I’m such a nice little sister, ain’t I?

Anyway, we have about four more weeks before school begins. I love the Pajama Diaries (I’d so buy the book if it existed. Jill Kaplan (which happens to be my maiden name) is a mom who works in a home office as a freelance designer.

I can relate to many of the strips especially this one. We didn’t put our younger two kids into programs all summer, just the first month. So it’s been an adventure having them home. Though I have the advantage of being able to turn off my cochlear implant for instant silence, I prefer the silence with the cochlear implant on plus it lets me listen for doorbells and potential crying.

• Travel Etiquette: I enjoy reading about different culture rules and norms. Now if I could travel and put them to use… One fact I learned: when offering or taking a business card from an Asian (I’ve heard this from someone from Korea, China and Thailand), use both hands not one.
• Pump up your Twitter background with clickablenow: You’ll need to add a plugin or take some steps with your browser to add the clickable links. I tested it with Chrome and Firefox. Thanks to @mashable for mentioning the service and @clickablenow for the free service.
• Domparison: Comparing domain name prices.
• 25 Book Blogs: I always tell authors to seek out blogs that cover their topics. This will get you started. Blogcritics also reviews many different topics of books.
• UK government gets guide to Twitter: Here’s the Cabinet Office blog entry with the links to the guide’s various versions.
• Business.Gov: A Recommended Resource For Future And Current Small Business Owners

And for fun because we’re allowed…

• Manuals Online: Can’t find your manual? The User Manual Site may have it — it has 300,000+ manuals for over 5000 brands. You can always go to the manufacturer’s web site for manuals, too.
• 50 Greatest Trailers of All Time: Not captioned, of course.
• Computer hardware poster: One poster my daughter won’t have on her wall
• There, I Fixed It: In honor of my brother who thinks he can fix anything.

I rarely check out videos because chances are high that it won’t have captions or subtitles. But I bit on this Lenovo-produced video comparing its ThinkPad X300 to the MacBook Air [link: Dave Winer]. It presents a powerful visual message without using words.

But not one to let commercials sway me without research, I wondered how many attachments MacBook Air owners realllllly use. Lenovo smartly added attachments of products it has in its ultraportable Thinkpad X300 to the Mac Air to make people think thinner isn’t always better — you sacrifice some things.

Just looking at the two computers, the Mac Air still wows with its thinness. I found a twitterfriend who owns a Mac Air FabGal — check out our twitversation:

FabGal: Sorry, but mah MacBook Air could kick that ThinkPad’s ass. And also? It’s shiny! And silver! And my preshus. (drool)

Me: Mac Air does still look wowie wow wow. What do you add on to it regularly?

FabGal: I haven’t added anything to it so far. Everything transfered from iBook wirelessly. Am thinking of a superdrive, though.

So there you have it. One owner who doesn’t even have anything on her Mac Air. So seriously, how many Mac Air owners buy attachments and use them regularly? One attachment might not be so bad.

Nonetheless, the message comes through powerfully and will likely sway Windows users not to make the switch to a Mac … not just yet.

In 2000, I earned a certificate in Internet Technologies in hopes of becoming a Web designer. Working on the blog today reminded me why I changed my mind and went into writing instead.

Based on advice (you know who you are — I don’t want to put your name in here again and have people thinking I’m trying to make nice nice), I took off the excerpts on the main blog page so you don’t have to click the entry to see the full content.

But in doing this, my paragraphs disappeared (the extra blank line). The blog entries looked like a ruddy mess and hard to scan. I looked at the code and don’t see anything that would make paragraph <p> not add a blank line.

So back to excerpts because the unformatted content broke too many web content rules. Oh, the bolding was there as were the bullets, but the whitespace was terrible. Content overrules features when it comes to the following:

• Bold headings.
• Bulleted lists.
• Easy to find paragraphs.
• Short paragraphs and sentences.
• Text and background color contrast (too many blogs and web sites use gray for text with white backgrounds — this resembles reading in a fog. Black isn’t boring — black works.).

If my blog breaks these rules, then the feature will have to go away until I can solve the problem. So, the main blog page continues to use for technical and readability reasons and not for usability reasons.

Using a blog application, bloggers deal with the application’s quirks, CSS, templates, plug ins. So a problem might be buried in layers of CSS or code. In fact, Peter Shankman had problems with his WordPress: “… all of a sudden, after switching to Firefox and upgrading AVG, I can no longer upload photos to WordPress.”

I’ve had problems like this happen in the past where the solution meant disabling a plug-in. The problem with computers (especially Windows-based) is there are too many variables that can cause a problem. Even if you add one thing, it could be something you installed long ago that could be the cause of problems.

My computer needs a clean up as it has various problems. However, using registry cleaners and other cleaners could make things worse. I’ve used Registry First Aid, but it requires carefully reviewing changes before accepting them — and that took time.

Also tried CCleaner a long time ago — don’t remember why I stopped using it. I downloaded Revo Uninstaller, but haven’t tried it. Anyone have luck in safely cleaning a computer?

• Computer pranks
• Stamps all over a keyboard: Original! Colorful.
• 10+ Things to Do with Dry-Erase Markers: Don’t throw ‘em out even if the board is gone for good. Advisory: Don’t write on me! From your monitor.
• Online Copywriting 101: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet
• 100 Resources for When You’re on the Move [Link, Freelance Folder]
• Geek of the Day: Geek Humor

• The Freelancer’s Toolset: 100 Web Apps for Everything You Will Possibly Need
• MindMapPedia is a library of publicly available mind maps.
• BookSpoke is a social network for readers and writers.
• Brijit: Content with 100 words or less.
• Catalog your books at Library Thing.
• Get the skinny on your zip code.
• Blog of quotation marks abuse.
• Periodic Table of Comic Books.
• Cup stacking caught on with my son and his friends. But dice stacking? Whoa.
• Three geeky goodies from TechRepublic:
  • Dirty Computers
  • Endangered Computers
  • Vintage Computer Festival

  Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

The recent announcement of the new 7 Wonders of the World prompted EWeek to start a fascinating conversation asking what should be the 7 Wonders of the Modern Computing World. You can read about the original 7 Wonders of the World.

The Apple ][ should be one of the wonders. It was the first affordable home PC. While other desktop PCs beat Apple, they were not affordable or realistic for homeowners. The Sony Walkman made music portable. While the iPod changed online music and music in general — the Walkman came first — if there’s room for both, then by all means.

ENIAC is another. Charles Babbage should also be considered. While he didn’t build anything, he originated the idea of the programmable computer. He sketched the archiecture for the difference engine, and scientists used the specs to build it in 1991. It worked. What do you think should be considered?

We’ve got old computers, laptops, and monitors sitting the garage collecting dust. Most of them don’t work anymore and we can’t just throw them out because they have parts that could potentially lead to environmental hazards. This eHow article provides steps, tips, and warnings for safely disposing computers.

The Dallas Morning News printed a story that covered not only electronics, but also items like furniture, lumber materials, and more. Here’s a list of places and ways to recycle stuff, some from the The Dallas Morning News and others from research.

Many schools including my kids’ elementary and middle schools participate in the Cartridges for Kids program. If you don’t have a school, we’d be glad to take your stuff. If you’re outside of the Dallas area, you may not want to ship it to us and one of these may have more convenient options.

Computers and Electronics

CollectiveGood collects mobile phones, pagers, and PDAs.

The County of Sacramento has many links to cell phone recycling sources.

DonateIT wipes drives clean and provides info on how wipe drives.

Freecycle consists of 4,132 groups with 3,913,000 members across the globe. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.

Free Geekery lists 10 ways to recycle old computers.

Guide to Computer Recycling and Reuse

National Cristina Foundation

Palm Recycling Program is a free service for recycling old and unused cellphones and handhelds.

ReCellular recycles and resells used wireless phones and accessories. It wipes the phone’s memory clean to eliminate all personal information.

Staples accepts computers and tech hardware. Charges $10 for large equipment.

TechSoup Recycling Guide

Clothes and Shoes

Tennis Shoes

Dress for Success donates work clothes to low-income women so they can wear them to job interviews.

Books

Most libraries accept book donations. If they don’t add it to their collection, they might save them for a book sale. Your area might have an organization that collects books for book sales or donating.

Books for Soldiers

American Library Association info on book donations.

Books for Prisoners and Prisoners’ Reading Encouragement Project

Drop your book somewhere and it could join BookCrossing.

Baby Gear

Newborns in Need is a charity organized to take care of sick and needy babies and their families.

Glasses and Hearing Aids

Lions Clubs for glasses

LensCrafters for glasses

Unite for Site for glasses

Lions Clubs for hearing aids

About.com Hearing Aids Recycling info

Hear Now for hearing aids

House Materials and Furniture

Dallas Habitat for Humanity accept specific building materials. Check your local organization to see if it accepts such items.

Others

Write Direct Marketing Association to opt out of junk mail for $1 check or money order. Do it online at www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist or send it to Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512. You must renew every five years.

Donate Cars for Homes

E-cycling Central lets you find recycling centers by location (U.S. only)

General Recycling and Reuse information

Green Dimes Junk Mail Reduction Kit promises to reduce junk mail by 90 percents and plant 10 trees in your honor for $15.

HUG Internationally is a Dallas area organization that works with orphanages and hospitals in Romania. HUG also addresses the problems of housing these babies, including repairs and renovation of buildings.

International Consumer Recycling Guide

National Recycling Coalition

Recycling Database

Updated: October 15, 2007

I’ve been dealing with the @#$(* computer for so long that I need a break. I’ll post an update as soon as I am up to it. Thanks to all for sharing thoughts, suggestions, and experiences. One thing that’s coming out of this — a netdrive. This is a standalone harddrive that any computer can access. It’ll be where I save all my data.

Paul sent me this and gave me a much needed laugh. I hope it does the same for you.

Click on image to see larger view in a pop up window.

I know this is an urban myth… but I look at it as a funny cartoon.

From the sponsor: Toronto cosmetic surgery has been changing the faces of many Canadians (and probably a few Americans who wanted to keep things secret) for years.

If you own the first edition, you won’t experience déjà vu while reading the second edition. The new one has many changes that you won’t recognize it. Whether you’re a power PC user or a casual one, you will benefit from the book. Because of the wide array of topics covered, I can’t imagine many geeks who know all of these tips. Sure, you can find ‘em all someplace on the Internet, but finding time for that kind of searching would prove challenging.

Instead of calling tech support and staying on hold or going to Google, check PC Annoyances for the answers. It’s impossible to have the answers to all the problems you encounter on a PC, but Bass touches on a bit of everything. If you don’t find the answer in the book, you might find enough clues to shorten your search.

GMail joins the book and its tips immediately pay off. Other than the usual Microsoft applications, get stress-busters for fixing annoyances related to music, video, CD, and general email. Mozilla, Firefox, and Thunderbird don’t make the cut this time. However, we know how the publishing industry struggles to keep up with tech changes. The book lists a few Netscape-related tips and what you can do in Netscape usually works in any Mozilla product since they’re based on the same “bones.”

How many times have you come across an interesting URL in a book that was a mile long and took several attempts to get it right? Bass takes care of that by using a URL shortening service making it easier and quicker to get the right URL on the first try. He provides links to software, humorous sites, and resources. After fighting a round with your PC, wouldn’t taking a break by going to a funny resource release a few tense muscles? It does for me.

His software recommendations include free and fee-based products. I recognize many of the programs and own some. Based on my experience, he provides excellent recommendations, so you can trust that he isn’t looking to pump up his stock with any of the companies. Most, if not all, of the programs come with a trial period, so you can play with them and see if they meet your needs. If not, uninstall and no harm done. If so, then thank Mr. Bass.

While writing this review, I am trying to avoid sounding like a replayed record of my first review. Most of the original review applies except the book has more pages. The only complaint I have lies with the warning boxes. They’re dark blue with black text. Not easy to read.

Bass writes likes someone who has battled with the annoyance and shares the solution. It’s conversational, enjoyable, and easy reading. You don’t have to worry about insults from those who think they’re the sultan of computers. Instead, Bass makes you feel better with his “buddy-style” advice. Thanks, Steve.

Title: PC Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Your Personal Computer, Windows, and More, Second Edition
Author: Steve Bass
Publisher: O’Reilly & Associates
ISBN: 0596008821
Date: May 2005
Format: Paperback
Pages: 252
Price: Cover: USD$19.95 Amazon: $13.77
CDN$: 19.57
UK£: 12.25