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Excerpts

Contents

Introduction
Using This Book

Chapter One CHOOSING A COMPUTER
Comparing Brands: Windows-Based Computers vs. Macintosh
Buying a Used Computer
Desk-top vs. Laptop
Comparing Features
The Deciding Factor: Service and Support
Buying Printers
Service Contracts for Other Items
Where to Buy

Chapter Two PREVENTING PROBLEMS
What Makes Computers Act Weird
Why Geeks Have Fewer Computer Problems
Getting Along with Your Computer
General Software Smarts
Backup Basics
Preventive Procedures

Chapter Three STARTUP PROBLEMS
No Power Light
Power Light On, Both CPU and Monitor Are On, but You Get No Video
Mac: There's Nothing on the Desktop
Windows: Reports "System Configuration Has Changed"
Windows: Reports "Hard Drive Failure"
Mac: Disk with Question Mark Appears
Screen Not as Expected
Date and Time Errors
Sad Mac Face or "Beep" Alarm
Immediate Crash: "System Error," Cursor or Screen Locks Up/Freezes, or Other Disabling Event
Computer Locks Up/Freezes Ten to Twenty Minutes After Startup

Chapter Four THE STUBBORN RAM
Reports "Out of Memory" or "Insufficient Memory"

Chapter Five VIDEOVAGARIES
General Weirdness
Rolling Screen, Static, and/or Lines; No Clear Picture
Red-, Blue-, or Green-Tinted Screen
Only Partial Image On-Screen
Brightness Fluctuates
Screen Doesn't Respond to Commands
OldMonitor Problems

Chapter Six HARD-DRIVE ISSUES
Mac: Hard-Drive Icon Missing
Silence
Knocking
Windows: Says "Insert System Disk"
Windows: Reports "Hard Drive Failure"
Windows: Reports "Data Error Reading Drive C"
Reports "Not Enough Space to Store" or "Unable to Write to Disk"

Chapter Seven FLOPPY-DISK FAILURES
Can't Read Disks from Other People's Computers
Can't Transfer Information to Floppy
Disk Is Reportedly Full but That Seems Impossible
Every Disk Is Locked
Can't Insert Floppy
Can't Eject Floppy
Disk Errors on Floppy
Noisy Floppy

Chapter Eight COPING WITH THE CD-ROM DRIVE
CD Doesn't Show Up When You Put It In/Can't Read CD
Audio CD Doesn't Play
Computer Freezes When CD-ROM Is in Use

Chapter Nine TERRORS OF THE TAPE DRIVE
Installation Trouble
Problems Restoring Data
Freezes

Chapter Ten REASONING WITH THE REMOVABLE STORAGE DEVICE
Drive Not Working
Can't Read Disk
Disk Noisy When Inserted
Computer Freezes When Drive Is Used
Can't Write to Disk/Error Message Appears

Chapter Eleven CALMING THE KEYBOARD
Spill on Keyboard
Windows: Keyboard Not Working
Mac: Keyboard Not Working
One Key Doesn't Work
Pressing One Key Delivers Another Character

Chapter Twelve TAMING THE MOUSE/POINTER DEVICE
Mouse Needs CPR
? Windows: Mouse Won't Cooperate with Modem
Mouse Lies Down on the Job

Chapter Thirteen SCANNER SOLUTIONS
Scanning for Beginners
Scanning Without a Scanner
Scanner Doesn't Scan
Scanner Light Isn't Working

Chapter Four-teen POINTERS FOR PRINTERS
Printer Having a Tantrum
Not Printing
Produces Blank Page
Prints Garbage
Paper jam
Won't Grab Paper
Won't Print from One Particular Program
Quality Is Poor
Can't Find Supplies for Printer
Mac: Printer Quits Partway Through job
Printing Sideways
Printing Envelopes

Chapter Fifteen MAKING THE MODEM MIND YOU
Modem Not Working
Seems Slow
Particular Program Can't See the Modem
Dialing Problems
Disabling Call Waiting
Silent Modem
Connection Failure
Faxing on Your Computer

Chapter Sixteen SOUND-CARD SOLUTIONS
No Sound
Sound Unsatisfactory
Only Some Programs Produce Sound
Intermittent Sound
Other Sounds Work but You Cannot Play an Audio CD

Chapter Seventeen LAPTOP TECHNIQUES
Can't Find Battery
Battery Won't Charge
Won't Turn On
Doesn't Recognize PC Card
Can't Eject PC Card
Doesn't Show Network or Get Dial Tone
No Video
Video Problems
Keyboard Not Working
Trackball Goes on Strike
Trackpad Doesn't Work/Cursor Is jumpy
Won't Go to Sleep
Traveling with Your Laptop
Making a Presentation

Chapter Eighteen APPLICATION/SOFTWARE PROBLEMS
Can't Install Software or Upgrade
Software Locks Up/Freezes
Can't Print from Application
Mac: Bomb Appears When You Pick a Different Font
Mac: Application Frequently "Unexpectedly Quits"
Uninstalling/Reinstalling Application Software
Identifying Software Version

Chapter Nineteen DOCUMENT/FILE DILEMMAS
Problems Transferring Files
Problems Converting Files
Problems Finding a File
File Deleted in Error
File Cannot Be Opened
Mac: Application Is Missing
Mac: Processing Is Slow
Mac: Calls for Ejected Disk
Lost Password on a File

Chapter Twenty RECOVERING DATA
Limiting Damage in an Emergency
Reports "Document Cannot Be Read"
Getting to Data After a Crash
If You Had No Backup
Getting Professional Help

Chapter Twenty-one USING THE INTERNET
Choosing a Provider
Trouble Connecting
Images Slow to Appear
Sending and Receiving E-Mail on the Road
Sending and Receiving E-Mail Without Internet Access
Sending Files
Credit-Card Protection
Surfing the Net
Downloading
Preventing Unwanted E-Mail
Controlling What the Kids Can See
Crashes/Lockups/Freezes While You Are on the Internet
Browser Error Messages
"Transfer Is Interrupted"

Chapter Twenty-two WHEN THE COMPUTER SEEMS TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN
Any Odd Behavior
Periodic Freezes/Lockups
Computer Is Slow
Routine Operation Gets Strange Results
Program Opens Other Than the One You Tried to Open
Mac: Icons Look Strange
Random Characters Appear
"Blue Screen of Death"
Mac: Trash Won't Empty

Chapter Twenty-three SECURITY ISSUES
Password Forgotten
Creating Crack-Proof Passwords
Preventing Theft
Removing Information from Your Computer Before You Sell It

Chapter Twenty-four COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER COMMUNICATION
Exchanging Word-Processing Documents
Exchanging Quicken Files
Exchanging a Database
Exchanging Spreadsheets
Sending/Receiving a Computer File Using a Fax

Chapter Twenty-five GETTING THE BEST SERVICE
Guidelines When Calling for a Pickup or Dropping the Computer Off for Repair
What to Take to the Service Center
When Sending Away a Computer Under Warranty
When the Computer Is Not Under Warranty
When the News Is Bad

Chapter Twenty-six RETIREMENT PLANNING FOR YOUR COMPUTER
Upgrade It
Sell It
Donate It
Keep It

APPENDIX A BASIC PROCEDURES
Minimum System Startup
Reinstalling the Operating System
Resolving Driver/Extension Conflicts -Reinstalling Drivers/ Extensions

APPENDIX B YEAR (Y2K) PROBLEMS
Hardware
Operating System
Software

APPENDIX C DEFINITIONS

APPENDIX D RESOURCES

INDEX