I have been discussing about general techniques to be use in troubleshooting in a previous post. I thought I should discuss little bit more about one thing I mentioned. That is patience: Relax state of mind that will not over react to the outside world.
Good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
I have come cross hundreds may be thousands of computer and internet related problems that been forwarded to me because someone one could not fix it. Ninety percent of the problems fixed less than five minutes. Do not take me wrong that I have special knowledge or power to solve those computer problems. However, carefully listen to the problem and tolerate the hard time some hardware and software gives you will give you the magical power to solve it.
As soon as something goes wrong or dose not works people, start screaming about it.
My computer is not working.
I cannot type anything
Dam this computer stuck again.
How can I print I dose not print?
Computer runs too slow I cannot work like this.
Why my computer is not responding?
This is just some of the screaming you usually hear when things go wrong. Next, you see a frustrated person trying to get some help. Problem will not be properly explained to the person who is willing to help because he/she is already gone mad about the problem. Therefore, it will be hard to fix the problem and things can go worst. Finally scream at the person who tries to help and leave the problem as it is.
Ideally, you should be more responsible and look into the problem in a clear mindset. You should look at that as a simple problem. For example if the keyboard is not responding, simply you can follow some general trouble shooting steps.
Try to press different keys – May be couple of keys are not working
Check weather the keyboard is connected to the computer and how it is connected.
Try to disconnect it and reconnect it see it is going to work.
If it did not fix the problem then try to restart the computer and see it might fix the problem.
Only trick is to think of all the possible things that can go wrong. Remember to start from the simplest thing. You do not have to be technical. Try simplest things like check all the wires are connected, power is on, and power is going to the device by checking the power light.
Then as the last step look for help. That can be Google, friend or technician. Again, remember not to be stressed about the unsolved issue. Explain what you noticed and what you tried to solve it clearly. Then it is much easier for other person to have a good picture of what is really happening with your device. If you are getting the help over the phone, remember it is not an easy to fix things remotely without looking at the real thing. Try to explain much as possible.
Do not get stressed or loose your temper over the technical issues you come cross. You are not working with super intelligence perfect devices or machine. You control it. Treat it gently and in any case of technical issue try to understand what is wrong. Then try to find the answers. Getting frustrated and angry will not solve it at all. That is the key to solve it.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
