Recently I noticed extremely slow internet connection and it keeps on disconnecting regularly. If you are experiencing such symptoms in your work or home network, you need to act fast.
Let us see the symptoms in details
• Internet speed is considerably slow
• Internet keeps on dropping and coming back
• When you visit a new website most of the time it says page cannot be found
• Web pages load without images and styles.
• Sometimes you might have to restart the router in order to get the internet back.
• Ping command will take longer and frequent timeouts.
If you are experiencing any of these problems with your internet connection, please go through the following checklist.
First, check with your internet service provider whether there is a problem with the internet connection. You might able to check if there is any scheduled system maintenance going on with the service provider website or by calling them. If there is nothing wrong at their end, you have to move to the next step.
Check all the computers connected to the internet whether any of the machines using peer to peer, or torrent downloading programs as these programs can kill the connection speed.
If that is not the case, you might have to check each machine for send and receive packets. In windows machines you can simply check that in Local Area connection. Alternatively, you can use this command in command prompt to check both sent and receive bytes and packets.
If you notice large numbers in send and receive packets without internet activity then there might be virus or Trojan infection. In our case, couple of computers were infected with Trojans that killed the local area network.
You can use softwares like etherboy or wireshark to check the network statistics to understand which machines are sending more packets. However, if it is a small network you can simply remove one computer at time from the router and check the internet connection status-using ping command.
Anyway I would recommend to install Malwarebyte which is free for all your computers and scan them out.
Showing posts with label Fix Problems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fix Problems. Show all posts
Monday, March 1, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
4 Common Mistakes you do when getting help over the phone
It is not easy to fix computer and internet related problems over the phone. You might have already gone through hard times trying to get help over the phone. I would like to go through some common mistakes you do when you trying to get help over the phone. Next time you can avoid them and get fix your problem easily.
1. Not having a basic understanding about the problem
Before you call out for help ask couple of simple question yourself.
What is the issue? My new printer dose not prints when I try to print a document.
When it gives me the issue? Every time I try to print a document
What are the error messages? There is not error message I can think of.
What equipment I am trying to use? Computer that runs Windows XP and XXXX Printer Model 0000X.
What you have already tried to solve the issue? Check the power and data cables connected properly.
This is only sample set of question but you can note down anything that you think is relevant to the issue. You do not require a technical knowledge for this.
2. Not describing the issue properly
Person at the other end cannot see your problem. You need to describe all the information you have gathered. However, remember to corporate with tech helper as they might have their own procedures to collect information. Do not tell them that what you think the solutions would be. For example, you might think that virus may cause your printer to give problems. However, you should not mention it as a solution but can give it as a fact. Appropriate way to inform it is as follows. I have detected a virus couple of days ago and I installed a XYZ antivirus.
3. Dose not likes to go through possible solutions and testings
Most of the cases tech help needed to try couple of simple tests in order to have a better idea about the problem. Sometimes they may look stupid to you. Restart the equipments, close all the running programs, uninstall and reinstall the program are some of them. That is simply to isolate the problem and to create a better starting point.
In addition, you might have to go through the steps you have already done and failed. Nevertheless, I would suggest you to follow what exactly they ask you to do in order to solve the problem.
4. Misunderstand the instructions
Another common mistake we do is to misunderstand the instruction given by tech help. Person on the other end dose not see what actions you are taking and what the result are. I use a simple trick. Before each step, describe three things to the tech help.
Where am I – I am on the ABC Installation screen.
Action I am taking – Select the Option A and click OK button
Where I went – Gives me the error message ABC cannot be connect to XYZ
If you try to avoid these mistakes, it will be much easier to get more help out of the tech support over the phone.
1. Not having a basic understanding about the problem
Before you call out for help ask couple of simple question yourself.
What is the issue? My new printer dose not prints when I try to print a document.
When it gives me the issue? Every time I try to print a document
What are the error messages? There is not error message I can think of.
What equipment I am trying to use? Computer that runs Windows XP and XXXX Printer Model 0000X.
What you have already tried to solve the issue? Check the power and data cables connected properly.
This is only sample set of question but you can note down anything that you think is relevant to the issue. You do not require a technical knowledge for this.
2. Not describing the issue properly
Person at the other end cannot see your problem. You need to describe all the information you have gathered. However, remember to corporate with tech helper as they might have their own procedures to collect information. Do not tell them that what you think the solutions would be. For example, you might think that virus may cause your printer to give problems. However, you should not mention it as a solution but can give it as a fact. Appropriate way to inform it is as follows. I have detected a virus couple of days ago and I installed a XYZ antivirus.
3. Dose not likes to go through possible solutions and testings
Most of the cases tech help needed to try couple of simple tests in order to have a better idea about the problem. Sometimes they may look stupid to you. Restart the equipments, close all the running programs, uninstall and reinstall the program are some of them. That is simply to isolate the problem and to create a better starting point.
In addition, you might have to go through the steps you have already done and failed. Nevertheless, I would suggest you to follow what exactly they ask you to do in order to solve the problem.
4. Misunderstand the instructions
Another common mistake we do is to misunderstand the instruction given by tech help. Person on the other end dose not see what actions you are taking and what the result are. I use a simple trick. Before each step, describe three things to the tech help.
Where am I – I am on the ABC Installation screen.
Action I am taking – Select the Option A and click OK button
Where I went – Gives me the error message ABC cannot be connect to XYZ
If you try to avoid these mistakes, it will be much easier to get more help out of the tech support over the phone.
Labels:
Fix Problems
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Patience is the key become a troubleshooting guru
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.
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.
Labels:
error,
Fix Problems
Monday, August 31, 2009
Must Know Data Recovery Scenarios
Data recovery is the process of salvaging data from damaged, failed, corrupted, or inaccessible secondary storage media when it cannot be accessed normally. Wikipedia
Data recovery sounds like complicated and need more technical skills to accomplish it. Yes it can be such process in some cases like forensic data recovery. Most of the cases are fairly simple and you could have done it by user self or knowing the basics of data recovery methods can save your data well and money. To start with lets see what are the possible data recovery scenarios.
Simplest and most common situation can be recover deleted a file/files or folder. (undelete data recovery)
As soon as you have notice that you have deleted a file that should not be deleted STOP what you do with your computer.
Copying files or any other activity will override the deleted file and it will be complicated and costly task to recover the file. Reason behind it is even after deleting a file (from recycle bin) it will not erase from the hard drive and it can be recovered easily. By adding more files or copying files or performing some actions on on your computer can overwrite these deleted file.
Another common case of data recovery is due to operating system crash. You will have lost direct access to your files and folders as operating system dose not start.
Do not try to format your hard drive or reinstall operating system or run recovery disks.
You can easily get access to your files and folder using Live CD such as Slax. Slax CD will boot your computer without doing any changes to your hard drives and provide you a graphical user interface with all the needed functions.
Copy files to external hard drive and then you can install.
Then there might be quite possible cases with corrupting the hard disk file systems or hardware problems with the hard drive which will definitely look for professional data recovery companies or service. However, that is going to cost you a bit. First question to be asked is how much the data going to worth? Can I move forward without the data? and if you really think it is really really worth spending couple of thousands dollars then do not try anything to fix the problem but find a good data recovery company that suits your budget. Trying to start hard drive with problems can cause more damage to it and will cost more to recover data or make it impossible to recover it.
Lets move it further with more complicated methods and tools (Such as HELIX Forensic Data Recovery Tool ) that you can use to recover data in future posts.
Data recovery sounds like complicated and need more technical skills to accomplish it. Yes it can be such process in some cases like forensic data recovery. Most of the cases are fairly simple and you could have done it by user self or knowing the basics of data recovery methods can save your data well and money. To start with lets see what are the possible data recovery scenarios.
Simplest and most common situation can be recover deleted a file/files or folder. (undelete data recovery)
As soon as you have notice that you have deleted a file that should not be deleted STOP what you do with your computer.
Copying files or any other activity will override the deleted file and it will be complicated and costly task to recover the file. Reason behind it is even after deleting a file (from recycle bin) it will not erase from the hard drive and it can be recovered easily. By adding more files or copying files or performing some actions on on your computer can overwrite these deleted file.
Another common case of data recovery is due to operating system crash. You will have lost direct access to your files and folders as operating system dose not start.
Do not try to format your hard drive or reinstall operating system or run recovery disks.
You can easily get access to your files and folder using Live CD such as Slax. Slax CD will boot your computer without doing any changes to your hard drives and provide you a graphical user interface with all the needed functions.
Copy files to external hard drive and then you can install.
Then there might be quite possible cases with corrupting the hard disk file systems or hardware problems with the hard drive which will definitely look for professional data recovery companies or service. However, that is going to cost you a bit. First question to be asked is how much the data going to worth? Can I move forward without the data? and if you really think it is really really worth spending couple of thousands dollars then do not try anything to fix the problem but find a good data recovery company that suits your budget. Trying to start hard drive with problems can cause more damage to it and will cost more to recover data or make it impossible to recover it.
Lets move it further with more complicated methods and tools (Such as HELIX Forensic Data Recovery Tool ) that you can use to recover data in future posts.
Labels:
Data Recovery,
Files,
Fix Problems
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
[Quick Fix] Microsoft Word 2003/2007 Top Margin is Missing
Is your Microsoft Word 2003 or 2007 top margin is missing? I know it is bit strange but sometimes it happens in the print layout. There is a quick and easy solution for it.
In Microsoft Word 2003 open up Microsoft Word and move your cursor near to the top margin of the document cursor will be changed and says show white space. Click on it and Top Margin will be back.
If it did not work this is what Microsoft Help suggests for Microsoft Windows 2003 and Microsoft Windows 2007.
In Microsoft Word 2003 open up Microsoft Word and move your cursor near to the top margin of the document cursor will be changed and says show white space. Click on it and Top Margin will be back.
If it did not work this is what Microsoft Help suggests for Microsoft Windows 2003 and Microsoft Windows 2007.
Labels:
Fix Problems,
Microsoft
Monday, June 8, 2009
How to diagnose Harddrive problems
Do you have a harddrive that makes a clicking noise? Are you worried about the health of your harddisk? Is your computer overheating and possibily damaging the harddrive?
Well, there is one easy way to find out with the HDDhealth Utility.
Here's what the creator's have to say about the software. I personally use it and find is extremely useful.
You can download it from here.
HDD Health is a full-featured failure-prediction agent for machines using Windows 95, 98, NT, Me, 2000 and XP. Sitting in the system tray, it monitors hard disks and alerts you to impending failure. The program uses Self Monitoring and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) built into all new hard disks, and can predict failures on your hard drives. A host of alerting features include email, local pop-up messages, net messages, and event logging, while using no system resources.
Labels:
Computer,
Computer Forensics,
error,
Fix Problems,
harddrive,
Hardware,
tools,
utilities
Monday, March 23, 2009
[Error] Excel Crashes when selecting fonts
I have noticed a wired error when I try to change the fonts in Microsoft Excel. Excel get crashed and close it self when ever I change fonts or make fonts bold. Then I try same with Microsoft Word and result was same.
Problem caused by the default printer drivers. When I remove the default printer to another Excel, Word start working normally.
Solution: To reinstall the printer drivers.
You can easily think that the problem comes from word or excel and I completely uninsulated Microsoft office and install it again and again but nothing was changed.
Problem caused by the default printer drivers. When I remove the default printer to another Excel, Word start working normally.
Solution: To reinstall the printer drivers.
You can easily think that the problem comes from word or excel and I completely uninsulated Microsoft office and install it again and again but nothing was changed.
Labels:
error,
Excel,
Fix Problems,
Windows XP
Friday, March 20, 2009
[quick Fix] Print Spooler Service is not running
You will get the error "Printer Spooler Service is not running" when you try to add a new printer or open the printer when some thing wrong with your Print Spooler. Simple fix to this is to restart the Print Spooler service and make sure it is Start up type is Automatic.
Right click on "My computer"
Go to "Manage"
Expand "Services and applications"
Go to "Services"
Find the "Print Spooler"
Then Stop the Service and Start it again and change the service start up type to Automatic and the problem will be solved.
Labels:
error,
Fix Problems
Monday, February 2, 2009
Google news down
http://news.google.com/
After the Google May Harm Fiasco - today Google News is down - http://crazzycool.blogspot.com/2009/02/google-hacked-this-is-crazzy.html
Labels:
Domain Hack,
error,
Fix Problems,
Google,
Google Hack,
Internet,
Problem,
Web
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Restart - Simplest Way to fix a Problem
Restart. I would say Restart is the simplest way to fix most of the computer related problems. Reason is most of the problems start when you use the computer for sometimes one or more programs will crash or done something wrong will end up as serious problems or popping up scary error messages. Slow down the computer, Programs not responding or even a blue screen might be possible. Simple restart will fix these problems.
Sometimes it will remain even after you restart specially if you had to pull of the plug and shut down the computer. That is simply because such shut down of a computer will not simply clear off the memory and it will not start fresh. Even after proper shut down it will not completely wiped out for couple seconds or for couple of minutes. So it is always leave your computer off for couple of seconds or minute before starting up again. If you had to pull the power off always better to do a proper shut down and start it again. It will eliminate most of the problems out of your computer.
Is it always safe to reboot? No, even though proper restart fix most of the problems there are situation where you should not restart your computer. specially if you think your computer is infected with a virus or any kind of malware it is not safe to restart. Some viruses or Trojans will get the initial trigger and give the best chance to properly installed. Like other programs need a good restart to configure and installed properly, viruses and Trojans need it too. If you feel like your computer is infected it is always good to install a good antivirus
and update it. Then reboot it in safe mod and do a full scan. There are situations where restart is not going to work.
Restart is not only solve computer problems. Even software problems will be solve. For example in Outlook sometimes emails will be stuck in outbox. Most of the time it can be solved by just closing the Outlook properly and starting it again.
Even this is relevant to humans. Small nap or good night sleep ill refresh you. You have been struggling solve a problem for hours and did not work out, but just after a small break you or a sleep you solve it. Take a break from any problem and come back to it. Much esier to fix it.
Labels:
Fix Problems
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