PC Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide
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Table of Contents PC Maintenance .................................................................................................... 1 Creating Data Backup Discs ............................................................................................... 1 Removing Unused Programs ............................................................................................... 1 Running the Disk Cleanup Program .....................................................................................
iv PC Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide (features may vary by model)
PC Maintenance This section includes information about tasks you can perform to help ensure the trouble-free operation of your PC, and to ease the recovery of important information on your PC should problems arise in the future. Creating Data Backup Discs You can use the CD or DVD burning software included on your PC to create backup discs of important information including personal files, e-mail messages, and Web site bookmarks.
8 Select the time and reoccurrence (if available), and click Next. Disk Cleanup may take a long time, so select a time when the PC is on but not in use. 9 Enter your login name and password and click Next. If you do not have a password, leave the Password field blank and click Next. 10 Select Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish and click Finish. 11 In the Run field of the Disk Cleanup window add /sagerun:100 at the end of the path. For example: C:\WINDOWS\system32\cleanmgr.
Checking for Hard Disk Drive Errors Perform the following procedure to check the integrity of the hard disk drive in Windows XP. Close all open programs before beginning the disk check. 1 Click Start, and then click My Computer. 2 In the window that opens, right-click the hard disk drive that you want to check, and click Properties. 3 In the Properties window, click the Tools tab. 4 Under Error-checking, click Check Now.
Recommended Maintenance Schedule Quarterly (seasonally) Daily Weekly Monthly Manage e-mail Protect against viruses, adware, and spyware • Update definition files or schedule a weekly automatic update. • Run a full virus, adware, and spyware scan or schedule a weekly automatic scan. Use Windows Update Check for updates or schedule a monthly automatic update. (See the Getting Started guide for details.) Set new passwords (See the Getting Started guide for details.
Recommended Maintenance Schedule (continued) Daily Weekly Monthly Back up important files to CD or DVD (See “Creating Data Backup Discs” on page 1.) Create a restore point in the Microsoft System Restore program For information, double-click the Help and Support icon on the desktop to open the Help and Support Center, type system restore into the Search box, and then click Search.
Audio Symptom Possible solution No sound is produced. Press the Mute button on the keyboard to see if the Mute feature is turned on. Or 1 Click Start, and then click Control Panel. 2 Click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices, and then Sounds and Audio Devices. 3 Click the Mute check box to remove the check mark from the box. Click the task bar Volume icon ( increase the volume. ), or use the keyboard controls to Ensure powered (active) speakers are turned on.
Video Symptom Possible solution Some video files do not play. Your file may be corrupted or in an unsupported format. Open the video file in a video editor, and then resave the file in a supported format. Codec error messages appear when I play certain video files. Open the file in Windows Media Player. Ensure Windows Media Player is configured to automatically download codecs. • If the correct codec is available, the file will play.
CD and DVD Drives Symptom Possible solution The CD or DVD drive cannot Ensure the disc is inserted with the label facing up and centered in read a disc or takes too long the tray. to start. Wait at least 30 seconds to let the DVD drive determine the type of media. Clean the disc with a CD cleaning kit, available from most PC stores. The driver may be corrupted or outdated.
CD and DVD Drives (continued) Symptom Possible solution I cannot create (burn) a disc. (continued) The recording software may not let you add a track if it exceeds the available space on your disc. You can make space available by removing one or more tracks from the list before recording the files to disc. Close all software programs and windows before recording. Make sure you have enough space available on your hard disk drive to store a temporary copy of the content.
Display (Monitor) In addition to the information listed here, also refer to the documentation that came with your monitor. Symptom Possible solution Screen is blank, and Unplug and reconnect the power plug on the back of the monitor monitor power light is not lit. and the wall outlet. Press the On button on the front of the monitor. Screen is blank. Press any key or move the mouse to make the screen display visible again.
Hardware Installation Symptom Possible solution A new device is not recognized as part of the system. Install the device driver from the CD provided with the device, or download and install the driver from the device manufacturer Web site. You may need an updated driver for Windows XP. Contact the device vendor directly for an update. For HP peripheral devices, visit the HP Web site. Refer to the Limited Warranty and Support Guide for details.
Hardware Installation (continued) Symptom Possible solution New or existing device does not work after installing a new device. To resolve a device conflict, you may need to disable one of the devices or uninstall an old device driver: 1 Click Start, and click Control Panel. 2 Click Performance and Maintenance. 3 Click the System icon, and select the Hardware tab. 4 Click Device Manager.
Internet Access (continued) Symptom Possible solution I cannot automatically start Internet programs. Log in to your ISP, and start the desired program. Web pages load slowly. Verify that the correct modem speed and COM port are selected: 1 Click Start, and then click Control Panel. 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware, if it is present. 3 Double-click Phone and Modem Options. 4 Select the Modems tab, and then click the Properties button.
Keyboard and Mouse Symptom Possible solution Keyboard commands and typing are not recognized by the PC. Turn off the PC by using the mouse, and then unplug and reconnect the keyboard to the back of your PC, and then turn on your PC. Keyboard Print button does not work. Use the Print menu item in the program (typically located on the File menu). Wireless keyboard does not work after installation or is not detected. • • • Ensure the keyboard is within the range of the receiver.
Keyboard and Mouse (continued) Symptom Possible solution Mouse does not work after Unplug and reconnect the mouse cable to your PC. installation or is not detected. Optical mouse does not track cursor well. Place the mouse on a mouse pad or white sheet of paper, or gently wipe the light sensor lens on the bottom of the mouse with a lint-free cloth (not paper). Cursor moves too fast or too slow. Adjust the cursor speed: 1 Click Start, Control Panel, Printers and Other Hardware, and then Mouse.
Power (continued) Symptom Possible solution PC shuts down automatically. The PC is in an exceedingly hot environment. Let it cool down. Ensure PC air vents are not blocked and internal fan is running. Note that your PC may not have an internal fan. Refer to the Limited Warranty and Support Guide to contact Support for replacement details. Note that your PC may not have an internal fan.
Performance (continued) Symptom Possible solution Applications and files take longer to open or respond. (continued) Remove unused programs: 1 Click Start, and then click Control Panel. 2 Double-click the Add or Remove Programs icon. The Add or Remove Programs window opens. 3 Select the program you wish to remove and click the Change/Remove or the Remove button. Follow the onscreen instructions. Check for hard disk drive errors: 1 Close all open programs and windows.
Miscellaneous Symptom Possible solution Insufficient memory message displays. Close all open programs, and then try the desired task again, or restart your PC (click Start, Turn Off Computer, and then Restart). If the message displays again, consider purchasing and installing additional memory. Remote sensor is not receiving a signal from the remote control (select models only). 1 Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then select Properties. 2 Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
Repairing Software Problems Your computer uses the operating system and installed software programs during normal operation. If your computer works improperly or stops because of the software, you may be able to repair it. Some software repairs are as simple as restarting your computer and others require performing a system recovery from files on your hard disk drive. NOTE: You must perform the computer repair methods in the order described in this document.
Turning Off Your Computer When you turn off your computer and then turn it on again, you force the computer to reload the operating system into its memory, which clears some tracking information. This may eliminate some problems that can remain after you perform a restart. To turn off your computer: 1 Close all open programs and windows. 2 Click Start. 3 Click Turn Off Computer. 4 Choose Turn Off and click OK. 5 Start your computer by pressing the On button.
Microsoft System Restore ® Microsoft Windows XP includes a feature that enables you to restore your computer configuration to that of a previous time when a current software problem did not exist. The feature does this by creating a restore point where it records the computer settings at that time and date. When a new program is installed, the operating system automatically creates a restore point before it adds the new software. You can also set restore points manually.
Software Program and Hardware Driver Reinstallation If an individual factory-installed software program or hardware driver is damaged, you can reinstall it by using the Recovery Manager program (select models only). NOTE: Do not use the Recovery Manager program to reinstall software programs that came on CDs or DVDs included in the computer box. Reinstall these programs directly from the CDs or DVDs. Before you uninstall a program, be sure you have a way to reinstall it.
To reinstall a hardware driver using the Recovery Manager: 1 Click Start, All Programs, PC Help & Tools, and then click Recovery Manager. 2 Click Advanced Options, Reinstall hardware drivers that came with your computer, and then click Next. 3 Click Next at the Welcome screen. 4 Choose the hardware driver you want to reinstall, click Next, and follow the onscreen instructions. 5 When you have finished reinstalling, restart the computer. NOTE: Do not skip this last step.
Creating Recovery Discs (Select Models Only) Complete the procedure described in this section to create a set of recovery discs from the recovery image stored on your hard disk drive. This image contains the operating system and software program files that were originally installed on your computer at the factory. You can create only one set of recovery discs for your computer. Furthermore, the recovery discs you create can be used only with your computer.
System Recovery Options You should attempt system recovery in the following order: 1 Through the hard disk drive, from the Windows Start menu. 2 Through the hard disk drive, by pressing the F10 key on the keyboard during system startup. 3 Through recovery discs purchased from HP Support. To purchase recovery discs, go to http://www.hp.com/support and visit the Software & Driver downloads page for your computer model.
System recovery at system startup If Windows is not responding, but the computer is working, use these steps to perform a system recovery: NOTE: System recovery deletes any data or programs that you created or installed after purchase. Therefore, ensure you have backed up to a removable disc any data that you want to keep. 1 Turn off the computer. If necessary, press and hold the On button until the computer turns off.
Starting system recovery from recovery discs This section contains the procedure for performing a system recovery from the recovery discs you purchased from HP Support. NOTE: System recovery deletes any data or programs that you created or installed after purchase. Therefore, ensure you have backed up to a removable disc any data that you want to keep.
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