Computer Trouble-Shooting

“My computer is locked up!”
Press and hold 3 keys, Ctrl, Alt, Delete for a few seconds.  Usually the offending program will appear highlighted in a list.  Click the End Task button.  You will receive another message.  Click the Shut Down button. Press the Restart button.  Turn the computer off…wait a minute then turn the computer on.  Scan disk will begin.  Allow it to run to try to repair the problem.

“I can’t hear sounds!”
Are your speakers plugged in to the computer and the power source and turned on?
Is your sound muted?
To remove the mute, double click the sound icon in the lower-left corner and uncheck the mute box. 

“My monitor is black!”
If you are using Windows 98, a special energy reserve feature shuts off the monitor if the computer is not in use.  This sleep mode makes the monitor appear black.  To reactivate the monitor, press enter on the keyboard. Check to see that you have turned on your monitor.

“I get this message when I try to save a file:”

Put in a disk if you are trying to save to the a: drive, or click cancel to let the computer know you are not trying to save to the a: drive.

“How do I log on to the network?”
When you first turn on your computer you will see a network login window.  Press the "enter" key on your keyboard to log on to the network.

“I cannot open Accelerated Reader.” “Orchard does not work.”
This could mean that you did not log on to the school network.  Restart your computer and press enter at the log in screen.  If this does not correct the problem, send a message to your school Tech Contact to report the problem to the database.

“I can’t get my Ten-Nash email.”
Make sure you have set up your email preferences (Identity and Server) in Netscape and that you are typing in your email password and not your network password.  You might try using webmail. 

“My printer isn’t working.”
Make sure you are logged on to the network.  Most printers run through the network and if you aren’t logged on to it, they don’t work.  Also, if you have 2 computers in your room, be sure you know which computer the printer runs through and that it is turned on and logged on to the network.

“The Internet (Netscape) isn’t working.”
Can you get to any web site at all?  Try going to http://www.yahoo.com or another site.  Often the problem isn’t the Internet, but the web site your Netscape starts up as your home page.  It may only be that web site that isn’t working. Check with nearby teachers on your hallway.  Computers are connected to the network by a hub.  If a teacher turns off the hub, all the computers plugged into it, will not connect to the network or the Internet.  (Teachers who have hubs in their rooms have been instructed to never turn them off, but…it happens.) Ask your principal to check in the server room to see if a red service light is flashing.  If so, call for tech support.