Previously, we've learned about the difference between slow pc performance and slow internet connection. This time around, I've prepared some tips for troubleshooting no internet connection and no boot.
No Internet Connection
Please bear in mind that the following basic troubleshooting steps are only applicable for DSL connection.
For wired connection (via LAN cable):
There are only two important things that you need to check to determine if you have a connection: a DSL signal and an IP address – keep this in mind, as I will be giving you diagnosing and troubleshooting steps based on these two points of failure.
a. DSL signal. Check your physical setup
- Are all cables properly connected (Fastest way to check is if the DSL modem’s activity lights are all on – power, ethernet, and DSL or activity)?
- If at least one of them is not lit, check all cables; reconnect or swap with good cables if necessary.
b. IP address
- Once verified that DSL signal is not present, test your connection by opening your web browser and visit a particular site.
- If your browser is not able to open any website, you will need to check if your IP address is correct.
- Go to Start > Run > type cmd > click Ok (It should bring up a black screen – A DOS command window).
- On the blinking cursor on the DOS screen, type ipconfig /all then press Enter.
- Check for the IP Address. If the IP address indicated is 0.0.0.0 or 169.254.x.x then do the following:
1) On the blinking cursor type ipconfig/release then hit Enter.
2) This time, type ipconfig/renew then hit Enter. It should now give you a new IP address.
3) Type exit then hit Enter. This should close the command prompt window
4) Open Internet Explorer then try going to a website and see if it works.
PC not working
I know I promised that the troubleshooting steps that I’ll be posting are basic, so I won’t be giving any instructions on opening your system unit, and check internal components. There are three things that I want you to remember though and these are the stages that you computer will have to pass before finally displaying your desktop screen on your monitor.
1. Power
2. POST (Power on Self Test)
3. Boot
Power
In this stage, the first thing that you will have to check of course is if your PC is receiving electricity. I know it sounds funny, but before we conclude that the pc is ready to be thrown out of the window, it would help if we check first some basic things:
a. Is the power button on? It won’t do any harm if your try to press in again.
b. Is the pc connected to a good wall outlet? If you’re in doubt, try a different wall outlet.
c. Is the monitor cable properly connected to the back of the pc?
POST
Once you’ve verified that your computer is receiving power, the next thing that you will have to check is if it does the power on self-test. Here are some indications of a successful post:
a. If the Numlock and Scroll lock lights on your keyboard suddenly turn on and turn off (blink, that is)
b. If it does a quick memory count
c. If you see the Windows splash screen (obviously, because this part is already the boot stage)
Boot
Boot simply means that this stage is when your operating system (Windows) loads. If Windows does not load completely, then this might by an indication that it needs to be reinstalled. That’s why I always suggest to BACKUP your files! You’ll never know when this would happen.
Showing posts with label DSL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DSL. Show all posts
22 March 2009
20 March 2009
Basic Troubleshooting Tips for your PC and Internet Connection
As mentioned previously, a freelance worker’s success is also dependent on the technology he’s using. Let me cut to the chase and go directly to discuss some basic troubleshooting steps for some common problems we freelancers are faced with.
The basic rule for proper diagnosing is to isolate the possible points of failure.
1. Slow PC - When do you experience slow performance on your PC?
a. During boot up
This is an indication that there are a lot of programs that are included in your startup items during bootup.
Click on Start > Run > type msconfig then click Ok to bring up the System Configuration Utility window.
Click on the Startup tab. In this tab, you should see a lot of programs enabled during startup (see those check marks on the left side)
Click on the Disable All button then just put the check mark back on your Antivirus software .
Hit Apply then Ok. It will ask if you want to restart so just hit Yes to restart.
b. When opening an application
At this point, you will have to check first if this problem occurs only on one application. If it does, the safest thing to do is uninstall and reinstall the program. There are two ways to do this:
First go to Start > All Programs then go to the name of the program and check if theres an option to uninstall.
Second, if the program does not have an Uninstall submenu, you can just go to Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs then highlight the program on the list then click Remove.
You might need to restart your PC for changes to take effect. Once you're back on your desktop screen, you can just go ahead and reinstall the program.
c. When opening all applications
This might be an indication that your virtual memory is too low. By default, Windows already sets the allowable page file size. If it still doesn’t do the trick, you will most likely need to upgrade your memory.
Note: If you’re running on Windows XP, you will need something that’s higher than 256MB (at least 512), as 256MB alone will already be eaten up by XP. You will need additional memory for you to multiple programs efficiently.
If you’re certain that this is not a memory issue, at this point, there might just be a need to to check the system for any virus or spyware.
The first thing that I check is by going to Task Manager by hitting Ctrl Alt Del simultaneously. Once I see that the CPU usage is steady at 100% that is most likely an indication of a virus.
What to do? Scan the whole computer with an updated antivirus software
If it still doesn’t do the trick, check for spyware. There are a lot of free spyware removal tools available in internet.
Last tip: This is actually something that you could do once a week – Defrag and Disk Cleanup.
You can run the Disk Defragmenter by clicking Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter. For Disk Cleanup, you can go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.
2. Slow Internet Connection
Oftentimes, we confuse slow internet connection with slow pc performance. The best way to verify a slow connection is by calling your ISP’s tech support number then have them do a line test on your connection. If the speed indicated in the line test results is lower than what you have subscribed for, then it’s confirmed slow connection problem – something that your ISP should fix.
Now, in case your ISP has verified that the line test is ok, and that the speed that you’re receiving is within an acceptable range, here are some basic troubleshooting steps that you could do:
a. If you have another computer, try to remove the LAN cable (this is the cable that connects your PC to the DSL modem) from the problematic computer and connect it to that computer. If the internet works fine on that computer, then you now know where the problem is.
b. If you don’t have an extra computer, the first thing that you could check is your browser. If you’re using Internet Explorer 7, go to Tools > Internet Options > General Tab > hit the Delete button then click Delete All then hit Apply then Ok.
c. Spyware could also slow down internet connection. One way to test this is by going to Safe mode with Networking.
1) To go to Safe mode with Networking, restart your computer, then continuously tap on the F8 key. Tapping on F8 will bring you to Windows Advanced Options menu.
2) Using your arrow keys go down to Safe mode with Networking.
3) Once you’re in Safe mode with Networking, you will get a prompt asking if you want to run System Restore or continue to work in safe mode. Just click Yes to continue working in Safe mode.
4) At this point, you can just open your Internet explorer and see if you’re able to load pages faster.
Next post: Basic troubleshooting steps for no internet connection issues
The basic rule for proper diagnosing is to isolate the possible points of failure.
1. Slow PC - When do you experience slow performance on your PC?
a. During boot up
This is an indication that there are a lot of programs that are included in your startup items during bootup.
Click on Start > Run > type msconfig then click Ok to bring up the System Configuration Utility window.
Click on the Startup tab. In this tab, you should see a lot of programs enabled during startup (see those check marks on the left side)
Click on the Disable All button then just put the check mark back on your Antivirus software .
Hit Apply then Ok. It will ask if you want to restart so just hit Yes to restart.
b. When opening an application
At this point, you will have to check first if this problem occurs only on one application. If it does, the safest thing to do is uninstall and reinstall the program. There are two ways to do this:
First go to Start > All Programs then go to the name of the program and check if theres an option to uninstall.
Second, if the program does not have an Uninstall submenu, you can just go to Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs then highlight the program on the list then click Remove.
You might need to restart your PC for changes to take effect. Once you're back on your desktop screen, you can just go ahead and reinstall the program.
c. When opening all applications
This might be an indication that your virtual memory is too low. By default, Windows already sets the allowable page file size. If it still doesn’t do the trick, you will most likely need to upgrade your memory.
Note: If you’re running on Windows XP, you will need something that’s higher than 256MB (at least 512), as 256MB alone will already be eaten up by XP. You will need additional memory for you to multiple programs efficiently.
If you’re certain that this is not a memory issue, at this point, there might just be a need to to check the system for any virus or spyware.
The first thing that I check is by going to Task Manager by hitting Ctrl Alt Del simultaneously. Once I see that the CPU usage is steady at 100% that is most likely an indication of a virus.
What to do? Scan the whole computer with an updated antivirus software
If it still doesn’t do the trick, check for spyware. There are a lot of free spyware removal tools available in internet.
Last tip: This is actually something that you could do once a week – Defrag and Disk Cleanup.
You can run the Disk Defragmenter by clicking Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter. For Disk Cleanup, you can go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.
2. Slow Internet Connection
Oftentimes, we confuse slow internet connection with slow pc performance. The best way to verify a slow connection is by calling your ISP’s tech support number then have them do a line test on your connection. If the speed indicated in the line test results is lower than what you have subscribed for, then it’s confirmed slow connection problem – something that your ISP should fix.
Now, in case your ISP has verified that the line test is ok, and that the speed that you’re receiving is within an acceptable range, here are some basic troubleshooting steps that you could do:
a. If you have another computer, try to remove the LAN cable (this is the cable that connects your PC to the DSL modem) from the problematic computer and connect it to that computer. If the internet works fine on that computer, then you now know where the problem is.
b. If you don’t have an extra computer, the first thing that you could check is your browser. If you’re using Internet Explorer 7, go to Tools > Internet Options > General Tab > hit the Delete button then click Delete All then hit Apply then Ok.
c. Spyware could also slow down internet connection. One way to test this is by going to Safe mode with Networking.
1) To go to Safe mode with Networking, restart your computer, then continuously tap on the F8 key. Tapping on F8 will bring you to Windows Advanced Options menu.
2) Using your arrow keys go down to Safe mode with Networking.
3) Once you’re in Safe mode with Networking, you will get a prompt asking if you want to run System Restore or continue to work in safe mode. Just click Yes to continue working in Safe mode.
4) At this point, you can just open your Internet explorer and see if you’re able to load pages faster.
Next post: Basic troubleshooting steps for no internet connection issues
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