My Computer Died - What Do I Do Now? (for Technophobes)

Well, the easy answer is "Buy a Mac" (I'm a long-time Mac user) but ... most of the world uses PCs so ...

Here is what I tell all my clients and friends. I ask them first whether they have a Mac or PC. If they say they have a PC, here's what I suggest they do ...

• Don't panic. Don't assume you did something wrong - pressed the wrong key or need the updated version of that program. It probably wasn't you. Technology ALWAYS has problems.
• Turn off the PC itself, printer, monitor (if you have one) and anything connected to the PC. Then get up and take a break - take a walk, make a cup of tea, call a client or friend you've been meaning to, walk the dog, or feed the cat (assuming you work from home).
• After not less than 10 minutes (overnight if you can) turn everything back on. This will reset everything and should work.

If it doesn't continue with these things ..

1. If this has happened before and you have the name of someone you really trust call them. OR ....
2. Or if you don't know someone phone a friend whom you trust that has a PC that broke and ask them who repaired their computer. Did they like them? Did they come quickly? When they came did they explain what they were doing in words that one could understand or did they use jargon? OR ....
3. If you feel "brave" try to fix the problem yourself  (i.e. make the computer do what you want to).

That's a start! Don't have your niece or nephew or grandchild (who grew up with all sorts of technology) do it for you. They probably don't have the patience you need or training ability. You want to feel empowered, don't you?

 

Comments

[Kristen Cabbell]

A broken down computer is the last thing you need when working on something, more so when you're watching a movie. LOL! That has happened to me a lot. There were times when I only had to restart the PC and voila! It's back to normal. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.