Q&A for How to Troubleshoot a Computer

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  • Question
    Why isn't my computer turning on?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Start by making sure it's actually plugged in. If it is, try another outlet just to make sure. From there, you may need to test the power supply. If it's a laptop, make sure that your charger is actually working. Beyond that, it may be time to take it in for repairs. If you're handy yourself, you could look at the RAM
  • Question
    Why do I keep getting viruses if I have antivirus software installed?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Check your browser extensions and make sure they're actually safe. A lot of viruses actually sneak in through poorly-designed or malicious extensions.
  • Question
    Should I replace my laptop battery if I think it's dying quickly?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    You can, but it may not be worth it to you. You really only need the battery if you take your laptop off of your desk or travel with it.
  • Question
    My computer won't start. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Have you tried turning it off and on? That may solve the problem. If not, follow the steps here!
  • Question
    I bought a used computer. It runs great, but the screen has yellow tint, which is hard on the eyes. Can this be fixed?
    Community Answer
    The color settings on most computers can be changed. The exact process depends on your operating system. For example, in Windows 8, you can right-click on the desktop, click Graphics Properties, click Display, click Color at the top, and either click Restore Defaults at the bottom to change the colors back to the default setting (if they're not in it) or manually adjust the values for each color until you're satisfied, and click Apply. Note that, while it may seem strange for you because you're not used to it, a yellow tint actually tends to be easier on the eyes. Computers and other electronics tend to emit a lot of blue light that is harsh on the eyes and potentially damaging in the long run; reducing the ratio of blue light emitted from the screen can help with that, even if it makes things look more yellow.
  • Question
    No sound on my desktop PC with Linux/Ubuntu OS. What can I do to fix this?
    Community Answer
    Update your drivers. Run a Google search for your components.
  • Question
    My computer doesn't boot. Instead it makes a noisy sound. What's going on?
    Community Answer
    Does the noise sound metallic? It might be a failed hard drive. If the data is important, you may have to spend money on a data recovery service. Also, it's time to start learning about how to back up your computer. You should have external hard drives to keep copies of your personal data files.
  • Question
    What does it mean if I get the message "Reboot and select proper Boot Device or insert Boot Media in selected device and press a Key?"
    Community Answer
    it could be one of three things. 1) Hard drive or solid state drive might be unplugged or connectors are loose. 2) A system file or registry has become corrupted. 3) Hard drive or solid state drive failure.
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