Chapter 3: Computer

troubleshooting
Introduction
Computer maintenance refers to
the physical processes of
upkeeping of the peripherals.
Regular maintenance generally
takes care of most of the
problems, especially those of
data loss or corruption.
Troubleshooting is isolating the
source of a problem and fixing it.
Introduction(Continued)
In the case of computer systems
The term troubleshoot is usually
used when the problem is
suspected to be hardware
related.
If the problem is known to be in
software, the term debug is more
commonly used.
Although troubleshooting covers
both hardware and software.
Introduction(Continued)
Hardware troubleshooting includes
removing the problems when the
hardware devices such as mouse,
monitor, printer, modem etc.
malfunction
Software troubleshooting includes
removing problems encountered while
working with Operating System.
Software troubleshooting also includes
the most threatened problem these
days, viruses.
Introduction(Continued)
Objectives of this chapter.
After going through this unit, you
will be able to:
1. Discuss the various system tools
for computer maintenance.
2. Enlist troubleshooting tips for
software
Introduction(Continued)
Computer, is like any other
commodity, demands proper
maintenance.
These are some of the basic
things if done properly can
increase the life of your
computer.
Introduction(Continued)
The following tips could be followed
regularly:
1. The monitor screen should be
cleaned with a dry muslin cloth.
2. Keyboard could be cleaned with a
brush or a vacuum cleaner.
3. Weights like books, files and papers
should not be kept on the computer
4. The screen could also be cleaned
with a soap water spray
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Important note: All the above-
mentioned tips should be done
when the computer is switched off.
Introduction(Continued)
The system tools for computer
maintenance are illustrated in the
Figure

System tools
Introduction(Continued)
System tools
1. Disk defragmenter tool
2. Disk Cleanup tool
3. Window updates
4. Check / Scan disk tool
5. System Restore tool
Introduction(Continued)
1. Disk defragmenter tool
Disk Defragmenter is a system tools
used to rearrange the files on the disk
so that the programs run faster.
When we install any software or create
a file or folder, it is stored on the hard
disk.
Now it might be possible that these
files are not stored in one sequence but
are broken into many segments and
then stored.
Introduction(Continued)
This is because the file might be
too big to be stored in one empty
space on the hard disk.
Disk Defragmenter is a tool that
puts all of your files back into
place.
Introduction(Continued)
The figure below illustrates the
process of disk fragmentation.
It rearranges all the files so that each
file is stored in one sequence.
Path to Disk defragment tool
Control panel>window tools>double
click on Disk defragment tool
OR
Just type Disk defragment in the
search engine of your window
Introduction(Continued)
• This results into the
programs running faster.

Disk Defragmenting
Introduction(Continued)
2. Disk Cleanup tool
Disk Cleanup system tool deletes
all the unused and unwanted files
on the hard disk, to free the disk
space
The hard disk contains many files
that are unnecessary after a
certain amount of time, but they
still reside on the disk.
Introduction(Continued)
These need to be removed
manually or an automatic Disk
Cleanup program can be
scheduled.
Disk Cleanup will delete all of
your unused and unwanted files.
It will also delete your garbage
and old Internet files.
Disk cleanup should be
performed weekly
Introduction(Continued)
Path to Disk cleanup tool is
Step1: Go to control panel
Step2: Click on window tools
Step3: double click on Disk
cleanup

OR
Just type Disk Cleanup in the
search engine of your window
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Disk Cleanup tool

Introduction(Continued)

Select the drive you want to cleanup. drive

c, drive E or drive D etc. then press ok to
cleanup the selected drive.
Introduction(Continued)
3. Windows Update
Windows update will ensure that
your computer is up-to-date with
new features and the latest
security.
This feature needs a connection
to the Internet.
It connects to the Microsoft
server and downloads and installs
the updates on the system.
Introduction(Continued)
Path to windows update tool

Control panel>System>click on
windows update from the system
menu

OR
Just type windows update settings
in the search engine of your
window
Introduction(Continued)
Introduction(Continued)
4. Check / Scan disk
Scan Disk is a system tool that
scans the hard disk and other
removable medias like Floppy
disk to find errors and then fixes
it.
Check/Scan disk fixes the errors
on your computer when you are
having problems/errors.
Introduction(Continued)
This should be run every week
just to ensure that you computer
is error free even if you are not
having any problems
Introduction(Continued)
You can start the scan disk wizard
in the following steps
Step1: Right clicking on the C
drive,
Step2: Select Properties from the
Popup menu
Step3: Select tools tab from the
tab tool menu
Step4: Then click on Check Disk
button.
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Introduction(Continued)

Click on Check button command

Introduction(Continued)
5. System Restore
System Restore is a system tool
that is used to create a new
Restore point or to restore the
system to a previous restore point.
It makes a secure copy of the
system settings when it is
functioning normal, which is useful
in case system malfunctions.
Introduction(Continued)
Whenever we install a new software, it is
always advisable to save the setting of the
system so that at later stage if the system
malfunctions then that the saved copy of
the system, made when it was working
normal, can be restored.
It helps in getting the system up and
running for use.
To restore the system to a previous restore
point, follow the following steps, but just
choose restore rather than making a new
restore point.
Introduction(Continued)
Steps to system restore tool.
Step1: Go to Control Panel
Step2: Select Recovery
Step3: Double click on Open System
Restore.
Step4: In the Restore system files and
settings box, select Next.
Step5: Select the restore point that you
want to use in the list of results
Step6: Then select Scan for affected
programs and then click Next.
Introduction(Continued)
Windows 10 & 11 basics: how to
use System Restore
Step1: Go to Control panel
Introduction(Continued)
Step2: Select Recovery >
Configure System Restore.
Introduction(Continued)
Step 3: Under Restore Settings,
select Turn on system
protection
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Step4: Select the maximum disk space
that will be used for your restore points;
after that, older ones will be deleted to
make space.
Introduction(Continued)
Step5: Click on the Create button
to create a new restore
Introduction(Continued)
Aftera minute or two, you should
get another pop-up that says The
restore point was created
successfully. Click on Close.
Introduction(Continued)
Restore the system to point that
has been create.
Step1: Control panel> recovery>
Select Open System Restore
Step2: You’ll get a pop-up window
titled Restore system files and
settings. Click on Next.
You’ll get a list of all the various
restore points that have been
created,
Introduction(Continued)

Restore points that have been created

Introduction(Continued)
Step3: Click on Scan for affected
programs. This will give you a list
of which programs will be deleted
and which might be automatically
restored. Close the window and
then click on Next.
Introduction(Continued)
Introduction(Continued)
The final confirmation window
will list the restore point you’ve
chosen
Step6: Click on Finish to begin the
process.
Introduction(Continued)
Introduction(Continued)
Software troubleshooting
Software troubleshooting
1. Options to use when a system
will not start
2. Device driver problems
3. Preventing or recovering from
damaged important files
4. Viruses
Software troubleshooting
1.Options to use when a system will
not start
The first options is to boot into safe
mode, which start the system with
only the minimal necessary services.
Safe mode options, including Last
Known Good Configuration, are
especially useful if a newly installed
driver is causing problems with
starting the system.
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
Step to boot window in safe mode.
Step1: Go to control panel
Step2: Window tools
Step3: double click on system configuration
Step4: Select Boot tab from the tab menu
Step5: Select the boot option as Safe mode
Step6: Click on Apply and ok
Or
Just type System configuration in windows
search engine and do the steps 4 upto step 6
Software
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Step1: Control panel >Window
tools
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
Step2: Double click on system
configuration
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
Step3: Select the boot from the
pop up window
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troubleshooting(Continued)
Step4: select both Safe boot and
minimal from boot option
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Step 5: Click apply and ok
Then choose restart.
Note: You must un tick safe boot option
to come out of safe mode
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
2 Device Driver Problems
System problems can result if
you add a new device and/or
device driver file that are
incompatible with Operating
System and causes problems
during startup.
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
Preventing problems
1. Check the Hardware
Compatibility List (HCL) before
installing a new device or device
driver.
2. Read your hardware
documentation for compatibility
and configuration information.
3. Obtain the latest device driver
file from the device
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
Recovery Methods
1. Restart the computer using safe
mode, Last Known Good
Configuration.
2. If possible, check Event Viewer.
3. Try to obtain a more functional
copy of the device driver so that
you can uninstall the device and
then reinstall with the new
driver.
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
Steps to accessing Event Viewer
Control panel>windows
tool>EventViewer
Software
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3. Preventing or Recovering from
Damaged Important Files
If certain types of files are damaged or
corrupted, system problems can occur.
These types of files are:
4. Device drivers files
5. The registry files
6. System files
7. Other files required for normal
startup
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
Preventing problems
1. Protect the computer against power
surges and failures, which can damage
files when they are being written to the
hard disk.
2. Before installing or implementing
unusual device configurations, drivers, or
registry settings, obtain detailed
information from the device
manufacturer.
3. Perform regular backups, including
System State backups.
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
Viruses
A computer virus is a program
that requires a host in order to
make copies of itself on computer
disks.
Viruses may infect (copy to, and
spread from) program files,
programs in disk sectors etc..
All viruses are created by people
who know how to write computer
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troubleshooting(Continued)
Preventing Virus Problems
1. Back up essential files:
Make backup copies of files on your
hard disk.
Some files may already be backed up
(in effect) on original installation disks,
but most important files are the files
you create with your applications.
Business records, spreadsheets,
manuscripts have to be back up on a
external hard disk.
Software
troubleshooting(Continued)
2. Delete e-mail file attachments:
Clicking on everything, as some users
do, is very unsafe, because an e-
mailed virus can send a copy of itself
to everyone often disguised as
something innocent.
3. Install an Antivirus software
Antivirus is a computer program used
to prevent, detect, and remove
malware.
Antivirus software was originally
developed to detect and remove
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