Illustration: Dynamic Duo Studios
Bad things happen to good computers: Motherboards fry, hard disks die, and spyware and viruses muck up Windows. You'd call tech support, but most of those folks are just reading from a script. You figure you can do better on your own--and you're probably right. To help get you started, we've assembled an expert guide to diagnosing some of the most common, tricky problems that befall a PC owner. And just in case you decide to throw in the towel, we've also interviewed some support technicians to find out what you can do (and, just as important, what you should avoid doing) to help them solve your problem with a minimum of hassle.
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