Quantcast
PCWorld.com is upgrading some back-end systems. Some site features, such as user registration, may be temporarily unavailable.
Subscribe to magazine

PC Troubleshooting FAQ

Hardware woes. Software errors. We solve them all in this roundup of top PC problems.

  • 0 Yes
  • 0 No

Sometimes it seems like your PC has a mind of its own. You wake up one morning, and the machine decides not to boot. Another day, you can't print. Or your Internet connection starts to act up. Modern computing is filled with such apparently random bugaboos, and when they occur, it's often hard to figure out where to begin. Is the problem hardware-related or software-related? Can you fix it without shelling out some cash?

In this troubleshooting guide, we'll tackle the chief complaints we hear from users. In each case, we'll consider the likely causes, and provide solutions that are as hassle-free as possible. Take note that some of our answers apply only to Windows 98 users--that version of Windows gives a troubleshooter more tools than previous incarnations do. But if your PC woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, you've arrived at the right place.

  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No

Featured APC Accessories

  • APC Back-UPS ES Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
  • APC SurgeArrest Performance Highest level of protection for your professional computers, electronics and connected devices, as well as provides surge protection.

Deal Breakers

Special Offers for PC World Users

Focus on Personal Productivitysponsored by Microsoft

  • Personal Finance 2.0 These free and fee-based Web services not only aggregate data from your online bank accounts, they give you tools for managing your money.
  • High-Tech Travel Tips Plenty of stories provide advice for elite mobile professionals. But what about you, the unproductive traveler?

People who read this also read:

Sponsored Links