Computers seem to be both our friends and our enemies. They save us countless hours balancing the checkbook and keeping track of information. They also help us waste time surfing the Internet. But things can go wrong with computers and they definitely become our enemies--at least until we figure out what's wrong and fix them. Fortunately, you don't need to be a certified computer technician to regain your friendship with it.

How Does It Work?

A personal computer (PC) is actually a system of electronic devices and cables, called hardware, controlled by programs, called software. Data enters the computer from the keyboard, mouse, modem, microphone, scanner, and other devices and is stored either on memory chips or the hard drive. The computer's brain is the central processing unit (CPU). The data is sent to output devices such as the computer printer, modem, sound card, and diskette drive to perform specific tasks. Computers are electronic machines.

What Can Go Wrong?

Lots of things can go wrong with a PC. Most of them are software related. Software is the instructions that a programmer wrote to tell your computer what to do in various circumstances. Because of poor programming or disagreements between the hardware and the software, things sometimes don't happen as you expect them to. The best resolution is to refer to the software program's manual for troubleshooting tips. There are thousands of software programs out there. Quite often the problem is a disagreement between the program (such as Quicken) and the computer's basic set of instructions, called the operating system (such as Windows XP or Windows Vista). Start troubleshooting with the program, then move to the operating system. There are thick books available on each, so help is available. If all else fails, or if you're just not comfortable with or knowledgeable about computers, you may need to hire a computer technician to help you figure out what the conflict is and resolve it.

So let's move on to fixing hardware, the electrical components. What can go wrong? The electrical cord can fail. Connections may need to be tightened. An expansion card may be loose or faulty. Memory chips may be faulty. The monitor may fail. The keyboard or mouse may be dirty or damaged. The hard drive may fail. The power supply or its fan may get clogged and fail. As you can see, many of these problems occur because things get dirty or loose. So keeping your computer clean and well adjusted is a vital step in keeping it friendly. In addition, most modern computers come with an owner's manual that includes a troubleshooting chart specific to the model you purchased. Don't let your computer scare you.

Caution!

To reduce the risk of damage caused by an electrical spike, plug your computer system into a UL-rated surge protector. Turn it off and unplug it entirely when a thunderstorm is brewing. If you come home after a storm and the power is still out, turn your computer off and unplug it so it isn’t damaged if power comes back on with a surge.