Geek Squad Guide to Solving Any Computer Glitch

Robert Stephens is the founder of the Geek Squad, a Minneapolis-based computer-service company that provides support with style. Stephens and his team of Special Agents have been featured in People, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and on Good Morning America.

• ContentsIntroductionUsing This BookChapter One CHOOSING A COMPUTERComparing Brands: Windows-Based Computers vs. MacintoshBuying a Used ComputerDesk-top vs. LaptopComparing FeaturesThe Deciding Factor: Service and SupportBuying PrintersService Contracts for Other ItemsWhere to BuyChapter Two PREVENTING PROBLEMSWhat Makes Computers Act WeirdWhy Geeks Have Fewer Computer ProblemsGetting Along with Your ComputerGeneral Software SmartsBackup BasicsPreventive ProceduresChapter Three STARTUP PROBLEMSNo Power LightPower Light On, Both CPU and Monitor Are On, but You Get No VideoMac: There's Nothing on the DesktopWindows: Reports "System Configuration Has Changed"Windows: Reports "Hard Drive Failure"Mac: Disk with Question Mark AppearsScreen Not as ExpectedDate and Time ErrorsSad Mac Face or "Beep" AlarmImmediate Crash: "System Error," Cursor or Screen Locks Up/Freezes, or Other Disabling EventComputer Locks Up/Freezes Ten to Twenty Minutes After StartupChapter Four THE STUBBORN RAMReports "Out of Memory" or "Insufficient Memory"Chapter Five VIDEOVAGARIESGeneral WeirdnessRolling Screen, Static, and/or Lines; No Clear PictureRed-, Blue-, or Green-Tinted ScreenOnly Partial Image On-ScreenBrightness FluctuatesScreen Doesn't Respond to CommandsOldMonitor ProblemsChapter Six HARD-DRIVE ISSUESMac: Hard-Drive Icon MissingSilenceKnockingWindows: Says "Insert System Disk"Windows: Reports "Hard Drive Failure"Windows: Reports "Data Error Reading Drive C"Reports "Not Enough Space to Store" or "Unable to Write to Disk"Chapter Seven FLOPPY-DISK FAILURESCan't Read Disks from Other People's ComputersCan't Transfer Information to FloppyDisk Is Reportedly Full but That Seems ImpossibleEvery Disk Is LockedCan't Insert FloppyCan't Eject FloppyDisk Errors on FloppyNoisy FloppyChapter Eight COPING WITH THE CD-ROM DRIVECD Doesn't Show Up When You Put It In/Can't Read CDAudio CD Doesn't PlayComputer Freezes When CD-ROM Is in UseChapter Nine TERRORS OF THE TAPE DRIVEInstallation TroubleProblems Restoring DataFreezesChapter Ten REASONING WITH THE REMOVABLE STORAGE DEVICEDrive Not WorkingCan't Read DiskDisk Noisy When InsertedComputer Freezes When Drive Is UsedCan't Write to Disk/Error Message AppearsChapter Eleven CALMING THE KEYBOARDSpill on KeyboardWindows: Keyboard Not WorkingMac: Keyboard Not WorkingOne Key Doesn't WorkPressing One Key Delivers Another CharacterChapter Twelve TAMING THE MOUSE/POINTER DEVICEMouse Needs CPR? Windows: Mouse Won't Cooperate with ModemMouse Lies Down on the JobChapter Thirteen SCANNER SOLUTIONSScanning for BeginnersScanning Without a ScannerScanner Doesn't ScanScanner Light Isn't WorkingChapter Four-teen POINTERS FOR PRINTERSPrinter Having a TantrumNot PrintingProduces Blank PagePrints GarbagePaper jamWon't Grab PaperWon't Print from One Particular ProgramQuality Is PoorCan't Find Supplies for PrinterMac: Printer Quits Partway Through jobPrinting SidewaysPrinting EnvelopesChapter Fifteen MAKING THE MODEM MIND YOUModem Not WorkingSeems SlowParticular Program Can't See the ModemDialing ProblemsDisabling Call WaitingSilent ModemConnection FailureFaxing on Your ComputerChapter Sixteen SOUND-CARD SOLUTIONSNo SoundSound UnsatisfactoryOnly Some Programs Produce SoundIntermittent SoundOther Sounds Work but You Cannot Play an Audio CDChapter Seventeen LAPTOP TECHNIQUESCan't Find BatteryBattery Won't ChargeWon't Turn OnDoesn't Recognize PC CardCan't Eject PC CardDoesn't Show Network or Get Dial ToneNo VideoVideo ProblemsKeyboard Not WorkingTrackball Goes on StrikeTrackpad Doesn't Work/Cursor Is jumpyWon't Go to SleepTraveling with Your LaptopMaking a PresentationChapter Eighteen APPLICATION/SOFTWARE PROBLEMSCan't Install Software or UpgradeSoftware Locks Up/FreezesCan't Print from ApplicationMac: Bomb Appears When You Pick a Different FontMac: Application Frequently "Unexpectedly Quits"Uninstalling/Reinstalling Application SoftwareIdentifying Software VersionChapter Nineteen DOCUMENT/FILE DILEMMASProblems Transferring FilesProblems Converting FilesProblems Finding a FileFile Deleted in ErrorFile Cannot Be OpenedMac: Application Is MissingMac: Processing Is SlowMac: Calls for Ejected DiskLost Password on a FileChapter Twenty RECOVERING DATALimiting Damage in an EmergencyReports "Document Cannot Be Read"Getting to Data After a CrashIf You Had No BackupGetting Professional HelpChapter Twenty-one USING THE INTERNETChoosing a ProviderTrouble ConnectingImages Slow to AppearSending and Receiving E-Mail on the RoadSending and Receiving E-Mail Without Internet AccessSending FilesCredit-Card ProtectionSurfing the NetDownloadingPreventing Unwanted E-MailControlling What the Kids Can SeeCrashes/Lockups/Freezes While You Are on the InternetBrowser Error Messages"Transfer Is Interrupted"Chapter Twenty-two WHEN THE COMPUTER SEEMS TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWNAny Odd BehaviorPeriodic Freezes/LockupsComputer Is SlowRoutine Operation Gets Strange ResultsProgram Opens Other Than the One You Tried to OpenMac: Icons Look StrangeRandom Characters Appear"Blue Screen of Death"Mac: Trash Won't EmptyChapter Twenty-three SECURITY ISSUESPassword ForgottenCreating Crack-Proof PasswordsPreventing TheftRemoving Information from Your Computer Before You Sell ItChapter Twenty-four COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONExchanging Word-Processing DocumentsExchanging Quicken FilesExchanging a DatabaseExchanging SpreadsheetsSending/Receiving a Computer File Using a FaxChapter Twenty-five GETTING THE BEST SERVICEGuidelines When Calling for a Pickup or Dropping the Computer Off for RepairWhat to Take to the Service CenterWhen Sending Away a Computer Under WarrantyWhen the Computer Is Not Under WarrantyWhen the News Is BadChapter Twenty-six RETIREMENT PLANNING FOR YOUR COMPUTERUpgrade ItSell ItDonate ItKeep ItAPPENDIX A BASIC PROCEDURESMinimum System StartupReinstalling the Operating SystemResolving Driver/Extension Conflicts -Reinstalling Drivers/ ExtensionsAPPENDIX B YEAR (Y2K) PROBLEMSHardwareOperating SystemSoftwareAPPENDIX C DEFINITIONSAPPENDIX D RESOURCESINDEX