| When you are working with computer technicians, | | | | often experience the same types of problems that |
| there are some important tips to make the | | | | are relatively easy to fix. The Gateway computers |
| experience more beneficial. For a lot of people a | | | | use a generic internal power switch that can short |
| computer is like a car. You want to turn it on and | | | | out very easily and need to be replaced. There is not |
| have it run, what makes it run is somewhere under | | | | a lot of warning when this part goes out. Your |
| the hood and you aren't really sure what is in there. | | | | system will just shut off. You may be able to get |
| Some technicians take advantage of this fact and a | | | | your computer to come back on, but eventually, it |
| person can wind up paying an exorbitant amount of | | | | will not come on any more and you will need to get |
| money for minor repairs that "sound" a lot more | | | | this part replaced. If you system shuts off without |
| complicated than they are. Therefore, having a little | | | | warning, this is the first, and least expensive, thing to |
| knowledge of the most common things that go | | | | ask a technician to check. |
| wrong with a computer in plain language will be very | | | | Another common problem is dust. The little fan that |
| helpful when your computer suddenly stops | | | | is in computers has a screen that allows air flow and |
| functioning properly. | | | | keeps your internal parts cool. Unfortunately, this |
| 1 - Communicating with a technician | | | | screen also allows dust to enter the fan which can |
| When you are talking to a computer repair person | | | | cause your system to overheat. When your |
| who insists on speaking "computerese", ask them to | | | | computer overheats it will shut off. A reputable |
| use language that is easy to understand. Instead of | | | | computer technician will take the casing off the |
| talking about a complicated part that requires several | | | | computer, vacuum out the fan and it will be fine. If |
| hours to repair because the xyz part and zyx part | | | | you are paying a huge amount of money for a repair, |
| must co-exist, make him tell you what's wrong. "You | | | | this is a two-minute fix that does not require a lot of |
| didn't plug it in". Yes, the technician will lose money by | | | | effort and is a common problem if you are in an area |
| giving you the ten cent explanation, but your goal is | | | | where there is dust. |
| not to support the technician's new hobby. When | | | | It is easy to tell if you have this problem by looking |
| you are looking for a technician, make sure that they | | | | at the screen on your computer casing. If you have |
| speak a language you can understand. If the | | | | a fine film of dust on your computer screen you |
| technician keeps slipping back into computerese, find | | | | have, or are, developing a dust problem. This is a fix |
| a new repair person that you feel comfortable with. | | | | you can take care of on your own by removing the |
| 2 - Know About Common Problems | | | | casing and vacuuming out the fan on your own. |
| Computers that are made with generic parts will | | | | |