3 Common Computer Questions

By Don Watkins

Computers are complex beasts, full of all sorts of different hardware and software--and given the diversity of things we hang off them, it's amazing that they even work at all. That doesn't make a problem easier to deal with, but perhaps we're luckier than we know.

Are there common problems that we all share with simple solutions? We certainly share a lot of the same problems, but are there any easy answers? Let's take on a few and see how easy the answers are.

1. Q. My computer crashes. Why?

A. If I knew the answer to that one, I'd be on my aforementioned yatch. It seems that there are more things than I can count that can cause a computer to crash, but when it happens there are some tools to help narrow it down.

• If you're running Windows 98, run the System File Checker tool and see if it can detect any altered files. Go to Start/run/sfc to get it going.
• Illegal operation or general protection fault messages. Some of these can be random and don't seem to indicate a serious problem, but if they continue, drop by the Microsoft Tech support database (also known as The Knowledge Base), select your product, and enter a description of the problem. Often, this will help.
• Visit the Microsoft Troubleshooter. This area has expanded to include troubleshooters for many products and can lead you through some steps that will help you identify the problem.
• Make sure that you're running the latest bug fixes and patches. Visit the Windows Update Web site and get the latest updates for Windows.

This won't cure all problems, but it's a good place to get started.

2. Q. I can't get my email set up to save myself.

A. Each Internet service provider (ISP) has a specific set of requirements for email. That information should be available on each ISP's Web site. Forget about trying to guess--you could try for a million years and never get it. If setup instructions aren't available, give tech support a call.

3. Q. What is the deal with downloading? How do I do it?

A. Downloading remains one of the mysteries of the online world. Nevertheless, if you can believe it, it's much easier than it used to be. That doesn't mean that it's easy now, but it could be worse. Check out "What Have I Gotten Myself Into?"  to get your downloads under control

Until next month, best in computing.

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