PC Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide
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Table of Contents PC Maintenance ............................................................................. 1 Creating Data Backup Discs.......................................................................1 Creating System Recovery Discs .................................................................1 Removing Unused Programs.......................................................................1 Running the Disk Cleanup Program .............................................................
Repairing Software Problems ...................................................... 15 Software Repair Overview....................................................................... 15 Restarting Your PC .................................................................................. 15 Turning Off Your PC ................................................................................ 15 Updating Drivers ....................................................................................
PC Maintenance This section includes information about tasks you can perform to help ensure the trouble-free operation of your PC, and to ease the recovery of important information on your PC should problems arise in the future. Running the Disk Cleanup Program The Disk Cleanup program frees up space on your hard disk drive by removing temporary and unused files (including Temporary Internet Files and files in the Recycle Bin). You can run Disk Cleanup manually, or you can set it up to run automatically.
11 In the Run field of the Disk Cleanup window add /sagerun:100 at the end of the path. For example: C:\WINDOWS\system32\cleanmgr.exe /sagerun:100 12 Click OK and, if prompted, verify your password. Disk Cleanup runs at the time you have set. 4 Press the Enter key again to select the operating system. 5 Log on to Windows. When the Desktop message appears, click Yes to continue in Safe Mode. 6 After Windows starts, use the previous procedure to run the Disk Defragmenter program.
Windows reports smaller capacity in the Windows Explorer tool and in the My Computer window because it shows information about one partition on the hard disk drive at a time. The first partition contains the System Recovery information. Recommended Maintenance Schedule Daily Weekly Manage e-mail • Delete e-mail from unknown sources. • Do not open untrusted attachments. • File e-mail.
Troubleshooting PC Problems This section contains a series of tables that describe possible solutions to problems that may occur when using your PC. Each table contains: • Symptoms that describe the sign or warning message for the type of problem. • Possible solutions that describe what you should do to try to solve the problem.
Video Symptom Possible solution Some video files do not play. Your file may be corrupt or in an unsupported format. Open the video file in a video editor such as WinDVD Creator, and then resave the file in a supported format. Codec error messages appear when I play certain video files. Open the file in Windows Media Player. Ensure Windows Media Player is configured to automatically download codecs. • If the correct codec is available, the file will play.
CD and DVD Drives (continued) Symptom Possible solution I cannot create (burn) a disc. Ensure the disc is inserted with the label facing up and centered in the tray. Verify that you are using the correct disc type (media) for the drive. Try a different brand of disc. Make sure the disc is clean and undamaged. If recording stopped during a recording session, the disc may be damaged; use a different disc. Use the correct type of disc for the type of files you are recording.
CD and DVD Drives (continued) Symptom Possible solution Titles of music tracks are not displayed for the CD. The PC must be connected to the Internet for the artist, title, and track information to appear when playing music CDs. This information is not recorded on the disc. Track information may not be available for every CD. An error message appears when You may need to select the capture device if your PC has both an analog and a digital capturing video. video capture device.
Hard Disk Drive Symptom Possible solution PC seems to be locked up and not responding. Use the Windows Task Manager to close any programs not responding or to restart the PC: 1 Press the Ctrl key, the Alt key, and the Delete key on the keyboard at the same time. 2 Select the program that is not responding, and click End Task. Or Click Shut Down, and then click Restart. If this does not work, press and hold the On button for 5 or more seconds to turn off the PC. Then, press the On button.
Hardware Installation (continued) Symptom New or existing device does not work after installing a new device. Possible solution To resolve a device conflict, you may need to disable one of the devices or uninstall an old device driver: 1 Click Start, and click Control Panel. 2 Click Performance and Maintenance. 3 Click the System icon, and select the Hardware tab. 4 Click Device Manager.
Internet Access (continued) Symptom Possible solution Web pages load slowly. Verify that the correct modem speed and COM port are selected: 1 Click Start, and then click Control Panel. 2 Click Printers and Other Hardware, if it is present. 3 Double-click Phone and Modem Options. 4 Select the Modems tab, and then click the Properties button. 5 In the Device status area, verify the modem is working properly. 6 In the Device usage area, verify the modem is enabled.
Keyboard and Mouse Symptom Possible solution Keyboard commands and typing are not recognized by the PC. Turn off the PC by using the mouse, reconnect the keyboard to the back of your PC, and then turn on your PC. Press the Help ? button on the keyboard to open the Help and Support Center, or refer to the Warranty and Support Guide to contact Support for replacement details. Keyboard Print button does not work. Use the Print menu item in the program (typically located on the File menu).
Keyboard and Mouse (continued) Symptom Possible solution Cursor moves too fast or too slow. Adjust the cursor speed: 1 Click Start, Control Panel, Printers and Other Hardware, and then Mouse. 2 Click the Pointer Options tab. 3 Adjust the Motion slider toward Slow or Fast to decrease or increase the speed at which the pointer (cursor) responds to mouse movement. 4 Click OK. Power Symptom Possible solution PC will not turn on or start.
Power (continued) Symptom Possible solution PC date and time display is incorrect. The real-time clock (RTC) battery may need to be replaced. Battery life is approximately seven years. Before replacing the battery, try resetting the date and time in your operating system by using the Control Panel. If the problem persists, replace the battery. See the Upgrading and Servicing Guide for replacement instructions. Performance Symptom Possible solution Applications and files take longer to open or respond.
Performance (continued) Symptom Possible solution Applications and files take longer Check for hard disk drive errors: to open or respond (continued). 1 Close all open programs and windows. 2 Click Start, and then click My Computer. 3 Right-click the hard disk drive that you want to check, and then click Properties. 4 In the System Properties window, click the Tools tab. 5 Under Error-checking, click Check Now.
Repairing Software Problems • Microsoft System Restore • Application Recovery and Driver Recovery • System Recovery Your PC uses the operating system and installed software programs during normal operation. If your PC works improperly or stops because of the software, you may be able to repair it. NOTE: If you are replacing a hard disk drive, you only have to run the System Recovery.
Updating Drivers To start a System Restore: A driver is a software program that allows your PC to communicate with an attached device, such as a printer, a hard disk drive, a mouse, or a keyboard. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Complete the following procedure to update a driver, or to revert to an earlier version of the driver if the new one does not solve your problem: 1 Click Start, right-click on My Computer, and then click Properties. The System Properties window displays.
NOTE: Do not use the Application Recovery program to reinstall software programs that came on CDs or DVDs included in the PC box. Reinstall these programs directly from the CDs or DVDs. To start an Application Recovery or Driver Recovery: 1 Close all applications and folders (skip to step 3 if you are recovering a driver). 2 Uninstall the damaged application: a Click Start, Control Panel, and then Add or Remove Programs. b Select the program you want to remove, and then click Change/Remove. 3 Click Start.
Creating System Recovery Discs Complete the procedure described in this section to create a set of system recovery discs from the recovery image stored on your hard disk drive. This image contains the operating system and software program files that were originally installed on your PC at the factory. You can create only one set of recovery discs for your PC. The recovery discs you create can only be used with your PC.
Running System Recovery from Recovery Discs This section contains the procedure for performing a system recovery from the recovery discs you created as described in “Creating System Recovery Discs” on page 18. To run the System Recovery program using recovery discs: 1 If the PC works, create a backup CD or DVD containing all data files that you want to save. Remove the backup disc from the disc tray when you are finished.
Starting System Recovery if the PC is responding Starting System Recovery if the PC is not responding 1 Turn off the PC. Remove the HP Personal Media Drive if your PC includes one. Disconnect all peripheral devices from the PC except the monitor, the keyboard, and the mouse. Turn on the PC. 2 Click Start on the taskbar, choose All Programs, choose PC Help & Tools, and then click HP PC System Recovery.
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