The other day, I got a question from a frustrated IBM Aptiva owner. His system had a myriad of problem, including software errors and CD-ROM problems. This type of question is virtually impossible to diagnose without actually seeing the computer. I was sympathetic, but there was little I could do via e-mail.
Here’s where a little deductive research can go a long way toward solving problems yourself. The ugly reality of computing is that there is no way for every software and hardware manufacturer to create products that will work with every other piece of software and hardware out there. However, after products are out in the marketplace for a while, people start running into problems and the manufacturers start coming up with fixes. So, odds are, if you are having a problem with a given piece of software or hardware, probably someone else has too.
If you are getting a strange error message or some piece of hardware isn’t working right, the first thing you should do is go to the manufacturer’s Web site. (If your computer is so dead that you can’t get online, go to the library and use their computers.) For example, I have two Hewlett Packard printers in addition to an HP scanner and CD burner. Not surprisingly, I’ve spent some quality time at HP’s site (www.hp.com). As with most other manufacturer’s sites, you can search for technical support information by product and peruse FAQ (frequently asked questions) pages.
Most manufacturers list their web sites prominently in their documentation. If you don’t have the documentation anymore or aren’t sure, you can always guess. For example, my monitor is a Viewsonic, and their web site is, yes, www.viewsonic.com. You also can do an Internet search or see if the company is included on the list of manufacturers at the www.computorcompanion.com Links page.
Once you’ve found the site, you may find more than just technical support information. Many also include advice on things to avoid, recent fixes, and ideas for how you can get more out of the product. So by doing a little reading, you might learn something new or even save yourself some grief later.