MOUSECLIX

By: Hobie Lunin

Help! I'm being held captive by my computer!

Frustrating, isn't it? You are zipping along on your computer and then wham! Something has gone awry and you have no idea what. Or, you try to do something new and the next thing you are seeing is a message that seems to spell doom. Or you just can't figure how to make something happen. And you may, as I do, find it peculiar to have the computer tell me I have done something "illegal", as if I had signed a contract to never make a mistake!

All of these occur at one time or another as you learn your computer skills. And, of course, the more curious you are, the more this is bound to happen.

This article is about how to get help.

Starting with what is available in your computer, we notice Help is one of the choices on the start menu, just up from the Start button. I prefer to use the Index available there (rather than Contents) when I need help. I recommend using it to find things like learning how to clean up a floppy disk or what some of the buttons are on your task bars.

Another recommendation of mine is that you purchase a manual for every program that you plan to use frequently. These are available at the local bookstores. I suggest further that you try to get the manual that is for your version of the program. You can find out the version by looking on the CD box it came in. If the program was installed in the computer when you bought it, click on the program and then click on Help on the task bar, and then on About. The version will be listed there.

The book will be very helpful to you when you have questions about how to perform some task; it will also help you learn about all the things that the program is capable of doing.

Beyond your computer and a text, you can go on the Internet for help. I have listed on my Mouseclix web site about a dozen places where you can get help for specific questions. Some of these charge, others are free. One charges, (www.inforocket.com) but allows you to answer questions in whatever area of expertise you possess and thereby get credits to be used when you want answers to other questions including those about computers.

There are other places to e-mail for direct help, such as my own address, which is listed below.

If you have questions about specific equipment that is still under warranty, don't forget that you can get answers from the manufacturer usually by e-mail or phone. I have often been pleasantly surprised by the quick response from certain manufacturers that take pride in their support function.

If you are having problems with your Internet service provider, you can also contact them directly. I do hear, however, that many of these are not responsive. Switching ISPs often can be a happy solution to that problem especially if the service is still on it's "free" introduction or if it is a free ISP (see my previous article: "Waiter, I will have the free lunch, please!")

At some point after you have tried all these sources, you may be advised to "reformat" your hard drive and start all over. This is not the worse thing that can happen to you. It usually means that you will lose some of your files that you may not be able to access and put on floppy before you reformat. And some programs will have to be reinstalled.

The easiest way to do this is with the "recovery disk(s)" that you got with the computer. This is just a matter of following the directions on the box to get started and then following the directions on your screen after that. Normally it suggests you put the disk (or disk #1, if there are two) into the CD-ROM drive, turning the machine off and then starting up again. The entire process can take as long as an hour, in some cases. The program may ask you to put in Disk # 2 at some point and then later to put the first disk in again.

If you did not get a recovery disk with your computer and you still have access to your desktop, click on Control Panel then add/remove programs and then on Make Startup Disk. This will allow you to start up your computer so that you can reinstall windows, if you have the Windows disk. After you have made the start-up disk and assured yourself that you have a copy of Windows, you can go in and reformat your hard drive, the directions to do this are in Help. Unless you are more than a novice at the computer, I suggest that you go to a local tech to have this done. For a recommendation about tech help locally; see my web site (address below).

When it is all done, your machine will be in the pristine condition it was when you first got it. Then you can install all the essentials you want, being careful to avoid reinstalling the device that got you in trouble in the first place (assuming you know this). If you used an ISP that was installed in your computer when you received it, you will have to go through the setup process again. When you get to the screen to ID yourself to the ISP, make sure you click on "I already have an account" rather that "new account". Hopefully you have remembered your username and password.

Reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling windows and your original settings will usually solve your problem.

Remember, if your computer is holding you captive, there is help out there. Happy Computing!

Hobie Lunin is a Computer Instructor and Consultant, and will answer questions at: hlunin@email.com. To see previous columns and other information, point your browser to http://mouseclix.tripod.com