[Gunner]

I read this and it made me think of my methods of troubleshooting anything:
What I read...
1. Proceed logically!
2. Believe Your Evidence!
3. NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING! NEVER!!
4. Check Everything. You could have multiple faults!

Those are all good points to remember.

What I do...
ASK!!!
1. When did it work properly?
2. When did it stop working properly?
3. What was done in between those times?

I then proceed to Localize, Isolate, and Repair whatever it is I'm working on.

In dealing with computers I have found over the years that software problems
outweigh hardware problems by an outrageously enormous percentage.
I go very long periods of time where I never have to open a computer at all
to get at the problem.

Well, that's me.
What do you do any different? What do you think?
Inquiring minds want to know.

[Blackmirror]

I hit mine first and give it a good talking to...

then i see what Windows updates have been applied recently
Any programs that have been installed that could cause it
thorough MB scan and then when im stumped i will ask for help

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by Blackmirror

I hit mine first and give it a good talking to...

Did you go to school for this? Seriously, I have knocked the crap out of
many things that refused to work right and some submitted and some just gave
me dirty looks and told me to go do something to myself. So I bear down a little
harder and it either starts working, breaks or goes up in smoke.
If I do talk to it I more like curse it till it may weep or curse me back.
Whatever works.

[Sup2a]

Originally Posted by Gunner

I read this and it made me think of my methods of troubleshooting anything:
What I read...
1. Proceed logically!
2. Believe Your Evidence!
3. NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING! NEVER!!
4. Check Everything. You could have multiple faults!

Those are all good points to remember.

What I do...
ASK!!!
1. When did it work properly?
2. When did it stop working properly?
3. What was done in between those times?

for sure, I seem to forget these things sometimes particularly in software problems. It certainly seems most of the calls i get from family/friends are about software problems, that and their internet connections, which most of the time is software as well. If you look after hardware it shouldn't breakdown very easily.

Funny you should mention whacking the crap outta things

YouTube - Xbox360 ? E-74 ? Finally Problem Solved!

[Husky]

I have a sister-in-law that always calls me for help on her computer. The first thing I ask is what were you doing at the time of the problem. To give you an idea of what I deal with, I usually get a response similar to "I was doing the dishes". Most of the time her problem is she will not read the screen, and always clicks no when she should have hit yes, etc. My work usually entails removal of extra toolbars and software that she says she didn't download. I got her a shirt that says
"Most of my computer errors are ID 10 T faults". Was she pissed when she found out what it meant. LOL

[Gunner]

"ID 10 T faults". Priceless.

This really happened....
My computer isn't working.
When did it work last? Friday
When did it stop working? Saturday
What did you do in between these times? Before or after the fire?
Gotta love it.

[Husky]

I have a dual core Toshiba laptop that I found in our local dump. I brought it home plugged in the power adapter and it booted. I shut it down and spent the next 4 hours cleaning the soot and water stains off of it and cleaning the heatsink and fan ports. It was in a house fire and survived. I have been using it for about 5 mos with no problems. I still can't believe it, i wish I had taken before & after pics of it.