How to Troubleshoot

Computer troubleshooting is frustrating. There's no way around that. 

If issues were clearly identifiable, we would have developed ways for computers to determine these issues and fix them themselves. Things will be tough and you may need to try dozens of fixes before discovering anything new that may help you resolve the problem.

The important thing to remember is that this is normal. Don't get frustrated with yourself for not getting it right away. Keep trying.

A good way to help you stay sane is to document what you have already tried. Write down, in point form, things you've tried but have not helped. This will not only help you keep track of things, but it gives you a helpful tool to pass on to other people who may be joining you to help.

Before diving into technical fixes and possibly making the problem worse, take a step back to try to determine the issue, the source of the problem, and document as much information as you can before you start thinking of a solution. Start by asking yourself (or the user you are helping) detailed questions about the problem.

• What was going on before the issue occurred?

• What conditions were different when the computer was functioning properly?

• Are there any new changes?

• Were there any error messages or unusual behavior before the problem?

• What things are you expecting that you're not seeing?

Next, try to reproduce the problem. If you can replicate the issue, it becomes easier to identify the root cause. For instance, if a user reports that their computer crashes when running a specific application, attempt to run the same application under similar conditions to observe the behavior firsthand.

If you've made it this far and your problem is still around, it could be due to any number of variables.

Just like in math, it's impossible to solve a problem with multiple unknown variables. In your troubleshooting, you should try changing one thing at a time to find ways to isolate the issue.

• Disconnect or Remove Anything Unnecessary: Unplug all non-essential peripherals and devices, stop any processes that aren't needed, and then try to reproduce the problem. If the problem is fixed, introduce these items back one at a time to determine the root cause of the problem.

• For Hardware: Swap out components such as RAM, hard drives, or cables one at a time to check if the issue resolves.

• For Software: Boot the computer in Safe Mode to see if the issue is related to software or drivers. Run built-in diagnostic tools to check for hardware problems.

If you haven’t resolved the issue by now, it’s time to expand your resources and continue to collect information, isolate variables, and test.

• Review any relevant user manuals or technical documentation. Manufacturer guides and troubleshooting sections can provide insights specific to the hardware or software you’re dealing with.

• Use search engines and forums to look up error messages or symptoms. Sites like Stack Exchange or vendor-specific forums can offer solutions based on similar issues encountered by others. Use descriptive keywords that provide specific information about the problem 

• Tools like ChatGPT can provide immediate assistance, and consulting colleagues or professional support networks can offer new perspectives or solutions. Remember to prompt engineer, provide the language model with as much context as possible, and use the best vocabulary for the job.