But Not Least...The Fear Factor

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But not Least...

The Fear Factor

Dealing With the Hardware Nightmare - The Sevens & the ECT

Facing the prospect of a new machine, a dead machine, an unknown machine? Feeling pressured by curriculum, classroom performance objectives, student eyes? Do things seem to be falling into a hardware abyss? Never Fear - Grit your teeth, stand tall, and face the Sevens & the ECT - armed and ready to fight.

Step 1: Face the 7 Fears:

Fear 1: Hardware can only be understood by the ETC (Emergency Computer Technicians).

Fear 2 : No mere mortal teacher can solve a hardware problem.

Fear 4: The kids always know more than I do.

Fear 5: I'm so far behind I'll never catch up.

Fear 6: Everything I touch breaks.

Fear 7: Techies will laugh at me.

Step 2: Identify the 7 Facts: Say to yourself:

I am not alone.

This has happened before. If not to me, then to someone I know.

There are several things I can do for myself.

I know the Rule of 3 x 3 (the 9 Essential Skills)

I knew enough to get myself into trouble in the first place.

I know that every time the computer asks me a question, I have thought before responding.

There is no reason to panic.

Step 3: Know your computer's 7 ID's:

name,

operating system,

model,

the software you were using when you had the problem,

the software that was open but not being used when you had the problem,

where the on/off switches are,

how to reboot in regular and in safe mode/extensions off

Step 4: Refer to this Chart:

The Problem 7 Things To Do Before Calling ECT

My computer will not boot up.

Did you try hitting shift and enter/return in case it is just sleeping?

Is it plugged in and turned on (including surge suppressor)? Check.

Is the keyboard connected?

Is there a floppy or CD in a drive? (PC issue)

Is the monitor plugged in and attached to the CPU and ON?

If a laptop, could the battery be dead? Try a power supply and an alternate battery (swap with someone)

Did you restart holding down shift (on Macs, to boot with extensions off) or the function key to boot to safe mode (you need to know this if you have a PC)?

I can not print my document

Are you connected to the printer via a cable or via a network? Verify that you see a printer.

Do you know which printer is which? Do you know which printer you are printing to? (you could be printing to the Principal's office).

Does the printer you want to print to appear as a choice in the printer menu?

Is the printer turned on?

Is the printer out of paper or jammed?

Can you print to an alternate printer?

If you have a new computer and an old printer, or vice versa, have you checked to see if you need to install a driver?

I double-clicked the icon but the file/program won't open.

Did you do try it again, being sure to left-click (if using a PC)?

Did you check your mouse connection? Your keyboard connection?

Did you try to single click and use command/control-o (on a PC, did you try to right click and select Open?)

Did you look in the Taskbar or Finder to see if the application is already open, but minimized, hidden, or open with no open windows?

Are you getting an error message indicating that the shortcut/alias has lost its connection to the master file? Did you try to locate the master file and open that?

Are you getting an error message indicating that the application that created the file does not exist on your computer?

If you are trying to open a file, did you try opening the application first, then using File-Open to open the file?

I can't find my document.

Are you sure you saved the file? Could you have used Save as.. and a different file name or format?

Are you working at the same computer that you were working on when you saved it? Did you check the desktop of that machine? Did you check the application's folder on that hard drive?

Could you have saved to a disk or zip?

Do you remember what you called the file or what you might have called the file? Have you used the system's Find? Have you looked for you document in the System's list of recent documents?

Have you opened the application and looked for the document in the File menu's list of recent documents? If you are opening a document from within an application, have you set the file type menu in the File-Open window to read "all readable documents"?

On the network server, have you checked all folders into which you could have saved? If you use a Shared network server, or a public conference, have you looked inside of other folders (your document could have been moved by mistake).

Do you have a previous version that you can use?

My computer is frozen.

Is the mouse connected? Is the keyboard connected?

Have you tried another mouse?

If you use a laptop, have you cleaned both your hands and the touchpad/trackball/pointer?

Have you "clicked out" of your application by mistake?

Have you tried to Force Quit or Quit Task?

Have you tried to reboot from the keyboard?

Have you counted to 120 just in case it is not frozen, but working on a memory intensive task?

I can't turn off my laptop.

Are you sure you are supposed to turn it off? Many machines are just supposed to go into system or display sleep.

Have you checked the list under "My computer is frozen"?

Are you sure you are using the correct menus and menu commands?

Have you followed any directions given in an error message (especially if they relate to printing)?

If you are using a peripheral storage device (zip, floppy, HD), did you put it away correctly?

If you were using a shared or networked document, have you gone to the source to see what is going on?

Have you tried a manual shut down and/or pulling the power plug or battery?

I have an email attachment and I can't open it.

Are you sure you have an email attachment?

Do you know the default location for the download of attachments? (if any) - Check this in the preferences of your email application.

If you are using First Class, have you first dragged the attachment file icon to your desktop to download it?

Do you know the application that made the file? Do you have it on your computer?

Have you tried to send the attachment on to yourself, to open on a different computer?

Have you tried the solutions in "I double-clicked the icon..." above?

Is this a new email or one that you have previously sent, forwarded, or read? (not applicable in First Class)

I can't get online.

Did you check your wires? Look for exposed wire, broken connectors, unplugged connectors.

Are you connected to the network signal? (wireless card installed, wireless sees an access point, network setting correct.) Try connecting at a different location.

Could your configuration be changed or corrupted? (modem correctly configured, do you need to switch from wired to wireless protocol?)

Are you already connected, but with a minimized browser window?

Is your browser corrupted?

Did you try your email program too?

If you are at home and using a modem, do you have an ISP (Internet Service Provider, like AOL, AT&T, MSN, Earthlink)

Step 5: Follow these 7 Advice Points for those situations when you may need to call ECT:

Ask a peer for help - someone nearby may have conquered this problem already. Or ask a student in whom you have confidence.

Pay attention to peer help - take notes on what he/she does.

Write down the full text of all error messages before calling.

If you have a new machine or printer, make sure you have handy the documentation and any disks that came with it before you call.

Fess up to any alterations you have made to the system or to the preferences of an application.

Acknowledge any software you have installed.

Acknowledge any help given by a colleague or student.

Step 6: Call for help.

Step 7: Deal with your fears:

Get a lesson - Never let ECT leave you without directions

Make a plan for your personal growth! This should involve getting to know your hardware and its applications.

Get to know the "kids who know".

Give it a rest - no one in technology is ever "caught up."

Make a list of all of the technologies you own that are not broken: phones, media players, Tv, microwave, hairdryer, coffee makers.

Techies laugh at everything. But every techie has a sweet tooth - feed it.

E. Sky-McIlvain 1/26/03

The Problem	7 Things To Do Before Calling ECT
My computer will not boot up.	Did you try hitting shift and enter/return in case it is just sleeping? Is it plugged in and turned on (including surge suppressor)? Check. Is the keyboard connected? Is there a floppy or CD in a drive? (PC issue) Is the monitor plugged in and attached to the CPU and ON? If a laptop, could the battery be dead? Try a power supply and an alternate battery (swap with someone) Did you restart holding down shift (on Macs, to boot with extensions off) or the function key to boot to safe mode (you need to know this if you have a PC)?
I can not print my document	Are you connected to the printer via a cable or via a network? Verify that you see a printer. Do you know which printer is which? Do you know which printer you are printing to? (you could be printing to the Principal's office). Does the printer you want to print to appear as a choice in the printer menu? Is the printer turned on? Is the printer out of paper or jammed? Can you print to an alternate printer? If you have a new computer and an old printer, or vice versa, have you checked to see if you need to install a driver?
I double-clicked the icon but the file/program won't open.	Did you do try it again, being sure to left-click (if using a PC)? Did you check your mouse connection? Your keyboard connection? Did you try to single click and use command/control-o (on a PC, did you try to right click and select Open?) Did you look in the Taskbar or Finder to see if the application is already open, but minimized, hidden, or open with no open windows? Are you getting an error message indicating that the shortcut/alias has lost its connection to the master file? Did you try to locate the master file and open that? Are you getting an error message indicating that the application that created the file does not exist on your computer? If you are trying to open a file, did you try opening the application first, then using File-Open to open the file?
I can't find my document.	Are you sure you saved the file? Could you have used Save as.. and a different file name or format? Are you working at the same computer that you were working on when you saved it? Did you check the desktop of that machine? Did you check the application's folder on that hard drive? Could you have saved to a disk or zip? Do you remember what you called the file or what you might have called the file? Have you used the system's Find? Have you looked for you document in the System's list of recent documents? Have you opened the application and looked for the document in the File menu's list of recent documents? If you are opening a document from within an application, have you set the file type menu in the File-Open window to read "all readable documents"? On the network server, have you checked all folders into which you could have saved? If you use a Shared network server, or a public conference, have you looked inside of other folders (your document could have been moved by mistake). Do you have a previous version that you can use?
My computer is frozen.	Is the mouse connected? Is the keyboard connected? Have you tried another mouse? If you use a laptop, have you cleaned both your hands and the touchpad/trackball/pointer? Have you "clicked out" of your application by mistake? Have you tried to Force Quit or Quit Task? Have you tried to reboot from the keyboard? Have you counted to 120 just in case it is not frozen, but working on a memory intensive task?
I can't turn off my laptop.	Are you sure you are supposed to turn it off? Many machines are just supposed to go into system or display sleep. Have you checked the list under "My computer is frozen"? Are you sure you are using the correct menus and menu commands? Have you followed any directions given in an error message (especially if they relate to printing)? If you are using a peripheral storage device (zip, floppy, HD), did you put it away correctly? If you were using a shared or networked document, have you gone to the source to see what is going on? Have you tried a manual shut down and/or pulling the power plug or battery?
I have an email attachment and I can't open it.	Are you sure you have an email attachment? Do you know the default location for the download of attachments? (if any) - Check this in the preferences of your email application. If you are using First Class, have you first dragged the attachment file icon to your desktop to download it? Do you know the application that made the file? Do you have it on your computer? Have you tried to send the attachment on to yourself, to open on a different computer? Have you tried the solutions in "I double-clicked the icon..." above? Is this a new email or one that you have previously sent, forwarded, or read? (not applicable in First Class)
I can't get online.	Did you check your wires? Look for exposed wire, broken connectors, unplugged connectors. Are you connected to the network signal? (wireless card installed, wireless sees an access point, network setting correct.) Try connecting at a different location. Could your configuration be changed or corrupted? (modem correctly configured, do you need to switch from wired to wireless protocol?) Are you already connected, but with a minimized browser window? Is your browser corrupted? Did you try your email program too? If you are at home and using a modem, do you have an ISP (Internet Service Provider, like AOL, AT&T, MSN, Earthlink)