Going through my school  technology notebook,  the only troubleshooting guide that I could find was dated 1993.  All of the technology in my room has been updated since that was published.  Additionally, connections have changed and the advice that was offered in the old troubleshooting list was inadequate at best.  However, there are a couple of general rules that we are encouraged to use before we call for Technical Support Services.

Problem--The computer does not come on.
Solution-
    Insure that there is power at the outlet by plugging in another device that is known to work.
    Insure that all plugs are properly installed.
    Insure that all cable connections are properly made.
    If the computer fails to start at this point, contact support services at 525-3298.

Problem--The printer fails to print.
Solution-
    Insure the power is on.
    Insure the cables are properly connected.
    Insure that the printer is properly installed at the printer port.
    Insure the correct port is selected.
    Insure the printer software is installed.
    Insure that the printer has a ribbon or ink tanks installed.
    Insure that ink tanks are full.
    Follow the remainder of the troubleshooting guides listed for the printer.
    If printer fails to start, contact support services at 525-3289.

Problem--Computer freezes up during while running an application.
Solution-
    Try to shut application down by pressing the appropriate reboot sequence.
    After one minute and the system fails to respond, power down the computer and reboot.

Problem-- Where is the problem?  Is the Internet down? Or is it the server or district connection?
Solution-
    Check to see if you can connect to Netscape Navigator.
    Check to see if your Eudora can connect.
    Check with another teacher to see if they can connect to either Netscape or Eudora.
    If not, check the File Share category under the Apple.  If this is connected then it must be a building/district problem.
    Call Tecnical Services (525-3289) and check.  They should be able to tell you if it is a building or district concern.

Problem--Suspect computer failure of CPU cooling fan.
Solution-
    Replace cooling fan and INTEL 233 MMX chip.

Problem--Computer ran with glitches, but still OK.  Noted operating Windows 98 SE with all appropriate upgrades that computer would crash at unpredictable times.  Assumed that some new software that was added with Office 2000 with SR1 upgrade was causing system to slowly fail.  On the final day of Ed. Psy 398 class, the computer did in fact fail to start the operating system.
Solution-
After considerable effort to start the computer, i.e.. attempt Windows 98 SE startup disc, the Norton Utilities specialized startup disc, and other sundry utilities designed to save the day, the computer failed to start.  After that, we (my computer tech husband and I) decided a new computer motherboard was necessary.  However, we would save information off the old hard disc by supplanting it as primary slave in the new computer.  During installation of the slave hard disc in the new computer, the Virus checker indicated that a Trojan horse existed in the operation system of the old computer and several files no longer existed in an appropriate manner.  This rendered the old operating system incapable of being able to restart.  We decontaminated the old hard disc of the entire virus and transferred all of the pertinent files from the old hard disc to the new one.  After total file transference,  we will salvage the old hard disc through a "fdisk" procedure and reformat to totally clean off any existing data that could re-infect another computer in which the old hard disc will be used.  The interesting aspect of this occurrence is that after the initial failure of the CPU due to heat, the virus checker was altered in a manner where it failed on a weekly basis to get the latest updates to avoid the latest viruses.  As a result, a very malicious virus was contracted without detection and caused some extreme damage to the operating system.  The lesson learned is one should never assume that the Virus Checker is automatically updating.  On occasion, (every three months) one should manually update the virus checker to insure the latest files are present.  Immediately after starting my new computer, a classmate sent the "happy99.worm" virus to me.  Fortunately, my virus checker was updated and immediately alerted me to the presence of this virus on my computer.  The virus checker would not permit me to open this attachment.  The virus was deleted from my computer.  I notified this classmate to check her computer and how to contact symantec.com to obtain a free copy of the software necessary to eradicate the virus from her machine.

Problem--For Project Lincol'n, that I will be starting this summer, it was suggested that we needed a MAC since the computers we would be working on this summer were MACs.  I checked out a G3 from school, (there was only one iMac in the building, and the computer leader took it for Project Lincol'n).  However, when I got it home, I discovered it had no modem or printer port.
Solution-
    Still unknown at this time.  I will try to use my PC and transfer data into html and then the MAC will be able to use that language.  I have found out that templates needed to complete Units of Practice will be on WORD 98.  Since I have just purchased Office Academic Pro 2000, this will be more than adequate to complete the templates.

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