question mark on open bookNetwork Problem Solving question mark on open book
Use this section to solve some common computer and network problems.
Printers No Application Launcher
or Login Screen		 No Task Bar
(gray line with start menu)		 CMOS Screen 
(black screen with 3 turquoise boxes)
No Sound Black Screen No Power No Keyboard/Mouse Control

 
Printers:
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Northwest's  printers from the HP 690 series were not meant to be networked.  Many teachers have experienced problems.
Insufficient Memory Error when printing from the Internet
  1. Try rebooting the computer and printing again.
  2. Try printing from the computer directly connected to the printer.
Printer will not stop printing pages of unusual characters.
  1. Take any extra paper out of the printer.
  2. Turn off the printer, unplug the printer, & reboot the computer.  After a few minutes try again.
  3. Leave the printer unplugged overnight.
Ink is smeared.
  1. Clean off copper colored area on the underside of the ink cartridges with a damp cloth.
  2. Run the printer cleaning utility program - (administrator will need to do this.)
Ink is sparse.
  1. Check for an empty cartridge.
  2. Clean off copper colored area on the underside of the ink cartridges with a damp cloth.

 
No Application Launcher or Login Screen:
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Computer skips the login screen during boot up and goes to a light blue/green screen.  Programs can still be run from the CD Rom but the network cannot be used.
  1. Reboot the computer.
  2. Check the wire connecting the computer to the classroom hub.  The wire resembles a telephone cord.  The hub should be found near the middle of your computer setup.
  3. Make sure the hub has power.

 
No Task Bar: 
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This is not a network problem, but can easily be caused by a user.
The gray line at the bottom of the screen can be hidden from view.
  1. Move the mouse to the edges of the screen until a black double ended arrow appears.  Press the left mouse button and drag the task bar back into view.

 
CMOS screen
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Computer skips the login screen during boot up and goes to a black screen with 3 turquoise boxes. 
  1. This problem has yet to be fixed by Compaq.  Press F2.

 
No Sound
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Sound goes out while using the computer.
  1. Check speaker connection between speakers and to the back of the computer.
  2. If using headphones, move connection wire to check for a short.
  3. If using headphone jack adapter, make sure the headphones are not plugged in too far or not enough.

 
Black Screen
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Screen goes black while using the computer.
  1. Check connection to back of computer.
  2. Move connection wire to check for a short.

 
No Power
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No lights come on when turning on the computer.  The monitor light may or may not be lit.
  1. Check to make sure the computer is plugged into the wall.  (Sometimes a computer is unplugged because of lack of outlets.)
  2. Flip the power switch on and off several times, briefly waiting between tries - maybe wait even up to a minute
  3. Ask a custodian to check the circuit breaker.

 
No Keyboard/Mouse Control
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No keyboard or mouse control after booting up the computer.
  1. Make sure they are plugged into the computer.
Loss of keyboard or mouse control during use.
  1. If one of the two works, try to save your work and reboot the computer using the start menu.
  2. Try Ctrl/Alt/Delete for reboot.  Press them several times if needed.
  3. As a last resort, turn off the computer and restart it.

 

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