web site designed and created by Jeff computer-tutor.me.uk

Diagnosis by High Street repair shop: Processor faulty new processor plus motherboard required.

“I can no longer play my music or CDs and the sound has gone completely from my computer, even if I plug in headphones there is no sound. Called Tech people and they diagnosed I need a new sound card”.

Possible...but first let's try some simple things like - are the speakers plugged in? check all external connections to speakers including at the back of the computer. Remember if you plug in earphones this will usually cut the sound to speakers... Just the same.... OK then make sure the sound isn't muted...huh what?...right click the speaker icon on your quick launch bar and have a look at volume control or adjust audio properties....make sure there isn't a tick in the box to mute sound......DOH!!....don't worry it can happen to the best of us.

“I had my computer built by an independent company a few years ago but it only has a CD ROM and I want to record my own CDs and make my own DVDs otherwise it does all I want. Told I need to buy a new up to date machine with windows vista”.

Hang on ....a few simple checks show your computer's operating system is windows XP home. it has 512 Mb of memory, separate video and sound cards. There is room to fit another disc drive or simply buy a new DVD rw combo and swap it for the cd ROM. Job done £50.

.... after opening the case easy to spot that the cooling fan on the processor wasn't working so causing the processor to overheat and close itself down as a precaution to avoid damage. New fan £6, Fitting £20, computer running as normal again.

“Our computer is only just out of warranty but after moving house stopped working altogether. PC World said motherboard needed replacing as everything was dead”.

This 3 year old computer began to shut down after half a hour for no apparent reason. if started after another half hour it would run again ok  for a short time and then shut down again.

It can happen....but the clue here was everything seemed ok until moving house - possibly something got jolted? maybe a connection loose? open case re-seat memory modules and cables (sure enough IDE cable connection looked suspect) re-start and everything running just as before

PC Repairs

Sometimes computers develop major faults that require the fitting of new parts, though modern machines are usually reliable and often the solution is simple to fix. Below are some past examples of problems I’ve encountered and resolved.