This is a blog about common problems involving technology and how to solve them fast.
I love technology but it can be frustrating when things go wrong. For example, when one of my computers goes down I usually have to fix it immediately because I rely on it for business. If you are like me, this blog is for you.
My goal is to help you understand the most common problems with technology and how to solve them as quickly as possible so they don’t interfere with your life.
I started this blog because I wanted to share some of the common problems that people run into with technology, and some of the ways that you can fix them. I’ve been helping people with their technology problems since 1994, when I started working at PC Magazine, writing the first weekly call-in radio show about personal computers. Since then I’ve worked in the broadcast industry and have been an author and columnist. Now, I host over a dozen podcasts including This Week in Tech, TWiT Photo, TWiG and more. Along with my podcasts, I host live shows every week on both my local radio station KFI AM 640 as well as triangulating with Dan York and Amber MacArthur in Toronto on This Week in Google on Tuesdays.
I’m available for hire to help you set up and secure your home networks, file servers, smartphones, Internet radios and media servers. If you want to get your Wi-Fi network secure so your neighbors can’t hack it, or need help setting up your digital life from start to finish – I can help! Please contact me for rates and availability.
I’m a huge fan of “How To” videos and articles. If I have a problem, I want to find someone who has had the same issue and solved it so I can do the same. For this reason, I like to create as many How To videos as possible to help others solve problems they may be having with their technology.
One of the most common questions I get is, “I’m having a problem with X…can you help me?” Although I wish I could, there are only so many hours in the day. So my goal for this site is to create articles that will provide step-by-step guides for solving some of the most common tech problems we all face. New articles will be added regularly so check back often!
In addition to these articles, I also recommend that you visit my YouTube channel where you can find tons of videos that will show you how to solve these problems using your screen and voice to guide you through the process.
If you have a suggestion for an article or video topic, please submit it here and we will consider it for future publication.
When you buy a new computer or gadget, you expect it to work. Most of the time, it does, but when it doesn’t, the result is frustrating and confusing.
Unfortunately, computers are complex machines with lots of different parts that can fail at any given time. This means that there are many different reasons why your computer may not be working properly. It’s impossible to list every single possible problem here, but I’ve listed 10 of the most common issues below.
If your problem isn’t listed in this article, please use our computer help forum to ask for assistance. You can also check out our other fixes for Windows computers, Macs, and Android devices for more ideas on how to solve your problem.
Note: These fixes apply to all computers and devices—Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones or Android devices—because these issues aren’t specific to one type of computer over another.
Don’t know what the problem is? Start here.
1. Computer won’t start.
2. Something’s wrong with my display or video card.
3. Something’s wrong with my sound
4. Something’s wrong with my keyboard or mouse, or they don’t work at all!
5. My Internet connection is down!
6. My printer isn’t working, or I can’t figure out how to print something I want to print.
7. My email isn’t working right, or I’m having trouble with my email program!
8. I can’t read a CD/DVD disc! Or the drive isn’t working correctly and I can’t burn discs!
9. I need to know how to back up my stuff and make sure it’s safe from viruses and malware!
10. I want to put music (or pictures, or movies) on my iPhone/iPad/iPod or Android phone/tablet/media player, but it won’t work!
Leo Laporte’s Technology Blog