大多数为本网站撰稿的人都非常熟悉计算机。从早期运行 DOS的(running DOS)IBM兼容机一直到现代游戏 PC(modern gaming PCs)和笔记本电脑，我们几乎共同完成并看到了所有这些。
这很容易让人忘记，普通的 PC 用户并不是一个痴迷的技术极客。当计算机出现问题时，普通用户可能会将其打包并带到像Geeksquad这样的公司寻求帮助。虽然这并没有什么问题，但通常情况下，您要向专业人士支付数百美元来修复您可能自己完成的事情。
虽然您确实可能遇到只有真正的技术人员才能解决的问题，但很有可能这是您自己力所能及的事情。在您将计算机连同一大笔现金交出之前，这当然值得一试。
逻辑，像史波克先生
关于计算机，您应该了解的第一件事是它们非常合乎逻辑。当它们正常工作和不正常工作时都是如此。计算机的工作原理并不存在根本性的谜团。是的，它们很复杂，但“复杂”与“魔术”不同。
计算机问题有两大类——硬件和软件。几乎从来没有同时出现问题的情况。
硬件
如果您遇到硬件问题，则意味着您计算机中的某个组件出现故障或配置不正确。
您应该做的第一件事是熟悉计算机的主要组件。
- 有主板，它是所有东西都插入的大电路板。
- 然后是CPU，它是计算机的逻辑大脑。它完成了所有的数字运算。
- 然后是RAM（随机存取存储器(Random Access Memory)），它对于正在使用的程序来说是非常快速的存储。
- 硬盘是永久存储。
- 电源，嗯，供电（显然！）。
- 图形处理器(graphics processor)在您的屏幕和声音芯片上制作图片。
确定特定硬件是否存在故障的最简单方法之一是将其换成已知的工作部件或将可疑部件放入您知道工作的计算机中。
如果您的硬件工作正常，但计算机没有按照应有的方式运行，那么软件方面可能出现了问题。让我们看一下找出您的 PC 实际出了什么问题的过程。
诊断舞
修理计算机时最重要的一步是正确诊断问题。如果您找不到问题的原因，那么您甚至无法开始解决它们。
就像医生一样，您需要收集有关问题出现方式的信息。换句话说，您必须列出问题的症状和情况。
尝试详细描述计算机正在做什么（或没有(isn’t )做什么）。例如：
- 我的电脑打不开。
- 我的电脑无法启动。
- 我的电脑无法连接到 WiFi。
这些是广泛的描述，但这是一个很好的起点。
更(Finer)详细的细节将引导您更快地找到正确的答案。如果有特定的错误代码，请将它们写下来。如果问题在特定情况下发生，也请注意这些。如果您在问题开始之前做了一些新的或不同的事情，那么您可能也应该记下这一点。
您将希望收集看起来相关且具有描述性的信息。那么你如何处理这些信息呢？嗯(Well…)……
谷歌是你的朋友
我们会告诉你一个小秘密——Geeksquad的人可能会用谷歌搜索你的问题(Google your issue)。必须记住大量技术知识或参考厚厚的技术手册的日子已经过去很久了。
更重要的是，互联网上充斥着很可能已经解决了您遇到的问题的人。如果没有，网上也有人愿意帮你解决问题(who are willing to help you figure out the problem)。
这就是为什么能够描述特定问题的症状至关重要的原因。您在搜索引擎中输入的描述越好，答案就越相关。
最重要的是，您会发现大量在线论坛，您可以在其中寻求针对特定问题的帮助。这些地方总是有一些友好的极客愿意提供免费的技术支持。您所要做的就是向他们提供正确的信息并按照说明进行操作。
事实上，您可能应该首先在此站点上输入您的关键字。我们很有可能已经为您提供了解决方案。
大锤法
上面的建议实际上是针对让您的计算机重新站起来的手术方法，但还有另一种快速可靠的方法。但是，这也意味着可能会取出您的数据。
Windows 10 允许您将计算机重置为原始状态或保持个人文件完好无损。然而，在你去重置你的电脑之前，你可以先尝试将它从事情变成梨形之前回滚到一个还原点。(to a restore point)
如果您的计算机严重损坏以至于 Windows 无法自行重置，或者您的硬盘驱动器损坏并且您不得不更换它，您可以从 DVD 或 USB 驱动器重新安装操作系统(you can reinstall the operating system from a DVD or USB drive)。如果您的计算机没有附带任何安装介质，您可以使用另一台计算机从微软网站合法下载。只要你有你的许可证密钥，一切都很好。
从安装媒体启动还为您提供了一些修复选项，可以(may)让您保存一些个人数据。
当然，在你决定从轨道上对你的计算机硬盘进行核攻击之前，还有另一种更宽容的方法来解决一些问题。Windows具有称为系统还原的功能(system restore)。每当您获得更新、安装新程序或加载新硬件驱动程序时，Windows都会进行某种备份。然后，您可以将计算机回滚到一切正常的最后一点。
这可能无法帮助您弄清楚到底出了什么问题，但至少它可以让您回到机器的良好状态。这也是对硬件问题的粗略诊断。因为，如果恢复不能解决问题，问题可能会超出驱动程序的问题。
预防性维护
(Certain)稍加预防就可以在很大程度上避免某些类型的计算机问题。例如，您应该在您的计算机上运行一个防病毒包。(an antivirus package running)如果您运行的是最新版本的Windows，那么好消息是您已经内置了一个(you have one built-in already). 请务必检查您的计算机上是否有一个（并且只有(only )一个）活动的防病毒包。
您可以做的最重要的预防性维护是备份您的数据。无论您是在外部硬盘驱动器上制作磁盘映像，(disk images on an external hard drive)还是将最重要的文件备份到云(backing up your most important files to the cloud)中，您唯一的不可替代数据副本都必须在多台计算机上，这一点至关重要。
这样一来，诸如硬盘驱动器故障或操作系统完全损坏之类的重大问题就变成了轻微的不便，而不是世界末日的昂贵灾难。
DIY还是(DIY Or)不DIY，这是个问题
最后，你必须回答的基本问题是——你的时间值多少钱？
通过修理你自己的电脑，你是在用你的时间和精力换取让别人去做的代价。我们通常喜欢在电脑上工作，所以这并不像是一件苦差事。如果您只是想省钱，那么这不一定是一种有趣的体验。
要记住的最重要的事情是，几乎所有常见的计算机问题都可以修复。如果您已经完成了一次，那么您将再也不需要帮助来解决该问题。
How To Fix Your Computer Without Calling In Geeksquad
Most of the folks who write for this site know their way around a computer intimately. From the early days of IBM compatibles running DOS all the way to modern gaming PCs and laptops, collectively we’ve done and seen nearly all of it.
Which makes it easy to forget that the average PC user is not an obsessive tech geek. When things go wrong with a computer, the average user is likely to pack it up and take it to a business like Geeksquad for help. While there is nothing wrong with this, more often than not you are paying a professional hundreds of dollars to fix something you could probably have done yourself.
While it’s true that you may have an issue only a true technician can solve, the odds are that it’s something within your own reach. It’s certainly worth a try before you hand your computer over along with a big wad of cash.
Logical, Like Mr Spock
The first thing you should know about computers is that they are very logical. This is true both when they are working correctly and when they aren’t working correctly. There isn’t a fundamental mystery to how a computer works. Yes, they are complex, but “complex” isn’t the same as “magic”.
There are two broad classes of computer problems – hardware and software. It’s almost never the case where something goes wrong with both at the same time.
The Hardware
If you have a hardware problem, it means that one of the components in your computer is either faulty or not configured correctly.
The first thing you should do is acquaint yourself with the main components of your computer.
- There’s the motherboard, which is the big circuit board that everything plugs into.
- Then the CPU, which is the logical brain of the computer. It does all of the number crunching.
- Then there’s the RAM (Random Access Memory) which is incredibly fast storage for programs that are in use.
- The hard drive is permanent storage.
- The power supply, well, supplies power (obviously!).
- The graphics processor makes pictures on your screen and the sound chip.
One of the easiest ways to determine if a specific piece of hardware is at fault is by swapping it out for a known working part or putting the suspect part into a computer you know works.
If your hardware works, but the computer is not performing the way it should, then something may have gone wrong on the software side of things. Let’s have a look at the process of figuring out what’s actually gone wrong with your PC.
The Diagnosis Dance
The most important step when repairing a computer is correctly diagnosing the problem. If you can’t find the cause of your issues, then you can’t even begin to fix them.
Just like a doctor, you need to gather information about the way the problem presents itself. In other words, you have to list the symptoms and circumstances of the issue.
Try to describe what it is the computer is doing (or isn’t doing) in detail. For example:
- My computer won’t turn on.
- My computer won’t boot.
- My computer won’t connect to WiFi.
These are broad descriptions, but it’s a good place to start.
Finer details will lead you to the right answer more quickly. If there are specific error codes, write them down. If the problem happen under specific circumstances note those too. If you did something new or different right before the problem started, well you should probably also make a note of that.
You will want to gather information that seems relevant and descriptive. So what do you do with that information? Well….
Google Is Your Friend
We’ll let you in on a little secret – the guy at Geeksquad is probably going to Google your issue. The days of having to memorize massive amounts of tech knowledge or referring to thick technical manuals are long behind us.
More importantly, the internet is filled with people who have most likely already solved the problem you have. If not, there are also people online who are willing to help you figure out the problem.
This is why being able to describe the symptoms of your particular issue is of utmost importance. The better the description you put into the search engine the more relevant the answers will be.
Best of all, you’ll find plenty of forums online where you can ask for help with your specific problem. There are always a few friendly geeks hanging around these places willing to provide free tech support. All you have to do is provide them with the right information and follow instructions.
In fact, you should probably start by typing in your keywords right here on this site. The chances are we already have a solution for you.
The Sledgehammer Method
The advice above is really aimed at a surgical approach to getting your computer back on its feet, but there’s another approach that’s fast and reliable. However, it also means potentially taking out your data.
Windows 10 allows you to reset your computer either to a pristine state or with your personal files left intact. Before you go and reset your PC however, you might first try rolling it back to a restore point from before things went pear-shaped.
If your computer is so busted that Windows can’t reset itself or your hard drive is busted and you had to replace it, you can reinstall the operating system from a DVD or USB drive. If your computer didn’t come with any installation media, you can use another computer to legally download it from Microsoft’s website. As long as you have your license key it’s all fine.
Booting from installation media also provides you with some repair options, which may let you save some personal data.
Of course, before you decide to nuke your computer’s hard drive from orbit, there is another more forgiving way to fix some problems. Windows has a feature known as system restore. Whenever you get an update, install a new program or load new hardware drivers, Windows makes a sort of backup. You can then roll back your computer to the last point where everything was working OK.
This may not help you figure out what exactly went wrong, but at least it can get you back to a good state for the machine. It’s also a crude diagnostic for hardware issues. Since, if a restore does not fix the problem, the issue may go beyond bad drivers.
Preventative Maintenance
Certain types of computer problems can be largely avoided by an ounce of prevention. You should, for example, have an antivirus package running on your computer. If you are running a recent version of Windows then the good news is you have one built-in already. Do be sure to check that there is one (and only one) active antivirus package on your machine.
The most important preventative maintenance you can do is backing up your data. Whether you’re making disk images on an external hard drive or backing up your most important files to the cloud, it’s absolutely vital that your only copies of irreplaceable data is on more than one computer.
That way major problems such as hard drive failure or complete corruption of your OS become minor inconveniences, rather than world-ending expensive disasters.
To DIY Or Not To DIY, That Is The Question
In the end the fundamental question you have to answer is – what is your time worth?
By repairing your own computer, you are trading your time and effort for the price of letting someone else do it. We generally enjoy working on computers, so it doesn’t feel like a chore. If you are just trying to save money then it’s not necessarily a fun experience.
The most important thing to remember is that almost all common computer problems are within your reach to repair. If you’ve done it once, you’ll never need help fixing that issue again.
