PC and Gadget Help Desk, The: A Do-It-Yourself Guide To Troubleshooting and Repairing

A Do-It-Yourself Guide To Troubleshooting and Repairing   Your EASY, comprehensive technology troubleshooter! PCs, smartphones, tablets, networks, cameras, home theater and more—all in one book!   We all use technology—and we all have problems with it. Don’t get frustrated… and don’t waste money on costly repair or support calls! Solve the problems yourself, with the one guide that makes it easy: The PC and Gadget Help Desk. Using clear pictures, handy “symptom tables,” and easy-to-use flowcharts, Mark Edward Soper walks you step-by-step through identifying, solving, and preventinghundreds of today’s most aggravating tech problems. Soper covers all your major platforms: iPhones, iPads, Android devices, Windows systems, and more. He even helps you fix the weird problems that happen when you use them together! Regain lost Internet access and fix broken Wi-Fi connections Solve problems with viewing and sharing media or other files Track down power problems wherever they arise Troubleshoot printing problems and print from smartphones or tablets Fix missing video or audio on your HDTV or home theater system Get syncing working right on your Apple or Android device Improve your PC’s 3D gaming performance Identify and replace flaky memory chips Prevent overheating that can damage your equipment Solve common problems with digital cameras and DV camcorders Troubleshoot iOS or Android antennas, updates, screens, and connectivity Get FaceTime working right on your iPhone or iPad Troubleshoot eReaders and display your eBooks on additional devices Sensibly decide whether to upgrade, repair, or replace Mark Edward Soper has spent 30 years as an instructor and corporate trainer, helping thousands of people work more happily with personal technology. He is the author of PC Help Desk in a Book, and is the co-author of Leo Laporte’s PC Help Desk, as well as more than 25 other books on Windows, digital imaging, networking, the Internet, IT certification, and computer troubleshooting. Soper is a CompTIA A+ Certified computer technician and Microsoft Certified Professional.   BONUS ONLINE VIDEOS: Includes access to free, studio-quality how-to videos that make troubleshooting and repair even easier!  

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1 Why You Need This Book 1 How to Use This Book 2 How This Book Is Organized 3 Chapter 1, “PC, Tablet, Mobile Device, Home Theater, Digital Camera, and Camcorder Anatomy 101” 4 Chapter 2, “Upgrade, Repair, or Replace?” 4 Chapter 3, “Troubleshooting Internet Problems” 4 Chapter 4, “Curing Malware and Stopping Scams” 4 Chapter 5, “Solving Problems with Viewing Your Photos and Videos” 4 Chapter 6, “Keeping Devices Powered Up” 5 Chapter 7, “Desktop Power Supply Troubleshooting” 5 Chapter 8, “Fixing Windows Devices That Can’t Start” 5 Chapter 9, “Solving File Sharing Problems” 5 Chapter 10, “Troubleshooting Device Sharing” 5 Chapter 11, “Troubleshooting Printing” 5 Chapter 12, “Troubleshooting Home Theater, HDTVs, and Projectors” 5 Chapter 13, “Fixing Slow 3D Gaming” 6 Chapter 14, “Keeping Your Devices Updated” 6 Chapter 15, “Dealing with Contrary Memory” 6 Chapter 16, “Keeping Devices Cool” 6 Chapter 17, “Troubleshooting Touchscreens, Keyboards, and Mice” 6 Chapter 18, “Upgrading and Troubleshooting Storage Devices” 6 Chapter 19, “Software Troubleshooting” 7 Chapter 20, “Digital Camera Troubleshooting” 7 Chapter 21, “HD Camcorder and Video Troubleshooting” 7 Chapter 22, “iOS Troubleshooting” 7 Chapter 23, “Android Troubleshooting” 7 Chapter 24, “Troubleshooting Flowcharts” 7 Glossary 8   1 PC, Tablet, Mobile Device, Home Theater, Digital Camera, and Camcorder Anatomy 101 9 One Device = Many Subsystems 9     Hardware, Software, and Firmware 10 Desktop and Laptop PC Subsystems 10 Stop ESD—Don’t Fry Your PC! 11 Desktop PC Anatomy 13     Front Views of Typical Desktop Computers 13     Rear Views of Typical Desktop Computers 16     Internal Components 20     Expansion Slots 21     Points of Failure Inside the Computer 23 Laptop and Netbook PC Anatomy 28     Laptop External Ports and Features 29     Laptop Internal Features 31     Points of Failure on a Laptop Computer 32 All-in-One PC Anatomy 33     External Ports and Features 33     Internal Components 34     Points of Failure 34 Windows Tablet Anatomy 34     External Ports and Features 35     Internal Components 36     Points of Failure 37 Preparing a Windows-Based Computer or Tablet for Easier Troubleshooting 37     Taking Pictures of Your BIOS Settings 37     Recovering from Firmware Settings Failure 40     Configuring Windows to Keep STOP (Blue Screen) Errors Displayed 41     Setting Up System Protection 42     Setting Up Windows Backup (Windows 7) 44     Setting Up File History (Windows 8/8.1) 47 Android Tablet and Smartphone Anatomy 49     Android External Ports and Features 49     Android Internal Components 49     Points of Failure 49 iOS Device Anatomy 50     iOS External Ports and Features 50     Internal Components 50     Points of Failure 50 HDTV Anatomy 50     Video Ports 51     Audio Ports 51     Attachment Points 51     Points of Failure 51 Projector Anatomy 51     Video and Signal Ports 52     Audio Ports 52     Projector Controls 52     Internal Components 53     Points of Failure 53 Monitor Anatomy 54     Video Ports 54     Audio Ports 54     Attachment Points 54     Points of Failure 54 Receiver/Sound Bar Anatomy 54     Audio and Video Ports 55     Points of Failure 55 Digital Camera Anatomy 55     Control Buttons and Switches 55     External Features 56     Interchangeable Components 57     Internal Components 59     Points of Failure 59 Camcorder Anatomy 59     Control Buttons 60     External Features 60     Connection and Add-ons 61     Points of Failure 61   2 Upgrade, Repair, or Replace? 63 The 50% Rule 63     Applying the Rule 64     Exceptions 66 OEM Versus Third-Party Components 66     When to Use OEM Repair/Replacement Parts 66     Benefits of Third-Party Repair/Replacement Parts 66     Finding the Best Values in Third-Party Components 67   3 Troubleshooting Internet Problems 69 Fast Track to Solutions 69 Speeding Up a Slow Wireless Network 70     Choosing an Uncluttered Channel 71     Understanding Encryption 73     Wireless-N or Wireless-AC+WPA2 Encryption—Speed and Better Security 74     Why WEP and WPA’s Time Is Over 75     Why Some Wireless-N and AC Devices Run Faster Than Others 76     Old Computer, New Router? Boosting Wi-Fi Speed 77     Dealing with Slow, Insecure Devices on Your Home Network 79 Setting Up a Secure Wireless Network 80     Encryption Keys Problems and Solutions 81     Wi-Fi Protected Setup Problems and Solutions 82 Solving Signal Strength Problems 82     Improving Antenna Positioning 84     Installing and Using a Signal Repeater 85     Using Powerline Networking 88 Speeding Up a Slow Wired Network 88     Checking Your Network Cable 90     Checking Your Computers for Gigabit Ports 91     Checking Your Router or Switch 92 Airplane Mode Versus Wi-Fi Mode 94 Switching Connection Types Manually 96 Mobile Hotspots and Connection Security 96     Using a Cellular-Enabled Device as a Hotspot 96 Switching Between Mobile and Desktop Websites 99 Router Configuration 101 Firmware Updates 103     Updating Your Router 103   4 Curing Malware and Stopping Scams 109 Fast Track to Solutions 109 Got Malware? What It Is and What It Does 110 Malware Attacks via Your Browser 111 Malware Attacks via Email 113 Malware Attacks via Phone Calls from Alleged Helplines 114 Malware Attacks via USB or Flash Memory 114 Your Role in Stopping Malware—An Overview 114 Avoiding Online and Email Scams 115     Signs of Fraudulent Websites 115     Check Before You Click 117     Don’t Click the Zip 117     Log In, Don’t Click In 118     Let Your Browser Protect You 118 Preventing and Removing Malware on Windows Devices 124 Preventing and Removing Malware on iOS Devices 127 Preventing and Removing Malware on Android Devices 130 Repairing Malware Damage on Windows Devices 131 Repairing Malware Damage on iOS or Android Devices 132   5 Solving Problems with Viewing Your Photos and Videos 133 Fast Track to Solutions 133 Can’t View RAW Files on Your PC 134     What Is a RAW File? 135     RAW Versus JPEG Files 135     What Is a Codec? 136     Finding and Installing RAW Codecs 136 Can’t View RAW Files on Your Android Device 139     Finding and Using RAW Apps for Android 139 Can’t View RAW Files on Your iOS Device 141 Can’t View Video on Your PC 142     Updating Adobe Flash 143     Determining Codecs Used by Windows Media Player 143     Installing Additional Codecs 146     Alternatives to Windows Media Player 146 Can’t View Video on Your Android Device 146     Playing Adobe Flash Video on Android 148 Can’t Play Video on Your iOS Device 150 Choosing a Video Player for Your PC or Device 152 Troubleshooting Codecs 153   6 Keeping Devices Powered Up 155 Fast Track to Solutions 155 Smartphone Versus Tablet—Charging Requirements 155     Dual USB Port Charging Pitfalls 157 Setting Up Your PC’s USB Ports for Full-Time Charging Support 157     Software Drivers for Faster Charging 158 Troubleshooting a Device or Battery That’s Not Charging 158     Wattage and Amperage 158     Troubleshooting Laptop Power Issues 159     Smartphone or Tablet Cable or Charger? 161     Battery Testing 161     Battery Not Charging or Not Holding a Charge 162 Replacing Your Device’s Battery 162     Rechargeable AA/AAA/C/D Batteries 163     Alkaline Versus Lithium Batteries 164     Proprietary Laptop, Digital Camera, or Camcorder Batteries 164     Built-in Batteries 165 Extending Battery Life 165   7 Desktop Power Supply Troubleshooting 167 Fast Track to Solutions 167 What Bad Power Does to Your System 168 Determining Whether Your Power Supply Is Overloaded or Failing 169     Overheating 169     Bus-Powered USB Devices Are Failing 169     Not Enough 12V Power 170     Low Efficiency 172     Random System Crashes or Lockups 172 Troubleshooting Overheating and Airflow Problems 172 Has Your Power Supply Failed? 173     System Won’t Turn On 173     Power Supply Comes On for a Moment, Then Stops 174     System Reboots Itself 175     Power Supply Fan Fails 176     Power Supply Smells 176 Testing Your Power Supply 176     Using a Digital Power Supply Tester 176     Ideal and Acceptable Voltage Levels 179     Checking Voltage Levels with PC Health/Hardware Monitor 179     Using a Multimeter 179 Replacing the Power Supply 182     Essential and Desirable Features 183     Selecting the Right-Sized Power Supply 185     Understanding 80PLUS Standards 186     Upgrading Power Supplies in Dell Computers 186     Removing the Old Power Supply 187     Installing the New Power Supply 188 Choosing Power Protection Devices 189     Checking Wall Outlets 190     Choosing a Surge Suppression Device 191     Choosing a Battery Backup Device 193   8 Fixing Windows Devices That Can’t Start 197 Fast Track to Solutions 197 Troubleshooting a Windows Tablet or Computer That Can’t Start 198 BIOS Configuration Settings 198 Windows Configuration Issues 199 BIOS Startup Error Messages and Solutions 200     Disconnecting USB Drives 200     Checking and Changing Drive Boot Order 201     STOP (Blue Screen) Errors at Startup 203     Loose Drive Data and Power Cables 208     Drive Failure 212 Windows 7 Error Recovery and Advanced Boot Options 213     Using Windows 7 Repair Tools 215     Using Automatic Startup Repair 216     Using System Restore 218     Using Last Known Good Configuration 220     Using Safe Mode Options 220     Using MSConfig 220     Enable Low-Resolution Video 222     Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure 222     System Image Recovery 222 Windows 8 Error Recovery and Advanced Boot Options 222     Using Windows 8/8.1 Repair Tools 225     Refresh Your PC 226     Reset Your PC 227   9 Solving File Sharing Problems 229 Fast Track to Solutions 229 Troubleshooting HomeGroup Settings 230     Creating a Homegroup—and What to Do if You Can’t 230     Joining an Existing Homegroup 238     Can’t Join an Existing Homegroup 241     Using the HomeGroup Troubleshooter 243     Opening Homegroup Folders 247     Homegroup Manual Repairs 249     Custom Sharing Settings 254 File Sharing with Portable Devices 261     Troubleshooting File Sharing with Portable Devices 263   10 Troubleshooting Device Sharing 265 Fast Track to Solutions 265 Setting Up a Printer or Multifunction Device on the Network 266     Connecting to a Wired Network 266     Connecting a Device to a Wireless Network 268 Installing a Network Multifunction Device or Printer Driver 270 Troubleshooting a Network Multifunction Device or Printer 271 Installing a Network-Attached Drive 272 Troubleshooting a Network-Attached Drive 274   11 Troubleshooting Printing 277 Fast Track to Solutions 277 Troubleshooting Printer Driver Issues 278     32-Bit Versus 64-Bit Windows and Printer Drivers 278     Get All the Printer Features You Paid For 281     Need a New Printer Driver? Here’s How to Get One 282     Removing an Incorrect Printer Driver 282     No Driver for Your Version of Windows? Workarounds and Fixes for You 284 Troubleshooting Inkjet Printers 287     Testing Print Quality 287     Cleaning Print Heads 289     Aligning Print Heads 292     Selecting the Correct Paper Type and Print Quality Settings 293     Third-Party Versus OEM Inks 295     High-Capacity Inks and Ink Cartridge Recycling 295 Troubleshooting Printing from Memory Cards 295 Troubleshooting Laser Printers 299     Laser/LED Printer Status Lights and Messages 300     Common Laser/LED Problems and Solutions 301     Checking Firmware and Number of Pages Printed 305     Using Maintenance Kits 305 Troubleshooting Scan/Copy/Fax Issues 305     Documents Jamming in Paper Feeder 305     What Scan/Copy Settings Should I Use? 306     Can’t Use Fax 306     Lines, Streaks, or Specks 306 Troubleshooting iOS and Android Printer Support 306   12 Troubleshooting Home Theater, HDTVs, and Projectors 309 Fast Track to Solutions 309 I Can’t See Computer or Device Display on HDTV, Projector, or Monitor 310     Troubleshooting TV and Video Inputs 310     Detecting HDTV, Projector or Additional Monitor with Windows 314     Adjusting the HDTV Desktop Size in Windows 317 Can’t Hear Computer Audio Through AV Receiver 322     Connecting Analog Audio Ports to a Receiver 322     Connecting Digital Audio to a Receiver 323     Selecting the Correct Audio Output Type on Your PC 324     Selecting the Correct Speaker Configuration on Your PC 325     Selecting the Correct Input Type on Your Receiver 326 I Want to Play Music on My iOS Device Through My Receiver 327     Using an Audio or USB Cable 327     Using a Docking Device 327     Using Bluetooth on iOS 328     Apple AirPlay 329     Using Wi-Fi 329 I Want to Play a Movie on My iOS Device Through a Home Theater System 329     Apple AV Cable and Compatible Cable and Docking Products 329     Apple TV 330     Using AirPlay and Mirroring 331 I Want to Play Music on My Android Device Through a Home Theater System 332     Using an Audio or USB Cable 332     Using Bluetooth on Android 332     Using Wi-Fi on Android 333 I Want to Play a Movie on My Android Device Through a Home Theater System 334 I Can’t Sync Music with my iOS or Android Device 334     Troubleshooting Syncing to an iOS Device 334     Troubleshooting Syncing to an Android Device 338     Selecting the Correct Settings for Ripping a CD 338 I Can’t Play Back Content Through AV Receiver 340     Incorrect Input Selected 340     Incorrect Cabling Between Devices 340     Loose Speaker Wires 340     Receiver or Device Muted 341     Content Not Supported 341 I Can’t Play Back My Blu-ray Movies 341     Checking Your Device for HDCP Support 341     Checking the AV Cable Connections Between Your PC or Player and Your Display or HDTV 341     Upgrading Firmware in Your Blu-ray Player 342   13 Fixing Slow 3D Gaming 343 Fast Track to Solutions 343 Updating Drivers 344 Adjusting 3D Settings 346     AMD 3D Settings 346     NVIDIA 3D Settings 348     In-Game Controls 349 Installing a Second Graphics Card 350     Enabling SLI 352     Enabling CrossFireX 354 Overclocking Your Graphics Card 355     Using Overclocking Software 356     Improving GPU Cooling 359 Improving Your Display 360     Upgrading to IPS LED Displays 360     Faster-Response HDTVs 361   14 Keeping Your Devices Updated 363 Fast Track to Solutions 363 Using Windows Update 364     Normal Settings for Windows Update 364     Viewing and Changing Windows Update Settings 365     Enabling Microsoft Update 368     Installing Updates Manually 370     Getting Service Packs 374 Using Vendor-Supplied Update Tools 376 Updating Device Drivers 378     Rolling Back Bad Driver Updates 378 Updating iOS Devices 379 Updating Android Devices 382   15 Dealing with Contrary Memory 387 Fast Track to Solutions 387 Troubleshooting Slow System Performance 387 Choosing a Memory Upgrade 391     Upgrading to Faster Memory 394     When to Choose High-Performance Memory 395 Removing and Installing Memory Modules 396     Removing and Installing SODIMMs 396     Installing and Removing DIMMs 399     Completing the Process 400 Signs of Memory Problems 400     Finding a Defective Memory Module 401 Testing Memory 401   16 Keeping Devices Cool 405 Fast Track to Solutions 405 What Excessive Heat Does to Your Device 406 Keeping Your Desktop Computer Cool 406     Checking Fan Speeds and System Temperatures with the System BIOS 407     Fan Connections on the Motherboard 408     Troubleshooting Fan Failures 410     Using Desktop Health Monitoring Software 410     Adding and Replacing Fans 411     Using Third-Party Active Heat Sinks for Your Processor 415 Keeping Your Laptop Cool 417     Avoiding Blocked Airflow 418     Adjusting Power Settings 418     Cooling Pads for Laptops 419 Preventing Desktop and Laptop Overheating with Preventative Maintenance 421 Troubleshooting iOS and Android Device Overheating 421   17 Troubleshooting Touchscreens, Keyboards, and Mice 423 Fast Track to Solutions 423 Cleaning Mobile and PC Touchscreens 423 Calibrating and Testing Touchscreens 424     Calibration in Windows 7/8/8.1 424     Testing and Calibration in Android 425     Calibration on iOS 427 Updating Your Operating System or Drivers 428 Choosing and Using a Stylus 428 Troubleshooting Wired Mice and Keyboards 428     Troubleshooting Pointing Device Problems with Control Panel 429 Troubleshooting Wireless Mice and Keyboards 432     Using Device Manager to Troubleshoot Wireless Mice and Keyboards 433     Troubleshooting Problems with Wireless Input Devices 433 Troubleshooting Bluetooth Mice and Keyboards 435     Pairing a Bluetooth Mouse 435     Pairing a Bluetooth Keyboard 439     Troubleshooting Problems with Bluetooth Devices 442 Troubleshooting IR Keyboards 444   18 Upgrading and Troubleshooting Storage Devices 445 Fast Track to Solutions 445 Signs of Drive Problems 446 Using SMART Drive Monitoring 446     When Should You Check SMART Attributes? 448 Checking Your Windows Drives for Errors 449     When Should You Check Drives for Errors? 450 Checking USB and Flash Memory Devices for Errors 451     When Should You Check USB and Flash Memory Drives for Errors? 452 Using Format to Solve Disk Errors 452 Using Drive Vendors’ Disk-Testing Software 454     When Should You Use Drive Vendors’ Test Programs? 456 Recovering “Lost” Data 456     Restoring Files from the Recycle Bin 457     Restoring a Previous Version 460     Retrieving Files from a Backup (Windows 7) 466     Using a Data-Recovery Program 468 Recovering Files from Optical Discs 472     Cleaning and Polishing the Disc’s Data Surface 472     Using Optical Disc Recovery Software 474 Freeing Up Storage Space on Your Windows Computer or Tablet 475     Using Disk Cleanup 476     Using Windows Libraries 477     Using Cloud Storage 481     Using OneDrive with Windows 481     Troubleshooting Cloud Storage 486 Cloning Your Hard Disk 487 Freeing Up Storage Space on Your iOS Device 489     Using iCloud to Free Up Storage Space 491 Checking Android Devices for Storage Errors 492     Troubleshooting MicroSD Cards on Android Devices 493 Freeing Up Storage Space on Your Android Device 496     Using Google Drive 498   19 Software Troubleshooting 501 Fast Track to Solutions 501 Solving Software Licensing Issues 502     Deactivating an App 502     Installing Software in Trial Mode 503     Problems with Activating Microsoft Programs 504     Adding or Changing a Product Key or License Number 507 Solving Problems with a Faulty Program or App 508     Freeing Up Memory 509     Checking Your System’s Memory Size and Processor Speed 510     Freeing Up Disk Space 510     Updating a Program or App 511     Uninstall/Reinstall the App 511     Repairing a Program 512 Using the Program Compatibility Wizard and Compatibility Tab 514     Using the Compatibility Tab 514     Using the Program Compatibility Wizard in Windows 7 516     Using the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter in Windows 8/8.1 518 Fixing Problem Apps with Regedit 519 Windows System Restore and Problem Apps 519 Using Windows 8/8.1 Refresh 519 Updating Windows Store Apps 519   20 Digital Camera Troubleshooting 521 Fast Track to Solutions 521 Image Quality Problems and Solutions 522     Changing Settings 523     Scene Mode 525     Color Problems 526     Exposure Problems 529     Image Blur (Out of Focus) 531     Camera Shake 532     Motion Blur 534     Wrong Lens or Zoom Setting 536     Dirty Lens 537     Dirty Image Sensor 538 Shooting in RAW Mode 539 Slow Burst Mode 541     Switching to JPEG from RAW 541     Choosing Fast Flash-Memory Cards 541 File Transfer Problems 543     Avoiding Camera-to-Computer File Transfer Problems 543     Using and Troubleshooting a Card Reader 543     Better Picture Transfer Without Duplications 546 Memory Card Problems and Solutions 548     Emptying the Contents of a Memory Card 549     Fixing Data Errors and Recovering Lost Photos 549 Protecting Your Equipment 549     Protective Filters 549     Lens and Body Caps 550     Changing Lenses 551     Cases 551 Lens Compatibility Problems and Solutions 551     Checking Model Numbers and Terminologies 552     Lens Re-chipping 553     Lens Adapters 554 Installing Firmware Updates 555 Battery Failure and Replacement 556   21 HD Camcorder and Video Troubleshooting 557 Fast Track to Solutions 557 Video Quality Problems and Solutions 558     Selecting the Best Resolution 558     Improving Low Video Quality 560     Choosing the Best Recording Speed 561     Improving Color in Your Videos 562     Improving Exposure in Your Videos 562     Image Blur Caused by Camera Shake 562     Adding Additional Light 563 Poor-Quality Sound 565     Using an External Microphone 565     Adjusting Microphone Gain 566     Protecting Your Microphone from Wind Noise 567     Removing or Changing Housings on an Action Camera 567 Can’t Play or Edit Video 567 Skipping Frames During Recording 568   22 iOS Troubleshooting 571 Fast Track to Solutions 571 Can’t Make or Receive Phone Calls 572     iPhone Configuration Issues 572     iPhone Updates 572     Hardware- and Carrier-Related Issues 572     iPhone 4/4s-Related Issues 573 Can’t Connect to a Bluetooth Headset or Keyboard 573 Wi-Fi Issues 573 4G Issues 574 FaceTime Issues 574 Can’t Print from Your iOS Device 576 Dealing with an Overheated iOS Device 576 Troubleshooting iOS Charging Issues 576 Can’t View Files on a Wireless Drive 576 Can’t Play or Sync Media 576 Updating Your iOS Device or Apps 577 Running Short of Space on Your iOS Device 577 Stopping Malware in its Tracks 577 Troubleshooting an iOS Device That Stops Responding 577     Restarting an iOS Device 577     Resetting an iOS Device 578 Resetting iOS Settings to Defaults 578 Troubleshooting an iOS Device That Can’t Start 579 Backing Up Your iOS Device 579 Erasing All Contents and Settings 580 Restoring from a Backup 581 Resetting Your Device to Like-New Condition 582 Restarting Your Device in Recovery Mode 582   23 Android Troubleshooting 585 Fast Track to Solutions 585 Can’t Make or Receive Phone Calls 586 Can’t Connect to a Bluetooth Device 586 Wi-Fi Issues 587 Can’t Print from Your Android Device 587 Dealing with an Overheated Android Device 587 Troubleshooting Android Charging Issues 587 Can’t View Files on a Wireless Drive 588 Can’t Play or Sync Media 588 Updating Your Android Device or Apps 588 Running Short of Space on Your Android Device 588 Preventing Malware Attacks 588 Backing Up Your Android Device’s Data 589 Performing a Factory Reset/Restore 590     Using Factory Reset Mode 592   24 Troubleshooting Flowcharts 593 Troubleshooting Methodology 593     The First Step—Finding Out What Happened 593     How to Check Out the Computing Environment 594     Your Diagnostics Toolbox 596     The Troubleshooting Cycle 597     Testing a Subsystem 599     Where to Start? 599     Where to Go for More Information 600     Keeping Track of Your Solutions 600 Summarizing the Troubleshooter’s Philosophy 601 Ethernet Performance Troubleshooting 602 Troubleshooting a System That Won’t Start 603 Troubleshooting a System That Displays Errors at Startup 604 Can’t Join or Create a HomeGroup 605 Troubleshooting Inkjet Print Quality 606 Determining Whether a Power Supply Should Be Replaced 607 Troubleshooting Blu-ray Playback Quality 608 Troubleshooting Noises Inside Computer 609 Troubleshooting Laptop Crashes 610 Troubleshooting Wireless Keyboards 611 Troubleshooting Wireless Mice 612   Glossary 613   Index 637  

About the Author :
Mark Edward Soper has helped users deal with problems with computers, digital cameras, and other personal tech devices for more than 25 years. He is the author of PC Help Desk in a Book and co-author of Leo Laporte’s PC Help Desk, as well as more than two dozen other books on Windows, digital photography, networking, broadband Internet, CompTIA A+ Certification, and computer troubleshooting and upgrading. With this level of experience, Mark is experienced at helping readers understand and use creative solutions to connectivity, configuration issues, data recovery, and other types of problems that can beset users of personal technology. Mark is also the creator of Building and Repairing PCs (Que Video), which provides more than two hours of detailed, hands-on help for building, repairing, and upgrading desktop and laptop computers.