Scott City Technology Troubleshooting

(Before you call the Technology Office)

Before you call or e-mail for computer repair, please check the following:

The monitor screen is black
There is no sound from the speakers
The computer will not come on
The mouse and/or keyboard are acting erratically
I can’t locate the START button on my Windows screen or I can’t find the key to exit my program
I don’t think I am on the network
The computer is slow to log-on to the network:
The computer asks about F-PROT and Reachout when logging in.
If your printer malfunctions:


The monitor screen is black:
  • Is the monitor turned on?
  • Is the monitor plugged in?
  • Is the surge protector plugged in and turned on?
  • Is the light on the monitor green or orange? If it is orange, it is not connecting to the CPU. Make sure the computer is plugged in and turned on. Check the back of the monitor to see if the power supply cord has become disconnected. Hourly adjustments by students sometimes loosen the cord.
  • Have the brightness and contrast dials been adjusted to dark? These dials are located on most monitors under the front of the screen.
There is no sound from the speakers:
  • Check the volume control on the speakers.
  • Double click on the volume button in the system tray (lower right side of the screen). Make sure it’s not set to mute.
  • Check the connections underneath the table the computer sits on.
  • Is the jack plugged into the back of the machine into the right jack (green)?
  • Is the electrical power supply plugged in securely to the outlet? (A very common problem)
The computer will not come on:
  • Check the power key behind the computer. Sometimes it accidentally gets turned off; the power switch on the front will not work unless the back switch is also turned on.
  • Is there a disk in the A:\ drive? Remove it and press the space bar.
The mouse and/or keyboard are acting erratically:
  • The life expectancy of classroom mice is about two years, so it may really be dead and need to be replaced. Before you ask for a new one, try cleaning it.
  • To clean a keyboard, turn it upside down and shake any debris out of it. You can also spray compressed air between the keys. To clean a mouse, remove the cover on the bottom of the mouse. Clean the mouse ball with denatured alcohol (I have some in my room.) Gently shake the mouse or spray with compressed air to clear out any loose debris.
  • # The newer mice are optical and cannot be cleaned easily. Call Martha if you have one of these.
I can’t locate the START button on my Windows screen or I can’t find the key to exit my program:
  • Adjust the screen size with the horizontal and vertical dials located on the front underside of the monitor.
  • Students (especially the elementary) like to fill the screen with the entire program. A monitor should have a small amount of black showing around all edges of the screen.
  • If you still can’t see the start button, hit the windows key (between ctrl and alt). The start menu will pop up.
  • If you can’t exit the program naturally, you can force quit by holding a ctrl and alt key down and then hitting the del key. You can choose end task, shut down, etc.
  • Always use the Start, Shut Down, option if at all possible to reboot.
I don’t think I am on the network:
  • Restart your computer by choosing START then SHUTDOWN. Close all programs and pay close attention to the monitor as the computer logs onto the network again. Remember what the message says if it fails to restart correctly so you can tell Martha.
  • If you do not see the gray login screen asking for a Netware username and password, and the machine goes directly to a screen showing a square in the upper left-hand corner that reads Windows Login—you are not hitting the network.
  • Check the network wire to be sure it is securely plugged into the CPU. A green light should be lit on the back of the CPU.
The computer is slow to log-on to the network:
  • A long delay (approx 30 sec.) is common some mornings.
  • Reason: If the server has been off, there will be a delay while the computer re-authenticates or connects to the appropriate server on the network. Please be patient.
The computer asks about F-PROT and Reachout when logging in.
  • If the computer cannot find a file while logging in it will "suggest" another program.
If your printer malfunctions:
  • First clear the print job by going to Start, Settings, Printers. Double click on the printer you are sending to and you will see the print job listed. Click once on the job, then right click and select Delete. Now turn the printer off, unplug it, plug it back in and restart. Try sending the print job again.
  • Check the cables to be sure they are tightly connected.
  • The light should be green, not red or orange. Turn if off for 30 seconds and restart. If that doesn’t work, restart your machine.
  • If paper gets stuck, the red/orange light will blink. You can gently pull the paper out of the printer without hurting anything.
  • If your copies are too light or not the right color, you might need a new cartridge. First shake the cartridge a couple times to redistribute the toner. When you request a cartridge, please let Martha know what model and reorder number. If you can’t find that, tell her the type of printer you have.
  • If your copies are streaked, you may need to clean the roller bar with alcohol and a lint-free cloth.

If you have tried some of these steps to solve the problem yourself and the computer still doesn’t work, record the problem as concisely possible including any messages you’ve received and e-mail it to the Technology Office. Also, you can reach the Technology Office at extension 236 in room 1 of the high school.