From Issue #3 , Page #34 | By Russell Shaw

Murphy's Law states: "If something can go wrong, it will." This has special relevance to technology. When issues strike our own home office, they can raise our blood pressure and lower our productivity. Most of the remedies go way beyond your standard computer manual. We looked at six common equipment- and computing-related problems that you wouldn't even wish upon own worst enemy—along with an easy solution for each.

CORD CLUTTER

Everything is in place, but which of those 11 cables behind your computer is the scanner connection? "Running two monitors, two printers, a scanner and other devices—it's too easy to mix cables up and then get frustrated thinking it's perhaps a software problem, when actually it is a connection problem," says Catherine Roseberry, mobile office technology guide for About.com.

While the solution may involve crawling under your desk, the methodology is decidedly low-tech. Run your hand along the cable from the back of your PC, tracing its path. Hopefully, you will find the device the cable connects to. Roseberry suggests placing tags on all cords and cables, with the name of the attached device on each tag.

ACCESS DENIED

DLL (dynamic link library) issues sometimes happen when you try to transfer software programs from one PC to another. If you just tried to copy the program's main directory from one PC to another, odds are pretty favorable that you are going to see some sort of "cannot find" DLL error. That's because DLL files for individual programs are usually not stored on that software's directory, but in a separate area on your hard drive.

In Windows XP as well as in some earlier versions of Windows, DLL files work with a technology known as Windows File Protection. This prevents the unintentional replacement of protected system files, and protects all files installed by the Windows Setup program.

But Windows File Protection has another function in life that Microsoft does not tell you about—it's intended to prevent piracy. If DLL errors have you flummoxed, then do a search for the specific DLL on the computer you are copying from, and then install it on your new PC. If that does not work, reload or download and reinstall the program itself on your new PC.

SPILT MILK (OR COFFEE)

When the lava of Java or similar liquid strikes your keyboard, try to stay calm. Start by checking to see if any save keys are still functioning. If so, do an emergency file save right away; you may not be able to do so again until you buy a new keyboard.

Next, unplug everything. Fiddling with the keyboard will only make the problem worse, and maybe cause harm to the computer itself. Then wave a hair dryer over the keyboard for 10 minutes or so. Be sure to go in close, in between the crevasses of the letters. If that does not work, you may be out of luck, but do not despair. There's a difference between having to replace a $15 keyboard and a $1,500 computer.

MISSING PROGRAMS

Many of us install programs, but decline to create a desktop icon for it. Sometimes it doesn't show up in the Start menu, either. There are two ways to find such evasive utilities. In Windows, go to Run and then Browse. If the program's name does not appear in the Browse box, click Program Files. By default, lots of software programs install in Program Files. Look for the name there. If that does not work, click Start, Search and All Files and Folders. The Windows search utility opens. Next, click More Advanced Options. Check the Search System Folders and Search Hidden Files and Folders boxes. Enter the name of your MIA program, and click Search. Once your program comes up, look for the directory in which you installed it. Click on the program name, and it should open.

PC OUTTAGES

If you work on a computer at home, you have your own reasons to be frightened by thunderbolts and lightning. Sudden power failures will cause you to lose unsaved data. And when the power comes back on, a sudden power surge can fry your PC.

What if your lights come back on but not your PC? Wait about five minutes until you are relatively sure your electrical power will be back up and running for a while. Try turning the PC and monitor on again. If the PC is running Windows, and was not shut down correctly, it will probably launch the self-diagnosis utility Scandisk on boot-up. Scandisk will try to verify that the contents of the disk have not been scrambled.

If your computer still won't come on, plug in a lamp or a small appliance. If there's no power, then you should check your circuit breaker. If the outlet works, then the odds are favorable there's a problem with your computer's motherboard or chips—which probably means a trip to the shop for repairs.

BEEP! BEEP!

It seems that our computer's beep codes are around to bedevil us. Really, though, they exist to tell us what's wrong. Deciphering the beeps is largely a matter of determining the brand of BIOS your motherboard uses. The two most common BIOS are made by American Megatrends, Inc. (AMI) and Phoenix Technologies Ltd. If it's an AMI BIOS, one beep is usually OK. Two to five beeps and your motherboard's memory chips may be bad. Turn your PC off and then on. If the beep persists, it's time to buy a new motherboard. Six beeps usually means a bad keyboard chip. Seven is probably a motherboard issue. Eight beeps, and something may be wrong with your video card.

Phoenix beep codes go off in sequences—1-1-3, 1-1-4, and so on. Sequences that begin with 1 or 2 usually indicate a bad motherboard. If you hear 3-4, it's probably a bad video card; 4-2-2 may be a faulty keyboard chip, and 4-3-4 often means that your computer's clock is not working right. You may need to lift the hood and replace the clock battery.

There is an answer to virtually every computer problem. Above all, it's important not to panic! If everything seems to fail, contact tech support for additional information.