Soper, M: The PC and Gadget Help Desk

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