frequently asked Tech questions
My computer does not turn on, what do I do now?
First check the computer's power cord to make sure it is completely plugged into the wall socket. If you are using a power board, make sure it is completely plugged into the wall socket and that the power switch on the power board is turned on. Some have a built in circuit breaker which usually looks like a black or red button near the power switch. Press the button to reset it and see if that solves the problem.
There is no display on the monitor, what do I do now?
Make sure the monitor has power and is turned on. This may seem obvious, but is often overlooked.
If no power light (usually a green or orange light) is seen on the monitor display try pressing the power button until it comes on and check that it is on the correct source (eg: HDMI, VGA, etc)
If your computer monitor was on and you stepped away from the computer and upon returning it was black, it's likely that the computer is asleep. Try moving your mouse, clicking the mouse buttons, and/or pressing any key (eg: space bar) on the keyboard to wake it up.
Make sure that the monitor is connected properly to the back of the computer.
Why am I unable to send or receive email?
Verify that your computer is able to see the Internet and/or other computers to ensure that your computer is not encountering a connection issue, which would be causing your e-mail issue.
Ensure that your Internet e-mail server or your Network e-mail server is not encountering issues by contacting either your Internet Service Provider or your Network administrator.
If using Outlook, check to see that you are not working in Offline Mode.
Why am I unable to connect to the internet?
This can sometimes be a complex issue, but here are a few common things to get you back online quickly. Check how your computer usually accesses the internet. Via LAN cable or Wireless.
If LAN, check that the cable is plugged in properly at both the PC and the modem or wall socket. On most PCs, there will be 2 lights on either side of the cable connection and usually should be both lit up and blinking.
If Wifi, check that wifi is enabled on your device by clicking on the wireless symbol on your taskbar. Check that your wifi adapter is not set to Off or Disabled or Flight Mode and that you can see the Wireless Network that you want to connect to. Especially on laptops, it’s very easy to disable wireless with a key combination.
If you can see your Wireless Network, click on it and make sure that Connect Automatically is enabled.
If no networks are visible, give your PC a restart (not shutdown) and try again, sometimes if your PC is on for a long period of time it can stop Wifi from seeing networks.
Lastly, for both LAN & Wifi - power cycle your modem. As with PCs, if they are on for long periods of time they can sometimes have problems like not broadcasting their SSID. Turn it off using the power button and wait for 30-60seconds. Turn it back on and try again.
This isn’t working / something isn’t performing as it should / my pc is very slow.
There are many things that can go wrong with a computer or electronic device, but in a lot of instances usually a power-cycle can fix a lot of issues.
Electronic devices - power them off either at the device and wall for 30-60 seconds and restart them.
Computers - use the inbuilt restart option, this cuts power to the components, such as the network and wireless device and this will set the “computer-time-on” timers back to zero.
Windows 10 - Your PC can run very slowly if there are Windows Updates waiting to be installed. Depending on the build number of Windows, there is an icon on your taskbar with a little yellow dot indicating Pending Updates.
Use the Start Menu>Restart option and it should install any waiting updates. Depending on how long it has been since updates were installed, there may be more required to be downloaded and installed. This can be checked by clicking on the Cog icon on your start menu, then Update & Security.
HOW DO I CONNECT A PRINTER TO A COMPUTER OR WIRELESS NETWORK?
There are a few different ways to add a printer to your network or computer. The most common methods are using the printer's LCD panel or via a USB cable.
The methods to install the printer will vary by manufacturer, so it is best to refer to the user manual or Quick Start guide that is included with most printers.
Most printers will be detected automatically by Windows when connected via USB, but to use most functions of a printer, you will still require drivers downloaded directly from the manufactures website.
It is also advisable to set a Static IP Address for printers, especially when connected via wireless, as this is one of the most common connectivity problems.
Still having no luck? Not sure about something? If all else fails, give us a call at (03) 5033 1537 and ask one of the friendly staff for assistance. Please note, depending on the issue and time required to resolve, some calls may be a chargeable service.