Fixing Problems and Repairs
Software (OS’s, Apps and Programs)
There is good news, you can fix it yourself! U-TECH 2023 explains for you, how to repair your computer from a corrupted filesystem, a virus attack, intrusion attack or malfunctioning OS such as Windows, MacOSX, Linux and Android or iOS smartphones and tablets.
This can be a frightening situation to be in, because the first reaction most people have is to panic and then potentially put the machine at even more risk of harm, by rushing into actions which may compromise your computer or other device, even more.
Knowing what to do in a situation like this can be extremely difficult to manage, because it requires skills which enable the computer to be repaired to its original state, with files/documents/data unharmed.
Files, documents, pictures, photos, videos, movies and other items on your computer may be very important and irreplaceable, so it’s no surprise that people become very upset if there is a problem accessing them. Taking the correct steps in the correct order, ensure that the highest possible effort has been exerted to detect and remove malicious or unauthorised items on your computer, but also to block any further attempts to intrude and tamper or interfere with your privacy.
Common ways of becoming infected with malicious content includes: apps, programs and website clicks. Malware (malicious software) can steal information or destroy your computer so that it is inoperable and must be overwritten with a new OS.
Computers and Notebooks (Windows, Mac OSX and Linux)
There are a number of steps to take in order to determine (troubleshoot) what is causing the software malfunction. IF YOU CAN, make a copy (backup) of your documents, pictures, music and videos etc. to an external drive BEFORE doing anything. If you cannot do this or have never made a copy of your files and you are worried that a reinstall of the OS option on some OS’s may not permit (allow) for your files to be untouched (not deleted or erased – that is, they will be deleted/erased), then you can try using recovery software by attaching your infected or broken OS from your deice drive to another OS using a USB cable, which is working, to view and copy your files to a safe location which you can then transfer back (copy back) to your original computer, once the drive has been formatted and the OS reinstalled to be working as normal how it used to be before.
Try these steps in this order to remove the malware and/or repair the computer.
Try uninstalling/removing any software which was recently installed that you may be suspicious of that could be potentially causing the problem(s).
Try using recovery options built-in to your manufacturers image of your disk from when you bought it. Note: some manufacturers of computers have reserved a certain volume or section of your hard drive or SSD to reinstall the OS to its original condition, however there may be two (2) options: - 1) reinstall a new OS over the top of your current infected OS, leaving your documents and files all in place as they were; or 2) install a new OS on your drive, which erases all of your data including your files such as documents, pictures, music and videos. *[CAUTION]: MAKE SURE TO BACKUP ALL OF YOUR DOCUMENTS, PICTURES, MUSIC AND VIDEOS BEFORE YOU REINSTALL THE OPERATING SYSTEM OR WIPE (ERASE - DELETE) THE HD (HARD DRIVE), SSD (SOLID STATE DRIVE) OR USB EXTERNAL DRIVE.
This process is known as formatting the drive or ‘wiping the drive,’ which ultimately means erasing/deleting the contents of the hard drive inside the computer.
The operating system is then installed, followed by any applications you wish to use.
Again, malfunctioning or dead hardware and software, can either be fixed or replaced. The first option of fixing hardware is usually much cheaper than the second option of replacing, which is normally more expensive.
Android Smartphones and Tablets; iPhones and iPads
These days, online backups are commonly used to copy the folders, files and even settings from your device up into ‘the cloud’ (a storage server online at a remote location). Google, Apple and other manufacturers provide this facility to help keep a copy of a user’s data, in case of emergency.
Sometimes, we may need to empty or clear the Android OS system memory files which are stored inside your phone’s memory, as well as an app’s cache. To clear the memory, go to:
Settings> Device Care> Memory and then press the ‘Clean now’ button, to clear the memory files stored in your system.
To clear the cache of an app, press and hold down your finger on an app’s icon. You will then see 4 menu options: 1) Select items; 2) Remove from Home (this only removes it from one of your Home screens but does not uninstall the app from your phone.); 3) Uninstall (this does uninstall or remove the app from your phone.); and 4) App info. Press ‘App info,’ then select ‘Storage’ and then at the bottom of the screen you will see two (2) buttons: 1) Clear data (this will remove all of your account information or any progress in an app such as a game, so BE CAREFUL to only press this, if you are wishing or intending to remove everything about the app.); and 2) Clear cache. Press this button – ‘Clear cache’. This will only remove temporary files, but will not interfere with any account or progress made or obtained with that particular app. Clearing the cache may fix some problems which you could encounter when using any app on a smartphone. The same applies to Apple iPhones and iPads.
iPhones and iPads are similar, just the same as Android smartphones and tablets are similar – i.e., they use the same operating system and app design structure. So, iPhones and iPads use iOS; and Android smartphones and tablets use Android OS.
Android Smartphones and Tablets
Smartphones and tablets can be reset to their factory settings (WHICH WILL WIPE ALL DATA AND RETURN THE PHONE TO HOW IT WAS WHEN IT WAS IN THE SHOP **<CAUTION>). If you cannot get your files that you need off the device, plug it into a computer using the USB cable, open the smartphone or tablet, then locate the ‘DCIM’ folder. All of your photos, videos, audio and data are stored in that folder. Copy the contents of this folder, to your computer. You can then reset the phone or tablet to its original state. If you are unable to find this folder or any of your files, they may have been deleted or moved, in which case, you should search the Google Play Store for an app to find, recover or dig up deleted files. If you cannot use your smartphone or tablet, you can try doing the same thing on a computer/notebook, by searching online for a program or an app to search for (find) or recover files from a hard drive/disk drive. After you install such software, you can run it and then select your smartphone or tablet as the hard drive, which you want to recover data from. The USB cable obviously needs to be attached to the computer or notebook, so that it can see and access your smartphone or tablet.
A simple and easy way to find and copy your files are to use an SD or MicroSD card, which many Android phones and tablets have. You can then copy them across to your computer or tablet, reset your smartphone or tablet back to its factory settings and then insert the SD or MicroSD card back into your phone and copy your files back onto your smartphone or tablet.
If you are still unable to find, recover or copy your files, you should seek technical advice from a technician.
Android phones and tablets can be reset to their original condition, by:
Turning off the phone.
Holding down the Volume Up, Volume Down and Power ON/OFF buttons (3 buttons together) all at the same time, using 3 fingers and wait until the green Android robot appears on the screen. You are then presented with a terminal command line set of options. Use the Volume Up and Volume Down keys to navigate to the option “RESET/RESTORE DEVICE TO FACTORY/ORIGINAL SETTINGS.’
It will take up to about 30 minutes to reset your phone to its original state.
iPhones and iPads
Apple’s recovery system, is different to Android’s, in that resetting/restoring these devices back to their original factory setings, must be done by connecting a Macintosh computer or a computer running iTunes on it, to the iPhone or iPad using a USB cable to connect the two (2) together. See Apple.com for further details on how to recover or reset your system, including lost passcodes/passwords for your AppleID account. See this article here - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211078
Hardware
Hardware that is malfunctioning, not working properly or appears broken may come as a shock for some people, who never expected for a physical part or component that is broken and doesn’t work.
Most man-made appliances or objects can and usually do break, need replacing or repair(s).
Any moving parts or parts that get hot are in the highest risk category that are likely to eventually over time or in a high-risk environment (hot rooms, dusty rooms, insect or pest infected areas), break! Most commonly, hard disk drives (HDD’s) which contain high-speed moving parts.
HDD’s have a disk which spins at very high speeds, so naturally there will be ‘wear and tear.’
Next on the list are DVD drives. Their lens attached to the slot tray inside can become dirty and may require a clean with a soft cloth. The drive casing may have become unlocked from a notebook and you can pull it out. This could be caused by a missing screw or unlocked switch sliding button underneath the notebook.
Disk Drives, Hard Disks and SSD’s
Hard drives can be removed from desktop and notebook computers or tablet devices. This is called ‘removable.’ Media is commonly referred to as removable, such as, “… a removable USB drive.”
To remove a drive, unscrew the aligned plastic panel from the back of your notebook or tablet.
A tower or mini tower will have removable HDD’s or SDD’s, allowing them to be replaced, serviced or installed new.
DVD Drives (Burners)
DVD drives, like DVD discs, have advanced over the years, superseding CD Drives and have developed into compact, thinly shaped removable (slotable) device players that universally fit into 2 main sizes: 1) desktop/tower/mini-tower standard size; and 2) notebook (laptop) streamlined standard size, which are removable by nature.
As with DVD discs, modern DVD players are able to burn data and rewrite it (erase, move, cut copy) to a disc at high speeds and have a Bluray version as well, capable of burning Bluray discs.
DVD drives can and do break through wear and tear; and as a result may need replacing or simply just cleaning the lense - which it uses to read and write data to a disc (just like reading glasses require cleaning).
Most computer repair retailers or wholesalers sell lense cleaning kits which include cleaning fluid and a cloth. If cleaning fails, DVD Slot modules (an actual DVD slot drive unit) can be replaced, by purchasing a new (recommended) or second-hand drive from a computer retailer or wholesaler.
Memory
DDR RAM memory chips do break or need reseating through dislodgement or dust and particle buildup, caused by static or poor computer ventilation. Reseating is the process of removing the RAM memory chip and then putting it back in. *[CAUTION]: BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE A DDR RAM MEMORY CHIP, YOU MUST BE SITTING OR STANDING STILL AND HAVE TOUCHED WITH YOUR SKIN, AN EARTHED METAL OBJECT, TO RELEASE STATIC ELECTRICITY FROM YOUR BODY, WHICH CAN 'ZAP' THE CHIP AND DESTROY IT. AFTER 'EARTHING' YOURSELF OR RELEASING THE STATIC ELECTRICITY FROM YOUR BODY, THEN YOU CAN CAREFULLY REMOVE THE CHIPS FROM THE MAINBOARD BY UNCLIPPING (UNLOCKING) THE CHIP USING THE PLASTIC PRESSURE LOCKS PROVIDED ON THE MAINBOARDS FOR DDR RAM MEMORY CHIPS (PRESS DOWN TO RELEASE THE LOCK, USING YOUR THUMB AND MOVE THE LOCK SIDEWAYS), CLEAN THE MAINBOARD MEMORY SLOT BY BLOWING AIR INTO THE SLOT/SOCKET AS WELL AS THE CHIP ITSELF AND THEN GENTLY AND CAREFULLY RESEAT THE CHIP(S) ONTO THE MAINBOARD, BY LOCKING THEM INTO PLACE WITH THE PLASTIC LOCKS ON THE MAINBOARD PROVIDED (PRESS THE LOCK DOWN WITH YOUR THUMB AGAIN, MOVE THE LOCK SIDEWAYS AND THEN ALIGN IT WITH THE CHIP, SO THAT IT LOCKS THE CHIP DOWN INTO PLACE.
If after cleaning the mainboard, slots and chips, there is still a memory error, you should purchase new memory chip modules and discard the old one(s).
Cards and Slots
As with DDR RAM memory chips and slots, the same rules above apply for the trouble-shooting (fault-finding) or diagnosis to find out what the problem is with the card, slot or chip, inserted into your computer or notebook. If after cleaning and reinserting these module devices, there is still a problem, check for loose or damaged wires which connect to the back (rear) of the device.