The toaster is a typical electrical gadget.

It browns bread and, yes, it can be made difficult with too many choices. But, basically, anyone can operate it. It will be a great day when computers achieve toaster-like simplicity. They are not there yet, and they show no signs of getting there anytime soon.

I have been answering computer questions for many years, yet I still get questions I have never seen before. It is really amazing.

Certain problems are relatively common. Some result in replacement of the computer, often unnecessarily. So, let us take a look at some common, but fixable, problems.

A message pops up repeatedly, telling you to buy a security program. It happens so often that you cannot get any work done. This is adware, or spyware. It is probably the most common problem of all. Somewhere along the line, you were offered a free scan. The program “found” terrible things on your computer. It wants you to buy the product to clean your hard drive.

Your gut tells you that this is a rip-off. Your gut is correct. This is fraudware. Let us say you bought the program and ran it. If you ran the scan again, it would “find” the same problems. They were never there to begin with.

Running antivirus software probably will not help. To stop the pop-ups, you must run an anti-spyware program to remove the offending program.

Dead computer

You turn on your computer first thing in the morning. Nothing happens. No lights come on, no fans whir. Nothing. Your computer is dead.

What is the usual response? Well, it is old, and it is time to get a new one. Nothing wrong with that, so long as you have plenty of money. It very well may be fixable.

Before you start, make sure the computer is plugged in. Yes, yes, you feel certain that it is. Nonetheless, double-check!

Assuming the computer is plugged in, the problem may be a burned out power supply. You can replace it, if it is a desktop. If your computer is a laptop, and out of warranty, you may want to consider replacing the laptop. Sending the laptop out for repair and the cost of the repair will cost as much as a new laptop.

Repair of a desktop unit is much easier. The desktop should be checked to make sure that a power spike to the motherboard did not occur when the power supply failed. If it is just a bad power supply, it can be replaced, and your computer will be back in service.

Dark monitor

This is another reason many computers are replaced. Buying a new monitor is much less expensive, and a new video card is less expensive still.

There are two cables attached to the monitor; power and video. Make sure both are tight. Be sure the power cable is plugged into the electrical outlet.

Is the power light on the monitor lit? If so, look further. If not, you probably need a new monitor.

Either way, you should still want to test the computer. Try to find a working monitor. Perhaps you have one on another computer. Or, maybe a friend can lend you one. Hook up the replacement monitor. If it works, the old one is bad. If it does not, something else is happening.

Many computers have video cards. These are small circuit boards, stuck into the mother board. The video cable from the monitor attaches to this card. Video cards can burn out.

The video system is built into the motherboard on many computers. If it goes bad, the motherboard can theoretically be replaced. That is beyond the abilities of most people and a very costly repair. Another possible repair is to replace the graphics card, which is much cheaper than buying a new computer.

Blue screen of death

So, your computer is working fine. You are playing a game, racking up points. Suddenly, you get a blue screen. It says there has been an error, and the computer must restart. It includes nonsensical information.

Do not ignore that information. Instead, make a note of it. If you can, get on the Internet and Microsoft’s site. Enter that error message. You may well find it in Microsoft’s knowledge base. If so, it can give you a good idea of what is wrong.

Many blue screens are caused by bad memory modules. That is easy enough to repair; just replace the bad part.


Wireless is a great way to network. You can move around your house with your notebook. There is nothing better than working on your patio on a nice day.

Unfortunately, your neighbors will like your wireless system, too. It gives them the opportunity to access the Internet free.

You want to block your neighbors, and everyone else, from your system. You do that with encryption.


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