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Digital Literacy

7 Basic Troubleshooting

Knowing basic troubleshooting techniques can save you time and effort when dealing with common computer issues. This guide will cover essential troubleshooting steps for both macOS and Windows, including clearing your browser cache.

7.1 Restarting Your Computer

7.1.1 On macOS:

  • Restarting: Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen, then select Restart. This can solve many minor software glitches and performance issues.
  • Forcing a Restart: If the system becomes unresponsive, press and hold the Power button until the computer shuts down, then press the Power button again to turn it back on.

7.1.2 On Windows:

  • Restarting: Click the Start Menu, select the Power button, then choose Restart. This can fix temporary system glitches.
  • Forcing a Restart: If the computer is unresponsive, press and hold the Power button until the system shuts down, then press it again to restart.

7.2 Task Manager (Windows) / Activity Monitor (macOS)

7.2.1 On macOS:

  • Using Activity Monitor:
    • Open Finder, go to Applications > Utilities, and open Activity Monitor.
    • Use it to view which applications are using the most CPU, memory (RAM), or energy.
    • If an application is unresponsive, select it and click the X in the top-left to force it to close.

7.2.2 On Windows:

  • Using Task Manager:
    • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, or right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager.
    • In Task Manager, you can see which applications are using the most CPU, memory, or disk resources.
    • To close an unresponsive application, right-click it and select End Task.

7.3 Checking Internet Connection

7.3.1 On macOS and Windows:

  • Checking Wi-Fi:
    • Make sure your Wi-Fi is enabled. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the Menu Bar (macOS) or Taskbar (Windows) and ensure you’re connected to the correct network.
  • Restarting Your Router:
    • Unplug the router’s power cord, wait 10-15 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait a few minutes for it to fully restart, then reconnect your device to the network.
  • Running Network Diagnostics:
    • On macOS, click the Wi-Fi icon while holding the Option key and select Open Wireless Diagnostics.
    • On Windows, open Settings > Network & Internet > Status, and select Network Troubleshooter.

7.4 Clearing Browser Cache

Clearing your browser cache can resolve issues with web pages loading incorrectly or slowly. Below are the steps for major browsers.

7.4.1 Google Chrome:

  1. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Scroll down and click Privacy and Security.
  4. Click Clear Browsing Data.
  5. In the pop-up window, choose Cached images and files.
  6. Select the time range (recommended: All time) and click Clear data.

7.4.2 Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Click the three-line menu in the top-right corner.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Go to Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.
  4. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section.
  5. Click Clear Data, check Cached Web Content, and click Clear.

7.4.3 Microsoft Edge:

  1. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Go to Privacy, Search, and Services in the left-hand menu.
  4. Under Clear Browsing Data, click Choose what to clear.
  5. Check Cached images and files, select All time, and click Clear now.

7.4.4 Safari (macOS):

  1. Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left menu.
  2. Select Preferences.
  3. Go to the Privacy tab.
  4. Click Manage Website Data, then select Remove All to clear the cache.

7.5 Software and System Updates

7.5.1 On macOS:

  • Updating macOS:
    • Open System Preferences and click Software Update.
    • If an update is available, click Update Now or Upgrade Now.
  • Updating Applications:
    • For apps downloaded from the Mac App Store, open the App Store and go to the Updates tab to install any available updates.

7.5.2 On Windows:

  • Updating Windows:
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
    • Click Check for updates to see if there are any available system updates.
  • Updating Applications:
    • For Microsoft Store apps, open the Microsoft Store and click on the Downloads and updates option in the menu.
    • For third-party software, check for updates within the application or on the developer’s website.

7.6 Freeing Up Disk Space

7.6.1 On macOS:

  • Using Storage Management:
    • Open System Preferences > About This Mac > Storage, then click Manage to see recommendations for freeing up space.
    • You can enable Optimize Storage, which automatically removes watched movies and TV shows from iTunes, or store documents in iCloud.
  • Emptying the Trash:
    • Remember to empty the Trash regularly to free up disk space. Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select Empty Trash.

7.6.2 On Windows:

  • Using Disk Cleanup:
    • Type Disk Cleanup in the Start Menu and open it.
    • Select the drive you want to clean, and Disk Cleanup will calculate how much space you can free up.
    • Check the types of files to delete (e.g., Temporary files, Recycle Bin) and click OK.
  • Using Storage Sense (Windows 10/11):
    • Go to Settings > System > Storage and turn on Storage Sense, which automatically frees up space by deleting temporary files and content in the Recycle Bin.

7.7 Peripheral Device Issues

7.7.1 On macOS:

  • Checking Connections:
    • Ensure that external devices (USB drives, printers, etc.) are properly connected. Try disconnecting and reconnecting them.
  • Using Disk Utility:
    • If an external drive isn’t working, open Disk Utility from Applications > Utilities, select the drive, and click First Aid to check for errors.

7.7.2 On Windows:

  • Checking Device Manager:
    • Open Device Manager by searching for it in the Start Menu.
    • Check for any devices with a yellow warning icon, indicating a driver issue. Right-click the device and select Update driver.
  • Unplug and Reconnect:
    • Disconnect the device, then reconnect it. If it still doesn’t work, try a different USB port.

7.8 Application Crashes

7.8.1 On macOS:

  • Force Quit the Application:
    • Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit menu.
    • Select the unresponsive application and click Force Quit.
  • Check for Updates:
    • Make sure the application is up-to-date. Check for updates in the App Store or on the developer’s website.

7.8.2 On Windows:

  • End the Task:
    • Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
    • Select the unresponsive application and click End Task.
  • Reinstall the Application:
    • If the problem persists, uninstall the application via Settings > Apps, then reinstall it from the official source.

7.9 Running a Virus or Malware Scan

7.9.1 On macOS:

  • Built-In Security: macOS has strong built-in security, but it’s a good idea to use third-party antivirus software for added protection.
  • Using Malwarebytes: Download and run Malwarebytes to scan for and remove malware.

7.9.2 On Windows:

  • Windows Defender:
    • Open Windows Security by searching for it in the Start Menu.
    • Go to Virus & Threat Protection and click Quick Scan to check for threats. You can also run a Full Scan for a more in-depth check.