Almost all of us are using computers and computers like other equipment tend to give us some troubles, malfunctions or other problems that prevent us from working on them properly. Since computers are modular and combined from many different hardware devices, the most important tip is to be able to understand what might cause the problem, isolate the problem to identify the cause. We can replace the supposed problematic device with another working one, to see if the problem is solved or not, then move to another symptom and doing the same thing.

Network Problems & Internet:

When we have problems surfing the internet, or connecting to our other computer on our local network (At home or at work) we can:

1. Check the cables are connected properly.

2. Reset our router & modem (those might get stuck and reset renew their connection and IP’s).

3. Check the dialer on your Computer/Router (The dialer connects to the ISP, maybe it got erased, or password had changed for some reason).

Computer Doesn’t Start:
When computers do not start it can be a couple of things that need to be checked.

1. First, unplug the electrical cable from the Power Supply and then re-connect the electricity cable to the Power Supply. (Power supply has a fuse that gets locked in case of overload to keep the power supply from burning up – when unplug and re-plug the electricity cable, you release that fuse and the power supply can work again).

2. The next stage in case the 1st one doesn’t work is to find/buy another working Power Supply, and replace the one that you currently have – to see if now it will work (it’s good to have a spare Power Supply anyway).

3. Then if the previous options do not work and the computer still doesn’t start – it might be a motherboard issue (the motherboard might be burned), so you need to take it to the computer lab, to replace the motherboard. (Replacing the motherboard should effect you saved information and replacing it will enable the computer to work as it worked before, with all of your information, operating system and data intact).

The computer is a lot of noise: Loud annoying noises from the computer usually means that the computer parts are either too old and got fatigued, or the computer is full of dust.

* Open the side of the computer, and look inside. The parts that might cause noises are usually the computer fans, there are fans that cool the whole computer and all of its parts, and they are usually on the back, top, and side of the computer – you can easily see them.
The other noise fan might be the fan above the CPU which will mostly be in a center of the motherboard and of course, some graphic cards have fans to cool them down, so it might be on the side of your graphic card – which will be connected to the

white slots on the motherboard – with a side going out of the back (so you could connect your screen cables).

** Check if everything is dusty:
a. Dusty:

1. Take a small brush (small painters clean brush), and use it slowly to remove the dust from the dusty fans, you will be amazed how quiet the computer will become once you have cleaned all of the dust off from the fans (they will be able to work smoothly and easily).

b. No Dust:

1. This means that the noisy fan is fatigue, and needs to be replaced.
2. Buy a new fan – same size – and replace the noisy fan (you will need to open the 4 screws from the 4 corners of the fan – that simple).

The screen doesn’t work:
When you notice your computer works, but you can’t see anything on your screen, there is a couple of troubleshooting you can do:

1. Check the cable connections between the screen and the computer’s graphic card (make sure it is fastened and connected properly).
2. Verify the electric cable to the screen is in the electric socket – then unplug the electric cable from the screen – then re-plug the electric cable to the screen making sure it went into the socket all the way in.
3. Another option might be related to a screen resolution – if you are setting a resolution that doesn’t fit the screen – it will remain blank. So, you can reboot the computer (when the computer loads – you should be able to see the DOS (black screen) showing the loading commands – then press “F8” and choose to load in safe mode – (the computer will load windows in a low resolution – then log in to your computer – set the screen resolution to a low one – and reboot the computer – then re-try to fit the resolution that is compatible with your screen).

What can we say about Microsoft that no one heard before, there is almost no one who works with computer and never heard about Microsoft and their operating system series. The operating systems of Microsoft have changed the way we were using computers, from a nongraphic user interface to a graphic interface, using a keyboard and a mouse to be able to do so many things with ease, than the way we have done before using a nongraphic interface, where every action was a series of commands, which of course where only working on a nongraphic way.

The graphic interface of the Microsoft operating systems enabled us to see what we are doing (not just numbers and lines in a report kind of a way) and be able to use the internet, write documents, and change fonts, sizes of texts, insert photos, and pictures into the document, etc…

The operating systems were starting with the Windows 3.11 version which was the beginning of Microsoft Windows graphic interface was real progress from the way we have conducted our work with computers and started the developments of better and improved windows operating systems by Microsoft.

Microsoft Windows Desktops:

Microsoft Windows 3.0 – 3.1 – Started in March 1992 – it was a 16-bit operating system and different versions of it where being issued between 1992-1994 until it was replaced by Windows 95. This operating system was the basic change of the way the home user and businesses were using computers. There were new tools and technological ways of using our computers.

Microsoft Windows 95 – Released on August 1995 – It was a larger enhancement of the previous windows 3.1 operating system. It contained more color – This operating system was the most popular at those times, and it was replaced by Windows 98 – which enhanced and fixed issues that were collected on the Windows 95 operating system. This operating system was a better fit with the business orientation of the Windows NT (network server operating system).

Microsoft Windows 98 – Release on May 15th, 1998 – This operating system supported 16bit & 32bit work. This operating system was the first to use the new “Windows Driver Model” (WDM), hardware manufacturers where developing drivers to enable these common operating systems to use their hardware devices.
Microsoft Windows 2000 – Released on February 17, 2000, this operating system was designated for the client computers for a business environment, as a desktop operating system. This operating system was serving as a client for Windows NT and was a very solid stable operating system. It was replaced by the successful Windows XP.

Microsoft Windows XP – Released on October 25th, 2001, This is one of the most used windows operating system ever, most users have moved to this operating system that was stable and very user-friendly.  When Vista got out, many people who received the Vista operating system requested to downgrade to the Windows XP operating system, since it was much better and fit almost any platform of computers, even weak ones.

Microsoft Windows Vista – Released on July 22nd, 2005, This I have to say wasn’t a very good operating system that was developed by Microsoft. This operating system forced you to increase your computer’s performance, you had to have at least 2GB RAM to work properly. This operating system was heavy and its performance was not as her previous versions.  The graphic and the ability to use more than 3GB RAM were some of the OS’s improvements from her predecessors (previous operating systems).

Microsoft Windows Servers:

Windows NT server – Release in July 1993 – This operating system was the first server like an operating system that could serve many clients, and use its resources to share resources, operations, and other server type software that could serve multiple users.

Windows 2000 server – Released on February 17th, 2000 – This server operating system was more advanced from its predecessor the Windows NT. This version was a more advanced server which included datacenter server, supported 64bit version, this version included the MMC (Microsoft Management Console) that enabled more control over the server features and options. This OS issued the first “Active Directory” that enabled a centralized control interface to manage the users and security features of the server’s network.

Windows Server 2003 – Released on April 24th, 2003 – This server operating system was the more solid, stable and very useful server operating system. Most organizations have moved to it, after the windows NT and windows 2000 server has received many improvements on the server 2003 version, which made the active directory and the management features which included forests and a very organized control center to monitor and manage a large organization and made it easier for IT managers and network administrators to have better control over their network.

Windows Server 2008 – Released on February 4th, 2008 – This version of the server operating system was built upon the same code as the Vista operating system (from the desktop version). There was much more control using the command-line interface (from the DOS screen) and many other cool features that enabled a more sophisticated and easy to use network platform.

Windows Server 2012 – Released on September 4th, 2012– This version of the server operating system has no support for Itanium-based computers and has four editions. Various features were added or improved over Windows Server 2008 R2, with emphasis on cloud computing, Hyper-V support, IP addressing management role, new task manager version, new file system.

All of those operating systems by Microsoft have shaped the way we do our computer business or use our home computers, there is no other way to avoid this, Microsoft has a real place in the pages of history for giving us these Windows operating systems which shaped the way we use computers today.

Microsoft !, what does this name say to you? Anyone who uses computers has to have heard about Microsoft, this is the company the entered the graphical operating systems, that shaped the way we work. The first famous graphical operating system was of APPLE, they have created the Macintosh as a computer for graphic designers. The Macintosh was attended to the graphic designers and it wasn’t cheap, only those who could effort it was enjoying a graphical operating system that enabled the graphic design to become reachable.

Microsoft was the one who developed a graphical operating system that will become a software for all. They have designed an operating system that was cost-effective and affordable by the common people, home users and enabled everyone to gain a graphical environment, that enabled the use of a mouse, dragging and doing operating at a move of a mouse. Before the graphical age, people where typing hundreds and thousands of lines of code to get a simple operation working. Behind the simple copy & paste, we are used to doing with the right click of the mouse, where lines of code to tell the computer where the source file is, how to make the copy, and to where to copy the file.

Since that first step into a revolution in technology, Microsoft has developed many tools, improved its operating systems making them more usable, more effective. They developed the computerized office, using their office packages, that shaped the way we do our business, writing our letters on Microsoft word, doing complicated calculations and statistical charts and diagrams using Microsoft excel, doing presentations on the Microsoft Power-Point, etc… Those software applications have shaped our computerized office tools and became the most common tools being used by computer users.