Technology Tips & Troubleshooting
or
(Stuff You Can Really Do Yourself Instead Of Calling Tech Support)

Power Cord - both ends. Often the power cord has been pulled out or is just loose. Check the wall outlet and where the power cord plugs in at the back of the CPU (you know this as the computer), monitor, printer, etc.
Network Cables - both ends.
Printer Cables - both ends.
Monitor Cable - there's only one end to check. Check where the monitor plugs into the CPU (computer).
Mouse Cable
Keyboard Cable

Monitor - often everything is on except the monitor.
CPU (computer)
Printer
Surge Protector - is it on? Little feet have been known to turn them off.

Start-Shut Down-Restart or Start-Shut Down-Shut Down
Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete twice

You can be anywhere in the world and still check your pekin.net e-mail.  All that you need is a computer with Internet connectivity. E-mail may be checked from Dirksen's home page, http://www.pekin.net/pekin108/dirksen/index.html , by clicking on the mailbox at the bottom of the page. When asked for your User ID and Password use the same ID and Password that you use with Eudora. E-mail may also be checked from the district site on the staff page at http://www.pekin.net/pekin108/staff/index.html. Your mail is not deleted when you check it via the Internet.

Eudora is loaded on your desktop. You can only use Eudora to check your mail at school where your computer is connected to the district network. When you check your e-mail on Eudora all mail that you have checked on the Internet (as long as it wasn't  trashed and purged) will be loaded onto your desktop. You can safely check mail on the Internet and still have it in Eudora.

Check the network cable. Each computer has an ethernet card. The cable that looks like a telephone cord should have one end plugged in your CPU (computer) and the other end plugged in the wall. The ends of these cables are easily broken.
Restart the computers that aren't connecting.

Check the connection. The mouse and keyboard both plug in at the back of the CPU (computer). Unplug and replug. Restart your computer. The keyboard and mouse need to be plugged in before the computer is started. 
Swap identical parts. If the mouse or keyboard still doesn't work shut down the computer and switch the mouse and/or keyboard with one that you know works. Try the mouse and/or keyboard that isn't working on another computer.
Talk with your class about computer care. Hitting the keys hard or all at once may cause keyboards to malfunction. The mouse can not be pulled on or the cable played with. Keep all liquids and food away from the keyboard.

Is the surge protector on?
Is the CPU (computer) and monitor on?
Has the contrast on the monitor been set to dark?
Check the connections.
Are the computer, monitor, and surge protector plugged in?
Check the circuit box to see if a breaker was blown.

It's time for a new inkjet cartridge.

Write down the name and model of your printer. You might have an HP840C or a Cannon BJC440. You will purchase a cartridge for that printer. You can also save the box that the cartridge came in for future reference.

Check the connections. Check the power cord, surge protector and printer cable.
Is the printer turned on?
Identify what you are printing with: a print box,  a direct connection to the printer, or NIPrint

Print Box:

1. Is the print box on?
2. Check all connections to the print box.
3. Make sure that the printer you are trying to print from is set as the default printer. Start-Settings-Printers. There should be a check on the printer you are trying to use. If there isn't a check right click on the icon of the printer you are trying to use and left click on Set As Default.
4. Make sure that you are not printing offline. Go to Start-Settings-Printers and left click on the printer you are trying to use. Click on File and make sure that Print Offline is not checked. If Print Offline is checked click on it to remove the check.
5. Make sure that nothing is stuck in the queue. Go to

Start-Setting-Printers and double click on the printer you are using. A box will pop up that shows the jobs that have been sent to the printer. Click on Printer and select Purge Print Jobs.
6. Make sure that printing has not been paused. Go to

Start-Settings-Printers and double click on the printer you are using. A box will pop up that shows the jobs that have been sent to the printer. Click on Printer. If Pause Printing is checked click on it to remove the check.
7. Shut down the computer, printer, and print box. Turn everything back on in this order: print box, printer, computer.

Direct Connection:

1. Is the printer on?
2. Check the connections. Are the cables to the printer and computer securely attached?
3. Make sure that the printer you are trying to print from is set as the default printer. Start-Settings-Printers. There should be a check on the printer you are trying to use. If there isn't a check right click on the icon of the printer you are trying to use and left click on Set As Default.
4. Shut down the computer and the printer. Turn them back on in this order: printer, computer.

NIPrint:

1. Make sure that the computer that is connected to the printer is on (there should be no network dialogue boxes on the screen). If the computer that is connected to the printer is not all the way up and running none of the other computers will print.
2. Verify that the district network is not down. If the network is down the only computer that you will be able to print from is the one directly connected to the printer.
3. Make sure that NIPrint is turned on. If it is on you will see a small red printer on the start bar on the bottom right hand section of the screen. If you don't see this you will need to turn NIPrint on. Go to Start-Programs-NIPrint-

NIPrint 32. After doing this you should see a printer at the bottom of the screen.

It's time to clean! 

1. Take the cartridge out and gently wipe the bottom with a damp cloth. You will probably notice dried ink that has clumped and hardened.
2. Use a can of air to spray the inside of the printer to remove any dust - you might need to stand back if you don't want to get dirty.

• Samba is a server that allows you and your students  to save to your own home directory on the district network. It also gives you access to more  clipart, sound, and video than you'll probably ever need.
• By saving to the network you will be able to call up your saved work on any networked machine anywhere in the district. Students can start their work in the Learning Center and finish it in their classroom. Student work often doesn't fit on a disk anymore. By saving student  work to the network disks are eliminated and the hard drives on classroom computers aren't filled up. If you have something important to save you now have another place to back it up.
• When you use Samba your home directory is H: (think of  H for home). The clipart resource directory is the G: drive (think of G for good stuff).

• Every student must log in using their assigned log in name and password in the Novel window.
• Every staff member must log in using their assigned log in name and password. On teacher workstations staff members log in at the Microsoft Networking window. On students workstations staff members click on cancel in the Novel window and log in on the Microsoft Networking window.
• Directions for  Windows '95 machines:

Start - Shut Down - Close all programs and log on as a different user. The next window will allow you enter a log in name and password.
• Directions for Windows'98 machines:

Start - Log Off
Are you sure you want to log off?
The next window will allow you to enter a log in name and password.

Remember ... you have to log in before you can do anything!

1. Start the program that your file can be found in.
2. File - Open
3. Click on the arrow in the Look In window
4. Find and highlight your home directory .. 'Rhys' H:yourname
5. Find and highlight the name of your file
6. Click Open and begin working

Remember ... you have to log in before you can do anything!

1. Click on Insert in the Menu Bar and select Picture-From File
2. Click on the arrow in the Look In window and select Clipart on 'Rhys' G:
3. Double click on the clipart folder of choice
4. If there are additional folders of clipart inside your choice select one and double click
5. Select the clipart you want. A thumbnail picture will appear. Check the box that say "Float Over Text" and then click on Insert.

Remember ... you have to log in before you can do anything!

1. Click on File - Save As
2. Click on the arrow in the Save In window to bring down the drop box. Find and highlight your home directory --          'Rhys' H:yourname
3. Give your file a name and click on Save

• Directions for Windows '95 machines:

Close out of your program and select Start-Shutdown
Select 'Close all programs and logon as a different user'
• Directions for Windows '98 machines:

Close out of your program and select Start-Log off
Are you sure you want to log off?
Yes