Chapter 20

It Just … Sits … There

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Avoiding the blame (righteously)

Bullet Putting basic troubleshooting precepts to work

Bullet Using Mark’s Troubleshooting Tree

Bullet Getting help

I wish you weren’t reading this chapter.

Because you are, I can only surmise that you’re having trouble with your iMac, and that it needs fixing. (The other possibility — that you just like reading about solving computer problems — is more attractive but much more problematic.)

Consider this chapter a crash course in the logical puzzle that is computer troubleshooting: the art of finding out What Needs Fixing. I tell you what to do when you just plain can’t solve the problem yourself.

Not surprisingly, you’re going to encounter a lot of Tips and Mark’s Maxims in this chapter. I learned all of them the hard way, so I recommend committing them to memory.

Repeat after Me: Yes, I Am a Tech!

Anyone can troubleshoot. Believe it, and put these common troubleshooting myths to rest:

  • It takes a college degree in computer science to troubleshoot. Tell that to my troubleshooting college student. She’ll think it’s ...

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