Getting Technical Support Help Online
Is A Great Option   

Contributed by Elaine Landau

How does your computer know it is 10:30 on a Friday night and nobody is working in the computer store where you purchased your PC? You toy with the idea of calling your brother-in-law, but then you remember how he childproofed your kitchen cabinets with electric shocks. Desperate, you try to find your computer owner’s manual. You know that it’s in the computer box. But where the heck is that box? You call a friend from work and feel like an idiot because it is too late at night for anybody to be calling anybody. You fiddle with the keyboard. You unplug and plug in the unit. You turn the lights on and off in the room. (That doesn’t do anything, but you feel like you are doing something.) No matter what you do, your computer is acting funny and you can’t get a thing done. But there’s nothing funny about an uncooperative computer when your deadline is looming just around the corner.

Here are some thoughts that may help you get through your computer crisis. For some of these tips to be relevant, you will need to be comfortable with the Internet. If you haven’t done so already, just enhance your basic computer education with basic Internet training. You can learn at home, at your own speed. Free online Internet training and free Internet tutorials will put you in the Internet comfort zone before you know it.

Now that you are an Internet believer, here are a few tips when your computer is on the fritz. Some of these tips are good at 10:30 on a Friday night and some might have to wait until the next morning.

1. Don’t automatically assume you are alone or that this kind of computer problem has never happened to another computer in the history of computers. Chances are what is totally foreign to you is a very common problem in the world of computer glitches. Believe it or not, Google™ is an excellent source for online tech help. If you type in the correct wording that describes your computer problem, Google can search and find the information that you need. In some cases, people in online discussion groups have had similar problems and provide quick and doable solutions. You might want to bookmark that discussion group for future tech help.

2. Attempt to contact the web site of the program’s manufacturer. Your problem might be a bug for which the manufacturer has developed a solution. You might visit the web site’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section. Again, your problem may be much more common than you think. The web site might also display a phone number for real-person help. That might sound very appealing, but be aware that there could be a charge for talking to that person.

3. There are online companies that provide free help. Most of the time, the help they provide is for general problems. If your problem is complicated, there may be a fee, but the rates tend to be reasonable. If money is a concern, click on the “Freebees” link on the web site to find out if your question qualifies for free help.

4. Your local library might be a meeting place for a local PC support group. By calling your local library or computer store, you might be able to find a person you can contact who is in that PC support group. Again, you might want to Google to find the PC support group in your town or city.

5. If a local computer store is open, you may call them and find a very knowledgeable and helpful sales person on the end of the line. These people are surrounded by computers all day long and are always being asked questions, general and specific. They can be a great resource. Some of these employees actually moonlight as computer geeks and consultants. Keep that in mind in case you find yourself in a tight spot in front of your computer.

6. If you cannot get on the Internet to find someone online to get help, try to call your ISP. Their phone number is located on your bill.

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