Learning to navigate and solve technology-related issues
In our fast-paced world, technology is becoming an ever more integral part of everyday life. It enables us to do things that we couldn't have even imagined only a few decades ago, such as transferring thousands of dollars with the touch of a button. But with all these "push-a-button" tasks we can perform on computers and smartphones come the inevitable problems when things don't work as they should. When you encounter glitches in your PC's software or find that you're locked out of your phone after mistakenly entering the wrong password too many times, it can be immensely frustrating to know what to do.
If you've ever had to deal with a similar situation, you might have felt overwhelmed by the vast amount of help websites and forums offer. This article will teach you how to navigate these resources so that you can solve your issue as quickly and efficiently as possible.
What kind of problems can I solve?
The first step is to figure out what kind of problem you're having with your device, software or system. This is important because it will help you decide which resources are the best ones to use. Sites such as Microsoft and Apple offer great help articles for their products and services, but you would likely be better off taking your iPhone to an Apple Store to have a technician check it.
To accomplish this task, ask yourself these questions:
If you are using your device or system for work-related tasks, consult with your employer on which resources are best to use. Your company often has more experience with the problem you're having than many online forums.
Evaluating a potential resource is easier if you have an idea of what kind of problem you're having and who would be best to help solve it. The more specific you can be, the easier it will be for a site to find your issue. For example, ask yourself:
"What computer operating systems and software are you using?"
Perhaps even more importantly, "Who would be best to help me resolve this problem?"
After all of this information has been collected and analyzed, you will have a much clearer idea of the problems you're having as well as who can help solve them. You will be able to locate topics that are most relevant to your situation at the top of the search results pages.
Finally, remember that it's important not to stop at number one. When your issue is a hardware failure you want to be able to get your device repaired at the local retailer. What you will find on the Web is a mish-mash of opinions and confusion when it comes to this subject.
So what resources should I use?
Once you've evaluated all of the potential resources, the next step is simply to pick a few that best fit your situation. Keep in mind that even though most sites are in one language (English), they may be written in different languages by different people. In this scenario, it's best to use the top-ranking sites in English rather than languages with a smaller user base.
This is where Google comes in: enter the following strings into the search bar:
"Help resolving Windows 7 problems"
"Help resolving Mac OS X problems"
"…resolving those embarrassing cell phone lock-in issues."
Once these are entered, you will have a variety of optimization tips for these operating systems, as well as links to articles from popular tech websites that cover these subjects. Google can be used to find other languages for you as well. For example, you can use the following strings to find help for Android-related issues:
"…resolving those embarrassing Android problems."
"How to fix that iPhone 5 problem."
How do search engines work?
I mentioned earlier that different people will likely write different articles about the same topic. Some of these people will experience problems similar to yours and have encountered the same solutions as you. Because of this, other people might have already written helpful articles about these glitches and solutions. This is where search-engines come in: they return the most relevant web pages based on your search string. Consequently, if you've entered "Help resolving Windows 7 problems," only web pages that deal specifically with Windows 7 would be returned to you.
Since the internet is such a massive repository of information, search engines can be extremely powerful if used correctly. For example:
Google lets you refine your search string so that only a specific language is searched. This can be useful if your computer, smartphone or other device/system was originally installed in a different language. In this scenario, local-language-speaking users will have had more opportunities to share their own experiences and solutions with you online.
Click on the "Images" tab to see images related to your problem. You'll find that images are often accompanied by descriptive titles that will help you determine whether or not they are relevant to what you're looking for. This will give you an edge in finding guidance for your problem.
Google has a rich selection of advanced search-string modifiers that can be used to further refine your search to the web pages that you're best suited for. When looking at different forums online, it's important to note that you can use Google's "site:" search modifier to return results solely from a specific host site. To do this, enter the following string:
"site:techradar.com"
This modifier will return only web pages having "techradar.com" in their URL (website address). This is useful because it will help you avoid reading irrelevant web pages that may not offer the answers you need.
You've probably figured out by now that search engines are not only useful for finding information, but also for weeding out the irrelevant content on the Web.
To continue my example from above about Windows 7, I typed "site:techradar.com" into Google and noticed that TechRadar had a forum thread addressing my problem. After entering this thread, I saw several different people complaining about similar "green-screen of death" issues with their computer.
Conclusion
To recap, there are many different resources (forums, websites, videos etc.) that can be used to try and fix a problem with your device/system. Google is an excellent tool when looking for help because of its powerful search capabilities. Understanding how Google works allows you to find the most relevant information on the Internet.
Now that you know how to find great help online, what's next?
The internet is filled with great advice for fixing your devices/systems!
Some fixes require bypassing the copyrighted software on the system, which would result in inoperable systems if you don't have a valid license key.