Ever wonder what it’s like to be working on an IT help desk? Working at the IT help desk means listening to peoples’ problems and finding solutions.
Though working the help desk isn’t a walk in the park, our team agrees the position definitely has its perks. We often compare the role to a superhero coming to the rescue. And to our team, few things are better than closing a ticket and having the end user thank you for your hard work.
Ticket-wise, we often get asked the same questions time and again. If we’re lucky, sometimes these tickets have quick and easy solutions.
Below is a comprehensive list of frequently-asked IT questions that the MRW Systems help desk team encounters on a day-to-day basis.
If you can’t find an answer to your IT questions, contact us. We will be happy to help you out.
How do I change my password?
To change your Windows password, simply press CTRL+ALT+DELETE on your keyboard and select the option to Change a password. From there, enter your old password and set up a new password. Standard guidelines recommend a password 8 characters in length with a combination of upper and lower-case characters, numbers, and/or symbols.
My computer does not turn on, what do I do now?
First, make sure the computer’s power cord is correctly plugged into the wall socket. If you are using a power strip, make sure that the strip is plugged into the wall and turned on. Once that’s squared away, press the reset button on the strip and try turning on the computer again. If that doesn’t solve your problem, contact the help desk.
Help! What do I do if my computer freezes?
A frozen computer is the worst! There are many reasons why a computer might be frozen. We recommend you force-quit all your applications via the task manager. If that doesn’t work or your computer isn’t responding to keyboard commands, your best bet is to restart the computer with the power button.
There’s no display on my monitor, what happened?
Got a black screen? First, wiggle the mouse or press a key on the keyboard to make sure your computer isn’t asleep. Still not working? Make sure the monitor is on and plugged in. If there is no power light, try pressing the power button until it comes on.
You can also try adjusting the brightness level with your keyboard’s brightness controls. If none of these options work for you, call the help desk.
How do I get rid of a “no signal input” message?
Verify that the monitor is correctly connected to both the monitor and computer. Most computers will have screw ends that can be screwed into the machine to hold the cable and connector in place.
How can I recover a file from the recycle/trash bin?
Double click the recycle/trash bin icon on your desktop. You will see all the files in your bin. Select the files you wish to recover, right-click, and click on the restore option.
Help! I can’t send or receive email.
This problem can be tricky to troubleshoot alone. Call the help desk.
How do I delete Internet cookies?
In Microsoft Internet Explorer: go to “Tools”, then click on “Safety”, and choose “Delete browsing history…”.
In Google Chrome, find the three vertical dots on the righthand side of the toolbar. Then, go to “More Tools” and choose “Clear browsing data…”.
For Firefox, go to “History”, then choose “Clear recent history…”.
How do I fix a paper jam?
Turn off the printer to reduce the chances of damaging it. Open up the primary cover. If you see any jammed or loose paper remove it slowly. If the paper tears, it can be a headache to retrieve all the little bits and pieces from the printer. Whenever possible, pull the paper in the direction the paper would travel through the printer. Check the output tray for any stuck paper. Once you clear all the paper, restart the printer.
If you still have a paper jam error message, repeat the steps above until you are 100% sure all the paper is removed. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to call the help desk.
How do I add a network Printer?
To add a network printer, there are two ways to go about it depending on what version of Windows you are running. For Windows 10, Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners. Look in Printers & Scanners to see if your printer is installed. If you don’t see your device, select Add a printer or scanner. Wait for it to find available printers, choose the one you want, and then select Add device.
For Windows 7, Click on Start and then click on Devices and Printers. In the Devices and Printers window, click on the Add a printer button. In the Add Printer wizard, click on the option Add a network, Wireless, or Bluetooth printer. Wait for it to find available printers, choose the one you want, and then select Next and follow the prompts.
My printer won’t print.
Along with adding that network printer is to verify that you can print. Let’s assume that your printer’s drivers are up-to-date and that it has enough paper and ink or toner to print. Try turning the printer off and on. Unplug the printer and plug it back in. Check your printer’s print queue by looking for the printer icon in the system tray and double-clicking it. The print queue shows you the status of each job as well as the general status of your printer. The print queue is your best bet for troubleshooting printer problems—just make sure that ‘Use Printer Offline’ isn’t selected.
Got a Blue Screen of Death?
Many users don’t bother reading what’s on the infamous BSOD, so you’ll probably have to tell your help desk technician the information it states. In most cases, you can take a deep breath and reboot. The more information provided to the help desk, the easier it is to diagnose.
My Computer is too slow.
The first step to fixing a slow computer is to verify that your machine is the actual source of the problem. Videos that seem to buffer forever, and websites that take ages to load, may not be your computer’s fault. If the problem is the PC, check whether you have plenty of free space on the hard drive holding your operating system. Windows needs room to create files while your system is running. If your hard drive is maxed out, performance suffers. Now is the perfect time to clear some space. Next, see how much RAM (or Random-Access Memory) your computer has and think about upgrading.