Follow these general steps to help troubleshoot any issue that may arise when using technology
Prerequisites: Some form of tech that may be in need of fixing
Difficulty Level: Member • Nerd • Platypus
Estimated Time: 5-10 minutes
Expected Outcome: Information collected by answering these questions may aid in the process of actually fixing the real problem
Tools Required: Knowledge of how the machine worked prior to it needing troubleshooting
Questions to ask:
- When did the issue start?
- How do you know there is an issue? What symptoms/observations indicate there is an issue?
- Is the issue repeatable? (Is it a one-time thing?)
- Did anything change from when it was working to when it stopped? Including things that may not be obviously related to the issue.
- What does it look like when it works correctly?
- What corrective steps have you taken?
- Have you spoken to anyone else about this issue? Did they take any steps to correct the issue?
- How will we know when the issue is fixed? What will we observe or measure that will tell us the issue is now resolved?
After asking yourself these questions, it may become clear what the issue is. For instance, if you find that a poor internet connection is the problem, you could try resetting the router. Or if that doesn't work you could call the Neighborhood Nerds and ask for assistance.
These questions should at the very least help find a better understanding of what the problem may be.