I hate being reliant on anything, especially when it comes to productivity and working at fast pace. Do you have those days when you’re cranking out tasks one after another?
You’re in hyper vigilance mode and the only thing that could stop you right now is if you ran out of chocolate covered espresso beans. Well that, or if your entire computer network comes to a grinding halt.
But let’s not even say it’s in the name of good ole fashioned productivity – let’s say it’s absolutely critical business that must go on – Are you prepared for when and if your technology breaks down?
What to do when your computer network or system stops working
People are typically reactive. Don’t panic. All this will do is raise your blood pressure and send you plunging face first into a bowl of Peanut M&M’s. It can be a desperate feeling, and being overwhelmed is a motivation killer – so knowing where to start is the first hurdle.
When technology does breakdown, here are some recommended steps you should take:
1. Stay Positive, chances are you’re not facing a catastrophic event
Techs hear: “I’m sure this will only take you 5 minutes” all the time. And although this isn’t true for the vast majority of network support problems, the probability that your issue can be resolved or recovered relatively soon is good. This is especially true if you have backup solutions in place.
2. Get and give as much info as you can
This is important, the more information you can give about the situation – the better. Note what you were doing before the problem occurred, and if any colleagues are having the same problem. Is the issue local to your computer, or network wide? Having and providing this information to your IT support team could lead to faster, highly effective problem solving.
3. Simply Reboot
Try turning off and on your computer or device, sometimes this is the magic bullet.
4. Google it
Try searching the internet for an answer. If the page doesn’t load, the problem is your internet connection – first step is to call your service provider. They will be able to tell you if the issue is solvable from their end, or if the problem is originating from your system. Another example: If it’s a web based email service giving you trouble, googling “g-mail not working” could lead you to status updates indicating the service temporarily being down.
5. Don’t punch your computer in the face
We know there’s been times of frustration when the only way out seemed like physical violence. But even though smacking your laptop across the “monitor” may feel satisfying in the first 10 seconds, the best option is to walk away and breathe. You can damage internal hardware, like the hard drive, which holds all your data. Let’s not forget having to explain to on-lookers how the laptop screen was ripped from the bezel at brute force, then used as a high-speed make-shift Frisbee through the front window.
6. Call CSi’s Helpdesk
This may very well turn out to be your step one in the future (especially after that laptop Frisbee incident). If you’ve found that going through all the proper troubleshooting channels hasn’t gotten you anywhere, I strongly recommend calling our Helpdesk. We have the experience to investigate the problem, and the certified technicians to resolve anything preventing you from conducting business as usual.
Preventative steps you should take
Lastly, if you’re asking: “Can you even prevent these types of fall outs?” to answer that question I’d suggest asking any one of our MSP clients, who would tell you “absolutely”. That’s the beauty of our Managed Services, we proactively manage and monitor your computer network so all the worry and problem solving on your end is totally taken care of.
If you’d like further information on our 24-hour monitoring, remote management, and traditional on-site support – call us at 941-379-4747 and speak to Joe directly to discuss how we can meet your IT needs.