Dealing with Upgrade Problems

Because this book is about upgrading and fixing your PC, let's examine the intersection of these two topics problems that occur after you upgrade something on your computer system.

There are a number of things that can go wrong during an upgrade, such as the following:

• You forgot to plug your computer back in, or to plug everything back into your system unit.

• You didn't connect something properly.

• Some part of your system isn't compatible with your new component.

• You broke something while you were inside your system unit.

• You left something loose inside your system unit, like a wire or a screw.

• You need to change your system configuration to recognize your new upgrade.

• The device driver for your new component conflicts with an existing device driver in Windows.

• The new peripheral you're installing isn't compatible with your operating system, or with your other PC hardware.

Whew that's a lot that can go wrong!

Sometimes the best way to troubleshoot an upgrade problem is to uninstall the device that you just upgraded, and then reinstall it. Sometimes it takes Windows two (or more!) tries to get the configuration right. Sometimes you might need to consult with a technical professional to hunt down a pesky device conflict or throw in the towel and not add the particular device that is giving your problems. The important thing to remember is to retrace your steps backwards through the upgrade process, and try to determine if everything was done correctly.

It's also possible that your system doesn't recognize your new component. Depending on what you installed, you might have to load new drivers (using the Add New Hardware Wizard); change your system's BIOS settings (using the initial CMOS setup utility); or physically reconfigure specific switches or jumpers on an expansion card or your system's motherboard.

note

Device drivers are discussed in the section "Fixing Driver Problems with the Device Manager," later in this chapter; learn more about changing BIOS settings in Chapter 2, "Preparing Your System for an Upgrade."

In some cases old software simply won't work with new hardware. If you suspect this is the case, put in a call to the software manufacturer and see if they have a quick solution; if not, you might have to upgrade to a newer version of your software.

And, if all else fails, you can always call the technical support line for your new component, or consult with a technical professional.