| Sometimes when you add a new device, your computer won't work properly. Perhaps the computer gets stuck or else the component doesn't work properly. For instance, if your printer driver isn't functioning, your printer might print random characters, or your monitor may not display text correctly. tip  | If your computer gets stuck, you may have to undo the installation of the hardware component. To do so, you may use the System Restore points to restore the system to the settings before the installation. Chapter 17 covers using System Restore. |
If you are having problems with a particular hardware device, you can use one of Windows XP's troubleshooters to display common problems, as well as solutions. Follow these steps to display help on a particular hardware device: 1. | Right-click the My Computer icon and then select Properties to display the System Properties dialog box.
| 2. | Click the Hardware tab (see Figure 19.16).
Figure 19.16. You can start the Add Hardware Wizard or display installed devices from this dialog box. 
| 3. | Click the Device Manager button. You'll see the Device Manager listing the categories of hardware devices. Each category has a plus sign next to it. You can click this plus sign to expand the list and see the device(s) installed for each category. Figure 19.17, for instance, shows the Imaging devices category expanded.
Figure 19.17. Expand the hardware device list to view and select your particular device. 
| 4. | When you see the device that's giving you problems, right-click the device name and then select the Properties command. You'll see the properties dialog box for this particular device (see Figure 19.18).
Figure 19.18. You can view device information from the properties dialog box. 
| 5. | Click the Troubleshoot button in the properties dialog box. Doing so launches the Windows XP help system and displays the initial troubleshooting help window.
tip | If you need to update the driver or make more advanced changes, you start from the properties dialog box. However, that particular topic is beyond the scope of this book. |
| 6. | Select your device (if needed). Windows XP displays queries to try to determine the problem. Answer the questions, clicking Next to go to the next step. For instance, if you are troubleshooting a scanner, Windows XP prompts you to select the type of scanner.
| 7. | Review each screen, selecting the appropriate options and clicking Next. Windows then lists common problems. For instance, Figure 19.19 lists some common problems for scanners. When Windows identifies the problem, it recommends some ways to solve that problem. Try any of the recommended fixes. You may have to step through several pages of questions and help suggestions until the problem is fixed.
Figure 19.19. Windows displays several options for fixing the device. 
| 8. | When you are finished troubleshooting the device, click the Help and Support Center window's Close button.
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The Absolute Minimum In this chapter you learn about some additional maintenance features available in Windows XP, particularly the following: You need to set up any printers you use with your computer. The easiest way is through automatic setup, which works for common printers. You can also set up the printer manually using a printer driver from Windows XP or from your printer manufacturer. Most of the time, you don't need to make that many adjustments to how your printer works. However, if necessary you can set certain options for a printer, including page layout options (the default orientation), as well as technical details. Fonts enable you to change the appearance of text within a document. The fonts available in your programs are the fonts you have installed through Windows or that were included with your printer. You can view these fonts, as well as add new fonts, by using the Font Control Panel icon. If you add new hardware, you can install it using one of several methods: automatically, by using the installation program and files provided with the hardware component, or by using the Add New Hardware Wizard. You can use the Device Manager to display information about installed hardware, as well as to troubleshoot a device if you are having problems.
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