Before you call, here are some tips that can save you time and the expense of an unnecessary house call.

1) Make sure all components of the computer are plugged into each other. This includes the mouse, keyboard, monitor and CPU (the actual computer).

2) Make sure that all components are turned on. This is particularly important if there has been a power failure. If you have a power strip or surge protector, make sure it is on. (Sometimes our cat sits on the button and turns the computer off).

3) Check to see if your cable, DSL, or dial-up service is online. Most services have a phone number to call where you can find out if your area has a service outage.

Before You Call