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3.3 Troubleshooting and Getting Help

closed any programs you currently don’t need. To close the Windows Task Manager, click the
X button in the upper right corner of the window.

6. Force Quit on Mac OS. A function similar to End Task in Microsoft Windows is Force Quit,
which is available on Mac computers. There are four ways to Force Quit a software applica-
tion on the Mac OS: (a) Click the icon for any software you are not using and hold down the
left mouse button, then click “Force Quit” from the pop-up menu; (b) right-click on a software
icon and choose “Force Quit” from the pop-up menu; (c) select from a list of applications to
quit by clicking the Apple icon in the menu bar, then clicking “Force Quit”; and (d) use the
keyboard shortcut Cmd+Opt+Shift+Esc to quit a software application you are currently using.

7. Reboot your computer or modem and router. If the processes described in steps 5 or 6 do
not solve your problem, try saving any files you are working on and restarting your computer.
This action will close the open programs on your computer, shut it down, and then restart it.
Note that when you turn off a computer, all the data that has not been saved is lost. So remem-
ber to save your work regularly and save and close any open files before you shut down your
computer. If your computer is working but you cannot access the Internet, try rebooting your
modem and router. (You may need to contact your Internet service provider to do this, not the
Ashford Help Desk.)

8. Make sure you have installed all updates. Computer manufacturers issue regular updates
to correct problems with their software and to make sure it is compatible with other new
technologies. You will see a number of icons at the bottom right of the menu of your Windows
computer screen. One of these icons will let you know if there are available updates to your
software that have not yet been installed. Make sure to install them; they may correct a prob-
lem you are having. Also, run a virus and malware scan using your security protection soft-
ware. (See Module 6 for more information about this type of software.) On Mac computers, we
recommend you set your system preferences to automatically install app updates whenever
they are available.

9. Delete cookies and temporary Internet files. In Module 6 we will discuss ways in which your
activities on the Internet are tracked. This tracking results in small data files called cookies
and temporary or temp files being created and stored on your computer. If you do not delete
these files regularly, they can slow down your computer, cause it to freeze, or create other
problems. You can purchase computer cleanup or “optimizing” software programs to improve
your computer’s performance. However, research such programs and read the reviews before
purchasing them. You can also easily clean up your computer yourself and improve its perfor-
mance by deleting cookies and temporary files. Use the Help menu to search for instructions
on how to perform these tasks on your computer.

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