Tech Tips for Writers is an occasional post on overcoming Tech Dread. I’ll cover issues that friends, both real-time and virtual, have shared. Feel free to post a comment about a question you have. I’ll cover it in a future Tip.
Q: My internet stopped for no reason. I’m in the middle of something important. I don’t want to reboot—it takes forever. What can I do?
A: Do what the pros do–unplug your internet connection, wait ten seconds, and plug it in again. Half the time, this is all it takes.
The same applies to a printer that stops for no known reason–turn it off, wait ten seconds and turn it back on. It’s something about tasks being shuffled out of the way and needing to re-establish their order. All I know is it works often enough, it’s my first line of defense to problem-solving this particular problem. I used the same philosophy for my Apple TV that stopped mirroring a show I was watching from my iPad (on the TV). I turned the Apple TV mirroring off and back on and everything worked!
If that doesn’t work, try these:
- use a different browser
- reboot your computer
- check all the cables–is everything plugged in as it should be?
- see if your firewall is blocking it
- check recent system upgrades–did they affect the internet?
- ask a neighbor if theirs is working–maybe it’s out all over
More Tech Tips for Writers:
11 Bits of Wisdom I Learned From a Computer
Top 10 (Tech) Tips for Writers in 2018
My Favorite 5 Tech Tools for Writers
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman
Great tip Jacqui – turn it off before you toss it out. 🙂
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Yep. Nice to hear from you, Susan. Hope all is going well?
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I also do this switching on and off thing, Jacqui. You are right, it does work.
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It’s a great first step. Next, toss the computer out the window.
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Thank you! My internet connection drives me mad – and it bloomin’ costs enough!
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This is a good first step but I also have to call my internet folks regularly with issues. Sigh.
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It’s funny how such an easy “trick” (turn off your computer after turning off the program you’re working on) can work so well. It helps me understand that sometimes, the problem with the computer is ME. I need to turn off, reboot, get away from the writing/work/stress, stretch my legs and my brain, before turning everything back on. 🙂
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Exactly. I start kindergarteners with that relationship. “Sometimes, you have to stop and take a nap”. Their parents love that!
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Fabulous! 🙂
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This has been the standard fix for Windows related issues for ever.
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Hehee. It took me running a tech lab (in a school) to figure out how effective it was. Then I taught the kids!
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Many things in life can be fixed with a short rest! However, sometimes, if I want to get writing done, having the internet off-line helps!
http://www.thepulpitandthepen.com
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Having the internet offline helps a bunch of stuff, over and beyond writing. I just installed a thermostat that doesn’t talk to the Internet and am beyond excited at the privacy!
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Sometimes the bits just get lost. Restarting (pulling the cable) causes the network software to reconnect and remind the bits where to go. I also find that sometimes going for a nice cup of tea or a large latte helps to fix internet problems too.
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Both work, don’t they? My email seems to break a lot lately and I usually start the fix by ignoring it for a day. Or two. It worked the last time.
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Either work fine – it’s the metabolizing the caffeine through your body that reestablishes the ionic flow that the network bits need to find you.
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Yes, I’ve also found that if I’m just patient (not easy) and walk away and do something else (dangerous because of potential distraction), then when I return, things are magically back to normal (always a good thing!).
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I’ve read that from a lot of writers but also inventors, great thinkers. The brain has a life of its own, a way of working we don’t understand. Knowing this has made me so much more open-minded to creative thinkers. Like Daniel Tammet (Born on a Blue Day, can recite Pi to the 50,000+ place) who see memories as a landscape. Who figured that out?
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Sharing! Thanks for getting the word out, Jacqui… this has saved me many times. Also, when my Chrome browser isn’t working properly I go to browser’s history and “Clear all the data.” 🙂
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Oooh good reminder, Bette. I forget that too often!
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So kicking it is a bad idea? lol
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Well, Alex thinks it is but to me, I always feel better after giving it a good whap.
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Yep, have had to do all these on occasion. Printer too. Sigh.
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Your kids can learn this too, starting 2nd grade (before that, they don’t make the connection well enough). At least, my 2nd graders do fine with it!
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Amazing.
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Don’t whack your computer though – that really doesn’t work!
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That doesn’t work? Darn! I do feel better afterward though.
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Thanks for sharing, Jacqui! This is my go-to method, too. Happy Monday! 🙂
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I know you’re as geeky as me so I’m glad to hear that. Any other suggestions?
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Cheers, Jacqui! This method almost always fixes many issues. I’ve had to reboot my router a few times (unplug for 10 seconds), but very seldom. Thanks again for sharing. 🙂
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Thank you. Key is being calm as it can normally be resolved – but that’s easier said than done in the face of losing work – or time. Shows how dependent we’ve become on tech. What was the past-times equivalent – running out of typewriter ribbon, out of ink?
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It took me years to remain calm. When I first took over my school’s tech lab, I worried over every breakdown–figured it had to be my fault. I learned…
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Good tips and reminders, Jacqui. Rebooting my router is my first go-to. Thankfully, most of the time that does the trick!
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Me too. It’s so useful that my cable company makes me listen to that how-to before their tech folks will even talk to me!
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Thanks for really important tech tips even I can do! Question: If I’m working on something and unplug, will my most recent work be saved?
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Well, always save first and then unplug. But often, it is auto-saved for you (like Google Apps and MS Office)
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OK, I just reread the post – if the Internet stops – that part is important.
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Every time I leave my computer, I back up my work because I just know, the time I don’t, the power will surge or California’s electricity will go Kapoof. I’m right–it was out about a week ago and I was ready!
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Technologically, what goes on behind the scenes is so incredibly complex, it’s amazing that our devices work as well as they do overall.
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That is true. I’m waiting for the day I can say, “Hey Siri. Why doesn’t my browser work?” and she figures it out for me!
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Great tips, Jacqui! Human’s aren’t the only ones who need to unplug now and then, eh? Thanks for sharing!
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I like that. Clever, you are!
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LOL! And that was after prepping last night for my colonoscopy! 🙂
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I’ve seen a number of posts by bloggers complaining of computer problems. I had trouble, but now I’m just running slower than usual. My universal answer to it all (frankly for anything that goes wrong) is – sun spots!!
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I like that. And there are times you’d be right!
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My woes are seldom so simple, but I do try all those tricks. Every now and then, I get lucky.
For work, we’re all watching an HBO series (Watchmen) to discuss the literary and cinema devices used. One woman could not get the episodes to stream. Turns out Safari and HBO are not compatible. Apparently Safari is a problem for a lot of things. Learn something new every day, I guess.
Great tips, Jacqui.
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That’s interesting. I guess that falls under, “Try another browser”. It’s amazing how often that works. I sell digital books online and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve solved a buyers problem by saying, “Switch your PDF Reader”.
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Jacqui, good tips! 😀 I always go for the unplug the computer first and that usually works! 😀
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That’s true. And your family thinks you’re a genius, right?
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