Troubleshooting Systematically
Troubleshooting is a process. If you go about it systematically, you'll greatly improve your chances of success. Even in those instances where you can skip a step, it's important to evaluate the process in its entirety to ensure that you are not missing something obvious.The following illustration shows the main steps of the troubleshooting process. The first row includes steps that help you assess the problem, the second row shows steps where you identify the cause and troubleshoot so that you understand it completely, and the third row is about fixing the problem and wrapping up the issue.

- The two goals of troubleshooting: fix the problem properly, and fix it quickly.
- Tasks such as keeping notes that are important in every stage.
- You are troubleshooting to eliminate potential causes and determine appropriate solutions. When you find the answer, you can move on to the next stage.