In the second installment of Ask the Expert where readers can write in with any tech questions they may have and one of our experts will answer it, Nick Treasure of North Rock Communications talks operating systems and Internet speedsQ: What should I do if my computer or operating system does not start?A: Don’t panic! Computers are not that easy to break so when it doesn’t work it usually means a single component has failed or certain data has been corrupted. Let’s get into what happens if the computer does not start.If your computer does not power on make sure the power cable is connected to a power source and all cables are plugged in correctly at the back of the computer. Beyond that it is best to leave the diagnosis to a professional. Computers are made up of many components and any of them could be a factor in it not working. This does not mean the computer is dead, a replacement of an electrically faulty component usually fixes this issue.When a computer powers on it runs a POST (Power On Self Test) to check the components necessary to make it run. If it passes this test the computer will load an operating system. Computers of all shapes and sizes need an operating system to allow you to interact with the machine in a fast, simple manner. Examples of operating systems are Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 7, Mac OSX Snow Leopard and Ubuntu. If the Operating system will not boot (a term used to describe the process of the operating system loading), it is likely three causes:1. Your computer hard drive is failing. This is the worst possible outcome as it means you may lose saved files on your computer. This is why having a back-up of data is important.2. Some files needed to boot up the operating system are corrupt. Some causes could be viruses or Malware that corrupt your start-up files.3. A newly-installed peripheral is causing the computer to halt the boot up process because the software driver (code that allows the Operating system to control the peripheral) is incompatible or loading incorrectly.There are other causes to the operating system not loading but in my experience 99 percent of all issues point to one of the reasons above. Desktop engineers are trained to deal with any of these issues and it is best to get one to assist you in resolving the issue. If this is too costly then look to friends and family. In every social circle there is at least one IT professional who could assist with the issue. Many work for beer!Q: How do I check that my Internet speed is running to its full capacity?A: This is a complex and tricky question to answer. Most ISPs (Internet Service Providers) have tools that allow you to test your speed. You can contact yours and ask, but before you do that, it is important to understand that all ISPs do not guarantee the speed you purchase (residential customers only). It is impossible to do this as there are so many factors to consider. Line noise, bad connections, busy networks and distance are a few examples that could cause slower speeds.Another important thing to note is that if you run the tools to test your speed, make sure your Internet connected devices are clean of Viruses, Malware, are not running updates, all Internet based applications (Skype, MSN) are tuned off and no one in the house is gaming online. With luck your speed will be acceptable.Please send your tech-related questions with Ask the Expert as the subject of the email to business[AT]royalgazette.bm