Never Run Out of Minutes Again: Make Free VoIP Calls on Android Phones

Android phones with Google Voice can make and receive calls at an extremely disounted rate, but you still need a voice plan to make these calls. Using Google Voice, Android, and Sipgate, you can get around that limitation and make calls for free.

Using Google Voice you can call any number for free but you are not able to receive calls directly to your Google Voice number on your Android phone without a voice plan with your carrier. Using sipgate you can receive any call for free but cannot place calls without adding money to your account. Combining the two services, we will be able to place calls using Google Voice which will automatically call back your sipgate number connecting you to your intended recipient, and we will do all of this using WiFi, 3G data, or EDGE, meaning you will never run out of minutes again.

Sign Up with Sipgate

Sipgate is an extremely useful tool that will allow you to do a lot of the same things Google Voice can do, but it will also allow you to place and receive calls over Wifi and 3G without a voice plan. Sipgate also offers a softphone for your computer and the ability to place calls directly from their website. We will start by signing up for a free Sipgate account.

Note: This is the only step that requires a phone capable of receiving text messages to verify your number. Sending this invitation to my Google Voice number did not work but sending the text to a friends phone and then keying in the code on the sipgate website did work.

Once you have created and verified your account, log-in and we need to get your SIP credentials of your sipgate VoIP phone. First click on settings and then add a VoIP phone on the right. You can name it whatever will make sense to you and add your E911 information for if you ever have to call 911 from this phone.

Once the new phone has been created, hover your mouse over the phone and then click SIP credentials from the drop down.

A new window will pop up and you will need to write down the SIP-ID and SIP-Password that is provided.

Install and Configure Sipdroid

Search the market for Sipdroid and install Sipdroid VoIP + video calling.

Once it is installed, open it up and open the SIP account settings under menu -> settings for the app. Fill in the authorization username and password with the SIP-ID and SIP-Password we got earlier; then change the sever to sipgate.com.

Tap the back button on your phone and then go to the call options to enable Wi-Fi (WLAN), 3G, and EDGE calls if desired.

Once all of this information is filled out, pull down the notification shade and you should see “registered” next sipdroid’s notification along with a green dot showing you are ready to go.

You should double check that you are fully connected to sipgate by logging into your account and checking that the VoIP phone we set up earlier now says online.

Add Sipgate Phone to Google Voice

Log-in to Google Voice and click settings -> add another phone. Enter your sipgate VoIP-Phone number and then click save.

Google needs to verify that you own the number you just added so it will call your sipgate VoIP-Phone and ask you to key in the verification code shown. Because we already set up Sipdroid your Android phone should ring and you can key in the code there.

Once the verification is complete you should see a check box next to your sipgate phone in Google Voice.

Install Google Voice Callback

The last step is to install Google Voice Callback from the Android Market.

Fill out your Google Voice account information, what number you want to call back (your sipgate number), and when you want to use Google Voice Callback (always).

Place a Test Call

You can now place a call using the built in Android phone dialer. When you place the call you will get a popup saying that you are placing the call with GVoice Callback and then your phone will ring because your Google Voice number is calling your Sipgate number.

Answer the phone and then you will be connected through sipdroid to the number you were trying to call.

It took a few steps to get here but now you can send and receive calls with only using data. I am successfully using this on my HTC G1 without a SIM card in the phone over Wi-Fi. I can send and receive phone calls to my hearts content so long as I have Wi-Fi signal and I never have to worry about going over on my minutes again.

Sipgate

Google Voice

Google Voice Callback

Thanks to my friend Dante for helping me figure all this out.

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Automate Windows Maintenance Tasks to Keep Your PC Running Like New

With a Windows computer there are several maintenance tasks you should run on a regular basis, though most of us forget. Here’s how to automate the most important maintenance tasks in XP, Vista & Windows 7 and keep your PC running like new.

We'll take a look at automating some of the most common tasks, and while it takes a bit of time to set each one up, once you do you’ll have peace of mind knowing your system is clean and up to date.

Automate Cleaning Up Your Hard Drive

If you want to make sure you have plenty of space on your hard drive, and get rid of old files you no longer need, you can schedule Disk Cleanup to run in Windows 7 or Vista, which gets rid of plenty of temporary files and other stuff that doesn’t need to be around anymore.

You can setup Disk Cleanup in XP as well as a Scheduled Task. The process is easy following theScheduled Task Wizard in XP.

If you really want to keep your system automated, however, you can setup the freeware CCleaner tool to automatically run every night, which will clean up more than just the regular temporary files—CCleaner can even clear out your browser history, applications caches, and more.

Note: you’ll want to make sure that you don’t select any toolbars during CCleaner installation, or get the slim download from the optional downloads section.

Automate Backups to Keep Your Data Secure

The most important task Windows users need to do is make sure your data is backed up—that way, no matter what happens to your PC, you can always get to your files, even from another PC. If your PC is completely dead, you’ll be able to restore those files onto your new computer and get right back to whatever you were doing.

Local Backups

Windows 7 includes an easy-to-use, wizard-driven Backup & Restore utility in all versions, which includes creating a system image. For more on which files to backup, check out The Geek’s guide toWhat Files you Should Backup on Your Windows PC.

The Backup & Restore utility included in Windows 7 allows you to set a schedule from daily, weekly, or monthly. The choice is up to you, but if you backup on a regular basis, you’ll be glad you did.

If you have Windows Home Server, backing up your computers is very easy to configure and automate. You can set it to backup on a regular schedule and also have WHS wake up your machine to back it up at night.

Online Backup Services

If you want to be really thorough with in your backup strategy, having redundant backups onsite and offsite is a good thing. There’s plenty of commercial backup services, like Mozy and Carbonite. They both work the same way, pushing your data up to their servers and making it available for download from another PC, or allowing you to restore individual files that you might have deleted.

Automate Disk Defrag to Keep Your Drive Running Smooth

The cool thing with Vista and Windows 7 is that Disk Defragmenter is scheduled to run by default at 1 AM every Wednesday, so it’s something you no longer have to deal with. You can customize the defragmenter schedule if you want, but there’s probably no reason to change it.

If you’re still on Windows XP you can get the same feature by creating your own Windows 7 style auto defrag using Task Scheduler. There’s no reason to have to remember to do it manually, and really no reason to waste money on a commercial defrag utility that does it automatically when you can set it up yourself.

If you’ve got multiple hard drives in your XP machine, you can also setup a batch file that will defragment multiple hard drives at once.

Automate Disk Checking

The chkdsk.exe utility in Windows allows you to scan your hard drive for errors and fix them as well, and this task can be automated with the command-line and Task Scheduler as well, though it’s going to require rebooting your PC in order for it to work, so it’s probably best to just trigger this one manually every so often.

If you do want to schedule it to run automatically, you can simply create a new Task Scheduler job that runs chkdsk.exe with the parameters from our guide to check disk. Then go to the Actions tab of the job in Task Scheduler, and add another action to run after the chkdsk command, and specify shutdown as the command. This will run the chkdsk command, and then run a shutdown afterwards. Make sure to use /R as the argument so that Windows will reboot and run chkdsk, and not just shut down. You may also want to check the box to make sure that Windows doesn't reboot you while you're doing something. You can head to the Conditions tab, and make it only start if the PC has been idle for a while.

Note: Windows will automatically detect when your drive has a lot of problems and prompt you to check the disk, but that doesn’t mean running it manually is a bad idea once in a while.

To manually trigger a disk check for the next time you reboot, right-click on your local drive and select Properties. Then select the Tools tab and under Error-checking, click on the Check now button.

Make sure to select both Check disk options, and click Start.

Unfortunately it can’t start while you’re using your PC, but you can schedule it to run during next restart.

The next time your machine is restarted, Check Disk will run and detect and fix errors automatically. Keep in mind this process can take quite a while depending on the size of your drive and the amount of data on it. For more, check out The Geek’s guide to Check Disk in Windows.

Automate Windows Updates to Keep Your PC Patched

Although it should go without saying, an important task you can make run automatically is Windows Updates. You can configure Important and Recommended updates to download and install automatically, or just download and you choose which ones to install.

For more, check out how to make Windows 7 Update display recommended and important updates.

Automate Antivirus to Check Definitions & Scan Your Computer

Another important security task is making sure your Antivirus protection is up to date and runs automatically. Each program is different, but most provide the option to keep definition files up to date and scan automatically. For instance it’s easy to setup in our favorite Microsoft Security Essentials.

Note: of course, most anti-virus applications are set to automatically update their virus definition files, but you should double-check to make sure.

Anti-Spyware

If you’re using another Antimalware utility to compliment your Antivirus software, make sure it’s set to find its latest definition files and scan automatically. Keep in mind though, with most of the free versions of Antispyware apps, you’ll need to purchase a license to get real-time protection, automatic updates, and scanning.

Automatically Keep Drivers and 3rd-Party Software Up to Date

Another important task to automate is checking for the latest hardware driver and other app updates. There are a few good programs that will do it which we’ve previously covered such as Secunia Personal Software Inspector. It will automatically check for software updates at startup and provides continuous monitoring.

To automatically keep your hardware drivers up to date, try a program such as Device Doctor,Slimdrivers, or any of the other non-free utilities out there. They will complete driver scans and make sure that your drivers are updated.

Note: One thing to keep in mind with Device Doctor (or really any application) during installation is to skip installing the worthless Ask Toolbar.

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This guide should definitely get you started in figuring out which maintenance tasks you want to setup to run automatically. While there certainly seems to be a lot to keep up with if you’re a Windows user, setting tasks to run automatically will free up some time so you get get to work and get things done.

What about you guys? What Tasks do you set up to run automatically and what methods do you use? Leave a comment below and lets us know!

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What to Look For When Purchasing a Mouse

The mouse is probably the most essential part of many users experience with computers. Your mouse can affect the ease of browsing around the internet, or your competitiveness in online games. If a mouse is that important, what should you look for when you’re buying a mouse? This article will tell you the most important features to consider before buying a new mouse.

Size

Perhaps the most important thing to consider when purchasing your new mouse is to consider the size and the shape of the mouse. Since you will likely be using the mouse every time you use your computer, it’s very important that you find one that your hand feels comfortable on and that feels right while you’re moving it. Some mice also come with different weight settings which may offer a deeper customization for you.

Type

There are many kinds of mice nowadays; the most common now are cord and wireless mice. It’s important to mention that there are ball mice vs. optical mice, but in this day and age it’s very likely that you will be purchasing an optical mouse. What could possibly be the advantage of using a wired mouse instead of a wireless one many people ask. Wireless mice are often more responsive as they’re connected directly, and they don’t require you to recharge or buy batteries, a common annoyance of using a wireless mouse. Wireless mice are very convenient for laptop users who still need a mouse or people that simply can’t afford to run another cord around their desk.

Connection

This is probably not a major concern for people anymore, but it’s still important to realize that there is more than one connection type for mice. Besides the standard USB port, there are ADP mice that still may be a part of your computer. These mice are often more difficult to find and you may need to pay extra attention to the kind of mouse you’re buying if your computer doesn’t have a USB port. Alternatively, if you bought an ADP mouse you can also buy a USB to ADP converter.

Speed

More importantly for power users, mouse speed is a common concern for online gamers as well as those who need to tone up or down the sensitivity of their mice. Mouse speed is measured in DPI (dots per inch), which measures the speed of your mouse with a higher value appearing to be a much faster speed.

As stated, the mouse is an integral part of your computer, and should selected carefully so that your experience is comfortable and enjoyable. It’s important to consider your needs and to go to the store and try out a few different mice before buying them.

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How to Delete Everything on Your Computer

There are people who want to delete everything in their computer and want to start from scratch again. But the problem is that they do not know how to go about things. The following are some instructions on how you can delete everything on your computer:

1. Get rid of Spyware before starting.Ensure that you do not have spyware or other kind of viruses on the computer because the entire thing would not work if you have spyware impeding you at every turn.

2a. Get your entire computer system formatted. You can do this by using the manufacturer CDs that came with your computer. Between your owner’s manual and the CDs you will be walked through the process of reformatting the entire system.

2b. Do a System Restore. You do this by going to the Start Menu and select Programs from the given options. Then select Accessories and select System Tools. There should be a restore option in the System Tools. You can restore the computer by going back any distance you want to, but keep one thing in mind, you will not be able to format the system or wipe all the contents in the system.

Why Delete Contents of Computer?

The reason most computer users feel they must delete everything from the computer is that because they feel it is overstuffed and has a lot of mess. In order to get rid of the mess, one uses the option of formatting the system.

If you want to just get rid of certain files which have become a mess and have caused lot of trouble, then you can select those files and manually delete them. Though manually deleting the contents would take up some time, it would definitely make sure that you are deleting what you want to delete.

Warnings:

Formatting cannot be reversed and once your system is formatted, it stays formatted. You cannot get the deleted files back. Therefore it is advisable to create a backup for the important information, files, and documents

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How to Download Music to the Computer

Many people use their computer for entertainment and relaxation. It’s fun to watch movies and listen to different music in your computer, but what if you don’t have the desired music in your computer? It’s easy to build a collection of your favorite music. Below are some easy downloading techniques and guidelines. There are two legal ways of downloading music directly to your computer and plenty of illegal ways but this article focuses on the legal methods only.

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Installing software:

Software applications have become common now, for all those who are diehard fans of music you can download music by installing any one of many legitimate and reputed music downloading software. When you have done so it is very easy to search for your favorite music through them and download it. Just follow the on-screen instructions.

Through the Websites:

Nowadays shopping, funding, banking and entertainment all is done through the internet. In case of downloading your favorite songs instantly, you need to find out a good and legitimate music downloading website and after loading the site you will have to follow the registration process. Look for a site that requires paying a quarterly or yearly amount but doesn’t charge for individual songs or have a downloading cap.

After registration you become the member of the particular website and can download as many songs as you want. The amount needed for registration is very cheap. After visiting the website you will get a huge collection of songs and music. To do so follow the site’s directions for searching and selecting songs for download.

This is how you can easily get going and develop a huge music collection with all of your favorite songs and artists.

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Clearing Hard Drive Space on Windows XP

Windows XP was released way back in 2001, so what should you do when you’re running out of hard drive space for these 2009 programs? Clearing hard drive space is a quick and easy experience that can help having your computer run much more efficiently while clearing adequate space to install new programs. How do you go about clearing hard drive space though? This article will list a few different ways that you can clear space on your computer.

1. Uninstall Unused Programs- One of the biggest memory wasters on old computers are old programs that you installed and simply don’t use anymore. So what should you do if these programs are littering your computer? To manually uninstall unused programs: go to your start menu, go to control panel, add and remove programs, and remove any program that you don’t need any more. Alternatively you can remove windows components that you don’t use. To do this go to start, control panel, add or remove programs, add or remove Windows Components, select which components you don’t want, and hit okay.

2. Deleting Temporary Files- Temporary files are created during crashes and during installations; they can be where some of your disappearing hard disk is located. So how do you get rid of your temporary files? Temporary files will be left in \Document And Settings\your Username\Local Settings\Temp folder. All you need to do is simply go to this folder select files and delete them. Try not to delete any file with the current date as they may still be in use.

3. Deleting Temporary Internet Files- While temporary internet files often don’t accumulate to any significant amount of hard drive loss, they do exist, and you should get rid of them. To do this, you need to open your favorite browser, whether that is Mozilla Firefox or Internet explorer. Once there go to tools, settings/internet options, then find the delete temporary files option.

4. Disk Cleanup- One last method you can use to clean up your hard drive is the disk cleanup. To run a disk cleanup go to my computer, right click your C drive, properties and then disk cleanup. Disk cleanup is useful for detecting useless and unused files and will even help you to delete older installations of Windows. This means that if you upgraded to Vista from XP there may still be all your old XP files taking up hard drive space!

There are plenty of options available to you for cleaning up your hard drive, and none of them are very hard to utilize. It’s important to be careful to understand what it is that you’re deleting when you’re cleaning up your hard drive, but with a little research you will be fine.

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Top 5 Computer Security Tips

With Ads like Mac Vs PC floating around in full force arguing which OS is more safe against viruses like it’s a computers prime selling point, just how big of a deal are viruses now? Even the unreleased Windows 7 isn’t safe from being infected by viruses if it’s used improperly, so they’re a big deal. What can you do to protect yourself from an onslaught of viruses? This article will provide you with a few tips that will keep your computer running smooth and virus free.

1. Use Up to Date Anti-Virus Software-Perhaps the best way to keep your computer safe from the threat of viruses is anti-virus software. It’s very important to download a noteworthy company’s software such as: Ad-aware, Spybot or Avast. These companies all offer free anti-virus that’s constantly updated. It’s important when downloading anti-virus software that you’re not downloading a virus itself, because that’s one of their most common disguises. That’s why you should always stick with a trusted company.

2. Be Safe With Email- Email is one of the easiest ways to become a victim of a large scale virus infection, and the easiest way to avoid it is to not open any suspicious email or follow any odd links and attachments. If you know the sender and the attachment still seems fishy, simply ask them by phone or in person before you open the attachment.

3. Better Passwords- This has become something that companies are enforcing, but it’s still something that needs to be emphasized, use strong passwords. Don’t simply make your password your first name or your dog’s name. You need to add numbers and special characters such as a # sign to your password. This will make it much more difficult for any potential hacker/virus program to affect you. If you can’t remember long passwords, try using phrases as they usually make the best passwords.

4. Use Anti-Spyware Programs- Although many of these programs becoming pre-packaged with anti-virus programs, it’s still important to note that spyware is much more commonly affecting your computer than a virus. It may come in the form of ads popping up on your desktop, or even just a program running in your background eating your memory. They may not be viruses, but they’re deadly and it’s important you prepare for them.

5. Watch Where You Download from- Where you download files from plays one of the biggest roles in whether you’re likely to get a virus or not. Avoid using P2P networks as much as possible as they’re probably the most unsafe downloading environments there are. If you visit a website and a message box comes up asking you to install (yes or no) always ctl-alt-delete exit the website immediately. This is one of the easiest ways to allow your computer to be infected.

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Make Your Internet Speed Faster

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The speed of your Internet connection affects various aspects of your computer usage, from sending and receiving files to surfing the Web and sending emails. Over a period of weeks, a slow Internet connection can add hours of waiting time to your average day. Thus, a sluggish Internet connection is not just an inconvenience, but a productivity issue. Learn how to make your Internet speed faster to get the most out of your Internet connection and make the most with your time.
Follow step below:

Step 1

Open Internet Explorer, the default Web browser included in all copies of Microsoft Windows. Click "Tools" and select "Internet Options" from the drop-down menu. In the dialog box that appears, select the Security tab. Click on the Internet icon and choose "Custom" in the security levels listed. Uncheck the box next to the following security options: Download Unsigned ActiveX Controls; Initialize and Script ActiveX Controls Not Marked As Safe; and Scripting of Java Applets. Removing these options will decrease the amount of data that Internet Explorer tries to download, making Web pages with these elements load faster. Disabling these features can also make the Internet Explorer browser more secure.

Step 2

Return to the main "Internet Options" window in Step 1. Drag the slider for Internet Explorer's cache to the right to increase the amount of hard drive space that the browser uses to store commonly-accessed Web page data. By accessing locally-stored data instead of downloading it from the Web, your browser is able to load websites at a faster rate.

Step 3

Click "Start" and select "My Computer." Open the C:\ drive. Click "Documents and Settings," and double-click on "Local Settings." Open the "temp" file and clear all the contents.

Step 4

Install OpenDNS on your computer (link in the Resources section). This lets your browser access the OpenDNS cache, significantly speeding up your Internet connection by downloading pre-saved website data stored on the OpenDNS servers. On a Mac, select "System Preferences" in the Apple menu. Click on "Network" and select "Built-In Ethernet

Read more: How to Make Your Internet Speed Faster | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4796753_internet-speed-faster.html#ixzz0uzC3vYUl

1. Open Internet Explorer, the default Web browser included in all copies of Microsoft Windows. Click "Tools" and select "Internet Options" from the drop-down menu. In the dialog box that appears, select the Security tab. Click on the Internet icon and choose "Custom" in the security levels listed. Uncheck the box next to the following security options: Download Unsigned ActiveX Controls; Initialize and Script ActiveX Controls Not Marked As Safe; and Scripting of Java Applets. Removing these options will decrease the amount of data that Internet Explorer tries to download, making Web pages with these elements load faster. Disabling these features can also make the Internet Explorer browser more secure.
2. Return to the main "Internet Options" window in Step 1. Drag the slider for Internet Explorer's cache to the right to increase the amount of hard drive space that the browser uses to store commonly-accessed Web page data. By accessing locally-stored data instead of downloading it from the Web, your browser is able to load websites at a faster rate.
3. Click "Start" and select "My Computer." Open the C:\ drive. Click "Documents and Settings," and double-click on "Local Settings." Open the "temp" file and clear all the contents.
4. Install OpenDNS on your computer (link in the Resources section). This lets your browser access the OpenDNS cache, significantly speeding up your Internet connection by downloading pre-saved website data stored on the OpenDNS servers. On a Mac, select "System Preferences" in the Apple menu. Click on "Network" and select "Built-In Ethernet." Open the Advanced settings tab, and add 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 to the DNS servers listed. On a PC, click "Control Panel" in the Start menu. Click "Properties," then open the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" tab and select "Properties." Add 208.67.222.222 to the Preferred DNS Server list. Click "OK."
   
   red: www.troblecomp.com
   
   
   
   
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Avoid Computer Repair on Laptop

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Having a reliable source of computer repair can be a great comfort when your laptop breaks down, but prevention is always the best medicine. Laptops are especially susceptible to problems because they are so mobile. Its mobility is its strength but it can also be its downfall. Exercise a bit of care in order to make yours last longer.

Here are 5 tips for keeping the machine healthy:

1) Invest in a padded case complete with a zipper or buckle. Make certain that there is adequate padding on both sides of the case and keep it closed up when not in use, in order to avoid dust and dirt seeping in. Toting the fragile laptop around in a backpack, or even worse, no container at all, is inviting damage.

2) Keep your machine away from extreme temperatures. Tossing it into the trunk of a car in mid-summer is not a good idea. Freezing temperatures and humidity can also be detrimental to the longevity of a notebook.

3) Close its lid and turn it off when not in use. Dust can settle quickly on the keyboard and enter the other openings, as well, creating havoc with the electrical system. Be sure to clean it off as necessary, but keeping it closed up and put away will greatly aid in keeping it spic and span and functioning properly.

4) Watch the food and drink. If you are sipping tea or soda and eating your lunch while working on your notebook, set yourself up to be as stable as possible. Arrange the items you are working on, including your computer and your food items, upon a solid surface such as a desk or table. This will offer optimum chance of successfully carrying out multi-tasking endeavors.

5) Take laptops to the beach with extreme care. The idea of doing your work or carrying out email correspondence while on vacation can be an inviting idea, but do so with extreme caution. Did you know that many digital cameras, electronic devices and computers die on the beach? Blowing sand can be the kiss of death to the fragile makeup of an electronic device. Sand is even worse than household dust because of its gritty nature. The beach’s sand knows how to mysteriously embed itself into everything that appears along its shoreline--shoes, hair, picnic lunches and most devastating of all – your computer.

Follow the above 5 tips and your laptop will last longer and serve you well. Avoid computer repair issues with some common sense as well as adequate TLC.

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Troubleshooting

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Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving most often applied to repair of failed products or processes. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem so that it can be solved, and so the product or process can be made operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to develop and maintain complex systems where the symptoms of a problem can have many possible causes. Troubleshooting is used in many fields such as engineering, system administration, electronics, automotive repair, and diagnostic medicine. Troubleshooting requires identification of the malfunction(s) or symptoms within a system. Then, experience is commonly used to generate possible causes of the symptoms. Determining which cause is most likely is often a process of elimination - eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state.

In general, troubleshooting is the identification of, or diagnosis of "trouble" in a [system] caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining the causes of these symptoms.

A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example).

The methods of forensic engineering are especially useful in tracing problems in products or processes, and a wide range of analytical techniques are available to determine the cause or causes of specific failures. Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind. Preventative action is possible using FMEA and FTA before full scale production, and these methods can also be used for failure analysis.

Aspects

Most discussion of troubleshooting, and especially training in formal troubleshooting procedures, tends to be domain specific, even though the basic principles are universally applicable.
Usually troubleshooting is applied to something that has suddenly stopped working, since its previously working state forms the expectations about its continued behavior. So the initial focus is often on recent changes to the system or to the environment in which it exists. (For example a printer that "was working when it was plugged in over there"). However, there is a well known principle that correlation does not imply causality. (For example the failure of a device shortly after it's been plugged into a different outlet doesn't necessarily mean that the events were related. The failure could have been a matter of coincidence.) Therefore troubleshooting demands critical thinking rather than magical thinking.
It's useful to consider the common experiences we have with light bulbs. Light bulbs "burn out" more or less at random; eventually the repeated heating and cooling of its filament, and fluctuations in the power supplied to it cause the filament to crack or vaporize. The same principle applies to most other electronic devices and similar principles apply to mechanical devices. Some failures are part of the normal wear-and-tear of components in a system.
A basic principle in troubleshooting is to start from the simplest and most probable possible problems first. This is illustrated by the old saying "When you see hoof prints, look for horses, not zebras", or to use another maxim, use the KISS principle. This principle results in the common complaint about help desks or manuals, that they sometimes first ask: "Is it plugged in and does that receptacle have power?", but this should not be taken as an affront, rather it should serve as a reminder or conditioning to always check the simple things first before calling for help.
A troubleshooter could check each component in a system one by one, substituting known good components for each potentially suspect one. However, this process of "serial substitution" can be considered degenerate when components are substituted without regards to a hypothesis concerning how their failure could result in the symptoms being diagnosed.
Efficient methodical troubleshooting starts with a clear understanding of the expected behavior of the system and the symptoms being observed. From there the troubleshooter forms hypotheses on potential causes, and devises (or perhaps references a standardized checklist of) tests to eliminate these prospective causes. Two common strategies used by troubleshooters are to check for frequently encountered or easily tested conditions first (for example, checking to ensure that a printer's light is on and that its cable is firmly seated at both ends), and to "bisect" the system (for example in a network printing system, checking to see if the job reached the server to determine whether a problem exists in the subsystems "towards" the user's end or "towards" the device).
This latter technique can be particularly efficient in systems with long chains of serialized dependencies or interactions among its components. It's simply the application of a binary search across the range of dependences.
Simple and intermediate systems are characterized by lists or trees of dependencies among their components or subsystems. More complex systems contain cyclical dependencies or interactions (feedback loops). Such systems are less amenable to "bisection" troubleshooting techniques.
It also helps to start from a known good state, the best example being a computer reboot. A cognitive walkthrough is also a good thing to try. Comprehensive documentation produced by proficient technical writers is very helpful, especially if it provides a theory of operation for the subject device or system.
A common cause of problems is bad design, for example bad human factors design, where a device could be inserted backward or upside down due to the lack of an appropriate forcing function (behavior-shaping constraint), or a lack of error-tolerant design. This is especially bad if accompanied by habituation, where the user just doesn't notice the incorrect usage, for instance if two parts have different functions but share a common case so that it isn't apparent on a casual inspection which part is being used.
Troubleshooting can also take the form of a systematic checklist, troubleshooting procedure, flowchart or table that is made before a problem occurs. Developing troubleshooting procedures in advance allows sufficient thought about the steps to take in troubleshooting and organizing the troubleshooting into the most efficient troubleshooting process. Troubleshooting tables can be computerized to make them more efficient for users.

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