Write down what you see before asking ChatGPT for a fix. AI-generated illustration.
Your laptop connects to Wi-Fi, but the website you need will not open. You try again. Same result. Now you are wondering whether to restart everything, call someone, or leave it until tomorrow.
This is a useful place to try ChatGPT, even if you have never used AI before. You can describe the problem in ordinary language and ask for help working through it.
You do not need a special way of talking to it. You need a clear description of what happened.
The five-minute method in Chapter 1 of my book, Ask ChatGPT Before You Call the Kids, helps you collect that description. Five minutes is time to gather the facts. The repair may take longer.
Start with what you know
Before asking for a fix, collect five pieces of information. Missing a detail is fine. Say what you know and let ChatGPT ask questions.
1. Name the device.
“Windows laptop” gives a helper more to work with than “computer.” “iPhone” is more useful than “phone.” Include the model if you know it, but do not spend twenty minutes looking for it. If two devices are involved, name both: your laptop and printer, for example.
2. Describe the task.
What were you trying to do? Open a website? Print a document? Join a video call? Say when the trouble appeared. A problem that begins after clicking Print needs a different starting point from a computer that will not turn on.
3. Report what actually happened.
Describe what you observed. “The screen went black, but I can hear sound” is useful. “The computer is dead” is a conclusion you may not have enough evidence to make. If the same task works on another device, include that detail.
4. Copy the exact message.
Small differences in wording can matter. “Incorrect password” and “No internet” point toward different questions. Type the message as closely as you can. If nothing appears, say that too. A button that turns gray without an explanation is still something you can report.
5. Mention recent changes.
Perhaps you installed an app, changed a password, or had a power outage. Mention the timing without assuming you found the cause. “This started after the update” is an observation. “The update broke it” goes further. If you know of no recent change, say so.
Turn those facts into a conversation
Suppose your laptop cannot open one website, while other websites still work. You could type:
“I’m using a Windows laptop. One website will not open, but other websites do. The message says ‘This site can’t be reached.’ It started this morning, and I don’t know of any recent changes. Ask me questions before deciding on a cause. Give me one simple check at a time, explain what I should see, and wait for my reply. Start with checks that won’t erase data or change account security.”
That request does two useful things. It gives ChatGPT evidence, and it tells it how to help you.
You may hear people call this a “prompt.” It simply means the message you give the AI. The facts matter more than finding perfect words.
Keep the next step small
When a suggestion arrives, make sure you understand what to do and what should happen afterward.
If the instruction is unclear, reply: “Explain that without technical terms.” If the screen looks different, describe what you see. You can also ask, “Will this erase anything or sign me out?”
You can slow the conversation down. There is no prize for following an instruction before you understand what it will actually do.
Then report the result in the same conversation. “The website opens on my phone but still fails on the laptop” gives ChatGPT something useful to consider. “Still broken” gives it much less.
Only say you completed a step after you actually did it. Otherwise, the next suggestion may rest on something that never happened.
Know when to pause
ChatGPT can sound certain and still be wrong. Treat its advice as something to check.
Stop before deleting files, resetting a device, removing an account, changing security settings, or running a command you do not understand. Ask what the step changes and whether there is a less disruptive check. If you still cannot judge the risk, get help from official support or someone you trust.
Keep passwords, verification codes, recovery phrases, and payment details out of the conversation. Check screenshots for private information before sharing them.
For suspected scams, financial account problems, or devices that affect health or safety, contact the responsible service or a qualified professional.
The next time technology misbehaves, write down those five facts before trying random fixes. You may solve the problem with ChatGPT. If you need a person, you will have a clearer explanation ready: what happened, what you tried, and what changed.
For the complete method, more ready-to-use prompts, and help troubleshooting computers, phones, Wi-Fi, email, browsers, and printers, see Ask ChatGPT Before You Call the Kids on Amazon.
Prefer downloadable files? The book is also available on Gumroad as a bundle with the standard PDF, mobile-friendly PDF, and eBook edition.