It's easy to see why people don't read the manuals when they unpack their machines. Just pointing and clicking is much more fun. But you don't want to be frantically skimming a handbook for the first time when you're in the middle of a computer catastrophe. When something goes wrong, do NOT panic. Experienced PC users know they don't have to pack up their computers and take them back to the store at the first sign of trouble.
Many problems are minor.
With a little know-how, you can tackle many problems yourself. Now, we're not talking major blow-ups. Those calamities should be handled by a professional. Most software vendors and some computer makers have Web pages that list solutions to common problems. Going there is a good first step.