As you can tell from my last post, I have downloaded six third-party applications on my iPhone that I like a lot. Most of the time, they work well, but still, they have little problems: Sometimes the New York Times app takes me back to the iPhone's home page or MLB.com At Bat 2008 just doesn't load. Here's how to troubleshoot your applications.

After each step, check to see if the problem still occurs.

1. On your computer: Sign into iTunes, connect your iPhone, synch your iPhone.

2. If you don't have access to your computer, use your iPhone to sign into iTunes and purchase a free application or song. Check to see if that application works or the song plays.

3. Restart your iPhone by pushing power off button and sliding power off slide.

4. Reset your iPhone by holding home and power button until phone goes off and the Apple logo reappears.

5. Reinstall the application: First on your iPhone:
  a. Touch and hold an application icon until the icons start to wiggle
  b. Tap the red "x" in the corner of the icon for the application you want to delete
  c. Tap the Delete button to remove the application from your iPhone
  d. Press the Home button.

6. Next, remove the application from your iTunes Library:
  a. Click on Applications in the Library on the left side of iTunes
  b. Locate the application and Control-click (or Right-click for PC) and chose Delete
  c. Select Remove when asked if you want to remove from your iTunes Library
  d. Select Move to Trash when asked.

7. Now, Redownload the application to your iPhone or computer
  a. Make sure you are signed into iTunes using the same account you used for the original purchase
  b. Located the application and click Buy application
  c. You will see a dialogue box: "You have already purchased this item. To download it again for free select OK" Select OK
  d. Download and try the application again.