| There could be many reasons why you'd want to | | | | by swapping it out and seeing the problems still occur |
| troubleshoot your computer, well, one actually and | | | | or try your memory in another system. If the memory |
| that's because something is not working right. The | | | | passes the tests then you proceed to troubleshoot |
| process of troubleshooting is something you learn after | | | | something else with good faith that your memory is |
| working for a long time with computers. Often enough | | | | fine. |
| when there's a problem, nothing is going to explicitly tell | | | | Hard Drive |
| you what is causing the problem and how you can fix | | | | The hard drive is that ultimate safe to everything |
| it. By taking logical steps and walking through the | | | | important on your computer. It keeps all of your |
| process of troubleshooting you should be able to solve | | | | information, files and folders, music, videos, favorite |
| almost any computer problem, software or hardware | | | | websites, and programs. With a bad hard drive there's |
| related. It involves identifying the problem(s), finding the | | | | no reason to have a computer. In terms of fixing a |
| cause of that problem, determining the solution, | | | | computer if the hard drive isn't salvageable then most |
| executing that solution, and testing and checking that | | | | people don't even want to bother with the rest, |
| solution to see if it solves your problem. | | | | because their computer is probably a piece of junk |
| As an example let's say one day while using your | | | | that has been handed down from time to time. |
| computer the screen suddenly turns all black and you | | | | Generally when a hard drive is about to fail it's usually |
| can't see anything. We found a problem now what | | | | years down the road from first acquiring the computer. |
| would be the first step to take to fix it? First check to | | | | So the next best option rather than replacing the drive |
| see if the monitor is on and is receiving power, most | | | | is to just buy a new computer, or build a new one, |
| monitors when they have power, but no connection or | | | | because your old one sure is probably not running as |
| connection problems with the computer will display a | | | | fast as it used to. |
| message that says this monitor is working, but make | | | | Luckily before your hard drive kicks the bucket there is |
| sure you check your cables. So the next logical step | | | | usually a few warning signs: |
| to take would be to check the cable to make sure it is | | | | - Abnormally slow file transfers |
| properly connected and secured to the VGA slot | | | | - Problems with booting, especially when Windows is |
| behind your computer case and to make sure the | | | | being loaded |
| monitor cable is plugged into the monitor. Now, here's | | | | - Corrupted files |
| where you have to decide what would be the next | | | | - Disappearing files or folders |
| best course of action to take. you could either swap | | | | - Loud hard drive noise is a good sign that there is a |
| out your monitor with another monitor that you know is | | | | mechanical problem going on inside |
| working to see if the problem is the monitor itself and | | | | If your hard drive exhibits any of these signs be sure |
| nothing else or you can try to see if the problem is | | | | to transfer all of your files to another source |
| your graphics card. If your replacement monitor works, | | | | immediately, and do not continue to do day-to-day |
| good, then you know your culprit is a bad monitor and | | | | activities with that hard drive. If it doesn't show any of |
| you'll most likely have to get a new one, because | | | | these tell-tale signs, however you have a gut feeling |
| monitors are dangerous and too costly service. If the | | | | that your hard drive is on the brink of destruction you |
| replacement monitor you used shows up a black | | | | can try using many different drive testing utilities |
| screen as well, the next thing you'd do is check to | | | | available on the internet. The hard drive manufacturer |
| make sure the graphics card is properly seated in the | | | | usually has at least one qualified tool that you can |
| motherboard, if it is and the display is still not showing | | | | download from their website and run. Other ways to |
| up, then swap out the graphics card to see if your | | | | check the health of your hard drive involves running |
| problem is fixed. | | | | the Windows Error Checking tool by right clicking on |
| Generally there are only so many steps you can take | | | | your hard drive in 'My Computer' then selecting |
| before you solve the problem and everything is back | | | | 'Properties' and going to the 'Tool' and clicking on |
| in order. Make sure that before you start testing and | | | | "Check Now", or checking the SMART status located |
| swapping out parts that the problem wasn't caused by | | | | in your motherboard's BIOS. SMART stands for |
| you changing a software setting in Windows or some | | | | Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology. |
| ambiguous option in the motherboard's BIOS that | | | | Most motherboards nowadays has this technology. It |
| causes your problem. | | | | should be automatically enabled in your BIOS, if it's not |
| Motherboard | | | | then your hard drive won't get checked. What it does |
| The motherboard is the heart of the computer, every | | | | is on boot up it will perform quick tests on your hard |
| part of the computer relies on the motherboard to | | | | drive to ensure it is running correctly and it will continue |
| function correctly. It maintains connection between | | | | to monitor it for any errors or abnormal problems that |
| every PC component and ensures that things are | | | | may occur as long as the computer is turned on. |
| operating smoothly between them. Many signs of | | | | Monitor |
| motherboard failure is that the computer won't boot up, | | | | Watching movies, videos, playing games, and looking at |
| not reaching the POST test, erratic system behavior, | | | | NSFW material are all amazing things we can do on |
| different combinations of components not working. | | | | our computers. Yet there may come a day where |
| Because everything is connected to the motherboard | | | | you just want to get on your computer and relax in |
| certain parts may or may not work correctly if the | | | | your computer room looking at all that NSFW material |
| motherboard is faulty so be sure to test those parts | | | | you have bookmarked under the "Special Sites" |
| before thinking they're dead and getting new ones. | | | | category, but you can't because your monitor won't |
| - Be sure to do a visual inspection of the motherboard | | | | turn on. No, you don't frump and punch holes in the |
| to make sure all cables are seated properly, the fans | | | | walls to look for an outlet for your rage. You |
| are spinning, and that the CMOS battery is in it's proper | | | | troubleshoot it, and hope to god that your monitor isn't |
| place. | | | | broken! |
| - Also check for any broken or leaking capacitors, | | | | When diagnosing a screen problem, half the time it's |
| those can immediately render a motherboard dead. | | | | usually something very easy, like a cable coming loose, |
| - Make sure that all of the jumpers are set correctly | | | | or the monitor getting unplugged accidentally; |
| as well, you should be able to find jumper information in | | | | unfortunately the other half the time it's probably a |
| your motherboard's manual, and if you don't have the | | | | problem that's related to your monitor being old, or a |
| manual you should be able to find the manual on the | | | | problem that's related to your graphics card instead. |
| Internet at the motherboard manufacturer's website. | | | | So you may have to diagnose both items at the same |
| Many of the problems caused by a bad motherboard | | | | time to see which solves your problem. |
| is also similar to problems caused by a faulty or dying | | | | First, check all your cables, I know this is probably |
| power supply, so be sure to check if the power supply | | | | getting a little old with the checking connections and |
| is faulty or swap it out for another to see if your | | | | everything, but so many computer problems can be |
| problem is fixed. If you have a spare motherboard you | | | | avoided if people just remember that their computer |
| can try swapping out the motherboard to see if that | | | | isn't always going to stay the same way they left it. A |
| solves your problem, if that's the case then the | | | | foot could kick out a cable, a dog or a cat that got to |
| motherboard is most likely faulty. If you think the | | | | curious, or almost anything can render half your |
| motherboard is faulty and it is still in warranty you | | | | hardware useless. |
| should be able to send it back to the manufacturer for | | | | After checking all your cables, make sure your screen |
| a new one with no hassle, sometimes they might even | | | | has power, if it has power and shows a message |
| pay for the shipping & handling if it is a big problem | | | | such as "This monitor is working correctly please |
| that is happening with a certain line of motherboards. | | | | check your cable" and shows bars of color on the |
| Make sure that when you open a motherboard you | | | | screen, that means that your monitor is not getting a |
| keep all of the packaging and the box, and if there are | | | | signal from your computer. Try swapping out the |
| any stickers that will void the warranty if removed | | | | monitor for another one to see if it still says that |
| make sure you do NOT remove them, so that way it | | | | message. If it does then that means the problem is |
| is easier to send back. | | | | most likely something to do with your graphics card |
| Power Supply | | | | not seated in the motherboard, or just isn't working |
| If you suspect your power supply is giving you trouble, | | | | properly, you may want to try swapping out another |
| make sure you check it out fast, because power | | | | graphics card to see if that solves your problem. |
| supplies can make trouble with the rest of your | | | | Generally monitors don't have that many diagnosable |
| system as well. Irregular voltages sent from the power | | | | problems. Either they work and they work well, or they |
| supply can short circuit and overheat your components | | | | don't work and you have to replace them. When |
| thus frying them and making them unusable. Some | | | | working on a monitor you should never open them, |
| faulty power supplies have even caught on fire, but if | | | | they aren't meant to be serviced and contain high |
| you're lucky it might just smoke a little and start to | | | | charged capacitors that hold lethal doses of electricity. |
| smell. A few signals that your power supply is bad or | | | | We wouldn't want to read about a computer guy in |
| is going bad would be erratic and seemingly random | | | | the obituaries now would we? |
| system behavior like system hangs and crashes, and | | | | Graphics Card |
| burning smells along with smoke. | | | | The glorious graphics card, it's an amazing thing really. It |
| If you recently upgraded your system or added new | | | | makes all those pretty HDR (High Dynamic Range) |
| hard drives, disk drives, a graphics card or anything for | | | | pictures look just that good, it keeps your games |
| that matter, be sure to check if your power supply is | | | | running smoothly, and your videos in HD. Yet these |
| being overloaded with hardware. A good way to | | | | things can be pains when they're just not working right, |
| check is to use a power supply calculator. One time | | | | because if something is wrong there's not a strict |
| when I upgraded my system with a new fancy PCI | | | | hardware or software solution, you have to analyze |
| Express 16x Graphics card, well it was fancy back | | | | the current situation to see what's up. |
| then, I had problems with the graphics card performing | | | | First and foremost if you're having any problems with |
| while in 3d games, it was all due to my power supply | | | | your graphics card, probably the best thing to try to do |
| being unable give it enough juice on the 12v rails so it | | | | first is see if there an updated driver for it at the |
| performed poorly and didn't act as it should have, I | | | | manufacturer's website that may solve the problem, or |
| even swapped out the graphics card for another one | | | | if there isn't an update try uninstalling your graphics |
| believing it was bad, after checking the manufacturer's | | | | drivers and reinstalling them this little action can solve |
| forums it seemed like a lot of people were having | | | | so many problems. |
| problems with faulty cards, so I figured mine must | | | | If there's little jaggies or weird colorful mishaps known |
| have been faulty too. After getting the new card it | | | | as artifacts appearing on your screen you may want |
| seemed like it performed better for a little bit longer, | | | | to check the temperature of your graphics and make |
| which could've just been some optimizations they did | | | | sure is getting enough cooling, and that the fan is |
| to circuit board. Seeing how they sent me an | | | | working properly. If the cooling checks out okay you |
| upgraded version of the same card, but it wasn't until I | | | | may also want to check your power supply ratings to |
| checked my power supply wattages that I found the | | | | see if it is giving enough juice to your graphics card. |
| real culprit. | | | | Nowadays most graphics cards need a lot of power |
| The first thing to do to diagnose your power supply is | | | | on the 12v rails, make sure your power supply can |
| check the power supply connectors, make sure | | | | give you that power that the graphics card needs. |
| everything is plugged into the motherboard and the | | | | Sound Card |
| power cable is plugged into the power supply, you | | | | Some of the typical problems people have with sound |
| wouldn't believe how many people forget to plug in | | | | cards is either A) no sound or B) no sound. Sounds |
| their computer. Many power supplies also have a | | | | card typically aren't very expensive so having to |
| power switch on them so check to make sure that no | | | | replace one if the current one isn't working is no big |
| one accidentally or purposefully switched it off maybe | | | | deal. However, if you're one of those audiophile types |
| for a prank. Check the fan to see if it is spinning at the | | | | who expect 100% original recording quality with your |
| correct speed and if it's dusty vacuum it out. | | | | $300 sound card replacing one of those is as |
| Determine if the power supply cables are giving out | | | | expected a lot more harder to do. |
| the right amount of voltage, if you computer will let you | | | | Sound Card Troubleshooting |
| boot you should be able to check them in the BIOS | | | | |
| menu to see if the correct voltages are being given. | | | | 1. Check speaker cables make sure they're all |
| Normal power supplies give +3.3 volts DC, +5 volts DC, | | | | connected and plugged into the right spot on your |
| -5 volts DC, +12 volts DC, and -12 volts DC. | | | | sound card. Also check the speaker's power cables. |
| Memory | | | | 2. Make sure windows volume is turned up and the |
| Faulty RAM can have many adverse effects on your | | | | volume is not muted, also make sure that you have all |
| system. Constant lockups, computer rebooting, | | | | the wave and playback volume turned up and not |
| memory error message (duh), system crashes, and | | | | muted. If you have 'Digital Output Only' checked in your |
| sometimes refusing to boot up are all signs of memory | | | | Advanced Controls for Playback Controls, try |
| errors. Though, these are also signs for motherboard, | | | | unchecking it to see if that solves your non-sound |
| hard drive, and power supply problems too. Luckily for | | | | problem. I found that if I have that checked my sound |
| you if you think your memory is subject to causing a | | | | card won't give me any sound. |
| disruption in your system there are programs that can | | | | 3. Try reinstalling your sound card drivers, also try |
| check the memory for it's performance and to see if it | | | | checking on the internet at the manufacturer's website |
| is generating any errors. | | | | for any updated drivers that may be available. They |
| Memtest86+ is an amazing memory diagnostic | | | | increase your sound card's compatibility with your |
| program. It is based off of the original Memtest86 that | | | | system. |
| has been around since 1994 and is used by | | | | 4. If the previous tips didn't help, then you may just |
| system-builders, average joes, and professionals in the | | | | have to replace your sound card, or atleast swap it |
| IT world. It's a standalone memory check test which | | | | out for another one to see if it might be a problem |
| means it can be easily run without a bootable | | | | related to your sound card's connection to the |
| operating system, that's good if you can't just seem to | | | | motherboard instead. |
| get your PC started and want to rule out your | | | | Processor |
| memory as quickly as possible. | | | | The processor is the actual thinking part of the brain of |
| How To Use Memtest86 With Your Floppy Drive To | | | | the computer. It does all the calculations needed to |
| Test Your Memory | | | | make a computer run, and does them all in split second |
| | | | timing. It determines how fast your computer generally |
| 1. First go their website at and select the most | | | | runs, and most of the time is a bottle neck for |
| appropriate version to download. You can download | | | | systems that have had everything upgraded except |
| the bootable iso or the Pre-compiled floppy drive | | | | the CPU. |
| depending on whether you want burn a CD or use | | | | If your processor's not working, it's not the end of the |
| your floppy drive. We're going to go into details on | | | | world, generally most processors that work correctly |
| floppy method. | | | | for a few weeks, should work correctly for the rest of |
| 2. Open up the .zip and extract the files to a folder, | | | | it's lifespan, which varies from 5-10 years or so. As |
| then click on install.bat, you will be asked to "Enter | | | | long as you're not overclocking the processor or letting |
| target diskette drive:". Type A and hit enter then it will | | | | it overheat too badly your processor should be fine, |
| ask you to insert a formatted diskette into drive A: and | | | | and it could just be a BIOS setting that's messed up, or |
| press -Enter-: after you hit enter it will write some files | | | | a jumper setting, but for kicks just check to make the |
| to your floppy so you can boot your computer with | | | | processor is seated properly and the heat sink is |
| the floppy to test for errors. | | | | attached to the processor and the motherboard. The |
| 3. After the floppy has been formatted with | | | | heat sink should be attached tightly to the motherboard |
| Memtest86+, leave the floppy in your floppy drive and | | | | and not have room to move about, you should be able |
| reboot your computer. Remember to set your floppy | | | | to pick up your motherboard by grabbing onto the heat |
| drive as the first boot device in your BIOS menu. | | | | sink without any problems. Check in your motherboard |
| 4. The program will automatically load and perform the | | | | manual to make sure all the jumpers are set correctly |
| memory diagnostic tests on your computer. During the | | | | for your type of processor. Any jumpers set |
| testing if there any errors they will show up and at the | | | | incorrectly can cause the processor to not work, or |
| end of the test it will tell you how many errors you've | | | | function correctly or at it's optimal speed. Also check |
| had. | | | | the heat sink to see if it is cooling off the processor, if |
| After testing your memory if you receive any errors | | | | it's not doing a very good job you may want to look |
| you should make sure that your memory is okay either | | | | into investing in a better one that gets the job done. |