Unit 1 1.6 Hardware Troubleshooting The problems with a computer’s physical components.

What you need to learn: Pauls lesson Demo of one at fault Students to create their own not bank.

Hardware Troubleshooting If a component fails on the motherboard you wont necessarily be able to purchase the part due to technology developments.

Failure to power on Check the mains, check the plug. Switch the mains lead to check what part is not working.

Unresponsive PC Test the network. Network sends data along the network cable to load. Memory – RAM If not enough memory can store temporarily on the hard disk. Icons running that not needed Hard disk full up – not enough room to work – keep back up Possible virus

Monitor Troubleshooting Try changing the mains lead to see if it’s the fuse or the monitor. Check to see if the the menu button works. Try it in another PC.

Printer troubleshooting Is it plugged in? Look for the light to come on. Check the plug, change the mains lead to test it. Google your flashing lights e.g out of paper, change the toner. Print out the test page

Mouse Troubleshooting Is it plugged in? Is there a light on it? Is it responsive? Try a different port.

Network Troubleshooting Tray icon, is there a red cross? Ethernet cable plugged in? Has the network card been disabled? This is located to be checked in the control panel, device manager. Some viruses can stop the networks. Wifi – check the icon. Check the router/switch. Firewall – check its not been switched on, edited. Reset the network card within a command prompt. Resets this. Check using IP configuration addresses are filled in, and valid.

Sound Troubleshooting Sound card? Headphone/ speaker broken? Plugged in within the correct green socket. Is the volume up? Mute? Check device manager

Start up Troubleshooting Safe mode – runs the machine with all it needs to get you into windows. This does not connect to the network. If it does not load within safe mode, very difficult to fix. Last known configuration, it logs when you last logged on and off successfully and runs the script for this. Could use system restore.

Hard Drive Troubleshooting Look in event viewer, is it showing in the viewer that theres a problem. Is it having problem being written too. Is it making any noise? You can feel if its making a small vibration. SMART – Built in diagnosis tics in PC and hard disk. IF enabled prompts possible hard disk errors. Usually physical errors.

Trouble shoot documentation This could be task manager, blue screen viewer. Works out what causes it to crash. Ends program. Process explorer gives a lot more detail to trace problems. You may need some documentation to go through a check list of what you have found works and what doesn’t.