CHAPTER THREE: TROUBLESHOOTING PC HARDWARE Flashcards
(33 cards)
What is the Troubleshooting Methodology?
- Identify the problem
- Establish a theory of probable cause (guess what might be wrong)
- Test your theory (see if you’re right)
- Establish a plan and fix the problem
- Make sure everything works again and prevent future problems
- Document everything (write down what happened and how you fixed it)
What are the two built-in programs that helps programs start up?
This program is stored in a special memory chip on the motherboard. There are two types:
- BIOS (Basic Input/Output System):
- The old-school version.
- Works only in 32-bit mode (a limited way for a computer to process data). - UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface):
- The newer, better version.
- Supports 64-bit mode, meaning it can handle more powerful operations.
- Allows you to use a mouse in the setup menu (BIOS was keyboard-only).
- Includes security features to protect against viruses before Windows even starts.
- Can still run in “legacy BIOS mode” for older software compatibility.
What to check with Power Issues (Why Won’t My Computer Turn On?)
- Is it plugged in? (Sounds silly, but always check.)
Do other things in the same outlet work? (Maybe the outlet is dead.) - Try another power cable. (Sometimes the cable is broken.)
- Check the Power Supply Unit (PSU).
- If the computer doesn’t turn on at all, the PSU might be dead.
- If the computer turns on but shuts off randomly, the PSU might not be strong enough or could be faulty.
- If you see smoke, fire, or weird smells, TURN IT OFF IMMEDIATELY!
what is a multimeter?
a tool that checks electrical current
What to check when (My Computer Beeps and does Not Start?)
When you turn on a computer, it doesn’t just go straight to Windows. It first does a Power-On Self-Test (POST) to check if everything is working.
- If everything is fine, the computer continues to boot.
- If something is wrong, the computer might show an error message or just beep instead.
- Different beep patterns mean different problems (kind of like Morse code).
what does 1 shot beep mean?
Normal POST - system is ok. most modern PCs boot silently.
What does 2 short beeps mean?
POST error - error code shown on screen
What does no beep mean?
Power supply, motherboard problem of faulty onboard speaker
What does continous beep mean?
Problem with system memory modules or memory controller
What does repeating short beeps mean?
Power supply fault or motherboard problem
What does 1 long beep, 1 short beep mean?
Motherboard problem
what does 1 long, 2 or 3 short beeps mean?
Video adapter error
What does 3 long beeps mean?
Keyboard issue
What is boot sequence?
When you turn on your computer, the first thing it does is run a POST test (Power-On Self-Test). This is just the computer checking to make sure all the essential parts (like the memory, processor, and storage drives) are working. If something’s wrong, it might beep or show an error.
Once the POST test is done, the computer follows a boot sequence, which is basically a list of devices it checks to find an operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.).
How does boot sequencing works?
- it looks for the first device in the list (usually your hard drive or SSD).
- If that device isn’t found (maybe the drive is missing or broken), it moves on to the next device (like a USB drive or a network boot option).
- If no bootable device is found, you’ll get an error message, and the computer will stop trying to boot.
Common issues and fixes for booting sequencing
If the computer is trying to boot from the wrong device, check that there isn’t a USB stick or CD messing things up.
If your hard drive or SSD isn’t showing up, it might not be getting power. Most computers have a little LED light that blinks when the drive is active.
No LED activity? Make sure the drive is properly connected to power and data cables.
If the drive still isn’t working, check the motherboard settings to see if the port is disabled.
What is a boot sector?
The boot sector is like an instruction manual for your computer—it tells the system where to find the operating system. There are two main ways this information is stored:
- MBR (Master Boot Record): This is the older method. The MBR is in the very first section of your hard drive and contains a small program that helps load the operating system.
- GPT (GUID Partition Table): This is the newer method. It spreads boot information across multiple sections of the drive, making it more reliable.
Boot sector issues and fixes
If the boot sector is damaged or missing, you might see errors like:
- “Boot device not found”
- “Operating System not found”
- “Invalid drive specification”
Fixes:
- If the boot sector is corrupt, you might need to repair it using special recovery tools (like Windows Recovery -Mode or Linux repair commands).
- Sometimes, you’ll need to reinstall the operating system if the corruption is severe
Troubleshooting OS Errors and Crash Screens (a.k.a. When Your Computer Starts But Then Freaks Out)
If your computer does find a bootable device, it loads the boot sector code into memory and starts pulling in the rest of the operating system files. If there’s an issue after this point, it’s usually because of:
- Software problems (like corrupted system files)
-Bad device drivers (these tell your hardware how to communicate with the OS) - Hardware failures (like bad RAM or a failing hard drive)
What is a blue screen of death?
On Windows, if something goes really wrong, you’ll see the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). This is a serious error that forces the system to stop to prevent damage. The screen will show an error code (like 0x0000007B), which you can look up to figure out what went wrong.
Fixes for BSOD
- Try restarting your computer. Sometimes, it’s just a fluke.
- Look up the error code online to see what’s causing the problem.
- If it keeps happening, try running a system repair tool or rolling back recent updates.
- If a hardware part is failing, you might need to replace it.
Signs of a failing Hard drive or SSD
Weird noises (HDDs can make clicking or grinding sounds when they fail)
No LED activity (the drive isn’t getting power)
Constant LED activity (could mean the drive is stuck or failing)
“Bootable device not found” error
The drive disappears from your operating system (it’s not showing up in File Explorer or Disk Management)
Slow read/write speeds (your computer struggles to open files or install programs)
BSOD errors related to storage
Fixes for hard drive and SSD issues
If the drive is making noises, back up your data ASAP—it’s probably dying.
Check the power and data cables. Sometimes, a loose connection can make the drive seem like it’s missing.
If it’s an SSD, check the motherboard settings—some BIOS settings can accidentally disable SSDs.
If the drive is old (5+ years for an HDD, 7+ years for an SSD), consider replacing it before it fully dies.
What is SMART?
Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART), which is like a built-in health checkup system for your drive. testing drive reliability.
If your computer is running slowly or files are disappearing, your drive could be in trouble. You can run special diagnostic tests (usually provided by the manufacturer or built into your computer’s software) to see if your drive is damaged. These tests can measure how fast your drive reads/writes data (input/output operations per second or IOPS).
If the test results show speeds much lower than what the manufacturer originally advertised, your drive might be failing. But if the speeds are normal, the slowdown could be due to other computer problems like too many apps running, not enough storage left, or fragmented files (which happens mostly with old-school hard drives).
