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| Troubleshooting computer problems can be rewarding, frustrating, or (and most
likely) both. PCs are sophisticated and complicated machines that require attention to
detail and extreme care when you work on them. And, because a computer's hardware and
software are entwined in a closely-knit hierarchy, it can be
difficult determining if a given problem is hardware-related or software-related. |
Hierarchy
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| When you diagnose a problem, or simply add a new component to your computer, is
it essential to make sure you have all the required information before you start -- always keep
all the documentation associated with your computer and its parts. It is also important to
take your time and to keep detailed notes when you are working. Don't assume that
you'll remember which cable went where. If your computer is giving you error messages, write them
down word for word. Always start with the easiest, most obvious possibilities (power,
cables, etc.) and move to the more difficult. Be methodical, and make any changes one at a
time. |
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| Preventive Maintenance
Practice pro-active computer care -- keep your computer clean and dust free. Be careful
if eating or drinking when using your computer - water and electronic devices do not mix well.
Try to keep your computer in a relatively dust-free and temperature controlled environment.
Buy a can of compressed air at your local computer store (it's
well worth the money, but follow the directions for use carefully) and blow out the fans and vents
regularly. If you keep your computer in a dusty place, open the cover and gently spray
compressed air over the components inside as well, every so often. At the same time make
sure all your cables are not frayed or crimped, and that their connectors are snug. |
Compressed Air
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| Keep your computer and its peripherals on a surge
protection strip, if possible. Surge protectors are inexpensive devices that can
absorb certain types of power fluctuations. If you don't have a surge protector, unplug your
computer from the wall when it will go unused for an extended period, and never leave it plugged
in during an electrical storm. |
Surge Protector
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| The things that you use the most get dirty the fastest. Keep your keyboard
clean by turning it over every so often (it's best to disconnect it first!) and shaking the dust
and dirt out of it. You can also use a vacuum cleaner (with the proper attachment) to gently
clean it. Use your can of compressed air to blow out the stuff that doesn't want to shake
out. |
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| Your mouse's roller can get gummed up over
time. You can clean the dirt and lint that slows down your mouse by removing the little ring
at the bottom (some pop out, others twist out) and using denatured alcohol on a lint-free foam
cleaning swab to get the gunk out that accumulates there. |
Mouse Roller
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| One of the most useful tools you can have is a clean start-up, or emergency boot
diskette. This diskette will come in handy over and over again. Use a utility program
or Windows built in routine in the "Add/Remove Programs" area in the Control Panel to help you
make a start-up disk. You can follow our simple directions for making a
boot disk, or the instructions supplied with Windows. It is very important that this
disk be virus-free, so make sure your system is clean of any viruses before creating your boot
disk. |
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| Become familiar with your computer's properties. Windows 95/98 users can
right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop and select Properties, then
Device Manager. Device Manager can be a powerful
troubleshooting tool. Once opened, it displays a list of the various categories of
components on your computer. Click on the [+] to expand an item and show the individual
components within each category. To see detailed information on a particular component you
can either double-click on the component name or select the component and click on the properties
button. |
Device Manager
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| By double-clicking on the Computer entry at the top of the Device Manager
listing, you can View Resources and easily see all the IRQs,
I/O ports, DMA channels and memory addresses in your system, and the devices using them. A
device is that is in conflict with another, or not installed properly, or disabled, will have a
yellow exclamation mark or a red "X" symbol next to it -- sure
signs of a problem. |
View Resources
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Symbols
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| When Things Go Wrong
But even with the best care and feeding, computers do sometimes stop working. If you
decide to work on your computer, it is important to know that your PC's components are very
sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD). We generate static electricity easily -- by such
simple actions as putting on a sweater or brushing our hair. Unfortunately, when ESD is
discharged through a computer's integrated circuits (often called ICs), they can be destroyed
without any outward sign such as shock, sparks, or smoke. When working on your
computer it is important to control ESD through the following means: |
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- Use grounding wrist straps that attach to your wrist at
one end and to a grounded surface at the other end. Wrist straps dissipate charges on your
body or clothing.
- If you do not have a wrist strap, touch a ground like the power supply before handling
sensitive components like expansion boards.
- Handle boards by their edges, and don't touch the chips or the edge of the board that plugs
into the slot.
- Anti-static containers should be used as packaging for
all sensitive electronic devices. Any electronic device that you buy for your computer
should be enclosed in one, and you should always keep computer parts in their special packaging
until you are ready to use them.
- Static builds up more easily in dry, cool environments. A humidifier in the room where
you do your work can help you to bring up the relative humidity.
- Try to avoid doing work in a room with carpeting.
- Always remember to keep your PC unplugged when you are working on it -- it is not sufficient
to just turn it off.
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Wrist Strap
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Anti-Static Package
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Here's a few common sense pointers to keep in mind any time your work with your
computer's hardware:
- Check your warranty first! Be wary of doing any work on your computer if it voids the
warranty.
- Never use brute force to do anything to your system. Don't force plugs or cards or
cables.
- Tighten screws until they are snug, but do not over-tighten them.
- Whenever seating chips, always support the underside of the board with one hand while
applying downward pressure with the thumb of your other hand to the chip.
- Make sure all on/off switches are off when you are reconnecting your system's power cord to
the wall outlet or power strip.
- Back-up important data (including your Registry files) before doing any serious work
on your system.
- Back-up important data (did we say that already?) AND check that your back-up is good by
doing a test restore of a file or two.
- Don't use magnetized tools when working on your computer.
- Put all your tiny parts like loose screws into a cup or a bowl.
- Read The Manual -- don't buy anything without instructions and read the directions before
you start.
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| The Troubleshooting Process
There is a well-known universal troubleshooting procedure that is broken down into four basic
steps:
- Define the symptoms
- Identify and isolate the problem
- Repair or replace the defective component
- Test
If your test is successful, you're done. If it is not, you go back to the first step.
Always exercise patience, and focus on analyzing the problem before jumping to conclusions
about the solution. |
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Be cognizant of the human factors involved in troubleshooting your computer:
- Avoid panic. Try to place yourself in the right frame of mind.
- Don't overestimate the problem. Many hardware problems are quite simple to solve.
- Give yourself adequate time. If you will be forced to rush, don't start. Put it
off for another time when you are less hurried.
- If you are fatigued, your concentration will suffer. Wait until you are well-rested to
tackle the problem.
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| What to Expect From These Pages
The following troubleshooting pages are designed to help you diagnose what is wrong with your
computer when it won't start, or is not functioning properly. These pages deal with
hardware-related issues, and as such are limited in scope. Each page provides information on
a particular issue or component in your computer. Brief introductory material is followed by
sets of one or more troubleshooting steps, progressing from the most obvious and easiest to the
most difficult. |
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| The order of the troubleshooting steps is significant -- it does not make sense
to take elaborate action when a simple change (such as plugging your computer into a different
wall outlet) will fix the problem. |
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