adam's notes

Troubleshoot Component Issues

  • The most likely causes of the following are software, disk/file corruption problems, or malware:
    • system locking up
    • intermittent shutdowns
    • continuous rebooting
    • OS blue screen/Kernel panic errors
    • application crashes
  • If you can discount these:
    • try to establish whether the problem is truly intermittent or whether there is a pattern to the errors
      • If they occur when the PC has been running for some time, it could be a thermal problem
    • Next, check that the power supply is providing good, stable voltages to the system
      • If you can discount the power supply, you must start to suspect a problem with memory, CPU, or motherboard
      • vendor may supply a diagnostic test program that can identify hardware-level errors
        • These programs are often run from the firmware setup utility rather than from the OS.
      • If no diagnostic utilities are available, you might be able to identify motherboard, RAM, or CPU hardware issues by observing physical symptoms

Overheating

  • Excessive heat can easily damage the sensitive circuitry of a computer
  • If a system feels hot to the touch, you should check for overheating issues
  • Unusual odors, such as a burning smell or smoke, will almost always indicate something (probably the power supply) is overheating
  • system should be shut down immediately and the problem investigated
  • A burning smell may also arise because the case and/or fan vents are clogged with dust
  • techniques for diagnosing and correcting overheating issues:
    • Most systems come with internal temperature sensors that you can check via driver or management software
      • Use the vendor documentation to confirm that the system is operating within acceptable limits
    • Ensure that the CPU fan is working
      • A processor that is overheating can cause crashes or reboot the machine
      • Is the fan’s power cable properly connected
      • Is the fan jammed, clogged, or too small
      • If a processor upgrade is installed, the fan from the original CPU may not be suitable for the new device
    • Make sure the heat sink is properly fitted
      • It should be snug against the processor
      • It might be necessary to clean away old thermal paste and replace it to help the processor run at a lower temperature
    • Always use blanking plates to cover up holes in the back or front of the PC
      • Holes can disrupt the airflow and decrease the effectiveness of the cooling systems
    • Verify whether the room in which the PC is installed is unusually warm or dusty or whether the PC is positioned near a radiator or in direct sunlight
  • Thermal problems may also affect system operation by
    • causing loose connectors to drift apart
    • components to move in their sockets
    • circuit board defects such as hairline cracks to widen and break connections
  • Some of these faults can be detected by visual inspection

Physical Damage

  • Actual physical damage to a computer system is usually caused to peripherals, ports, and cables
  • Damage to other components is only likely if the unit has been in transit somewhere
  • Inspect a unit closely for damage to the case
    • even a small crack or dent may indicate a fall or knock that could have caused worse damage to the internal components than is obvious from outside
  • If a peripheral device does not work, examine the port and the end of the cable closely for bent, broken, or dirty pins and connectors
    • Examine the length of the cable for damage
  • Few problems are actually caused by the motherboard itself, but there are a few things to be aware of:
    • The motherboard’s soldered chips and components could be damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD), electrical spikes, or overheating
    • The pins on integrated connectors can also be damaged by careless insertion of plugs and adapter cards
    • errors may be caused by dirt (clean the contacts on connectors) or chip creep,
      • where an adapter works loose from its socket over time, perhaps because of temperature changes
    • If a system has had liquid spilled on it or if fans or the keyboard are clogged by dust or dirt, there may be visible signs of this
    • If a component has “blown,” it can leave scorch marks
      • look for capacitor swelling
        • capacitors are barrel-like components that regulate the flow of electricity to the system chips
      • If they are swollen or bulging or emitting any kind of residue, they could have been damaged or could have failed due to a manufacturing defect
  • If there is physical damage to the motherboard
    • you will almost certainly need diagnostic software to run tests that confirm whether there is a problem
    • Testing by substituting “known good” components would be too time consuming and expensive
    • It is worth investigating any environmental problems or maintenance procedures that could be the “root cause” of the error

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