Chapter 5 - Slides Flashcards
1. Describe the methods and devices for keeping a system cool 2. Select a power supply to meet the power needs of a system 3. Demonstrate an organized approach to solving any computer problem, especially hardware problems occurring during the boot 4. Troubleshoot problems with the electrical system 5. Troubleshoot problems with the motherboard, processor, and RAM 6. Troubleshoot hardware problems with mobile devices
If processor, expansion cards, and other components overheat:
- System can get unstable
2. Components can fail or be damaged
Devices used to cool a system:
- CPU and case fans
- Coolers
- Heat sinks
- Liquid cooling systems
Computer systems use a _______ designed for a specific processor to keep temperatures below the processor maximum temperature
Cooling Assembly
Good processor coolers maintain a temperature of:
90-110 degrees F (32-43 degrees C)
Where is the cooler usually located
On top of the Processor
What does the Cooler consist of:
a fan and heat sink
What does a Heat Sink do?
uses fins that draw heat away from processor
What does a Fan in a Cooler do?
blows drawn heat away from CPU unit
What materials are used in Coolers?
Made of aluminum, copper or combination of both
How are Coolers held together?
Bracketed to motherboard using a wire or plastic clip
A creamlike thermal compound in coolers eliminates:
eliminates air pockets, helping to draw heat off the processor
How does a Cooler get power?
Gets power by using a 4-pin fan header on the motherboard
Fanless CPU cooler (passive CPU cooler) contain:
heat pipes, which contain liquid that becomes vapor when heated. (Vapor draws heat away from the CPU)
What is a benefit of a Case Fan?
help draw air out of the case to prevent overheating
Some graphics (video) cards come with a
fan
____ can be mounted next to graphics cards
Fan cards
____ clips over a DIMM memory module
May be powered by a SATA or 4-pin Molex power connector
RAM Cooler
What is a Liquid cooling system?
A small pump sits inside the case and tubes moves liquid around components and then away from them to a place where fans cool the liquid
Reasons to replace a power supply:
- Power supply in existing system fails
2. Power supply in existing system is not adequate
When building from scratch, some cases come with _____ already installed
Power Supply
What are the 6 important power supply feature considerations?
- Form factor determines power supply size
- Wattage ratings (listed in documentation)
- Number and type of connectors
- Fans inside the PSU
- Dual voltage options
- Warranty and overall quality
How does one determine wattage capacity?
- Consider all components inside case:
i. Consider USB and FireWire devices
ii. Get power from ports connected to the motherboard - Points to keep in mind
i. Video cards draw the most power
ii. The power supply should be rated 30 percent higher than expected needs - What size Power Supply?
i. Add up wattage requirements and add 30 percent
When it comes to a hardware problem, what troubleshooting resources are there?
- The web (Internet)
- Chat forums or email technical support
- Manufacturer’s diagnostic software
- User manuals
- Technical associates in your organization
When interviewing the user for their hardware problems what should you ask?
- Can you describe the problem, when did it first start, and when does it occur?
- Was the computer recently moved?
- Was any new hardware or software recently installed?
- Was any software recently reconfigured or upgraded?
- Did someone else use your computer recently?
- Does the computer have a history of similar problems?
- Is there important data on the drive that is not backed up?
- Can you show me how to reproduce the problem?
After getting information from a User about their hardware problem, what do you do next?
Prioritize what to do and begin diagnosing and addressing the problem
Three options for backing up data:
- Move the hard drive to another system
- Use file recovery software
- Hire a professional file recovery service
(Before selecting a service, read reviews, understand the warranty and guarantees, and get a customer recommendation)
What are the steps to approaching a hardware problem?
Step 1: Interview the User Step 2: Back Up Data As Needed Step 3: Examine the System and Establish a Theory Step 4: Fix the Problem Step 5: Verify the Fix Step 6: Document the Outcome
After understanding the problem, you should:
Plan steps to resolve the problem
After fixing the problem, you should:
- Verify the system works by performing one last hard boot and making sure everything works as expected
- Ask if anything could have been done to prevent the problem, if so, take preventative action
After verifying the fix you should:
Record findings since most organization require documentation in a call tracking or helpdesk application
Factors to consider before starting repair project:
- Warranty
- Time the repair will take
- Alternatives to repairing (upgrading)
i. Return notebook to manufacturer or service center
ii. Substitute external component for internal device
iii. Replace the internal device
Electrical problems can:
- Occur before or after the boot
2. Be consistent or intermittent
What are 6 possible symptoms of electrical problem:
- Computer appears to be “dead”
- Computer sometimes locks up during booting
- Error codes or beeps occur during booting
- Smell burnt parts or odors
- Computer powers down at unexpected times
- Computer appears dead except you hear a whine coming from the power supply
If you small any burnt part:
don’t turn system on and find fried part and replace
If power supply is whining:
don’t turn system on and open case and look for short or consider upgrading
Test power supply with a power supply tester
What should you do when troubleshooting the electrical system?
- If you small any burnt part, don’t turn system on
- If power supply is whining, don’t turn system on
- Check power cord connection and power bar it may be plugged into
- Is power outlet controlled by wall switch? If so, turn it on
- Are any cable connections loose?
- Is the circuit breaker blown? Is the house circuit overloaded?
- Are all switches on the system turned on?
- Is it possible the system has overheated? If so, wait awhile and try again
- Older computers might be affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI)
If your electrical problem is still not fixed, you look into the case to check:
- Check all power connections from the power supply to the motherboard and drives
- If you smell burnt parts, search for shorts and frayed and burnt wires
- If you suspect the power supply is bad, test it with a power supply tester
Generally, _____ are more difficult to solve
intermittent problems
Symptoms of what may be an intermittent problem:
- Computer stops or hangs for no reason
- Memory errors appear intermittently
- Data is written incorrectly to the hard drive
- Keyboard stops working at odd times
- Motherboard fails or is damaged
- Power supply overheats and becomes hot to touch
- Power supply fan whines and becomes noisy
If you eliminate the electrical system as the source of an intermittent problem:
- Consider the power supply is inadequate
- Suspect the power supply is faulty
- The power supply fan might not work
Short might occur if a motherboard component makes improper contact with the chassis and:
- Can seriously damage the motherboard
2. Check for missing/loose standoffs or loose screws
Shorts in motherboard circuits might also cause problems:
- Look for damage on the bottom of the motherboard
2. Look for burned-out capacitors that are spotted brown or corroded
Symptoms of overheating:
- System hangs or freezes at odd times or after the boot starts
- Windows BSOD (blue screen of death) error occurs during the boot
- You cannot hear a fan running or the fan makes a whining sound
- You cannot feel air being pulled into or out of the case
You can purchase a _____ that will sound an alarm when the inside of the case is too hot
temperature sensor
Things to do to solve overheating:
- If system hangs, go into UEFI/BIOS setup and find the CPU screen that reports temperature (should not exceed that recommended by the CPU manufacturer)
- Use compressed air, a blower, or antistatic vacuum to remove dust from the power supply and vents
- Check airflow inside the case to see if fans are running (may need to replace a fan)
- Install extra fans if case will hold them
- Can the side of the case hold a chassis air guide that guides air to the processor? If so, install one
- To improve airflow, replace missing faceplates and expansion slot covers
- Ensure cables are not in the way of airflow
- Place case so that there are a few inches of space on both sides and the top of the case
- Verify the cooler is connected properly to the processor
- After closing the case, leave system off for at least 30 minutes
Use a ____ that has vents on the bottom and front for better ventilation
Power Supply
An ____ on the front of the case might help pull air into the case
intake fan
Check with _____ for specific instructions as to the placement of fans and what type of fan and heat sink to use
processor and case manufacturers
Intel and AMD recommend a _____ as part of the case design
chassis air guide (CAG), a round air duct that helps pull and direct fresh air from outside the case to the cooler and processor
Problems with Laptop Power Systems:
- Laptop power sources
i. AC adapter or a battery pack
ii. Today’s batteries use lithium ion technology - Auto-switching AC adapter feature
i. Device automatically switches from 110 V to 220 V AC power - Some laptops use two batteries
i. Second battery is known as a sheet battery
If power is not getting to the Laptop’s Power Systems or battery indicator light is lit:
- Verify the AC adapter is plugged into an outlet
- Check if AC adapter’s plug is secure outlet
- Check connections on both sides of AC adapter transformer
- Check connection at notebook
If Laptop battery is not charging when AC adapter is plugged in, problem might be with:
battery or motherboard
Symptoms that a motherboard, processor, or memory is failing:
- System begins to boot but then powers down
- Error message is displayed during the boot
- System reports less memory than installed
- System becomes unstable, hangs, or freezes
Intermittent Windows or hard drive errors occur - Components on the motherboard or devices connected to it don’t work
When it comes to motherboard, processor, or memory is failing, follow these steps to find the source of the problem:
- Search the Internet for the error message
- Run antivirus software to check for viruses
- A memory module might be failing
Use Memory Diagnostics tool to test memory - Check for potential hardware problems using Device Manager
- Download and install any Windows updates or patches
- If problem began after a change or new install, uninstall device or application
- Use System window to find out how much RAM is installed (consider upgrading if not enough)
- Check UEFI/BIOS setup to ensure proper settings
- Disable any quick booting features in BIOS
Then look for errors reported during the boot - Flash BIOS to update firmware on the board
- Check CD that came with motherboard
May have diagnostic tests - Update all drivers of motherboard components that are not working
- Check if an onboard port is not working.
- Suspect the problem is a failing hard drive
- Suspect the problem is caused by overheating
- Verify the installed processor is supported by the motherboard
If an onboard port is not working:
- Verify the problem is not with the device using the port
- Go into UEFI/BIOS setup and verify the port is enabled
- Check Device Manager and verify Windows recognizes port with no errors
- Update motherboard drivers for this port from manufacturer’s web site
- Use a loop-back plug to test the port
- Disable the port in BIOS setup and install an expansion card
For Windows 8, many continuous restart errors can be solved by:
performing a Startup Repair process
For Windows 7/Vista, ____ disappear before they can be read as the system reboots
error messages
Disable automatic restarts by using
the Advanced Boot Options menu (press F8 as Windows starts)
If you have checked Windows and UEFI/BIOS settings and have not identified the source of the problem:
open the case and check inside
With the case open, follow these steps to investigate either the Motherboard, Processor or RAM:
- Check that all power and data cables are securely connected
- Look for physical damage on the motherboard
- Reduce the system to essentials
- Try using a POST diagnostic card
- Suspect the problem is caused by a failing power supply
- Exchange the processor
- Exchange the motherboard
Before exchanging a motherboard, you should:
measure the voltage output of the power supply or replace it (in case it damaged the motherboard)
Solutions for a cell phone that is overheating from the bottom near battery:
- Use different AC adapter to charge battery
2. Examine battery for damage (if no longer under warranty)
Solutions for a cell phone that is overheating in other areas (not near the battery):
- Too many apps might be open
- Follow troubleshooting steps for phone’s OS
- Phone processor might be overworked (allow to cool)
- Remove phone from case
For a frozen mobile device:
- For iPhone or iPad, reset the device
- For Android device, reboot the system by following manufacturer directions for a reboot
- For Windows Phone, hold down the Power button and then swipe Slide down to power off
If a mobile device’s battery charge lasts a short time
- Try exchanging the AC adapter
2. If that doesn’t work, exchange battery unless device is under warranty
When installing apps on a phone that don’t load or load slowly:
A hot or failing battery might be the problem
For slow performance on an android device:
close apps you’re not using, clean Android cached data, and disable live wallpapers
If device is unable to decrypt email:
you may need to generate a new public key and private key and distribute your new public key to those who send encrypted email
