Hardware & Network Troubleshooting Flashcards
What are the 4 problem categories?
- Hardware
- OS
- Software
- Users
What are the 6 basic troubleshooting steps?
- Identify the problem
- Create a probable cause theory
- Test the theory
- Create a plan of action (policies & procedures come first)
- Verify system functionality
- Document
What are the 4 most critical system components?
Motherboard
RAM
CPU
Power
What’s the most common cause of a crash screen?
Memory issues
What does a black screen indicate?
No video output. May be the video card, the cables, or the screen itself.
You can plug in an external video card to check the internal one (motherboard problems can cause these to crash). When an external video card is plugged in, it should automatically disconnect the internal one.
What causes a sluggish computer?
Low memory
Low hard drive space
Too many applications
Bad applications
Failing primary components
Malware
Where should you start troubleshooting a sluggish PC?
Open Task Manager and look at Memory stats - will graph hard drive, RAM, CPU usage, network connection
What does intermittent shutdowns indicate?
- Components overheating & shutting down
Also see: bad hardware, bad motherboard connection
What causes application failures?
Check for memory problems first
What causes grinding noises?
Noise comes from moving parts.
Fans (whirring)
Optical Drives
HDD drives (clicking & squealing)
What are capacitors?
Capacitors store electricity on the motherboard. If they fail, they may swell and weep. Replace the motherboard or just the capacitor (specialized knowledge required)
What tracks system date/time & is the most likely culprit of inaccurate date/time?
CMOS battery.
Located on the motherboard, it keeps the computer’s settings when the computer is powered off (including BIOS - unavailable if CMOS battery fails)
What problems can occur with storage drives?
Bad drives, bad adapters, bad connections
What does LED stand for?
Light-emitting diode
What are symptoms of a failing drive?
- LED lights (most storage devices have one)
*Grinding noise (intermittent failure of a motor or spindle) (backup & replace) - Clicking (drive is failing; backup & replace)
- “Bootable device not found”
- RAID failure
- Data loss/corruption
- Extended read/write times
- Missing drives in the OS
- Declining IOPS (input/output per second)
- S.M.A.R.T (self-monitoring, analysis & reporting technology)
What causes an incorrect color display on an LED display?
*Controller Board
*Connection Pins
*Pins on the display device
When should you do a battery recalibration?
On a laptop with poor battery life, before replacing
What do you do for digitizer issues on a laptop? On a mobile?
Laptop: open settings and attempt to recalibrate. If it can’t be fixed, you can still use a mouse & keyboard.
Mobile: power on and off. If that doesn’t work, replace screen.
4 types of printers?
Inkjet (common)
Laser (common)
Thermal (not common)
Impact (not common)
Printer issues: garbled text?
Software issue
Connection issue
Correct driver installed?
Enough RAM?
Firm connection to right cable?
Toner not fusing to paper
Only a laser printer problem. Try replacing fusing roller or fuser lamp
Printer issues: faded print
Low on toner or ink?
Any ink-saving settings?
Jobs queuing - how do you resolve spooler issues?
Restart spooler service
Try disabling the spooler and printing directly (outside the queu)
Incorrect page orientation?
Check settings in printer & software
Sources of external interference:
Flourescent lights
Microwaves
Motors
Physical Barriers
Radio signals
Network problems?
Check physical cables
Connections
Speed and/or duplex mismatch
Slow network speeds
Probably overwork. Add a switch and/or VLAN
May also be overload / too much distance from the WAP (wireless access point) or wireless router
Limited connectivity
Can reach local resources but not the internet.
Check the WIFI password.
Wired connections: DHCP may have failed (no IP address) or, if a static IP address, it doesn’t match router settings.
Is the default gateway properly configured & does it match the router IP address?
Jitter
Variable latency, caused by overload (or maybe a poor wired connection)
Poor VoIP (voice over internet protocol) quality
Increase VoIP priority settings
Switch is opening & closing ports quickly port flapping)
Check cables, connection, duplex. Check error logs on the switch at the right OSI level. Try reseating the small form-factor pluggable (SFP) (network interface module) connector. Switch to a known good SFP if necessary.
