Overview of Preventive Maintenance Flashcards
What is Event Viewer used for?
When system, user, or software errors occur on a computer, Event Viewer is updated with information about the errors.
What does Task Manager do?
Displays applications and background processes that are currently running. You can close applications that have stopped responding. You can monitor the performance of the CPU and virtual memory; view all processes that are currently running, and view information about the network connections.
What are the trouble shooting steps?
- Identify the problem
- Establish a Theory of Probably Cause
- Test the Theory to Determine Cause
- Establish a Plan of Action to Resolve the Problem and Implement the Solution
- Verify Full System Functionality and if Applicable Implement Preventive Measures
- Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes
Diagnose the problem: The computer does not recognize a storage device. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Possible causes:
1) Power Cable is Loose
2) Data Cable is Loose
3) Jumpers are set wrong
4) Storage device failed
5) Storage device settings in BIOS are wrong
Possible Solutions:
1) Secure the power cable
2) secure the data cable
3) Reset the jumpers
4) Replace storage device
5) Reset storage device settings in BIOS
Diagnose the problem: The computer fails to recognize an optical disc what are the probably causes and solutions?
Probable Causes are:
1) Disc is inserted upside down
2) There are more than one disc inserted in the drive
3) Disc is damaged
4) Disc is the wrong format
5) optical drive is faulty
Possible Solutions:
1) Insert the disc correctly
2) Ensure that there is only one disc in the drive
3) Replace the disc
4) Use the correct type of disc
5) Replace the optical drive
Diagnose the problem:The computer will not eject the optical disc what are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable Causes:
1) Optical drive is jammed
2) Optical drive has been locked by software
3) Optical drive is faulty
Possible Solutions:
1) insert a pin in the small hole next to the eject button on the drive to open the tray.
2) Reboot the computer
3) Replace the optical drive
Diagnose the problem: The computer does not recognize a removable external drive what are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable Causes:
1) Removable external drive is not seated properly
2) External ports are disabled in the BIOS settings
3) Removable external drive is faulty
Possible Solutions:
1) Remove and re-insert the drive
2) Enable the ports in the BIOS settings
3) Replace the removable external drive
Diagnose the problem: A media reader cannot read a memory card that works properly in the camera. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable Causes:
1) Media reader does not support the memory card type
2) Media reader is not connected correctly
3) Media reader is not configured properly in the BIOS settings
4) Media reader is faulty
Possible Solutions:
1) Use a different memory card type
2) Ensure the media reader is connected correctly in the computer
3) Reconfigure the media reader in the BIOS settings
4) Install a known good media reader
Diagnose the problem: Retrieving or saving data from the USB flash drive is slow. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable Causes:
1) Motherboard does not support USB 3.0.
2) Port is set to full speed in the BIOS setting.
Possible Solution:
1) Update the motherboard or USB flash drive to support USB 3.0.
2) Set the port speed in the BIOS setting to high speed.
Diagnose the problem: The clock on the computer is no longer keeping the correct time or the BIOS settings are changing when the computer is rebooted. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable causes:
1) CMOS battery may be loose.
2) CMOS battery may be failing
Possible Solutions:
1) Secure the battery
2) Replace the battery
Diagnose the problem: After updating the BIOS firmware, the computer will not start. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable cause:
1)BIOS firmware update did not install correctly
Possible solution:
1)Contact the motherboard manufacturer to obtain a new BIOS chip. (if the motherboard has two BIOS chips, the second BIOS chip can be used.)
Diagnose the problem: The computer displays the incorrect CPU information when the computer boots. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable causes:
1) CPU settings are not correct in the advanced BIOS settings
2) BIOS does not properly recognize the CPU
Possible solutions:
1)Set the advanced BIOS settings correctly for the CPU
2)update the BIOS
Diagnose the problem: The hard drive LED on the front of the computer does not light. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable Causes:
1) Hard drive LED cable is not connected or is loose.
2) Hard drive LED cable is incorrectly oriented to the front case panel connections.
Possible Solution:
1) Reconnect hard drive LED cable to motherboard.
2) Correctly orient the hard drive LED cable to the front case panel connection and reconnect.
Diagnose the problem: The built-in NIC has stopped working on a computer. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable cause:
1)NIC hardware has failed
Possible Solution:
1)Add a new NIC to an open expansion slot
Diagnose the problem: The computer does not display any video after installing a new PCIe video card. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable cause:
1) BIOS settings are set to use the built-in video.
2) Cable is still connected to the built-in video
3) new video card is faulty
Possible Solutions:
1) Disable the built-in video in the BIOS settings.
2) Connect the cable to the new video card.
3) New video card needs auxiliary power.
4) Connect any required power connectors to the video card.
5) Install a known good video card.
Diagnose the problem: The new sound card does not work. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable Causes:
1) speakers are not connected to correct jack
2) audio is muted
3) sound card is faulty
4) BIOS settings are set to use the on-board sound device
Possible Solutions:
1) connect the speakers to the correct jack
2) unmute the audio
3) install a known good sound card
4) disable the on-board audio device in the BIOS settings
Diagnose the problem: The computer will not turn on. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable causes:
1) Computer is not plugged in to the AC outlet.
2) AC outlet is faulty
3) Power cord is faulty.
4) power supply switch is not turned on.
5) power supply switch is set to the incorrect voltage.
6) power button is not connected correctly to the front panel connector.
7) power supply has failed.
possible Solutions:
1) plug the computer into a known good AC outlet
2) use a known good power cord
3) turn on the power supply switch
4) set the power supply switch to the correct voltage setting
5) correctly orient the power button to the front case panel connector and reconnect
6) Install a known good power supply
Diagnose the problem: The computer reboots, turns off unexpectedly; or there is smoke or the smell of burning electronics. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable Causes:
1)the power supply is starting to fail
Possible Solutions:
1)Replace the power supply
Diagnose the problem: The computer will not boot or it locks up. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable causes:
1) CPU has overheated
2) CPU fan is failing
3) CPU has failed
Possible solutions:
1) reinstall the CPU
2) replace the CPU fan
3) add fans to the case
4) replace the CPU
Diagnose the problem: The CPU fan is making an unusual noise. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable cause:
1)CPU fan is failing
Possible solutions
1)replace the CPU fan
Diagnose the problem: The computer reboots without warning, locks up, or displays error messages. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable causes:
1) front-side bus is set too high
2) CPU multiplier is set too high
3) CPU voltage is set too high
Possible solutions:
1) reset to factory default settings for the motherboard
2) lower front-side bus settings
3) lower multiplier settings
4) lower CPU voltage settings
Diagnose the problem: After upgrading from a single core CPU to a dual core CPU, the computer runs more slowly and only shows one CPU graph in the Task Manager. What are the probable causes and solutions?
Probable cause:
1)BIOS does not recognize the dual core CPU
Possible solution:
1)update the BIOS firmware to support dual core CPU
Diagnose the problem: A CPU will not install onto the motherboard. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1)CPU is the incorrect type
possible solution:
1)replace the CPU with a CPU that matches the motherboard socket type
Diagnose the problem: The computer does not recognize the RAM that was added. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) New ram is faulty
2) incorrect type of RAM was installed
3) RAM that has been added is not the same type of ram that is already installed
4) New RAM is loose in the memory slot
possible solutions:
1) replace the RAM
2) install the correct type of RAM
3) secure the RAM in the memory slot
Diagnose the problem: After upgrading Windows, the computer runs very slowly. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) computer does not have enough RAM
2) video card does not have enough memory
possible solutions:
1) install additional RAM
2) install a video card that has more memory
Diagnose the problem: Display has power but no image on the screen. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) video cable is loose or damaged.
2) the computer is not sending a video signal to the external display
possible solutions:
1) reconnect or replace video cable.
2) use the Fn key along with the multipurpose key to toggle to the external display
Diagnose the problem: The display is flickering. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) images on the screen are not refreshing fast enough.
2) the display inverter is damaged or malfunctioning
possible solutions:
1) adjust the screen refresh rate.
2) disassemble the display unit and replace the inverter.
Diagnose the problem: The image on the display looks dim. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable cause:
1)LCD backlight is not properly adjusted
possible solutions:
1)check the repair manual for instructions about calibrating the LCD back light. Adjust the LCD back light properly
Diagnose the problem:Pixels on the screen are dead, or not generating color. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1)power to the pixels has been cut off.
possible solution:
1)contact the manufacturer.
Diagnose the problem: The image on the screen appears to flash lines or patterns of different color and size (artifacts). What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) display is not properly connected.
2) GPU is overheating.
3) GPU is faulty or malfunctioning.
possible solutions:
1) disassemble the display to check the connections.
2) disassemble and clean the computer, checking for dust and debris.
3) replace the GPU.
Diagnose the problem: Color patterns on a screen are incorrect. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) display is not properly connected
2) GPU is overheating.
3) GPU is faulty or malfunctioning.
possible solutions:
1) disassemble the display to check the connections.
2) disassemble and clean the computer, checking for dust and debris.
3) replace the GPU.
Diagnose the problem: Images on a display screen are distorted. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) display settings have been changed.
2) the display is not properly connected.
3) GPU is overheating.
4) GPU is faulty or malfunctioning
possible solutions:
1) restore display settings to the original factory settings.
2) disassemble the computer to a point where you can check display connections.
3) disassemble and clean the computer, checking for dust and debris.
4) replace the GPU
Diagnose the problem: The display has a “ghost” image. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable cause:
1)display is experiencing burn-in
possible solutions:
1)power off the display and unplug it from the power source for a few hours.
2) use the degauss feature if it is available
3) replace the display
Diagnose the problem: The images on the display have distorted geometry. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) driver has become corrupted.
2) display settings are incorrect.
possible solutions:
1) update or reinstall the driver in safe mode.
2) use the display’s settings to correct the geometry.
Diagnose the problem: The monitor has over-sized images and icons. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) driver has become corrupted.
2) display settings are incorrect.
possible solutions:
1) update or reinstall the driver in safe mode.
2) use the display’s settings to correct the geometry.
Diagnose the problem: The projector overheats and shuts down. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) fan has failed.
2) vents are clogged.
3) projector is in an enclosure.
possible solutions:
1) replace the fan.
2) clean the vents.
3) remove the enclosure or ensure proper ventilation.
Diagnose the problem: In a multiple monitor setup, the displays are not aligned or are incorrectly oriented. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable causes:
1) settings for multiple monitors are not correct.
2) driver has become corrupted.
possible solutions:
1) use the display control panel to identify each display and set the alignment and orientation.
2) update or reinstall the driver in safe mode.
Diagnose the problem: The display is in VGA mode. What are the probable causes and solutions?
probable cause:
1) computer is in safe mode.
2) driver has become corrupted.
possible solutions:
1) reboot the computer.
2) update or reinstall the driver in safe mode
