troubleshooting Flashcards
Power-on self (pots) beeps
Look at the documentation for your motherboard, which will list every beep code and what that beep code is associated with.
Proprietary crash screens (blue screen of death/ pinwheel)
Restart the computer, see if the screen came with an error code.
Check drivers, scan for malware, check hardware components, check for system updates.
No power
Use multi meter on outlet. Check the power supply and cabling. Make sure you have switches turned on. Look at the internal components to see if they are receiving power. Check POST to see i it identifies any problems during setup.
Black screen
Is the monitor connected? Check both power and signal cable. Input selection on monitor (hdmi, dvi, vga, etc). check brightness on monitor. Swap monitor/ try new one. No video after windows loads - use vga mode (f8). Run diagnostics on the system. Check event viewer to see if a single component is failing and causing the system to shut down.
Sluggish performance
Task manager - check for high CPU utilization and I/O in performance tab, kill processes. Windows update. Check for available space and defrag in disk. Laptops may be using power-saving mode throttles the CPU. Antivirus and anti-malware
Overheating (motherboard/pc)
Dust/Dirt accumulation on cooling fins (CPU, GPU)
Fans not spinning inside system.
Overclocked too much.
Bad thermal paste.
Disconnect from power immediately and check the motherboard for the faulty component
Burning Smell
Disconnect from power immediately and check the motherboard for the faulty component
Intermittent shutdown
No warning, black screen: check event viewer.
Heat-related issue: high CPU or graphics, gaming. Check fans and heat sinks. Bios may show fan status and temps.
Failing hardware: has anything changed? device manager, run diagnostics.
Could be anything: eliminate whats wrong
Application crashes
check the event log - often includes useful reconnaissance.
Check the Reliability Monitor - a history of application problems.
Reinstall the application - contact application support.
Grinding noise (for motherboards, Printers, and Hard drives)
The sound that a fan on a motherboard, case fan, hard drive, optical drive, or printer could make due to something getting caught in it, lack of oil, improperly inserted disk, or starting to fail.
For a printer, check gears, torn paper, paper clips, staples or labels along paper path
For hard drive that is a bad error, hopefully you have back ups
Capacitor swelling
A bulging end or top of a capacitor that indicates it is time to change it or the component of which it is a part, including the motherboard
Inaccurate system date/time
A BIOS function.
Check/replace CMOS battery
LED status indicators
Located on storage drivers and RAID arrays that indicate their optional status, such as power, activity, or errors.
Grinding Noises (Storage drivers and RAID)
mechanical failure of a storage drive or RAID. could be caused by faulty motor, misaligned read/ write head, or damaged platters
Clicking noises
a repetitive clicking sound that can indicate a problem with read/ write head of storage drive or raid. Can be caused by physical damage, wear and tear, or a firmware issue
Bootable device not found
An error message that appears when a computer cannot find the storage drive or RAID that contains the operating system. Can be caused by faulty cable, incorrect BIOS settings, or a failed storage device.
Data loss/ corruption
Refers to the loss or corruption of files or data on a storage drive or RAID, often due to hardware failure, malware, or software errors
Raid Failure
Where one or more disks in a RAID array have failed or are no longer functioning correctly, resulting in degraded performance or loss of data.
Self monitoring, Analysis, and reporting technology (SMART) failure
A system built into modern storage drivers that monitors the drives performance and reports any issues or errors.
Failure indicates that the drive has identified a problem that could lead to failure in the near future
Extended read/write times
Refers to abnormally slow read and write speeds on a storage drive or RAID, which can be caused by hardware or software issues, fragmentation, or data corruption.
Input/output operations per second
A measure of the number of input/output operations that a storage drive or RAID array can perform per second, which affects the overall speed and performance of the system
Missing drives in OS
A situation where a storage drive or RAID array is not visible or accessible in the operating system, which could be caused by faulty hardware, drive issue, or incorrect BIOS settings
Incorrect data source, physical cabling issues (video/projector/display)
make sure the video cable is connected correctly.
Make sure the projector/ display is on the right input.
Make sure the video cable is connected to the video source correctly.
Make sure the video source is powered on, and that it is set to output an external display.
Replace cable is needed.
Some video cables only work in one direction. make sure the cable is connected in the correct direction
Burned out bulb (video/projector/display)
The projector bulb lasts a limited amount of time, and then it burns out. If the bulbs burns out, then it must be replaced.
Fuzzy image (video/projector/display)
Adjust the projector lens. Some projectors can be automatically focus while other must be manually adjusted