Hardware Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Process

1. Make backups
2. Identify Problem
   • Gather information
     • Environment changes
     • Infrastructure changes
3. Test your theory
   • If it is outside your skill level, you need to escalate and ask your supervisor or call the vendor
4. Stick with the client to see if they can perform their task
5. Document findings
   • Problem, Date
   • Key issues
   • Solution, Date

Specific Issues

• Hardware Physical Issues
• RAM Troubleshooting
• PSU Troubleshooting
• Burn-in Failure
• Graphics Troubleshooting
• Hard Drive Troubleshooting
• CMOS Data-loss

Overheating

1. Check that PC case is well ventilated
2. Check if heatsink installed right
3. Clean PC

Grinding/Scraping Noise

Either the fans or the hard drives are in poor quality

Popping Noise

• Capacitor broke

Capacitor Swelling

Certain times capacitors may break. This may cause bumps on the motherboard. You can replace these by soldering new ones on.

Very Inaccurate Date/Time

Large time gaps like month - year long time discrepencies are caused by faulty CMOS batteries.

No Power to Certain Devices

• Faulty PSU
• Incorrectly oriented SATA/eSATA storage cables

Slow Performance

• CPU too weak
• RAM too little
• HDD issues
• Too much software running concurrently