Windows 7 : Troubleshooting Hardware Components (part 2) - Troubleshooting the Motherboard, Troubleshooting RAM, Troubleshooting Hard Disks

4. Troubleshooting the Motherboard

The motherboard is the main component of the computer. It includes the CPU or CPUs, slots for memory modules; expansion slots for other devices; and (typically with modern motherboards) built-in components and related ports for Ethernet, sound, video, and USB.

Figure 1 shows a modern motherboard with built-in components for video, USB, Ethernet, and audio.

The following section provides a set of basic strategies for troubleshooting motherboard problems.

When you attempt to start the computer, you see no video and hear no beep codes.

1. Disconnect all external accessories, such as external drives and PC cards, and then attempt to restart the computer. If you can start the computer, attempt to isolate the problem device by attaching one more device and restarting and until the failure reappears. Once you determine the external device that is causing the problem, contact the device manufacturer for further troubleshooting instructions.

   

   Figure 1. Modern motherboards usually include built-in components for video, USB, Ethernet, and audio.

2. Verify that the monitor is in fact receiving power and is plugged into the computer.

3. Verify that the power supply fan is running. If it is not running, troubleshoot the power supply.

4. Verify that all required power connectors are plugged into the motherboard and into other computer devices. (Remember that most modern motherboards require two power connectors.)

5. Verify that any internal power switch is turned on.

6. If your power supply has a voltage switch, verify that the switch is set to the proper AC voltage for your country.

7. Verify that the motherboard is seated properly and that the CPU is fitted properly in its slot.

8. Verify that your RAM modules are seated properly and in the correct slots according to the motherboard manufacturer's specifications.

9. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic and replace any RAM modules if necessary.

10. Reset the BIOS to default settings. (To learn how to do this, consult the manual for the motherboard. Note that you can also reset the BIOS by removing the battery on the motherboard for 30 minutes.)

11. Use the manual for the motherboard to verify that any jumpers on the motherboard are properly set.

12. If your computer has no internal speaker (which would allow you to hear beep codes), replace the video card.

13. Replace the power supply unit.

14. Replace the motherboard.

When you turn on the computer, you hear beep codes, but the computer fails to start.

1. Disconnect all external accessories such as external drives and PC cards, and then attempt to restart the computer. If you can start the computer, attempt to isolate the problem device by attaching one more device and restarting until the failure reappears.

2. Consult the motherboard manual or manufacturer Web site to determine the meaning of the beep code you hear.

3. Try to fix the faulty component denoted by the beep code. This step might include attaching power connectors, reseating components such as RAM or the CPU, resetting the BIOS, or resetting motherboard jumpers.

4. If necessary, replace the faulty component denoted by the beep code.

The computer repeatedly loses power whenever it runs for a number of minutes.

1. Verify that the CPU fan on the motherboard is working. If not, replace the CPU fan.

2. Adjust the environment around the computer so that hot air cannot build up in its vicinity. (Laptops are especially sensitive to this.)

The computer shuts down randomly at unpredictable intervals.

1. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic to check your RAM for hardware faults.

2. Run motherboard diagnostic software to check the functionality of the motherboard. To obtain this software, consult the motherboard manufacturer.

3. Adjust the environment around the computer so that hot air cannot build up in its vicinity. (Laptops are especially sensitive to this.)

The operating system cannot use power management, virtualization, USB or network boot, hot swapping, or other features that are supported by your hardware.

Enable the desired feature in the BIOS Setup program.

5. Troubleshooting RAM

In the context of personal computers, the term RAM refers specifically to the volatile, dynamic random access memory supplied by modules such as dual inline memory modules (DIMMs). This type of memory is used to store relatively large amounts of data in a location that the processor can access quickly. An important limitation of computer RAM is that it can store data only when power is supplied to it.

The most typical symptom of a memory problem is a system crash or stop error in Windows. When these errors occur, you might see a message explicitly indicating a memory problem. However, memory problems can also prevent Windows from starting in the first place. If you see an error message directly related to memory, or if you need to rule out faulty memory as the cause of computer crashes or startup failures, perform the following steps:

1. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic software.

2. If no errors are found, or if some of the installed RAM is not recognized, do the following:

   1. Verify that the memory modules are seated properly.

   2. Verify that the memory modules are seated in the proper slots according to the motherboard manufacturer's specifications.

   3. Verify that the memory used is the type required according to the motherboard manufacturer's specifications.

   4. If the problem persists, remove all modules, clean the memory slots, insert one module in the first slot, and then restart the computer. Use this method to test all your memory modules.

6. Troubleshooting Hard Disks

Described technically, a hard disk drive represents a type of non-volatile memory storage device that encodes data on a spinning magnetic platter. Though the technology is decades old, it is still the most common type of computer storage today. However, hard disk drives are starting to be replaced by alternative forms of non-volatile storage, such as solid-state drives.

The following section provides a set of basic strategies for troubleshooting hard disk problems.

You hear a loud whirring, screeching, or clicking.

1. Back up your data. The hard drive could be about to fail.

2. Replace the drive.

The operating system fails to start, and you receive an error message similar to any of the following:

Hard disk error.
Invalid partition table.
A disk-read error occurred.
Couldn't find loader.

1. Verify that the BIOS Setup program is configured to boot from the hard drive.

2. Verify that the hard drive contains an operating system.

3. Run the Startup Repair tool.

4. Verify that the power connectors are attached to the hard drive.

5. Verify that any jumpers on your hard drives are configured properly according to manufacturer specifications.

6. Attempt to recover the disk by using the System Image Recovery option.

7. Replace the hard drive.

The operating system loads, but performance gradually decreases over time.

Run Disk Defragmenter.

The operating system loads, but you find evidence of data corruption.

OR

The system occasionally freezes and remains unresponsive.

1. Run Chkdsk.

2. Run software diagnostics from the hard disk drive manufacturer to test the physical functionality of the hard disk drive.

PRACTICE: Testing Specific Hardware Components

In this practice, you run diagnostics to test the integrity of your computer memory and hard disk.

EXERCISE 1 Testing your RAM with Windows Memory Diagnostic

In this exercise, you restart your computer, open the Windows Boot Manager menu, choose Windows Memory Diagnostic, and perform a memory test.

1. Remove all CD or DVD discs from the local drives on a computer that is running Windows 7.

2. Start or restart the computer.

3. As the computer is starting, press the spacebar repeatedly (once per second is sufficiently fast).

   The Windows Boot Manager menu appears.

4. Press the Tab key to select Windows Memory Diagnostic on the Windows Boot Manager menu, and then press Enter.

   The Windows Memory Diagnostic tool opens.

5. Review the contents of the screen, and then press F1 to open the Options screen.

6. In the Options screen, use the Tab key, arrow keys, and number keys to set the test mix to Basic and the pass count to 1.

7. Press F10 to apply the new settings.

8. A quick memory test begins. After the memory test is complete, Windows restarts automatically. Soon after you next log on, a notification bubble will appear indicating whether any errors were found.

EXERCISE 2 Testing Your Hard Disk with Chkdsk

In this exercise, you log on to Windows 7, open an elevated command prompt, and run the Chkdsk command from the command line.

1. Log on to Windows 7 and open an elevated command prompt. You can do this by selecting Start\All Programs\Accessories\, right-clicking Command Prompt, selecting Run As Administrator from the shortcut menu, and then clicking Yes on the User Account Control message prompt that appears.

2. At the command prompt, type chkdsk /?.

3. Read the output and review the options available with the Chkdsk command.

4. At the command prompt, type chkdsk c: /f /v /i /c.

   (If your system drive is assigned a letter other than C:, then replace the c: in this command with the drive letter to which you have assigned the system drive. For example, if your system drive is assigned E:, then you should type chkdsk e: /f /v /i /c.)

   This set of options automatically fixes errors (/f) that are found and displays cleanup messages (/v). However, Chkdsk performs a faster test that skips certain types of checks (/i and /c).

5. A message output appears, indicating that Chkdsk cannot run because it is in use by another process and asks if you would like to schedule the volume to be checked the next time the system restarts.

   This message appears because the volume you have chosen to test is currently being used to run Windows. You can run Chkdsk only on a volume that is not otherwise in use.

6. Type Y, and then restart the system.

7. When Windows restarts, a message appears while Chkdsk is being run and indicates that because the /i and /c options were specified, the disk could still be corrupt even if no errors are found.

   When Chkdsk finishes, Windows starts automatically.