Let's look at several main computer breakdowns and their causes. Let's start with the reasons!

It is known that computers have such an unpleasant property as “burning” from time to time, and in order for such a nuisance to occur as rarely as possible, it is necessary to know the main causes of breakdowns. The most common causes of such breakdowns are climatic conditions that cause overheating of component parts, and dust, and, consequently, static electricity getting on the microcircuits. Do not forget that overheating of a computer can also be caused by poor cooling.

No less common causes of computer equipment breakdowns are also power surges, unstable operation of the computer power supply and its improper grounding. In these cases, it is advisable to use surge protectors and UPS, and also check that the grounding is correct.

In order to properly ground your computer, you need to remember a few simple rules:
1) grounding of the PC case and modem together with the telephone line must be carried out separately;
2) computer equipment cannot be grounded on the radiators of the heating system;
3) for each of the existing devices it is necessary to use a separate grounding.

By following these simple rules, you can always ensure proper grounding for your computer.

Another reason for an unexpected breakdown of your electronic friend could be a short circuit, which can cause real fireworks and lead to a complete loss of computer functionality. That is why it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition and correct connection of cables and wires in the computer.

Now let's look at the most common computer equipment breakdowns and methods for diagnosing them.

So, if your computer suddenly fails, then it’s time to open it up and try to find the problem. After the system unit is opened, first of all, you need to check the reliability of the power supply connection. If this does not help, then you need to turn on the computer and see if the fans of the power supply, case and processor cooler are spinning. If the fans do not spin, it means the power supply is faulty and you need to buy and install a new one. After the power supply has been replaced, it is advisable to turn on the computer again with the system unit open and check the condition of other computer components that may also have failed. In this case, first of all, a visual inspection of the components is carried out in order to determine whether there are burnt elements on the motherboard. If after turning on the computer the monitor screen still remains dark, you need to check whether signals are being supplied to it from the video adapter. To do this, you need to use an oscilloscope, with which you can check the presence of operating signals on pins 10 and 13 of the D-Sub video adapter connector connected to the motherboard.

The following descriptions of signs of breakdowns of various computer components can greatly help you in diagnosing the illness of your electronic friend.

If a computer processor burns out, traces of burning are almost always visible on its contact legs.

If the motherboard in your computer burns out, then most likely one of the discrete elements on it has failed, most often capacitors. Transistors in the area of ​​the north bridge or memory modules may also fail. They can be easily found by the burnt mounting legs. In exceptional cases, clock generators and delay lines on the motherboard may fail, or ports may burn out.

In some cases, the malfunction of the motherboard or other components may be caused by poor contact due to deflection of the installed board, shorting of contacts on the back of the board, or incomplete placement of the board into the appropriate connector.

If the hard drive in your computer burns out, then most likely the controller in it has burned out or the IDE connector has burned out. If the controller burns out, it is quite easy to determine this by the darkening around the place where it is attached. Also, deterioration in the performance of the hard drive can be caused by overheating of the microcircuit, which causes the contacts between the hard drive controller and the HDA to deteriorate. If problems with a hard drive are determined by its mechanical component, then this can be determined by the strong vibration of the hard drive case during its operation.

The main cause of breakdowns of DVD drives is the failure of their optical-mechanical part, for example, the laser positioning mechanism and disc detection. Such a breakdown, in most cases, is caused by a breakdown of the system control microprocessor and the laser reader motor driver. The main symptom of a breakdown of the system control microprocessor of a DVD drive is the lack of movement of the laser reader when the computer is turned on.

As for failures of floppy drives, the most common failure is in the mechanical part associated with the lifter and clamping of the floppy disk.

“For a couple of years the computer worked like a clock, and then suddenly it began to behave in an incomprehensible way. Freezes, overloads, turns on 5-6 times.” Common situation? Surely you or your work colleagues have encountered one of these. To return your computer to working condition, you need to diagnose and fix any PC problems found.

The main computer malfunctions can be described as follows: the computer does not turn on, the computer freezes, randomly reboots, or a blue screen appears in Windows (BSOD - blue screen of death, which translates as “blue screen of death”), randomly turns off. Let's look at computer problems and how to fix them in order.

If the computer does not turn on at all, then the fault can be easily detected by searching through the components. By intelligently replacing computer parts one by one with ones that are known to work from another, you can identify failed hardware. Or, on the contrary, install parts one by one from the faulty one into a working computer. The only thing you need is a bunch of working components. If there is none, then you have a direct route to a more thrifty friend or to a service center. Computer repair comes down to replacing a faulty component.

Computer freezes

Any component can be the culprit for computer instability. If your computer constantly freezes, the reasons may lie in overheating or insufficient power. Errors in the software also lead to freezing: problems with the operating system, viruses, faulty drivers or system applications.

If you suspect overheating, you need to check the indicators of the component temperature sensors, which can be done through the BIOS or using a monitoring program, of which there are many. For example, you can use SpeedFan or Everest. If the temperature is high even without load, then it’s time to get inside the case and clean the cooling system. Overheating of the processor and other components is a banal “malfunction” of the computer, which can be easily fixed in a couple of hours with a vacuum cleaner, a brush and thermal paste.

After cleaning, the temperature is fine, but the computer still freezes? Then the next component to look at is the power supply. If this product came with a system unit, and it is not the most expensive, and the computer is quite a gaming configuration, then there is nothing to think about. No offense intended, but products from manufacturers such as JNC, Codegen or similar Chinese brands can only normally power an office machine and do not last long. A powerful machine requires an appropriate power supply. To check the stability of the power supply, you can observe the parameters in the BIOS or run the S&M program test once.

Computer malfunctions that lead to freezing may well be associated with poor contact at the junctions of cables, cables, memory sticks or boards. Everything must be assembled and installed neatly, tightly, and reliably. To fully clarify the circumstances, you need to disassemble the computer, and then assemble and test it, adding one part at a time. With this simple method we find out the culprit of the freeze.

So far, we have only considered “hardware” computer malfunctions. And PC freezes and problems may also arise due to software errors, especially drivers and system services. Remember after installing which program the problems started, and uninstall that same program in safe mode. If this does not help, you will most likely have to reinstall the system.

BSOD (blue screen of death)

The Blue Screen of Death usually visits the system when devices or software malfunction. Unlike a normal freeze, when a BSOD appears, information about the error that occurred is displayed on the screen. BSOD error codes indicate a computer malfunction, however, often instead of readable text you can see “crazy notes” on it. If you manage to read which device the system is complaining about BSOD, then try replacing it or cleaning the contacts. In general, BSOD is a topic for a separate large article.

The computer restarts randomly

If the computer constantly restarts, especially when starting a heavy game or resource-intensive application, then the problem may again be a faulty power supply. As we can see, it can not only freeze the computer, but also reboot it. To double-check that these computer malfunctions are related to the power supply and not to something else, you need to run the previously mentioned S&M program in power supply testing mode.

In general, S&M is a universal tool for testing computer stability. Using it, you can check the system both for overheating and for the stability of the power supply circuit. By loading the processor, memory and video card to the limit, the program squeezes all the juice out of the power supply. True, you can burn something this way. But if the system unit passes the test, then the computer malfunction is caused by viruses or operating system failures.

If the computer warns in advance that a reboot will occur in a minute, but it is not possible to cancel the reboot, then this is most likely caused by the action of the Sasser virus or its modification, or the consequences of intensive treatment of the system for viruses. The situation will be corrected by updating the antivirus or installing the operating system from scratch.

The computer turns off by itself

The most likely cause of a computer turning off spontaneously is overheating of the processor or power supply. Motherboards monitor the processor temperature and turn off power as soon as it reaches a critical value. This is overheating protection, the parameters of which are configured in the BIOS.

How hot the chips are can be determined using programs, as described above. If for some reason it doesn’t work out, then no one has canceled the tactile method. Touch the radiator with your hands - if your fingers don’t burn, then everything is fine. Otherwise, check the condition (presence) of the thermal paste. The computer may shut down on its own due to a faulty temperature sensor. Nothing seems to be overheating, but the sensor is showing incorrect data - you can’t do this without the help of computer repair specialists.

High-quality power supplies are also equipped with overheating protection. When a certain temperature is reached, it turns off. If it happens frequently, then the power supply is operating in an overloaded state, i.e. you will have to repair or change the power supply.

“Thermal” computer malfunctions more often occur in the summer or in dusty environments, when the fans clog very quickly and begin to work worse. In summer, we can advise increasing the number of fans or improving their quality. And also carry out preventative cleaning more often.

Some computer problems can be diagnosed using BIOS signals, as described in the article "Diagnosing computer problems using BIOS signals". Something is revealed through stress tests of the Everest and Sandra programs. In addition to programs, a more reliable tool for determining indicators is a digital multimeter. If all else fails, then you should contact a service center for computer help.

Problems with your desktop computer can have various causes. By following our advice, you can quickly fix any problem.

PC failure can manifest itself in different ways. For example, after pressing the power button, the machine shows no signs of “life”. Or the computer turns on, but some components do not function. The first step is to figure out what actually works and what doesn’t. Are the motherboard LEDs on? Are the fans spinning? Is the monitor receiving an image signal? Are BIOS messages displayed? Based on these observations, most problems can be classified into six categories (see below). For each category, we provide instructions consisting of sequential steps with which you can eliminate the possibility of simple faults, so that you can then proceed to more complex diagnostics. If you are not successful at any step, move on to the next one until you solve the problem. Even if you stop at some step, the results of your testing will subsequently become a good help for the service center employees.

1. No signs of life

If the computer does not respond in any way when you press the power button, you should first check the power supply or the button itself. We will help you localize the problem.

1.1. VISUAL INSPECTION. First of all, check that the power cord is well connected and that the surge protector is turned on. It is possible that the power supply button on the back of the computer is in the “Off” position.

1.2. CASE CONNECTORS. Open the PC case and check that the connectors are securely connected and that the cable is not damaged in the area between the switches and LEDs of the case and the motherboard - perhaps some connector has come loose from the plug. If one or more cables are disconnected, open your motherboard manual and check to see if the cables are properly connected to the plugs.

1.3. POWER BUTTON. If the case connectors are connected correctly or reconnecting them does not bring results, disconnect all connectors from the motherboard. Then short the two contacts labeled "Power Switch" using a paperclip. If the computer turns on, there are two options. The first is a faulty power button on the case. In this case, you need to connect both connectors labeled “Reset Switch” to the contacts labeled “Power Switch” on the motherboard. From this moment on, the PC will be turned on using the reset button, and the power button will no longer perform its function. Another reason for such a malfunction may be a short circuit in the reset button: a regular button in this case will not work, and starting the PC will only be possible by shorting two contacts on the motherboard. This assumption will be confirmed by the ability to start a PC with the reset button disabled. In this case, leave the power button connected and disconnect the reset button. After all these steps, your PC will most likely turn on again without any problems. If even when using an office paper clip the computer refuses to “start”, then you should check the power system.

1.4. MOTHERBOARD POWER SUPPLY. Check that all power supply connectors are correctly connected to the motherboard. We are talking not only about a wide ATX connector with 24 pins, but also an additional four-pin P4 connector for powering the processor.

1.5. POWER UNIT. Next, you need to exclude the possibility of failure of the power supply. To do this, connect a working power supply to the PC - for example, from a second computer. Connect the 24-pin ATX connector and the four- or eight-pin P4 connector of the working computer to the motherboard of the faulty PC and try to start it. If after this it turns on, then the whole problem is in the power supply, which will need to be replaced.

1.6. MOTHERBOARD. If all the measures described above did not help, then most likely the motherboard has failed, which is best replaced, since repairs not covered by warranty are usually not worth it. One way or another, replacing the motherboard means completely disassembling and reassembling your PC. But it is recommended to proceed with this procedure only if other possible malfunctions have been excluded.

2. PC works, but no image

After turning on, the screen remains black, although the power supply, CPU and video card fans are running and the LEDs on the motherboard are lit.

2.1. CHECKING THE MONITOR. The first thing you need to do is rule out a trivial malfunction by answering the question: does the monitor turn on? If not, there may be a power problem: the cable is unplugged from the display or wall outlet, or the screen has a switch that is set to the Off position. If the monitor turns on, open the OSD menu and check if the input source (VGA/D-Sub, DVI, HDMI) is selected correctly.

2.2. SOUND AND LIGHT SIGNALS. If the monitor is not receiving an image signal, the motherboard will often let you know by sending beeps or lights to help you figure out what the problem is. Consult your motherboard manual to determine what the signals mean. One of the typical defects that are reported in this way may be faulty or incorrectly installed RAM modules, which the motherboard, depending on the model, warns about with an audible signal or illuminated LED lamps.

2.3. RESET BUTTON. A short circuit in the reset button may also be the cause of these symptoms. Perform the check (point 1.3).

2.4. BIOS. Sometimes the cause of such startup problems can be incorrect BIOS settings. To reset the BIOS settings, locate the Clear CMOS jumper on the motherboard. We are talking about three contacts, two of which are connected by a jumper. Remember the initial position of the jumper, then pull it out and connect another pair of contacts with it, wait at least ten seconds. After this, set it back to its original position. If the system board has a reset button, press it. If the computer turns on, check the BIOS settings. In most cases, you need to select the correct operating mode of the SATA controller, which, starting with Windows XP, is “AHCI” and not “IDE”. After this, the problem should disappear. One of the possible reasons for lost BIOS settings may be a dead motherboard battery - this will be discussed in paragraph 3.1.

2.5. RAM. Most motherboards indicate faulty memory using sound or light (LED) signals (see paragraph 2.2). However, we recommend checking the functionality of the RAM modules without waiting for a warning signal. There must be at least two modules installed in the computer - remove one and try to boot the computer with it. If the PC does not turn on with this module, try starting the system with another module installed. If the computer starts with only one memory module, this usually means that the other one is faulty.

2.6. VIDEO CARD. Among PC components, the problem should first of all be looked for in the source of the image signal - the graphics card. If your computer has an integrated graphics card, remove the discrete card and test the system with the integrated GPU. Otherwise, check if the PC works with a different graphics card. If yes, then your discrete or integrated video card is faulty.

2.7. CPU. A faulty processor can also be the reason why the computer works but does not produce an image signal. Therefore, if possible, test the performance of your PC with another compatible processor before the next very difficult step.

2.8. MOTHERBOARD. Since all other possible sources of problems have now been ruled out, the last “suspect” remains the motherboard. The problem here could be, for example, in the CMOS chip in which the BIOS is stored, or in the PCIe bus to which the video cards are connected. Troubleshooting in most cases does not pay off, so the best solution would be to immediately replace the motherboard.

3. BIOS stops working

The BIOS's job is to prepare the computer to boot into the operating system. If problems arise during the BIOS operation, then, as a rule, error messages appear, with the help of which you can localize them.

3.1. BIOS SETTINGS. With computers released four or five years ago, situations often occur when they suddenly refuse to boot. The reason lies in the BIOS settings. In this case, the message “Please enter Setup to recover BIOS setting | CMOS Date/Time Not Set." You can usually enter the BIOS using the “F1” or “Del” button when you turn on the PC. After this, you need to restore all the basic settings - for example, the date, the sequence of boot devices, or such an important parameter as the operating mode of the SATA controller (AHCI). After restoring the settings, there should be no problems booting the PC. However, the reason that the settings were lost most likely lies in the following: there is a round flat-plate battery on the motherboard, which is an “emergency” power source for the CMOS chip so that the latter does not lose the settings. If this battery is discharged, it must be replaced, otherwise the BIOS settings will be lost every time the PC is turned off.

3.2. BOOT DEVICE SEQUENCE. If the BIOS reports that it cannot find bootable media, there could be several reasons. First, check the boot device sequence in the settings. In modern motherboards, this requires two operations. In your boot options, you'll find a "Boot priority" option, which lists components such as hard drives, removable media, or optical drives. The hard drive must have the highest boot priority.

3.3. DISK FAILURE. If the drive does not appear in the media selection menu in the BIOS, open the PC and check that the power cables and interface cables of the corresponding media are securely connected. If the problem is not resolved, test the drive with a different cable, in a USB HDD enclosure, or in another computer. If this does not help, then most likely the media has failed as a result of damage to the controller. In this case, most likely only a specialist will be able to recover the data at a considerable cost. If you regularly create system images and backup data, then you will only need to replace the drive and copy the data. Otherwise, you will have to completely reinstall the system.

3.4. LOAD SECTOR. If the boot device appears in the BIOS and you can view its contents when connected to another PC, then the boot sector is most likely damaged. This quite often happens when an attempt to reallocate disk space fails or when Linux is uninstalled as a second operating system. To resolve the error, boot from the installation DVD or rescue disc. During the boot process, select “Repair your computer” or “PC recovery options”, then click on “System Restore”, and then follow the wizard’s instructions. If this does not solve the problem, then try restoring manually. Boot your PC again as described above, and in the system recovery settings, open a command prompt window. Enter the following commands in it:

bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot

bcdedit ;/export C:\bcd_1 c: cd boot attrib bcd -s -h -r ren bcd bcd_2 bootrec /RebuildBcd

After this, Windows should boot. If you still have difficulties, follow the instructions below.

4. OS cannot boot (Windows logo appears, but system does not start)

Your computer starts to boot, but freezes just before the user interface appears. With such symptoms, you can rule out many problems with the hardware and BIOS.

(to be continued)

Types of computer malfunctions

As sad as it may be, not so long ago a fast-working new computer or laptop begins to, as they say, fail, slow down, or even simply stops showing signs of life after pressing the power button. The cause of such phenomena can be two large groups of malfunctions, which are divided into:

• Hardware, associated with defects or breakdowns of computer components, which may occur due to aging, manufacturing defects, poor quality assembly, or unstable supply voltage.
• Software, caused by errors in the operating system and installed software. They are usually associated with incorrect user actions, power outages, or the actions of malicious software.

It is worth noting that very often these two groups of faults can be closely interrelated with each other, for example, unstable operation of equipment can lead to software errors, and software failures can cause computer hardware to not operate correctly.

Types of Software Faults

Software malfunctions of modern computers can be divided into several types:

• BIOS firmware errors. As a rule, they occur quite rarely and can be associated both with the failure of the memory chip itself and with its incorrect user settings. They can manifest themselves in different ways, ranging from the inability to boot the computer to malfunctions in the operation of its individual components, for example, non-functioning USB ports or the inability to connect peripheral equipment.
• Operating system and driver errors. They are usually associated either with their incorrect installation or with the actions of malicious software (viruses).
• Errors in application software, for example, office packages or games, which are caused by their incorrect installation, lack of necessary drivers, and the same computer viruses.

When your computer is slow to boot, frequently freezes, reboots, or stops running applications, it's likely a software issue. To find and eliminate the causes of software failures, you should contact only qualified specialists, otherwise you may simply lose your data.

However, often software errors in the operating system itself are a consequence of incorrect operation of computer components, so if you have such problems, it is better to immediately carry out a full diagnosis, since working in this mode can cause the PC to fail, for example, due to overheating of its components.

If problems often arise with client software, most likely the reason lies in incorrectly installed programs, lack of fresh drivers, or incompatibility of this version of the software with the operating system installed on your computer. In most cases, it is enough to simply update drivers or reinstall programs, carefully monitoring the installation progress and the messages that appear during installation.

Hardware faults

A personal computer is a complex electronic system consisting of many elements, the failure of which can manifest itself in different ways, for example:

• Lack of response when pressing the power button;
• The computer turns on, does not boot, and characteristic sound signals of hardware errors are heard from the system speaker;
• The computer starts to boot, but immediately a blue screen appears.

There can be quite a lot of manifestations of hardware errors, and there are also many reasons for their occurrence. For example, this could be a very dusty system unit, dried out thermal paste, or a cooler clogged with dust. Water or high humidity, static electricity, manufacturing defects, poor-quality or careless assembly and an attempt to “overclock” the computer can also lead to breakdowns, for which you should contact qualified specialists.

If any signs of hardware failures appear, we recommend immediately contacting the computer service center Serty Service, since operating the computer in this mode can lead to failure of serviceable components, as a result, its repair in this case will cost much more.

It often happens that after a long time of operation without failures, the computer completely unexpectedly fails. At the same time, the manifestations of breakdowns and their causes can be very different. In any case, first of all, the computer must be diagnosed for malfunctions in order to understand which particular PC element is to blame for the problems.

PC won't turn on

If the computer does not respond after pressing the power button, there is most likely a power problem. A simpler case is the failure of the button itself.

Inspection

It is not uncommon for the switch on the back of the power supply to be set to the "Off" position. In this case, the solution to the problem will be the simplest.

Connectors

If a cursory external examination does not bring results, further diagnostics of the computer for malfunction will require more complex actions. Remove the cover of the system unit case. Don't forget to disconnect your PC from the network first.

See if any connectors have come loose from the motherboard. It is best to turn them all off and wipe them with alcohol or cologne. Then you will have to refer to the manual that came with the motherboard. It will indicate where to connect all the wires.

This approach can eliminate several possible causes of malfunction at once: oxidation of contacts; incorrect connection of wires; random breaks in the circuit.

Button

If the previous steps did not bring results, diagnosing the computer for a malfunction should continue after disconnecting the power button connector. As you can see during operation, it connects to two pins of the motherboard. Lock them with any metal object, such as a paper clip.

If the PC turns on after this, the power button is most likely broken. To temporarily eliminate the inconvenience caused by this problem, you can simply change the purpose of the "Reset" key by connecting its wire to the "Power On" connector on the motherboard. That is, to the one that was closed with a paper clip earlier. Now to start the PC you will need to press the restart button on the system unit.

The second possible malfunction with the same symptom is the "Reset" keys. In order to check this diagnosis, you should simply disconnect the wire coming from the reset button, and then try to turn on the computer in the usual way.

Nutrition problems

If a paper clip doesn't help, the motherboard is probably not getting the power it needs. In this case, diagnosing the computer for malfunctions should continue by checking the ATX and P4 connectors.

ATX is a wide connector with 24 pins. P4 is square-shaped and has four wires going to it (sometimes the number can be up to eight). Simply unplug and then plug in the connectors again.

power unit

If previous actions did not lead to a positive result, the power supply has failed, but so far the probability of this is not one hundred percent. Further diagnostics of the computer at home will require connecting a known-good power supply to the PC.

The easiest way to complete this step is if you have several computers at home. Otherwise you will have to contact the service center. Buying a new power supply to diagnose problems is not the best option, because the device may be working properly, but the problem appears due to other problems.

Motherboard

After replacing the power supply, the computer does not turn on? We can say that in this case the diagnostics of the computer hardware is completed, but the motherboard has failed. It is best to replace it immediately; repairing such equipment is not worth it, since the price of this procedure may be higher than that of a new device.

Malfunctions

If problems arise unexpectedly and haphazardly while the computer is running, diagnosing the computer system should begin with updating the most important software. This includes the OS, drivers, antivirus. If no security measures are installed, you should install them and then conduct a full scan of your computer for viruses.

RAM

Often, the stability of a PC is disrupted due to a faulty RAM. There are many applications to check it. However, Memtest86+ is considered the best. You can download and use it absolutely free.

Before testing, you will need to prepare a bootable USB flash drive.

1. Download the program distribution kit. At this step, it is important to select USB INSTALLER and not ISO image.
2. After that, run the executable file. Its extension is EXE and its name starts with "Memtest".
3. A window will appear on the screen asking if you agree to the terms of the license agreement. Since the program cannot be launched without confirmation, you should click on the “I Agree” button.
4. The next step will require you to select a USB drive to which the application data will be copied. Be careful: all information from the flash drive may be deleted during the installation process.
5. Now all you have to do is click on “Create”. Wait for the computer diagnostic program to complete installation, and then click “Finish”

Now restart your PC and enter BIOS. To do this, press the "DEL" button when the computer just starts to turn on. After launching the BIOS setup utility, go to the "Advanced" menu. In it, select "First Boot Device" and switch the option to "USB".

Restart your computer again. If all the previous steps were completed correctly, the computer diagnostic program will load. The RAM check should start automatically. It is advisable to monitor the messages on the screen; sometimes before the test you will be asked to perform the procedure in safe mode. In this case, to start you need to press the "F1" button.

Memtest86+ runs 11 tests. In this case, after the completion of the last one, the procedure will begin again. If errors are found in the RAM, a red area with their description will appear on the monitor screen. If, after a full check, no problems are identified, the application will display the message “Press ESC to exit”.

If errors are found during the tests, the RAM should be replaced. If there are several RAM sticks, diagnostics and repair of computers involve checking each of them separately. To do this, you need to install them into the system unit one by one, and after changing, turn on the Memtest86+ utility again. Having identified the faulty device, you can continue to use the computer without it, losing some performance, but eliminating crashes.

Cooling system

If problems occur while running resource-intensive applications, there is a high probability that the PC's cooling system is not working efficiently enough. The problem is aggravated by dust that settles in radiators. As a result, the flow of cool air forced by the fan becomes unable to blow over all metal parts of the heat exchanger.

A program can be used to detect overheating. Diagnosing a computer for malfunctions will only require the user to install the appropriate application and monitor the sensor indicators.

AIDA64

One of the best utilities for monitoring computer temperature is AIDA64. After starting the program, you will need to select “Service” in the top menu, and then “System stability test”. A window with graphs will appear on the screen. They will display the temperature of all major PC components.

After clicking on the "Preferences" button, you can independently select which sensor data will be displayed on the diagrams. Since it is impossible to diagnose a computer for overheating when the computer is running in a gentle mode, you should run a special test. To check how the PC behaves when the processor is used at the maximum level, in the upper left corner you should check the boxes next to the words “Stress CPU” and “Stress FPU”.

It is advisable not to leave the device during this test and carefully monitor the data provided by the program. Since diagnosing a computer is only half the battle, in addition to identifying problems, you also need to prevent them from damaging your PC. If critical temperatures are exceeded, you should stop the test and think about replacing the cooling system. It would be a good idea to blow out dust from the radiators, and then check the temperature again at maximum load.

Crashes during games

If errors in the computer's operation occur during games or other applications that actively use the graphics system, diagnostics of the computer's operation can be performed using the FurMark program.

After launch, the settings window will open. In it, it is advisable to select the maximum resolution supported by the monitor, and also check the “FullScreen” checkbox. Now all you have to do is click on “Stress Test”.

A three-dimensional image will appear on the screen, but this is not what you should watch. Your main focus should be on the graph that appears below. It shows the temperature of the video processor. When critical values ​​are reached, press the "ESC" button to end the benchmark.

Image defects

If the monitor displays incorrect colors while working, this problem is often solved by simply replacing the cable. Diagnostics initially involve checking components. Try tightening the screws securing the plug. If this does not help, you can wipe the contacts with alcohol, and also check the functionality of the cable on another computer or monitor.

Previous actions did not lead to success? Update or reinstall your video driver. It is also a good idea to test the graphics card for overheating, as described above.

No sound

How to diagnose a computer and identify a malfunction if the sound disappears? Typically, such problems appear after installing a new video card or graphics adapter. Almost all such modern devices come with an HDMI output through which audio can be output. And along with the increase in sound-producing devices, there is a risk of incorrect auto-tuning.

Launch any player and turn on music in it. Click on the speaker icon in the system tray, and then click on “Playback Devices”. In the left column of the window that opens, right-click on each device and indicate to the OS that it should be used as the default.

If the sound still does not appear, diagnosing your computer at home will require additional steps. Check the wires that connect and output the audio card. The easiest way to do this is to disconnect the plug from the computer connector and connect it to any other audio device (player, mobile phone).

If there is still no sound from the speakers, try replacing the cable. Is the audio system silent even after this procedure? This means that the computer is fully operational, but the “acoustics” require replacement.

HDD malfunctions

How to diagnose a computer when the hard drive does not appear in Explorer or in the BIOS? You should start by checking the cables. The easiest way is to use a cable from the HDD that works stably. If this measure does not help, there is a high probability of failure of the drive itself. In this case, further attempts at repair at home will not lead to positive results. Only a specialist can perform data recovery from this HDD.

If information from the hard drive can be read, but the OS cannot be loaded from it, it means that the MBR (boot record) has been damaged. To resolve this issue, you must boot from the Windows installation disc. In the menu, click on “Repair your computer”, and then click on “Bootloader recovery”.