b_book1.gif (162 bytes) Trouble shooting
Startup | System unit | Keyboard | Mouse | Floppy disk | Hard disk | Visual display unit | Printer
b_html2.gif (189 bytes)Uninterruptible power supply

Hardware troubleshooting
  • In the first instance you should check the manuals supplied with your computer.
  • Hardware and software are closely interrelated, and often both need to be considered when troubleshooting a problem.

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Startup

Problem

  • Possible cause
 Action
No response
  • Power off
  • Switch on
  • Disconnected plugs
  • Turn off, plug in, turn on
  • Loose plugs
  • Turn off, push all plugs in firmly, turn on.
No monitor power
  • Cables not connected
  • Connect
  • Monitor is off
  • Switch off computer, turn on monitor, turn on computer.
Computer does not boot
  • Non-system disk in A
  • Remove and restart your computer (beware - common cause of virus infection).
No keyboard response
  • not connected
  • Connect

 

System unit

Problem

  • Possible cause

Action
No response
  • Computer not plugged in
  • Check all cables are plugged in correctly and firmly.
  • Check power switch is on if not connected to PC
  • Check monitor light is on/ check the monitor switch is on
  • Check system unit switch is on.

Keyboard

Problem

  • Possible cause

Action
No response
  • Not plugged in
  • Check cable from keyboard plugged into system unit.
Continuous "beeping".
  • Jammed keys,
  • Object lying on the keyboard
  • Un-jam,
  • Remove object
Key does not work
  • Objects/dust/food lodged in the keys.
  • Clean

Mouse

Problem

  • Possible cause

Action
No response
  • Not plugged in
  • Check cable from mouse to system unit plugged in.
Poor performance
  • Dirty surface
  • Check surface mouse moves over is clean
  • Dirty mouse
  • Check no dust or objects lodged in the mouse
  • Clean /check the ball.
  • Clean/check internal rollers.

Floppy disk

Problem

  • Possible cause

Action
DOS: Not ready Drive A.
  • No disk in drive
  • Insert disk
  • Check disk is fully in.

Hard disk

Problem

  • Possible cause

Action
DOS: Not ready drive C: (or other Hard disk drive)
  • Faulty drive
  • Try booting from a Floppy based system disk. (Emergency recovery disk).

Visual display unit

Problem

  • Possible cause

Action
No response
  • Not plugged in
  • Check monitor light is on/ check the monitor switch is on.
  • If not
    • Check cable from vdu to system unit plugged in.
    • Check power cable
      • If connected to system unit- check pushed firmly home.
      • If connected to power plug/power box check switched on
  • If so
    • Adjust brightness / contrast.

Printer

Problem

  • Possible cause

Action
No response
  • Not plugged in
  • Check cable from printer to system unit plugged in.
  • Check power switched on at wall/power box
  • Not switched on
  • Turn on
  • Loose plugs
  • Push home all plugs.
  • Make sure cables are not in a position where they can be stood on accidentally, or can be pulled out by books etc being laid on them.
  • Make sure there is some "slack" in the cables.
No output
  •  Paper out
  • Printer has run out of paper, refill.
  • PC load A4
  • Incorrect paper size setting in software. Reset printer or load correct paper size. (May also indicate no paper!).
  • Paper jam
 Commonly with a laser printer: Open up printer to free up any jammed paper. Note a "steady" pull on the paper rather than a quick tug, otherwise the paper will tear. Printer should be turned off, if printer is opened.
Print queue is full
  • Printer backlog
 Wait until queue empties, and retry.

Other

Problem

  • Possible cause

Action
Devices have intermittent faults
  • IRQ conflicts
 Typical IRQ settings are;

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  • Red IRQ's used by motherboard
  • Blue IRQ's may be shifted in CMOS but usually set by manufacturer on option board.

[Rev 19/11/98] 20/1/98 © 1997-98 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.