Author: Faith Cheruiyot
Tuesday, December 6, 2022

How Do You Diagnose Computer Hardware Problems?



Is your computer hardware prone to failures? Before your hardware crashes, it's vital to understand the hardware system, how it functions, and the parts that easily break. Is there a component that needs replacement, or should you try troubleshooting? Assess the procedures to take, and figure out the problem and how you can repair it.

There are various hardware issues that even computer techs may find difficult to assess, identify and figure out how to repair them. Computer hardware components go through changes that may affect their performance. Therefore, you must know the various parts of a computer hardware system to make it easy to undertake troubleshooting procedures.

After realizing that your computer hardware has an issue, identify the actual problem you are yet to deal with. It could be a problem in the hard disk drives, fans, CPUs, GPUs, or even RAM. You can try the obvious solutions, which can spare you frustrations and time wastage. Read on to find out more.

How Do You Diagnose Computer Hardware Problems?

It is essential to understand your computer and emphasize hardware maintenance since certain hardware parts are prone to failure more than others. Fortunately, some ways can help diagnose your computer's hardware failures, something that will leave your wallet full. 

How Do You Diagnose Computer Hardware Problems?

Hardware diagnostics is vital, and if the problem is not addressed effectively, it may lead to total system failure. PCs have pre-installed diagnostic tools that can be OS exclusive, BIOS exclusive, or manufacturer exclusive. These make it easy to detect, prevent or fix hardware concerns.

Below are a few diagnostic tests that can help scan and identify your hardware system concerns. 

1. Windows 10 Hardware Diagnostic Tools 

To use Windows 10 hardware diagnostic tools, you must be knowledgeable about these tools and the operating system. The primary PC hardware diagnostic tools include the Performance Monitor and the Windows Memory Diagnostic. These tools are responsible for analyzing the system performance and running memory tests on the Windows PC. 

Performance Monitor Tool

  • In the Search bar, press Windows key + S and search for Performance Monitor. 
  • On the left side of the menu, expand the Data Collector Sets section and click on the System option.
  • Right-click System Diagnostics and select Start to commence the diagnostic tests.
  • Expand the Reports and the System section and open the System Diagnostics section.
  • Double-click the report to view and check the PC's Diagnostic Results.

Windows Memory Diagnostic App

  • In the Search bar, press Windows key + S and search for Windows Memory Diagnostic. 
  • Choose the Restart now and check for problems option.
  • Let the PC restart, and the memory diagnostic scan will start automatically and reboot automatically when the process is complete. 
  • Log in and view the results on the desktop.

How Do You Diagnose Computer Hardware Problems?

2. Battery Diagnostic Command 

From the menu, press Windows key + X and select the Command Prompt or Windows Powershell option.
After the Command Prompt Loads, type the powercfg/batteryreport command and press Enter.
In a specified location, an HTML file will load. Open it and view the results.

What are the Common Computer Hardware Problems?

If you are a computer user, you will likely experience hardware difficulties. You should be in a position to detect signs that cause these concerns and acquire the appropriate tools you might need for maintenance.

How Do You Diagnose Computer Hardware Problems?

Familiarize yourself with the hardware components to understand and make diagnosing and troubleshooting problems easier. Read on to discover common computer hardware problems and how you can fix them.

1. Overheating PC

Your PC might heat up when the cooling system does not work correctly or when the PC's cooling system is unable to handle the heating. When the PC overheats, the system becomes slow and might cause regular crashes. Also, continuous exposure to heat may lead to permanent damage.

A fan may stop operating, or it may be dusty. Ensure your PC has adequate ventilation to avoid abrupt shutdowns. You can monitor the temperature levels through your computer's BIOS to ensure it is within a recommended range. 

2. Computer Has Insufficient Memory

Your machine may receive insufficient memory or disk space error messages. To solve such, close the extra Windows to free up RAM. Alternatively, you can reboot your computer and install the latest operating system update. If the memory and space available are still insufficient, uninstalling or deleting unused and unnecessary files may be appropriate. 

3. PC Crashes Before loading the OS

Your PC may only show the manufacturer's logo and crashes before loading the operating system. This may be due to hard disk and RAM issues. You can replace the corrupted components and restart your PC. 

4. Blue Screen of Death

The blue screen of death can be a result of hardware failure. It may display the driver's information about it crashing or for a type of error it encounters. Besides a faulty hard disk, the BSOD may also result from pressure on the RAM. Opening many programs that RAM cannot handle may freeze the system.

Corrupt drivers may also cause BSOD, and you can diagnose such through the following steps. 

  • Type devmgt.msc in the Run to open the Device Manager
  • Expand the menu and search for a yellow triangle icon next to each driver.
  • Right-click on it and choose Update Driver Software to update the driver. 
  • Besides the above fix, you can also employ a third-party app like the Driver Booster, which automatically finds and fixes driver problems.  

5. PC Disconnects From Wi-Fi

If your PC disconnects from the Wi-Fi, your network card might not receive adequate power. You can fix such by disabling the windows built-in power saver option that provides inadequate power to the network card. To disable the feature;

  • Click on Advanced Settings in the Power Options.
  • Expand the Wireless Adaptor Settings and then the Power Savings Mode.
  • Click to set to Maximum Performance.

How Do You Diagnose Computer Hardware Problems?

6. PC Not Using a Portion of RAM

You can check how your PC is using the RAM through the Task Manager. If you notice that only a portion of RAM is being used, it might be a Windows setting problem with the configuration. To fix such; 

  • In the Run dialog, Press Windows + R keys and type msconfig to open the System Configuration.
  • Proceed to the Boot tab and click on Advanced Options.
  • Move to the checkbox next to the Maximum Memory. Enter the amount of RAM you have installed. 
  • Click OK and restart the PC to let it take effect. 
  • If the fix does not work, it might be due to poor installation of RAM, and you can try to reinstall it. 

7. Monitor Problems 

Your monitor may fail to show anything, which might be an issue with it or the graphic card. You can connect it to another PC to identify the problem. If the monitor does not power on, try to replace the power cable with a functional one. 

Additionally, your monitor might go black after a few moments of the display. It could be an issue with the screen adjustment or color quality. Pressing the auto-adjust button on your monitor might fix such, and if not, changing the display color may help.

Conclusion

Diagnosing and fixing hardware issues can be pretty challenging. However, you can quickly fix these hardware problems using software or adjusting the settings. Moreover, you may need to visit a computer repair shop if your troubleshooting attempts do not go through. Investing in a long-term strategy that is effective as such will save your finances, time, and resources. 

Also, ensure regular maintenance practices for your computer to run smoothly without any faults. Do not hesitate to contact us if you want to maintain your computer hardware and enjoy exceptional services. We would be glad to attend to your computer hardware diagnostic solution needs

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