How do you know if your CPU is faulty, overheating or dead? Here is a guide on how to diagnose CPU problems.

Without the CPU working there is no hope of much else happening on a computer. While some of the symptoms of a faulty CPU can be caused by the failure of other components, the symptoms that we outline below are good indicators that the CPU is malfunctioning, failing or dead.

Unusual Fan Sounds and CPU Overheating

Moving parts are usually the first to fail on a computer. This is usually true of computer fans, of which there are usually two in most machines: one for the power supply and another for the CPU. A sign that your computer’s CPU fan is failing is a change in the sounds that it normally makes.

If the fan starts to make wining, clunking or groaning sounds, it is a sign that the fan is coming to the end of its days. Once the fan stops working properly the CPU will not get the cooling it needs and will start to malfunction. So, we can say that a dying fan is a sign that your CPU will soon start malfunctioning.

Signs of a Faulty CPU – Blue Screens & OS Error Messages

Another sign of a faulty or overheating CPU are constant blue screens and Windows error messages. If the CPU is not being cooled properly the computer may still boot-up, but soon after will start having problems. The computer will usually freeze and then display a blue screen or some other Windows error message.

Fortunately, fixing the overheating problem may be as easy as reapplying thermal gel or replacing the CPU fan. Thermal gel helps the CPU transfer heat from itself to the heat sink but the thermal gel can become hard with the passage of time, though it usually takes years for this to happen. You will need to remove the heat sink and reapply the thermal gel.

The PC Randomly Shuts Itself off or Freezes Randomly

A CPU may work normally until more processor intensive tasks are undertaken such as intense game play, photo editing and video editing. While this could also be a sign that the CPU is overheating, a computer that restarts randomly when it is put through its paces could indicate that something is wrong with the CPU.

Signs of a Dead CPU – The Computer Fails to Power-up

Owing to the fact that the CPU is the brain of the computer, scarcely anything will work if the CPU is dead. Signs that the central processing unit is dead or dying is a computer that doesn’t respond when the power button is pressed. The fans may spin up, but the computer won’t boot.

High Frequency Beeps – Beep Codes

Another sign that something is wrong with the CPU is the sounding, by the computer, of sequenced beep codes or audio alerts. If the computer makes repeated high/low beeps as well as high frequency beeps while the computer is running or just when it is turned, the CPU may need to be checked. BIOS or motherboard beep codes are designed to diagnose hardware or configuration faults. Check the motherboard’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to decipher what the beep codes mean in order to determine what is actually wrong.

While a failing CPU is not the only thing that can cause a computer to randomly restart, given blue screen error messages or even high frequency beep codes, these are usually a symptom that something is wrong with the central processing unit.

source: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/77984.aspx

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Computer “freezes” are caused when Windows cannot read or process the commands that you need it to. This problem is a common issue for many computers around the World, but is one which is actually very easy to fix if you know what’s causing the problem to start with. There are many different reasons why computers will freeze from time-to-time, but having fixed many computer freeze issues, there’s one issue which is continually the main reason behind computer’s freezing, and this is how to fix it…

The main reason why computers freeze is all down to a part of your PC called the “registry”. This is a central part of your computer which stores information and settings for your system, and is actually one of the most important parts of Windows. Not many people fully understand the registry, as its hidden from view most of the time. However, it’s where Windows stores all the settings and options that your computer & software need to run each day. All the settings on your PC such as your most recent files, your desktop wallpaper and even your screen resolution settings are all kept in the central registry database. However, the reason why this database causes your PC to freeze is because a lot of its settings have the tendency to become damaged and corrupted.

Unfortunately, the registry is continually becoming damaged and corrupted, leading your system to take longer to read the files it needs to run, slowing it down. However, if your computer cannot read the registry settings it needs, it will become highly unreliable and will end up either crashing or freezing. To fix this problem, and make your computer run as fast and reliably as possible again, its advisable to clean out all the corrupt settings from the registry database by using a registry cleaner. This is a type of software which scans through your PC and fixes any of the damaged registry settings that can cause your compute to freeze.

Although there are several different causes behind computer freezes, the most effective and reliable way to fix these issues is to use a ‘registry cleaner’ to fix any of the damaged settings inside the system. These tools are very popular with computer experts and beginners alike, mainly because of how effective they are at cleaning out the errors on your PC. If you get a good tool – that can fix the most registry errors – you can make your system run like new again.

source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Computer-Freezes—How-to-Stop-Your-Computer-Freezing-Randomly-and-Make-it-Run-Like-New-Again&id=4363887

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What Is A Joule? Or a Watt, Volt, or an Amp?

Electronics and Electricity, uses a wide range of terms to represent different kinds of measurement units.  Many you have seen every day, and others from time to time in product specifications.  These are all part of the International System of Units.  Here is a short list of several common terms your will see in our products and their meanings:

JOULE: One joule (symbol: J) is defined as the amount of work done by electricity.  Technically it is the work required to continuously produce one watt of power for one second; or one watt second (W*s).   One kilowatt hour (a common electric company measure) equals 3,600,000 Joules (1W*s x 1,000 x 3600 seconds).

Ohm's Law Chart

Using This Chart You Can Easily Calculate
The Wattage, Current (Amps), Ohms, and Voltage For A Device!

WATT: In terms of mechanical energy, one watt (symbol: W or P) is a measure of energy used – this frequently results in heat, or as in the case of a light bulb, the heat creates a glow, thus more heat equals more light.  Technically a Watt is the rate at which work is done when an object is moved at a speed of one meter per second against a force of one newton.  By the definitions of electric potential (volt) and current (ampere), work is done at a rate of one watt when one ampere flows through a potential difference of one volt – or simply A*V=W

AMP (Ampere): In practical terms, the ampere (symbol: I) is the amount of electrical current passing through a conductor (a wire).  Technically it is a measure of the amount of electric charge passing a point per unit time. Around 6.242 × 1018 electrons passing a given point each second constitutes one ampere. You can figure out the Amps being use by dividing the Wattage by Voltage.  A 100W light, in a typical house (120V) uses 1.2A.

VOLT (Voltage): The volt (symbol: V) is the unit of electromotive force measurement, commonly called “voltage”.  Technically, the volt is defined as the value of the voltage across a conductor when a current of one ampere dissipates one watt of power in the conductor.  For example, if you know a TV uses 295 Watts and uses 2.45 Amps, you can calculate the voltage is 120 Volts.

OHM:  The ohm (symbol: Ω or R) is the unit of electrical impedance in AC, or, in the direct current case, electrical resistance.  It is the resistance of material to electrical current.  The higher the value, the higher the resistance, and the more voltage is required, and the more current used.  Most home speakers are low resistance, just 8 ohm.  Technically, the ohm is defined as the resistance between two points of a conductor when a constant of 1 volt is  applied, and produces in a current of 1 ampere.

DECIBEL:  The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit of measurement that expresses the magnitude of a physical quantity (usually power or intensity) relative to a specified or implied reference level.  The decibel is useful for a wide variety of measurements (particularly acoustics and electronics). It has a number of advantages, such as the ability to conveniently represent very large or small numbers, in a scaling that roughly corresponds to the human perception of sound and light.  It is frequently seen in Home Theater Receivers to represent amplification or volume.  Since it is based on a reference level, it is not easily used by the non-engineer, but simply as a specification value.

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Having troubles connecting wirelessly to the internet? There can be many reasons why this happens. This article can help to explain what they are and what solutions exist.

Not connecting

The ability to connect to the internet and thus connect wirelessly at anytime and anywhere has made technology an even bigger boom and asset than ever before. But the last thing a person wants is to have that ability suddenly and mysteriously stop working, especially at a time when it’s needed the most.

There are several reasons why a computer may not be connecting to the internet. Here are some issues that happen, as well some of their solutions.

Issues & Solutions

Issue #1: Wireless not turned on

Sometimes, especially on laptops, it’s easy to bump or accidentally turn off the wireless button. With the wireless turned off, unless you are connected via a cable, you will not get internet access. It is also possible that you may be in area that does not have wireless connections.

Solution – Check to make sure that the wireless feature is turned on. If using a laptop, make sure that the wireless button or switch is in the on position. Usually, when this feature is on, a light will appear on or near the button. If using a desktop, make sure your wireless card is enabled. Here’s an article that describes this. Also, make sure that the area you are in has an active internet connection.

Issue #2: Computer not connecting

Perhaps one or both computers aren’t connecting period, despite having the wireless connection turned on. So why won’t the computer not connect? This problem has several issues and solutions. Perhaps there is an issue with the hardware itself or maybe there’s an outage happening with your ISP.

Solution – Try calling your ISP (internet service provider) to see if they are having an outage. Certain areas may experience problems due to weather or wiring or even accidents. Sometimes, if there’s an outage with the electric company in the area, there will be issues with the internet lines, regardless of if your power is still on. See the next issue and solution for hardware.

Issue #3: Hardware

If issues 1 and 2 don’t seem to be the problem, perhaps it is the hardware, namely the cable modem or wireless router. If the router is having issues, you won’t be able to connect wirelessly, but you may be able to connect with an Ethernet cord. However, if the modem is having issues, both wired and wireless connections will be unaccessable.

Solution #1 – Try unplugging the power from both devices for a few seconds. Next, plug in the cable modem first and allow all lights to come on. Next, plug in the router and again, wait for the lights to come on. If you notice that the cable light on the modem hasn’t come on or flashes for a long time before becoming solid, it may mean two things. Issue #2 may be in affect, so try giving your ISP a call. They can also reset the modem from their offices to ensure a connection. The second possibility is perhaps the cable modem is on its last legs. A simple replacement may be needed.

Solution #2 – As mentioned, the hardware may need to be updated or maybe replaced. Try searching the manufacturer’s website to see if new drivers or firmware is listed for your model. Oddly enough, routers and modems don’t really last for very long, though it may depend. If you’ve just bought a new router or modem, it may be faulty. Make sure to keep the receipt and packaging so you may return it to get a replacement or your money back.

Conclusion

Foregoing the internet may seem like a fate worse than death, but when you have a vague idea of what might be going on, it does take a bit of the frustration away. If the above solutions don’t seem to work for you, there may be some other factor involved. If using a desktop, make sure that your wireless card is seated properly on the motherboard. If using a laptop, try connecting tech support; you may need to send the unit back.

source: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/75252.aspx

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