<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>
<channel>
	<title>Techspedia™ &#187; Computer Troubleshooting</title>
	<atom:link href="http://techspedia.com/tag/computer-troubleshooting/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://techspedia.com</link>
	<description>A Compilation Of The Best Sources Of Computer Knowledge At Your Fingertips!</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:17:00 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Common Computer Problems and How to Fix Them in a Jiffy</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2011/02/09/common-computer-problems-and-how-to-fix-them-in-a-jiffy/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2011/02/09/common-computer-problems-and-how-to-fix-them-in-a-jiffy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:05:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Maintain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Troubleshoot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tips & Techniques]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anti Virus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Apparent Reason]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Basic Computer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bottom Line]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Checks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Common Computer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Lock]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Problems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Reboot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Device Drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hard Disc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Imagine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jiffy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Memory Check]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Operating System]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pc maintenance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pc tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Registry Errors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Software Windows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[System Software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Virus Check]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Windows Updates]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2475</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Just imagine you are in the middle of your project and your computer locks up without any apparent reason. How would you feel? Surely, this is the most irritating feeling and betraying experience. Plus, if you have not saved your work, you are most likely to lose all the valuable information and efforts that you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2011%2F02%2F09%2Fcommon-computer-problems-and-how-to-fix-them-in-a-jiffy%2F' data-shr_title='Common+Computer+Problems+and+How+to+Fix+Them+in+a+Jiffy'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2011%2F02%2F09%2Fcommon-computer-problems-and-how-to-fix-them-in-a-jiffy%2F' data-shr_title='Common+Computer+Problems+and+How+to+Fix+Them+in+a+Jiffy'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2011%2F02%2F09%2Fcommon-computer-problems-and-how-to-fix-them-in-a-jiffy%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>Just imagine you are in the middle of your project and your computer locks up without any apparent reason. How would you feel? Surely, this is the most irritating feeling and betraying experience. Plus, if you have not saved your work, you are most likely to lose all the valuable information and efforts that you have just put in. In such a case, if you do not know how to fix the computer lock then reboot is the only solution. The bottom line is that you can fix it on your own with the basic information of computer.</p>
<p>First of all, it is necessary to understand as to why your computer locks up? It happens for various reasons. There may be problems with your hard disc or your registry has encountered error threatening to lock up your computer. If you still go on to use your computer without having to ascertain the actual cause of the problem, you will face the same situation after a little while.</p>
<p><span id="more-2475"></span></p>
<p>In order to prevent computer lock, you can ensure some basic checks. Firstly, make sure that your computer is up to date. Ensure that the windows updates are properly installed. The programs that you run should be well supported by memory. Check to see whether your hard disc is full or completely fragmented.</p>
<p>Ensure that your computer is fully protected from all kinds of viruses. Run an updated version of anti-virus to check whether any registry items are flagged as suspect or changed. In case your anti-virus fails to check the registry items then you may have found the problem. Always remember, registry errors can do all the inconvenient and unpleasant things to your computer all of a sudden.</p>
<p>Registry serves as the most important and sensitive part in a window operating system. It keeps the most important settings and information of Windows. All the device drivers, system programs and software are dependent on it. When you run a program or software, Windows requires data (settings and information of the program) from registry to load the desired program or software. Registry tells your Windows how to run the program, your preferences, and gives information while the program is running.</p>
<p>But if the values in registry are corrupted by viruses or anything else you face the uncalled for experience of computer lock-up. In other words, if the data is invalid, incomplete or incorrect the registry does not allow for proper running of the program hence the lock-up.</p>
<p>To fix the computer lock, you need to repair the invalid and corrupted information in the registry. This may turn out to be a dangerous task for your computer. It is better to ask the professionals to fix the problem in the first place. But even if you are willing to fix it on your own then use registry repair software with extreme precaution. Keep in mind that improper efforts to fix the lock-up problem may leave your computer useless. Otherwise, registry cleaner software is the most preferred option to fix the lock of your computer.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Common-Computer-Problems-and-How-to-Fix-Them-in-a-Jiffy&#038;id=5730597"target="_blank">http://ezinearticles.com/?Common-Computer-Problems-and-How-to-Fix-Them-in-a-Jiffy&#038;id=5730597</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2475"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2011/02/09/common-computer-problems-and-how-to-fix-them-in-a-jiffy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Learn How To Fix Computer Crashes</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2011/01/19/learn-how-to-fix-computer-crashes/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2011/01/19/learn-how-to-fix-computer-crashes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:12:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Maintain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Active Application]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blue screen of death]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Crash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Crashes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computer maintenance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Virus Infection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Viruses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Device Drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Faulty Ram]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Memory Problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Microsoft Windows Operating System]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Optimizer Software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pc Optimizer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Random Access Memory]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Registry Entries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Runtime Errors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sole Objective]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Term Memory]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unsaved Data]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vital Element]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windows operating system]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2417</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Computer crash is one of the most frustrating problems. I had read this question many times on the internet- &#8220;Why does my computer crash?&#8221; The users complained that their operating system or active application stopped responding in middle, showed an error and terminated accidentally. Any unsaved data was lost. Why does my computer crash? 1. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2011%2F01%2F19%2Flearn-how-to-fix-computer-crashes%2F' data-shr_title='Learn+How+To+Fix+Computer+Crashes'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2011%2F01%2F19%2Flearn-how-to-fix-computer-crashes%2F' data-shr_title='Learn+How+To+Fix+Computer+Crashes'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2011%2F01%2F19%2Flearn-how-to-fix-computer-crashes%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>Computer crash is one of the most frustrating problems. I had read this question many times on the internet- &#8220;Why does my computer crash?&#8221; The users complained that their operating system or active application stopped responding in middle, showed an error and terminated accidentally. Any unsaved data was lost.</p>
<p><strong>Why does my computer crash?</strong></p>
<p>1. Device Drivers Issues<br />
2. Runtime Errors due to Corrupted Registry Entries<br />
3. Computer Virus Infection<br />
4. Memory Problem<br />
5. Hard Disk Errors<br />
6. Corrupted System Files</p>
<p><span id="more-2417"></span></p>
<p><strong>Device Drivers Issues</strong></p>
<p>Your computer may crash due to faulty, unsupported or malfunctioning device drivers. It may also crash if the installed drivers are out of date. It is recommended to check and install the latest updates of your device drivers. And make sure that the existing drivers are properly functioning.</p>
<p><strong>Runtime Errors due to Corrupted Registry Entries</strong></p>
<p>Windows Registry is a vital element in Microsoft Windows operating system. Bad and corrupted registry result in computer crash due tomany runtime errors. Download a Registry Cleaner and PC Optimizer software. Install it on your computer and then run it.</p>
<p><strong>Computer Virus Infection</strong></p>
<p>The sole objective of many computer viruses is to crash your operating system and destroy your important data. A virus has the ability to modify the system files, make harmful changes and thereby crash the entire operating system or any infected program. Thus scan you computer for viruses and remove them as soon as possible.</p>
<p><strong>Memory Problem</strong></p>
<p>By the term Memory, I meant Random Access Memory (RAM). A faulty RAM shows up the Blue Screen of Death and crashes the operating system. If you had installed multiple RAMs, then check them one by one individually. This may help finding out the defective RAM and replacing it as per the needs.</p>
<p><strong>Hard Disk Errors<br />
</strong><br />
A corrupted hard disk may crash the computer due to problems retrieving the information from the stored files. Accessing any part of such corrupted hard disk leads to runtime errors and thereby computer crash problem occurs.</p>
<p>Check the hard disk and repair bad sectors as instructed below:</p>
<p>1. Click Start | All Programs | Accessories.<br />
2. Right click Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator option.<br />
3. Type the following commands one by one:<br />
Chkdsk :<br />
For example, replace with a drive on your computer. For example, chkdsk c: or chkdsk d:<br />
4. Press ENTER.<br />
5. Wait till the process finishes.<br />
6. If you are prompted to schedule the task, type Y and press ENTER.</p>
<p><strong>Corrupted System Files</strong></p>
<p>System files corruption may crash your operating system. You have to scan all the system files for modifications and replace corrupted system files with their original versions. Make sure you have inserted the Microsoft Windows installation disc first.</p>
<p>1. Click Start | Run.<br />
2. Type SFC/ ScanNow and press ENTER.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Does-My-Computer-Crash?-Learn-How-To-Fix-Computer-Crashes&amp;id=5731059" target="_blank">http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Does-My-Computer-Crash?-Learn-How-To-Fix-Computer-Crashes&amp;id=5731059</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2417"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2011/01/19/learn-how-to-fix-computer-crashes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Computer Troubleshooting Tips</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2011/01/12/computer-troubleshooting-tips/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2011/01/12/computer-troubleshooting-tips/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:34:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Troubleshoot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tips & Techniques]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ami Bios]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Award Bios Beep]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Award Bios Beep Code]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beeps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bios Award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boot Process]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computer issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Error Codes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Floppy Disk Error]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happy Thoughts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jot Down]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Memory Error Message]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Memory Errors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Memory Memory]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pc Boots]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC problems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power On Self Test]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Processor Memory]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Software Changes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time And Patience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Troubleshooting Tips]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2402</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Computer problems are frustrating. Becoming frustrated during the troubleshooting process will only lead to more problems. So the important thing to do first is take a deep breath, think happy thoughts, and plan out your course of action. Have tools ready, restore disks and drivers. This will save you time and patience. Before you begin, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2011%2F01%2F12%2Fcomputer-troubleshooting-tips%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Troubleshooting+Tips'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2011%2F01%2F12%2Fcomputer-troubleshooting-tips%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Troubleshooting+Tips'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2011%2F01%2F12%2Fcomputer-troubleshooting-tips%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>Computer problems are frustrating.  Becoming frustrated during the troubleshooting process will only lead to more problems.  So the important thing to do first is take a deep breath, think happy thoughts, and plan out your course of action.  Have tools ready, restore disks and drivers.  This will save you time and patience.</p>
<p>Before you begin, jot down notes about any recent activity you have taken:  Have there been any software changes?  Did you recently add any new hardware?  Did you unplug the PC and move it across the room?</p>
<p>If there have been no changes to the PC or its environment, then its time to pay attention to precisely what happens, if anything, when the PC boots.</p>
<p><span id="more-2402"></span></p>
<p>Your first clues will be given during the POWER ON SELF TEST (POST).  A successful test results in a short, single beep.  This means that the BIOS received no errors from the hardware initializing during the boot process.  If there was a problem, the BIOS would issue a beep code specific to the BIOS manufacturer that describes the nature of the problem.  It is important to know what BIOS is on your motherboard.  You can determine this by watching the name that flashes in the upper left corner during boot, or by opening the case open and looking for the BIOS chip.  Common BIOS manufacturers are AMI BIOS, AWARD and PHOENIX.  An example of an Award BIOS beep code for a video card problem would be one long beep followed by two short beeps.</p>
<p>If you get no beep code, and everything seems to be spinning inside the case, then the main culprit is probably the processor.</p>
<p>Memory – Memory errors could generate a “201: Memory Error” message on the screen. Any error codes beginning with 2 indicate a memory error.</p>
<p>Keyboard – a problem with the keyboard will result in a “301: Keyboard Failure” error message followed by a short beep. System may halt or may ignore the error.</p>
<p>Floppy – any problems will result in a “601: Floppy Disk” error code appearing on the screen.</p>
<p>The Power Supply, or PSU, is another main culprit in hardware failures.  The Power Supply is the first connection to the outside world and can be damaged by unclean power, brown-outs, spikes and blackouts.  The PSU will appear to function normally, but may actually be damaged.  If you’re lucky nothing will happen when you press the power button.  Nothing at all.  But usually the lights will flash, the hard drives will spin, and you will immediately eliminate the PSU because it appears to be functioning correctly.  Thus, you are taken down a frustrating road of trial and error while attempting to find the source of the hardware problem.</p>
<p>Since power supplies are relatively inexpensive and by far the easiest piece of hardware to swap out.  We recommend replacing this first if there are no POST codes or hints to any other device being bad.</p>
<p><strong>Software Troubleshooting</strong></p>
<p>If the PC passes the POST, the hard drive begins to load the operating system into memory.  Software no w takes over and will sometimes generate errors at this point.  If you cannot boot properly at this point in the game, then you should first see if you can get into SAFE MODE.  Safe Mode is accomplished by repeatedly pressing the F8 key during this critical moment .  A new menu will appear with boot options.  You can choose Safe Mode here or a Step by Step Confirmation that will ask you to confirm when loading devices and drivers.  Keep your note pad handy because if you choose this option, you will need to know exactly what failed.</p>
<p>If, by luck, you are able to get into Windows, you can then run Scandisk (or CHKDSK) to determine if something is wrong with the file structure.  Or you can navigate to the Device Manager in the Control Panel (under SYSTEM) to get a visual on any devices that have errors or or conflicts.  You can disable hardware here or update drivers.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>Whatever the problem is, it’s important to take a step back and look at the situation.  Is it hardware or software?  Did I change anything?  Do I have a backup?  Maybe I should simply reformat and reinstall?  Or perhaps I have a virus or Trojan?</p>
<p>Routinely backup your important documents, do basic preventive maintenance on the fans and keyboard with compress air, use an Uninterruptible Power Source for your power supply, routinely update your virus definitions, and defrag monthly.  These are a few of the basic techniques that will keep things running smooth.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/computer-troubleshooting-tips"target="_blank">http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/computer-troubleshooting-tips</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2402"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2011/01/12/computer-troubleshooting-tips/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hard Drive Troubleshooting</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/08/hard-drive-troubleshooting/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/08/hard-drive-troubleshooting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Nov 2010 08:12:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Troubleshoot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aplications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Attempt Recovery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blue Screens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drive Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Early Warning Signs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glaring Problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hard drive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hard Drives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HDD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Imminent Failure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Model Number]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Partitions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC hardware problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reporting Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Safe Mode]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Select Properties]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Statistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Third Party Software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[windows operating system]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2367</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Your hard drive contains all of your important data, like the Windows Operating System, pictures, music, and other data you do not want to lose. Keeping track of the health of your hdd is a dubious chore. Unfortunately, most people do not realize there is a problem before it’s too late and they lose all [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F08%2Fhard-drive-troubleshooting%2F' data-shr_title='Hard+Drive+Troubleshooting'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F08%2Fhard-drive-troubleshooting%2F' data-shr_title='Hard+Drive+Troubleshooting'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F08%2Fhard-drive-troubleshooting%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>Your hard drive contains all of your important data, like the Windows Operating System, pictures, music, and other data you do not want to lose. Keeping track of the health of your hdd is a dubious chore. Unfortunately, most people do not realize there is a problem before it’s too late and they lose all of their data.</p>
<p>You can spot early warning signs of imminent failure if your hard drive has SMART technology. SMART stands for Self-monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology and will often give you a notice if the drive is experiencing problems. If you see a warning like that at boot, be sure to backup you data and buy a new drive.</p>
<p><strong>Using Third Party Software to Monitor Your Drive</strong></p>
<p>You can use applications that help keep an eye on your drive. HDD Health is one of those aplications. It can give you valuable info about the the disk’s temperature and overall health. It can also give you all of its SMART statistics.</p>
<p>It also shows valuable hdd information, such as the model number, partitions and remaining space.</p>
<p>But unless there is a glaring problem with the drive, there is no way to tell if it is about to fail. In fact, hard drives can fail suddenly and without warning. These tools should be used in addition to the SMART technology built into the drive.</p>
<p><strong>How to Diagnose Problems With Your Hard Drive</strong></p>
<p>Generally speaking, if you begin getting errors or blue screens that you cannot recover from, or if you occasionally cannot boot into Normal Mode or Safe Mode, then your hard drive might be on the way out. Problems will start intermittently and gradually grow worse. If you start experiencing these problems, you can try running chkdsk. Chkdsk will repair errors (if you specify that) and make sure data is no longer written to those areas of the disk. To run a chkdsk, right click the hard drive and select Properties. Under the Tools tab, click Check Now in the Error Checking area. A box will pop up. Choose Automatically Fix Errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors. You will likely need to reboot before the check begins and it could take quite a while.</p>
<p>Make sure the size of the hard drive appears correctly in the BIOS and in My Computer. For instance, if the drive once reported it was 20 Gigs and now reports as 13 Gigs, there could be a problem.</p>
<p>Listen for strange noises from the hard drive. You have been using your PC for a long time, if the hard drive begins making scraping, churning or any other sounds out of the ordinary, then it could mean the drive’s actuator arm is damaged or perhaps the ball bearings on the spindle are starting to go.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/hard-drive-troubleshooting-2"target="_blank">http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/hard-drive-troubleshooting-2</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2367"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/08/hard-drive-troubleshooting/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Computer Sound Problems</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/07/computer-sound-problems/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/07/computer-sound-problems/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2010 09:11:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Troubleshoot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Case Press]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Device Manager]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Double Click]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dxdiag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Error Message]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Error Messages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Function Keys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hardware Tab]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Headphones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pause Key]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC hardware problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Playback]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Powered Speakers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Red X]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sound Capabilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sound Card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sound Cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sound Tab]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Speaker Icon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[System Tray]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2366</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Computer sound problems are often difficult to troubleshoot. There are a lot of components that can affect the playback of sounds on your PC. These can be either hardware or software related. So diagnosing the source of the problem is the first step in repairing your computer’s sound capabilities. If you have a major brand name [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F07%2Fcomputer-sound-problems%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Sound+Problems'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F07%2Fcomputer-sound-problems%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Sound+Problems'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F07%2Fcomputer-sound-problems%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>Computer sound problems are often difficult to troubleshoot. There are a lot of components that can affect the playback of sounds on your PC. These can be either hardware or software related. So diagnosing the source of the problem is the first step in repairing your computer’s sound capabilities. If you have a major brand name PC, such as a Dell, HP, Acer or similar, you should should be able to quickly find troubleshooting information of those respective websites. The tips you’ll find below might require the installation of drivers, which you can also find on those sites.</p>
<p><span id="more-2366"></span></p>
<p><strong>Steps to Troubleshoot Sound Cards</strong></p>
<p>It’s easy to accidentally turn off or mute your sound. If you have a laptop, check for any function keys (FN) that might be used to disable sound. For laptops and PCs, be sure to check the speaker icon in the system tray by your clock. Double-click the icon and make sure all levels are up and not on Mute. It’s also possible to turn off the sound card altogether. To confirm this is not the case, press the Windows key on your keyboard along with the Pause key in the upper left. This will open the system properties screen. Click the Hardware tab, then Device Manager. Scroll down and find your sound card and make sure there are no red “X”s or error messages associated with the sound device. If the device has an “X” over it, right-click to enable it. If there is an error, click through and read the error message for more details.</p>
<p>You should also rule out problems with the speakers. If you have powered speakers, make sure they are turned on and properly connected to your PC. Generally, computers will use a green connector, but your PC may vary. You should also connect a spare set of speakers or even a set of headphones to the back to make sure there is not a problem with the speakers themselves.</p>
<p>If everything checks out so far, try going to Start&gt;Run and in the dialogue box type dxdiag and hit return.  Next, click the Sound tab and then click the Test DirectSound. You may not hear anything or you may see error messages displayed. This diagnostic displays the sound device and the driver version for your computer. Write down this information, then visit the manufacturer of the computer or the sound card and look for an newer driver version. The driver can then be updated through the Device Manager.</p>
<p>Windows also has a troubleshooter included in the Operating System. To run through it, click Start&gt;Help and Support and then look for Fixing a Problem. You then need to find Games, Sound and Video Problems. This will walk you through several things to try with your PC.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/computer-sound-problems"target="_blank">http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/computer-sound-problems</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2366"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/07/computer-sound-problems/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Computer Monitor is Blank</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/06/computer-monitor-is-blank/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/06/computer-monitor-is-blank/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Nov 2010 09:03:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Troubleshoot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bad Power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computer monitor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Monitors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CRT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Electrical Outlet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[External Power Supply]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Image]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[laptop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lcd Backlight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Monitor Computer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motherboard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC hardware problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pc Monitor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Monitor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Source]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Strips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Troubleshooting Computer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video Cable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video Cables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video card]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2365</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If your computer monitor is blank, you need to determine if the problem is the monitor or the PC. But it can also be caused by bad power and video cables, or even a bad power source. So if your monitor is blank, these steps should help you determine isolate the problem. Keep in mind [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F06%2Fcomputer-monitor-is-blank%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Monitor+is+Blank'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F06%2Fcomputer-monitor-is-blank%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Monitor+is+Blank'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F06%2Fcomputer-monitor-is-blank%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>If your computer monitor is blank, you need to determine if the problem is the monitor or the PC. But it can also be caused by bad power and video cables, or even a bad power source. So if your monitor is blank, these steps should help you determine isolate the problem. Keep in mind there are a lot of factors that can contribute to a blank monitor, such as a bad video card, motherboard or power supply in the PC. On the monitor side, you could have issues with its power supply, cables or the LCD backlight itself.</p>
<p><span id="more-2365"></span></p>
<p><strong>Troubleshooting Computer Monitors</strong></p>
<p>The first thing you should determine is if the monitor is a CRT or a flat panel. CRTs are older and prone to fail with buzzing sounds, such as a TV would. Flat panels can have a backlight go, which means it needs to be replaced. You should check to make sure the monitor is getting power, then play with the buttons on the front to confirm the brightness is turned all the way up. If you still see nothing, disconnect the video cable from the computer and see if a monitor disgnostic image comes up on the screen. Most newer monitors will display this image when there is no power to the monitor. It is a way to easily tell users that the monitor is okay but that there is no signal coming from the PC. If you recall seeing this diagnostic in the past but it does not show now the monitor is probably bad. Try it on another PC if you can to confirm.</p>
<p>You should also go directly into an outlet and by-pass any power strips you might be using. Plugging into an electrical outlet you know works can help narrow your power issues. You should also check any external power supply the monitor might have. Depending on the model, some have the power supply located in the cable, just as a laptop would. If this is the case, there should be a light on the power supply indicating it is OK. If you have a standard power plug, try replacing that with another.</p>
<p><strong>Troubleshooting The Computer</strong></p>
<p>If you have determined the problem is with the computer, you should make sure all connections are secure. Remove both ends of the VGA cable and inspect the entire cable for damage. Confirm the pins are not bent and then reconnect the cable. If the computer has a second video input, try the second one. Occasionally, a computer will have an on-board graphics adapter as well as a card that was later added by the user. Try going back to the original and see if this helps. If so, you may need to tell the BIOS which output to use. If the monitor comes on when the PC first boots but then shuts off when Windows loads, you probably have a bad video driver. Try tapping the F8 key at boot to get into Safe Mode. From here, you can download a new graphics driver from the manufacturer or roll-back the old driver from within the Device Manager. If the monitor is blank from the instant you turn on the computer, you have a computer hardware problem that could be the graphics card, motherboard or even the power supply.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/computer-monitor-is-blank"target="_blank">http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/computer-monitor-is-blank</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2365"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/06/computer-monitor-is-blank/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Computer Will Not Start</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/05/computer-will-not-start/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/05/computer-will-not-start/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:22:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Troubleshoot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Repair Shop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Shop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hard drive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hardware Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local Computer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Multimeter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Power Supplies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Optical Drives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paperclip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC hardware problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Connector]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Strip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Supply Plug]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video card]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2360</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If your computer will not start, meaning it seems like it is dead or partially dead, then you probably have a bad power supply. There are, of course, other components that can cause a no power issue, but usually we need to start at the source and check the power supply first. The power supply [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F05%2Fcomputer-will-not-start%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Will+Not+Start'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F05%2Fcomputer-will-not-start%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Will+Not+Start'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F05%2Fcomputer-will-not-start%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>If your computer will not start, meaning it seems like it is dead or partially dead, then you probably have a bad power supply. There are, of course, other components that can cause a no power issue, but usually we need to start at the source and check the power supply first. The power supply is at the rear of the PC, usually near the top of the case, and it is what gets plugged into the wall or power strip. If you open the case, you will notice the power supply is more complex inside. You will have a main power connector that is either a 20-pin or a 24-pin. You will also have multiple connectors that go to various components in the case, like the hard drive, optical drives and sometimes even the video card.</p>
<p>There are a couple of ways to test the power supply. The easiest is to purchase a cheap Power Supply Tester. You can also use a multimeter to check for proper voltages of 3.3, 5.5 and 12.</p>
<p><span id="more-2360"></span></p>
<p>You can also try running a jump from the PS_ON pin–the one with the green wire to a black ground lead. A paperclip can be used for this test.</p>
<p>Power off the computer, disconnect the power supply from the wall outlet. Insert one end of the paperclip down into the space where the green wire attaches to the power supply plug. Do the same for the black wire using the other end of the paper clip.</p>
<p>If the computer fires up, then you have a bad power supply. You can buy new power supplies straight from the manufacturer or go through your local computer repair shop. If you know exactly what type you need, you can purchase them online, as well.</p>
<p><strong>Resolution Summary:</strong></p>
<p>Check the power supply with a power supply tester.</p>
<p>You can also use a multimeter.</p>
<p>Jump the PS-ON lead to a ground wire.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/computer-will-not-start" target="_blank">http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/computer-will-not-start</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2360"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/05/computer-will-not-start/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How To Check A Power Supply</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/04/how-to-check-a-power-supply/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/04/how-to-check-a-power-supply/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:11:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Troubleshoot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Budget Brand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Supply]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Effor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Extra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Graphics Card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hard Drives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money Tester]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Much Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Multimeter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC hardware problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Supply Fan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[power supply unit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Powerful Graphics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Proper Voltage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PSU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PSU problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Swapping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2359</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Your computer’s power supply is the single most important component in the case. But it’s also the most boring, so when it comes time to skimp on costs, the power supply is often a generic or budget brand. Sometimes this is okay. But often the power supply acts erratic, causes restarts and errors because other [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F04%2Fhow-to-check-a-power-supply%2F' data-shr_title='How+To+Check+A+Power+Supply'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F04%2Fhow-to-check-a-power-supply%2F' data-shr_title='How+To+Check+A+Power+Supply'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F04%2Fhow-to-check-a-power-supply%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>Your computer’s power supply is the single most important component in the case. But it’s also the most boring, so when it comes time to skimp on costs, the power supply is often a generic or budget brand. Sometimes this is okay. But often the power supply acts erratic, causes restarts and errors because other components are not getting the consistent voltage they require. If you are experiencing problems you cannot quickly isolate, be sure to test the power supply and rule it out before spending too much money.</p>
<p><strong>Tips on Troubleshooting a Power Supply</strong></p>
<p>Most families have a other computers of similar size. Before you spend money on a tester or a new power supply, you might try just swapping in a power supply you know works. That is the low-tech solution, but it often takes a lot of extra effor that people aren’t willing to expend.</p>
<p><span id="more-2359"></span></p>
<p><strong>Buy a Power Supply Tester</strong><br />
You can buy a power supply tester for relatively cheap. While a multimeter is a better overall solution because you can use it for other things, a power supply tester is a fast and easy way to tell if the PSU is good.</p>
<p><strong>Check For Proper Voltage</strong><br />
Check the voltage setting on the back of the power supply. While this is not likely the problem, just confirm it is set correctly for your region. If the computer was recently moved, it’s possible the switch was moved. 115v is typical for the United States.</p>
<p><strong>Make Sure Power Supply Fan is Working</strong><br />
If you have an older PC, you should make sure the fan on the power supply is working. If it’s not, you need to replace the power supply immediately. You can sometimes blow them out with compressed air, but if it is not spinning at all, the power supply must be replaced.</p>
<p><strong>Is the Power Supply Powerful Enough?</strong><br />
Lastly, you should make sure your power supply is rated high enough for your needs. If you built the system a few years ago, you have probably added extra hard drives, a more powerful graphics card and maybe some new RAM. Make sure your power supply has enough voltage to handle it all. Try this Power Supply Calculator.</p>
<p><strong>Resolution Summary:</strong></p>
<p>1. You can swap out the power supply with a known good one.<br />
2. You can buy a cheap power supply tester.<br />
3. You must make sure all necessary power supply connectors are attached.<br />
4. Check the voltage setting in the back of the power supply and make sure it’s set for your region.<br />
5. Make sure your PSU fan is working.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/how-to-check-a-power-supply"target="_blank">http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/how-to-check-a-power-supply</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2359"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/04/how-to-check-a-power-supply/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Troubleshooting A Dead Computer</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/03/troubleshooting-a-dead-computer/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/03/troubleshooting-a-dead-computer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:44:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Troubleshoot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cable Plugs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer One]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Problems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Repair Shop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Shop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culprit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dead Computer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Emails]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Knowledge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hardware Problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Cable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Supply]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shop Around The Corner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Signs Of Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Starters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supply Power Supplies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Warranty]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2354</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most difficult computer problems for a home user is troubleshooting a dead computer. When we mean “dead” we mean no signs of life at all. Where do you even begin? The average user doesn’t know the internal workings of their computer–and they shouldn’t have to. So when things go wrong, they do [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F03%2Ftroubleshooting-a-dead-computer%2F' data-shr_title='Troubleshooting+A+Dead+Computer'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F03%2Ftroubleshooting-a-dead-computer%2F' data-shr_title='Troubleshooting+A+Dead+Computer'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F11%2F03%2Ftroubleshooting-a-dead-computer%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>One of the most difficult computer problems for a home user is troubleshooting a dead computer. When we mean “dead” we mean no signs of life at all. Where do you even begin? The average user doesn’t know the internal workings of their computer–and they shouldn’t have to. So when things go wrong, they do not know where to begin to diagnose and either fix the problem or make arrangements to have the problem corrected. The following steps will help give you some general knowledge of what could be wrong with your PC and give you some ideas on how to fix it or provide you with enough knowledge to prevent you getting ripped off at the computer repair shop.</p>
<p><span id="more-2354"></span></p>
<p>For starters, if the computer is still under warranty, do not open the case, as this will void your warranty. HP, Dell and any other major manufacturer will respond quickly to your problems and arrange for you to send the computer in, or they might opt to send a technician out to work on the computer. If you bought the PC at a shop around the corner, send emails and begin a paper trail on the issue.</p>
<p>With that said, a completely dead computer will usually have either a bad motherboard, bad power supply, or a faulty case. The following steps will help you find out which is the culprit. Well start with the easiest and work our way down to the hardest. One of the first things you’ll want to do is unplug the computer and take it to a table where you can lay it flat. Open the case and check the connections to see if you notice anything blatantly wrong, then proceed with the steps below.</p>
<p><strong>Diagnosing A Bad Power Supply</strong></p>
<p>Power supplies can fail without warning. The worse part is, they can partially fail. This means you might be getting power to the motherboard, the fans and other components, but you do not have the correct voltages to start the motherboard.The power supply is located at the back of the case, and is where the power cable plugs into the PC.</p>
<p>1. Your first step should be to plug the computer directly into the wall and bypass any power strips. You should also confirm the outlet is working properly.<br />
2. Make sure the red voltage regulator switch on the back is set to 115 if you reside in the United States, people in some countries will need to set theirs to 230. With the power off and unplugged, try toggling the switch to 230, then back to 115 to make sure it is seated in the right position.<br />
3. Next, buy a power supply tester. Computer techs will use a multimeter to test for proper voltages. Normal users can just buy a power supply tester. These are cheap and easy to use.<br />
4. If your power supply is bad, buy one of equal or greater power. If your current power supply is 350WT, be sure to get one that’s 350WT or higher.</p>
<p>A power supply will tend to fail before anything else, as they take the most abuse. They are the front line when a power surge or brown out occurs. The good news is, they are extremely easy to replace should you find this is the problem.</p>
<p><strong>Diagnosing A Bad Computer Case</strong></p>
<p>While a dead PC will either normally be a bad power supply or bad motherboard, the next easiest thing to troubleshoot is the case. How can a case go bad? A case has minimal smarts, but it does have wires leading from the power button to the motherboard that can go bad, and some even have advanced I/O panels that can fail.</p>
<p>1. You can try bypassing the case switch. This means you are initiating the power-on sequence without using the button on the front of the case. For this, you will need a good set of eyes and a small, flat-head screw driver. The idea is to find the wire leading from the power button to the motherboard that’s marked something like POWER SW or POWER ON. It will cover two pins on the motherboard. Carefully, with the computer plugged in, touch tip of the flat head screwdriver to both of those pins at the same time, thus “shorting” them. You will not get shocked by doing this, but you need to be careful not to scratch the motherboard. Read more on bypassing the case switch here.<br />
2. If you have a Dell computer, read how to test a Dell I/O panel here.</p>
<p><strong>Diagnosing A Bad Motherboard</strong></p>
<p>The motherboard is the hardest thing to diagnose and replace. If your motherboard is proven to be bad, it must be removed from the case and replaced. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of stuff plugged into the motherboard, such as the CPU, RAM, PCI cards, Video Cards, hard drives, CD / DVD drives, power supply and fans. There are also tricky connections that must be made to the case’s power and reset switches. So replacing a bad motherboard is a long process. A bad motherboard will be determined by the following:</p>
<p>1. If all of the above are not the problem, the motherboard is the problem by default.<br />
2. A bad motherboard might have visual signs of damage, such as bulging or leaking capacitors. See below.<br />
3. With the computer unplugged, try holding in on the power button for twenty seconds. This will drain the capacitors of any excess power. The computer might start up and work fine forever. If the computer starts, then fails again after doing this, then the motherboard is bad.<br />
4. Try removing any non-essential cards and drives in the computer. You do not need modems, sound cards, hard drives, CD / DVD drives, or floppy drives connected to boot. Our goal is to get a clean power-up situation, not boot into windows. If you remove non-essential parts and you still have no power, then the motherboard is bad.</p>
<p>In Conclusion, technicians will have more advanced tools and diagnostic equipment to quickly find the problem with your PC. But it will usually be one of the above that is causing the problem in a no power scenario.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/troubleshooting-a-dead-computer"target="_blank">http://www.pctechbytes.com/troubleshooting/troubleshooting-a-dead-computer</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2354"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2010/11/03/troubleshooting-a-dead-computer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Computer Will Not Boot</title>
		<link>http://techspedia.com/2010/10/25/computer-will-not-boot/</link>
		<comments>http://techspedia.com/2010/10/25/computer-will-not-boot/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:32:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Techspedia</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How To Troubleshoot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anticipation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cables]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Hardware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Hardware Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computer trouble]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Correct Power Supply]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fan Activity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Heat Sink]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motherboard Socket]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Computer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Novice Pc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pc Technician]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC troubleshooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Button]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Strip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Power Supply Voltages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reset Switches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thin Wires]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time And Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video Cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Voltmeter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wall Socket]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://techspedia.com/?p=2323</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Whether you’re a novice or an expert PC technician, we’ve all had an experience when a new PC would not boot. There’s no worse feeling than pushing the power button on the front of a new machine an hearing absolutely nothing. This article will focus on some of the common problems with new builds and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><div class='shareaholic-like-buttonset' style='float:none;height:30px;'><a class='shareaholic-googleplusone' data-shr_size='medium' data-shr_count='true' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F10%2F25%2Fcomputer-will-not-boot%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Will+Not+Boot'></a><a class='shareaholic-fblike' data-shr_layout='button_count' data-shr_showfaces='false' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F10%2F25%2Fcomputer-will-not-boot%2F' data-shr_title='Computer+Will+Not+Boot'></a><a class='shareaholic-fbsend' data-shr_href='http%3A%2F%2Ftechspedia.com%2F2010%2F10%2F25%2Fcomputer-will-not-boot%2F'></a></div><div style="clear: both; min-height: 1px; height: 3px; width: 100%;"></div><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetTop Automatic --><p>Whether you’re a novice or an expert PC technician, we’ve all had an experience when a new PC would not boot. There’s no worse feeling than pushing the power button on the front of a new machine an hearing absolutely nothing. This article will focus on some of the common problems with new builds and help to reduce the computer troubleshooting time when diagnosing problems with your new computer.</p>
<p><strong>Take A Quick Visual Of The Computer</strong></p>
<p>You should have already done this before trying to power up the PC, but a lot of novice PC builders will skip this step in anticipation of powering up their new machine. This step may save you time and money. First, triple check to make sure the CPU is sitting flat on the motherboard socket. It’s probably hard to tell because of the heat sink, but if the entire CPU and heat sink combo looks skewed, then chances are it’s not installed properly. Next, go over the IDE cables and the thin wires running from the power and reset switches to the motherboard. While the IDE cables are keyed, it’s quite possible to get those case wires backwards or completely. Lastly give the PC a little shake. Make sure an errant screw didn’t fall behind the motherboard during the install. This could blow the motherboard or cause the system to go to ground.</p>
<p><span id="more-2323"></span></p>
<p><strong>Computer Hardware Troubleshooting</strong></p>
<p>When a new PC will not boot, a good place to start is the power supply. Is the machine getting power? If there is no fan activity at the rear of the power supply, then the power supply isn’t working. First, check the wall socket and power strip to make sure power is actually being supplied to the computer. If there is power to the outlet, confirm that the | / O lever in the back is set to |. Then confirm that the voltage is set to 110V in the USA or 220V in countries that require that setting. If you have a voltmeter, you might want to consider testing the power supply. Refer to the pin out chart for the correct power supply voltages.</p>
<p><strong>Troubleshooting Video Cards</strong></p>
<p>If the system powers up, but you get nothing on the screen, the video card may be the culprit. First, confirm the video cable is secured to the video card’s output. If the motherboard has built in video, and you’re using a PCI-E or AGP card, make sure the cable is secured to the correct port. Also, check for bent pins on the connector and confirm the monitor works and the brightness controls are set correctly. Do you hear any beeps? If so, refer to our BIOS beep code chart. It’s always a good idea to reseat the RAM and video card when you get the “No Signal Displayed” message on the monitor.</p>
<p><strong>Dead Motherboard or CPU</strong></p>
<p>Improper installation of the motherboard and CPU can cause instant failure. We like to install the CPU and RAM modules on the motherboard before installing the motherboard in the case this is because it sometimes requires some effort to get the heat sink seated properly on the CPU. The CPU itself should slide effortlessly into place and lock without any problems with the lever. If you require resistance when installing the CPU, make sure the CPU’s pins are properly aligned to the socket on the motherboard. Apply the correct amount of thermal grease or tape as recommended by the manufacturer, then install the heat sink. The heat sink should rest flatly on top of the CPU.</p>
<p>As for the motherboard, refer to the manual about each of the connections to the case. A common problem area are the standoffs between the case and motherboard, and the connection of the thin wires from the power and reset switches to the motherboard.</p>
<p><strong>BIOS BEEP Codes</strong></p>
<p>You will often receive a BIOS beep code when there is a hardware issue with the PC. You should determine the BIOS residing on the motherboard by physically looking for the BIOS chip on the motherboard. Look for something like AMI-BIOS, AWARD BIOS or PHOENIX. Refer to our BIOS Beep Code Chart when diagnosing beep code errors. This will often lead you quickly to the source of the hardware problem.</p>
<p><strong>In Conclusion</strong></p>
<p>While these new computer installations can be frustrating, it’s important to take a step back and think before you do more damage. Take a nap or a walk and then look at the problem with fresh eyes. If you need further assistance, you may consult a certified technician.</p>
<p>source: <a href="http://www.pctechbytes.com/hardware/computer-will-not-boot"target="_blank">hhttp://www.pctechbytes.com/hardware/computer-will-not-boot</a></p>
<div class="shr-publisher-2323"></div><!-- Start Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic --><!-- End Shareaholic LikeButtonSetBottom Automatic -->]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://techspedia.com/2010/10/25/computer-will-not-boot/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

