Unit 7 – Installing computer hardware

• 3.4. Add to the video showing how you can test the reassembled computer system for functionality. This will be to test that the newly installed hardware components work without problems. P5

• Task: 3.5 suggest possible solutions to resolve hardware functionality issues. M2

Victor Remes

Gathering test information • When gathering test information you will

need to run tests so that you can find out if there is any problems with your computer and that all the hardware works properly if not you will need to record it so you will know which passed and which failed.

• The programs that you should use is utility software such as CHKDSK which is the one of the utility programs that allows you to check the file system and statues on the hard drive. The CHKDSK command lists and correct errors on the disk.

Gathering test information • Run - time analyser is used to check and see what programs are running and how

much computer facilities they are using. It checks the information about the connections, the data that is transferring and how the computer is behaving. One of the main run – time analyser is task manager which you access by using the Ctrl+Alt+Del key together at the same time.

• Task manager gives you useful information about the program that you have open, how much processor time they are using and the services. It is also used for monitoring the computers performance or to close some programs that’s not responding.

System information • After installing your hardware you can check that you system has recognised it

by going into system properties.• To go into system properties you will need to click on ‘Start’ then right - click on

‘Computer’ then click on properties. Then a new window should pop-up and there you will be able to see what has been updated on you computer system.

• For example if you installed a 4GB RAM to the 4GB RAM that you have on your computer you should see that your RAM has been added to your old one in your system properties which would be added up to 8GB if the RAM that you installed didn’t add to you old RAM then your new one hasn’t been installed properly.

Packet InterNet Groper (PING)• Packet InterNet Groper (PING) is a utility program

that specific IP address is able to be accessed. It works by sending a packet to the address and waits for an reply. PING is used commonly to troubleshoot internet connections

CCleaner • CCleaner has two main uses, it can scan for and delete

unwanted files which frees up space. The second it can erases private data like your browsing history and a list of your most opened files in different programs.

• Features • Cleans missing & corrupted Registry

• Start-up Manager & Software Uninstaller

• System Restore to saved points

• Include & Exclude Cookies - CCleaner

• Speedup PC Performance - CCleaner

• Track erasers for Browsers & Windows

Loose connection

• Loose connection can be caused if you didn’t plug in the wire properly. For example if you install a hardware you will need to make sure that the wires are plugged in properly, if the wire isn't plugged in properly you know that it’s not working because your computer wouldn’t be able to detect it because the cables isn’t plugged in properly.

M2 Solution:• You will have to make sure all the wire are properly plugged

into the computer before you switch it on.

Jumper setting

Jumper setting are small connectors that fits over two pins on device such as a hard drive which is used to configure it. Using the jumper setting will allow you to install another hard drive with the same cable, You can use the jumper setting to use your primary hard drive and your secondary hard drive. If you want to make sure that you install the jumper settings properly check the manual.

Power supply

• If you have any problems with the power supply such as that your computer isn’t turning on it’s probably because you didn’t plug it in to the main power. You would probably have problems with the computer’s power supply itself or your computer has turn off after amount of time because of temperature.

• M2 Solution:• If you have these problem you need to replace the

power supply.

Slow access to the PC

• The reason that you computer is running slow is either because there isn’t enough memory (RAM) or you will need to defrag your hard drive.

• M2 Solution:• You will need to add a new RAM to your system or

you will need to defrag your hard drive by using the ‘cmd’ or Norton Utilities.

Viruses • A computer virus is small software programmed by someone to infect or

interfere with someone's computer and continue to do by spreading to another computer.

• What a virus does once it’s in your system it can corrupt or delete the data on your computer and it can erase all the data on your hard drive. It can spread to other computers through your email. you can get viruses by opening e-mail’s attachment ,not installing the latest update, pirating software and media files, no anti - virus protections.

• M2 Solution:• To solve viruses affecting your system is to have the latest anti – virus

software. You will need to sure that scan you computer regularly to make that computer isn’t affected

POST problems • POST stands for (power on self test), what it does it test the

computer to see if all the hardware are working properly before it starts the boot process. If your computer passes the POST test you will hear a beep but if your computer doesn’t pass the test then your computer will create a beep code to notify that there an error.

• M2 Solution:• To prevent this from happening to you will need to make sure that

all the hardware works properly and if any of your hardware tend not to work properly you will need to replace the component and make sure that it works then you wouldn’t have any POST problems.

You get no sound from your speakers

• If you are not getting any sound from your speaker there might be a fault with your sound card or sometimes there might be something wrong with your speakers itself.

• M2 Solution: • If you have these problems you will need to check if

your sound card works properly if it doesn’t you will need to replace it. If not you will need replace your speakers.

Each time the computer boots you receive a prompt for the time and date

• When you start to get this prompt time and date when you boot your computer is because of your CMOS (battery)has a faulty.

• M2 Solution:• if your computer keeps on asking you to enter

the date and time your need to replace the battery (CMOS).

You cannot access the internet

• If you cannot access the internet you would probably have something wrong with connection or with the router.

• M2 Solution: • you would need to check your router and see if

its connected if not you have to contact your ISP (Internet service providers) for more advice.

Computer freezing • If your computer tend to freeze it’s because you probably have

low memory, too many temporally files on your web browsing history and registry errors. Or you might have a virus in your system.

• M2 Solution:

• Make sure that you have the latest anti – virus and utilities software.

• Make sure that you clean your browsing history and registry. Which can bring more space to your computer so that your computer’s performance much more faster.

Running out of memory • Running out memory happens to everybody’s computer. The reason how it happen

is because your RAM (Random access memory) doesn’t have enough space. The RAM stores memory temporarily until you are finished with it. For example if you open a program it will be stored on the RAM until you are finished with it, after you finished with the program and the work that you have done on the program will be stored on to the hard drive.

• So the reason that your memory is running out is because that there isn’t enough space to store the programs on to the RAM or their is a fault with the hardware.

• M2 Solution:• After you finished using the programs save your work to your hard drive and close

the program after you finished doing that.• You could install more RAM to your system.

Unrecognised files

• You can only get unrecognised files only if your file wasn’t downloaded properly or because it was infected by an virus.

• M2 solution: • you will need to make sure that you have the latest anti –

virus software or you have to make sure that you re-download the programs or file again.

• Make sure that you back up all your files.

Overheating • Your computer will tend to overheat because your

computer could be on for a long period of time or if your computer overheats quickly then there is a problem with your computer fan or heat sink which could be faulty.

• Another reason that you computer system overheats is that the fan or the heat sink might have dirt which needs to be cleaned.

• M2 solution:• Make sure that you shutdown your computer if you are not

using it.• Or you will need to replace your computers fan with a new

one.

Unrecognised hard drive

•Unrecognised hard drive can happen because there might be a fault in the hard drive which it probably caused by viruses which can be a big risk to all the documents and programs on your hard drive or there might be some loose connections or the jumper setting hasn’t been installed properly.

M2 solution:•Make sure that all the wires are plugged in properly.•Also make that you have the latest anti-virus software.•Make sure the jumper settings is installed properly.

Your DVD Tray will not open. How can you get it to do so?

• If your DVD tray won’t open because its either trapped inside the tray or there's a faulty with the whole DVD drive. Sometimes a CD or DVD dice might not have been inserted properly which could damage the DVD drive.

• M2 solution:• You can try to open your DVD drive manually by going on my

computer and simple click eject.• Or you can simply use a paper clip and insert it into a small hole next

to the eject button by the tray which is a 50% chance that it might work.

• If they don’t work then you will need to get a new DVD drive because the one that you have might be faulty.

What do you press and when do you do it to go into Safe Mode?

• When you want to go into safe mode you need to press and hold F8 while it is booting up until it get to start menu. Another way to get into safe mode, when you turn on the computer windows should notice that the computer wasn’t booted properly and it will give you a option to select safe mode.