How to Diagnose Computer Problems

Check that cables and components are properly connected. This is especially important if you recently upgraded your computer. Open your computer and check that all cables, RAM chips, video/sound cards, and other components are securely plugged into the motherboard.

Check POST. POST (“Power On Self Test”) is the process of self-testing when the power is on. This is part of your computer’s startup program, used to diagnose keyboards, random access memory (RAM), hard drives, and other hardware to make sure everything is working properly. If the POST detects a hardware failure, the computer displays the error message on the screen or emits a series of short and long “beeps”.

• If an error pops up when your computer boots, type exactly this into Google to find more information about the problem. You can use a mobile phone or another computer if necessary. If a series of “beep” sounds are heard when the computer boots, take note and visit https://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm to see what error the computer is signaling. ^[1]

Check the loading time of the operating system. The time it takes for the operating system to start up depends a lot on the hardware the computer is running on. If the system is taking longer than usual to boot up, it’s possible that the hard drive is having problems and is preventing the computer from gathering information on it.

Check for graphics problems. If the computer boots normally but you see a problem with the screen, it is very likely that the problem is in the driver or the hardware of the graphics card. If you suspect a graphics card problem, you’ll need to update the video card driver first. If the problem is still not fixed, download video card testing software.

Check for hardware problems. Many computer problems are caused by hardware failure or problematic hardware drivers. Windows usually notifies users when the device is malfunctioning. You can also use Device Manager to check the status of various hardware devices. Double-click a category in Device Manager to see all related devices. Then double click on the specific device. If this device has a problem, the error will show up in the “Device Status” box below the “General” tab. Open Device Manager and proceed to check the entire device through the following steps:

• Click the Windows Start menu in the lower left corner.
• Enter Control Panel .
• Double-click Contrp Panel from within the Windows Start menu.
• Click Hardware and Sound .
• Click Device Manager under “Devices and Printers”.

Check for newly installed software. Some software requires more resources than the system can provide. If the problem occurs after certain software launches, this is most likely the cause. If the problem occurs right after the computer boots up, the problem may be with the software that automatically launches with the system. Try uninstalling recently installed programs to see if the problem persists. You should also limit the number of programs that start with the system.

Check RAM and CPU consumption. If your computer is running slow or unstable, you should check to see if there are programs that consume more resources than your computer can handle. The easy way to check this is to use the Task Manager. Right-click the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and select Task Manager . Click the Processes tab and select CPU to see the current CPU usage graph. Then, click Memory to see a graph of RAM consumption.

• If the CPU usage chart runs at 80%-100% most of the time, you should consider upgrading your computer’s processor.
• If your computer uses too much memory, close all unnecessary programs and browser tabs to see if performance improves. At the same time, limit multi-tasking situations on the computer. If the system cannot perform basic operations because of lack of memory, you can purchase and install more RAM (depending on the computer).

Listen as the computer operates. If the hard drive is scratched or making a loud noise, turn it off and do a more in-depth diagnostic of the drive. Besides, you should also pay attention to the sound of the CPU fan. If the fan is blowing hard, it means that the CPU is overheating because of the overload.

• If you suspect a hard drive failure, you should immediately back up any important data on the drive and turn off the computer. If the hard drive really fails, every time the computer starts up will cause further damage to the drive. If you can’t back up your data, remove the hard drive and bring it in to a data recovery professional.

Scan for malware and viruses. Performance problems can be caused by malware on the computer. A virus scan can diagnose the problem. It is recommended that you use a reliable antivirus program that is regularly updated, such as Norton, McAfee, or Malwarebytes.