Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
• Check with the motherboard manufacturer to see if an updated BIOS is available.
• Make sure that the processor, expansion cards, memory modules, and so on are fully seated.
• Make sure that all cables are fully connected.
• Make sure that the operating system has the latest service pack and critical updates installed.
• Check the System Log and Application Log in the Windows Event Viewer to see if any
additional error messages have been logged recently. For more information on the Event
Viewer, see either
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427
(Windows XP) or
Windows 8).
Commercial Diagnostics Software
A large number of commercial third-party diagnostics programs are available for PC systems. These
commercial programs are used by technicians to perform testing of new systems (often called
burn-in
testing
) or testing of existing systems either in the shop or in the field.
Here are some of the programs available:
•
AMIDiag Suite
—
www.ami.com
•
Micro-Scope
—
http://micro2000pcdiagnostics.com/
•
PC Diag Professional Suite
—
www.pc-diagnostics.com
•
PC-Doctor Service Center
—
www.pcdservicecenter.com
•
Pc-Check
—
www.eurosoft-uk.com/
•
PC-Technician
—
www.windsortech.com
•
QuickTechPRO
—
www.uxd.com/qtpro.shtml
Unfortunately, these programs can be expensive, and they are often designed more for the professional
technician rather than home or small business users. For most users, open-source or otherwise free
diagnostics provide excellent results.
Free/User Supported Diagnostics
Numerous free or user supported diagnostic programs are available, covering everything from
processors to memory, disk drives, and virtually all other components in a PC. Over the years,
several people have collected and organized this software, creating comprehensive collections of
tools that could be used to troubleshoot systems. The best of these collections are the Ultimate Boot
CD (
http://ultimatebootcd.com
)
and the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows
www.ubcd4win.com
)
.
These bootable CD collections of useful utilities include diagnostics, testing, troubleshooting, and
benchmarking software that is ideal for testing both new and old systems. A key feature of these discs
is that they are bootable, meaning you can test a system completely independently of the existing
operating system and drivers. This allows you to more accurately and efficiently troubleshoot actual
hardware problems.
When building a new system, it is desirable to test the system to see if it is working properly. The
term
burn-in testing
is often used to describe running stress tests or diagnostics on a new piece of
equipment to screen for failures. The idea is to flush out early failures, so burn-in tests are usually
designed to be as stressful as possible. This usually means running tests that are as hard as possible
on the equipment, including running them under maximum temperatures and loads. Two of the
