Troubleshooting Motherboards, CPUs, RAM, and Power

Based on the issues below, what component could be the culprit?

• CPU or RAM is not recognized at the correct clock speed

• Adapter card isn’t being seen properly

• The OS isn’t working as it should be with the hardware in the system

• Instead of booting correctly it accesses the BIOS

There are normally issues related to the UEFI/BIOS firmware issues and motherboard issues. Updating the BIOS (or BIOS flash) can fix many of these issues, or making sure that the configuration in the BIOS is setup correctly. Also making sure that the CMOS battery, usually a CR2032 battery, is not discharged, meaning it has to have 2.5 - 3.0 Volts.

• know where to go in the BIOS to view log entries and error messages

When a computer reboots out of nowhere or when you receive random proprietary crash screens (Blue screen of death BSOD) or spinning pinwheel in macOS what could be the issue?

The issue could be Electrostatic discharge (ESD). Or a power surge. Also, a wire, circuit, or capacitor on the motherboard could be the culprit. Be sure to use sure suppressors and UPS’s (uninterruptible power supply)to protect equipment.

What can you do if you suspect there might be a single component failure while motherboard is still working fine?

You can run a Power-on self-test (POST) analysis. This process starts when the computer boots up, it can result in visible codes or audible beeps. These beeps or codes will help you decipher what is wrong with the help of the motherboard manual.

Can component failures cause system lockups, where the OS freezes and the keyboard and mouse become nonfunctional?

Yes, such failures could be due to controller issues, chip set issues, or faulty hard drives

When trouble shooting a CPU what are the 4 things to check for first?

1. be sure all connections are connected properly. Check the main power connections and then the 8- or 4-pin CPU power connection

2. make sure the fan is connected and functional some motherboards have a safeguard that disables booting if the fan is defective or not plugged in

3. check other components, like video card, ram, and motherboard

4. check that heatsink is connected properly. Needs to be flush with the cpu cap and fastened to the motherboard

5. be sure cpu is installed flush to the socket and oriented correctly

Check for overclocking. when applying thermal paste, make sure it is applied to the cpu and not the heatsink

What should you check for first if you suspect the RAM could be causing the problem?

Check

• that ram is fully seated within the ram slot and that the plastic ears are locking the ram into place

• check that the installed ram/memory stick is compatible with the motherboard; proper speed, capacity, configuration, and so on.

What could be the reason for a computer not booting/intermittently shutting down?

no ram in the computer or ram is damaged or not installed securely, but less commonly it could also be a CPU issue

In this case do the following

• make sure ram is compatible

• re-seat the ram

• take ram out, clean the contacts with contact cleaner and clean the slot with compressed air.

• move ram to different slots

• check overheating and if a heat sink is necessary

Can BIOS indicate a memory error?

Yes, it can indicate a memory error though a message on the screen or by beeping. It can indicate if the wrong amount of RAM is installed. Sometimes a BIOS update might resolve the issue due to the current version not being able to identify the latest type of RAM that was installed

If you experience multiple application crashes what could be the culprit?

Faulty RAM or less common, a CPU issue.

If you keep experiencing the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) what could be causing this issue?

Could be due to driver errors, but can also be due to physical faults in memory.

What built in windows program and third party app can you use to test memory programs.

• windows built in: when you run ‘run’ and then type mdsched.exe you can access the windows memory diagnostics tool to test the ram

• you can also use MemTest86 to test RAM