5.1 - CompTIA A+ Core 1

Common symptoms

Power-on-self-test (POST) beeps

• POST is designed to test major system components before booting the operating system. It checks:

  • CPU

  • CMOS

  • Video

  • Memory

  • Storage

  • + more components

• If any component isn’t working correctly, this is indicated with beeps and codes displayed onscreen.

• Check the manufacturer documentation for the different beeps/error messages, and what they are associated with.

Blank screen on boot

• Listen for POST beeps

• Typically indicates a bad graphics card, bad RAM, or a bad CPU

Boot to an incorrect device

• Some external storage devices can attempt to boot before the primary internal storage device - check the device for the external storage media and remove it.

Proprietary crash screens/Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

• Occurs when a serious problem causes Windows to shut down or restart unexpectedly to prevent data loss.

• Contains valuable information that is written to Event Viewer.

• Contact the computer/hardware manufacturer to run debugs/narrow problems

• Startup and shutdown BSOD:

  1. Bad hardware

  2. Bad drivers

  3. Bad application installation

  • Solution: Use a Last Known Good Configuration, run a System Restore, a Rollback Driver, or run Windows in Safe Mode

macOS X Spinning Wait Cursor/Spinning Ball of Death

• The spinning wait cursor indicates that a process needs to be completed before the user can resume using the OS.

• Possible reasons for a never-ending spin:

  1. Application bug

  2. Bad hardware

  3. Slow paging to storage disk

  • Solution: Restart the computer - also check for details in system logs.

Black screen

• Check if the monitor is connected - if the power and signal cables are both connected.

• Check the input selection on the monitor - is the monitor configured to accept the input (i.e., if you’re plugging an HDMI cable, the monitor should be set to accept HDMI input).

• For dim images - check the brightness controls on the monitor

• Swap the faulty monitor for a monitor you know is good - this checks if the problem is specifically the monitor or concerns the computer.

• No video immediately after Windows loads - use VGA mode (F8) to check if the issue concerns a driver or the monitor.

  • VGA mode: Generic video startup mode compatible with nearly all Windows machines/connected monitors.

Proprietary crash screens

• Every application has proprietary crash screens that display specific error messages or codes relevant to the software.

  • Some error messages provide more information than others.

  • Gather as many details about the error as possible (e.g., screenshots) and contact the application manufacturer for more information about crash screens.

No power

• Typically due to:

  1. No power from the outlet

  2. No power from the device power supply/device cord

• If fans are spinning, fans are functioning, but no power is reaching other components. Check:

  1. Where your fan power is connected

  2. A bad motherboard (lack of POST beeps/messages)

  3. Power supply output for the system - check the power supply output voltage. Case fans typically have lower voltage requirements.

Sluggish performance

• Typically due to:

  1. High CPU usgae for some applications - check Task Manager

  2. Out of date OS - update the OS with the latest patches and drivers

  3. Lack of disk space - check for available space and clear/defrag if necessary

     • Defrag/defragmentation: The process of rearranging the data on a storage medium so that related data pieces are stored on a small number of contiguous blocks.

  4. Check for power saving mode - this throttles the CPU

  5. Scan for malware - malicious software can occupy system resources

Overheating

• Check for dust on case fans or other cooling component

Burning smell

• Disconnect the computer from any power source, located the burned components, and replace all the damaged components.

Random shutdown

• Check for faulty hardware

• Check Event Viewer for Mesages just before the computer shuts down

• This may also be a heat-related issue:

  1. Check for high CPU usage

  2. Clear fans and check heat sinks

  3. Check the BIOS for fan status and high temperatures

• Check for failing hardware - has anything been disabled? Also check Device Manager

• Slowly eliminate hardware components that are working to narrow down a faulty component

Application crashes

1. Screenshot any error messages

2. Check Windows Event Viewer for application logs

3. Check Windows Reliability Monitor

4. Delete and reinstall the application to ensure the correct app version has been installed

   • Contact application support

Unusual noise

• Depends on the noise:

  • Rattling: Loose components - typically a heat sink

  • Scraping: Issues with a hard disk drive

  • Clicking: Issues with fan airflow

  • Pop: A blown capacitor

Capacitor swelling

• Capacitors are found on the motherboard - when capacitor swelling occurs, the capacitor appears bulged, and is near exploding.

Inaccurate system date/time

• Due to a faulty CMOS battery - the system may fail to retain the correct date and time settings.

• This can be resovled by replacing the old CMOS battery. For older comptuers, this may reset the BIOS, but this is not a problem on newer systems.