Hardware Fix

This is another of those computer-related articles that I read about, summarized, put up and edit from time to time. I shall name this article, "Hardware Fix" (pretty self-explanatory XD)

If the computer fails to start up normally and makes beeping sounds, then there is hardware problem. This website lists down the beeps and the explanation.
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm
If it's memory or graphics card related, try removing them and then putting them back as they tend to become loose over time.

If there's no beep, then it's time for some detective work. If possible, find a working computer to swap the components and find out which is working and which is not. Remember to make sure you are free from static by grounding yourself.

1st scenario: You push the power button and nothing happens. No sound from the speakers, no fans spinning and nothing appears on the monitor.
1. Make sure the power cable is not loose and the fuse in the plug hasn't fried. (Surprisingly a lot of people tend to forget this step :P)
2. Make sure the power outlet is working by plugging something else to it.
3. Listen closely to the hard disk. If there's no spinning, chances are the power supply or motherboard is dead.
Borrow a power supply from a friend to check if this solves the problem.
4. If it doesn't, then the motherboard is probably not channelling the required power to the other hardware components.
If the computer is new, have it sent to the computer shop to fix it. If it's several years old, it's time for a new computer, whoo-hoo!

2nd scenario: The power supply is ok, fans are spinning, LEDs have lighted up or you hear your hard disk spinning but nothing appears on the monitor.
1. The graphics card, video cable or monitor has gone kaput.
Take out the graphics card then put it back again. It may have become loose.
2. Borrow a monitor and try again. If there's still nothing on the screen, then chances are the graphics card is dead. Check the monitor status light. Green or blue means the monitor is receiving signal from the video card and it is sufficiently powered. Orange means the monitor is on standby mode because it is unable to receive video signal. This should only happen when the computer is off.
3. If the monitor is powered on (check all cables and make sure the power button is on) and there is no status light, the monitor is dead. Just to be sure, try connecting the monitor to a different power outlet and switch it on to see if it goes into standby mode.

3rd scenario: The monitor is working but the image is garbled.
1. It's either a faulty graphics card or RAM.
If you have two sticks of RAM, remove one and restart. If it works, and you want to be really sure, restart again with only the other RAM (the one you took out earlier).
2. If it still doesn't work, then it's probably the graphics card.

4th scenario: The monitor is working, the Bios routine is running, but the computer still won't start.
1. Probably the hard disk has crashed. Or it could be due to software problem, which I will post in the article.

On a relevant topic, if you tweaked with the Bios and killed your computer, reset the settings again by pressing the appropriate key when the computer starts up, then choosing the default factory setting.

If you fubared it (Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition - I love this word) that you can't even get into the Bios screen, it's time to perform some surgery.

First check from the manual to see if your motherboard comes with a special jumper setting that you can change or a button you can push to cause the Bios to reset automatically. If not, follow the next steps.

Turn off the computer and remove the power cable from the wall outlet. Remember to ground yourself to remove static. Open the PC case and locate the rechargeable battery on the motherboard, which is usually about the size of a 20 sen coin. Remove the battery carefully. Wait for an hour or so for the board to loose all trace of the Bios setting. Replace the battery and the case cover and power the computer up. The Bios setting would have automatically reset to the default setting.

Compiled from The Star, InTech, 29 April 2008