Hardware Problems

Once you suspect a hardware problem, list the components (internal or external) that might be cause of the problem and then check each component, one at a time. In some cases, this may mean checking internal and external hardware. For example, if your print documents don't reach the printer or you see error messages that say your printer isn't connected to the computer, you'll want to check the USB cable that runs from your computer to the printer to make sure neither of the connections is loose. You'll also want to be sure that your computer's USB port is functioning. You can test this by plugging another USB device, such as a USB flash drive, mouse, or external hard drive into the port.

In some cases, you may suspect that an internal component is damaged, but not be in a position to confirm the detect. If you think that your computer's lost network connection is due to a damaged or incorrectly configured Ethernet NIC ( Network Interface Card), you probablay don't have an extra Ethernet card that you can swap out. This is where the device manager, a built-in windows tool, can help you identify problems without opening your PC or bumming spare parts from your friends. To open the device manager, right click the my computer icon on the desktop, and then click properties. When the system properties window appears, select the hardware tab and then click the device manager button. The device manager dispalys a list of your PC's components by categories, rather than the components themselves. If you want to see the names of your specific CD-RW or DVD-RW drives, for example you'll need to click the plus (+) sign next to DVD/CD-ROM Drives. The list will then expand to reveal all of the components in that category. The exception of this rule, however, if the component that is damaged. If windows knows your NIC isn't working, it will automatically expand the network adapters category to display any networking components in your PC. You'll see the red x, next to the damaged NIC. To learn more about NIC's problem, right click it and then select properties. The general tab of the NIC's properties window includes a device status section that offers a brief explanation of the problem. You can also pinpoint certain problems, such as excessive heat by checking the PC's BIOS, which is a very basic operating system that allows your system's components to communicate. Most BIOSes have a PC Health or status page that lists system fan speeds and system and processor temperatures.