How To Identify Failed Components

This article i wrote will teach you how to identify failed hardware/software components with safety precautions. Please consider subscribing to my full feed RSS via e-mail.





The system parts

Computer system parts will consist of:-

1. BIOS
2. Bits
3. Boots
4. Bus
5. Card
6. CD-Rom
7. Driver
8. Hardware
9. Software
10.Motherboard
11.Modem
12.CPU
13.Ram
14.Rom
15.Ports

Functions of system parts

Bus - an electronic pathway through which data is transmitted between components in a computer.

Card - a printed circuit board that adds some feature to a computer.

CD-Rom - an acronym for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory.

CPU - the Central Processing Unit. The processing chip that is the "brain" of a computer.

Floppy - a 3.5 inch square rigid disk which holds data. (so named for the earlier 5.25 and 8 inch disks that were flexible).

Hard Drive - a large capacity storage device made of multiple disks housed in a rigid case.

Memory - the temporary holding area where data is stored while it is being used or charged; the amount of RAM a computer has installed.

PCI - acronym for Peripheral Component Interchange - the newer, faster bus architecture.

Peripheral - an add-on component to your computer.

Port - a connection socket, or jack on the Mac.

RAM - acronym for Random-Access Memory.

ROM - acronym for Read Only Memory; memory that can only be read from and not written to.

SCSI Port - a 25 pin connector on the back of a Mac (native SCSI port); used to connect SCSI devices to the CPU. Some SCSI cards (like the ATTO) have a 68 pin connector.

Serial Port - a port that allows data to be transmitted in a series (one after the other), such as the printer and modem ports on a Mac.

Uninterrupteble Power Source (UPS) - a constantly charging battery pack which powers the computer. A UPS should have enough charge to power your computer for several minutes in the event of a total power failure, giving you time to save your work and safely shut down.

Determine faulty parts

From the knowledge of computer system and function of system parts, you will be able to determine the faulty parts of the computer systems. Faulty parts such as malfunction of the plug and play devices, hardware of the computer systems and how to detect the smell or smoke from the computer systems.

Faulty parts such as:-

1. motherboard
2. display card
3. sound card
4. floppy disk
5. harddisk
6. ram
7. ports

Use hand tools

The hand tools used for maintaining the computer unit system are screwdriver, long nose pliers user service manuals and anti-static wrist band to prevent from electricity shock.

Adhere to safety precautions

Each maintenance jobs that carried out must have safety precaution. This is because the unit system are all electrical components and there will be current inside the units system. All the maintenance jobs will have to wear the anti-static wrist band to prevent from electrical shock. Prevention is better than cure and all the safety regulations rules have to follow when carrying out maintenance jobs.

Assembly/dissemble procedures

Assembly and dissemble computer faulty parts procedures are:-

1. check on faulty parts (smells, burn out or smoke)
2. plug and play devices
3. drivers of the computer systems or faulty parts
4. configuration
5. use hand tools to assemble/dissemble the faulty parts
6. change it with correct parts

Hardware/software settings

The software settings consists of installation of the software, register for the software and how to uninstall the software from the computer. Each software has a different serial number and each serial number are unique and only can be used in only one computer. Installation of the software to the computer depends on the capabilities of the computer that can support the software.

\User Configuration\Software Settings is for software settings that applying to users regardless of which computer they log on to.

The hardware settings will be consists of driver, IRQs settings. This settings will rely on the software of the computer systems to support the hardware. Operating system are the main software to enable the settings for each hardware. Every hardware have a different driver and configuration to enable them to comply with the regulations and the computer system.

Parts adjustment and alignment procedures

Adjustment and alignment procedures are as followed:-

1. make sure the IDE cable are not broken or bend
2. make sure the IDE cable plug in the parts correctly according to PIN
3. all the color code of wiring are correct
4. parts have to be set as primary or secondary
5. cpu are equipment with ventilation or fan
6. configuration of hardware (check whether it is plug and play devices)
7. drivers of the hardware are correct

Use hardware/software setting tools

Hardware and software settings tools will consist of:-

1. test pen
2. long nose pliers
3. screw driver
4. anti-static wrist band
5. checklist
6. hardware driver
7. software driver

All the devices you will be able to handle them to make adjust or align of the installation parts of computer system.

Execute adjustment and alignment procedures

Adjustment and alignment procedures are as followed:-

1. make sure the IDE cable are not broken or bend
2. make sure the IDE cable plug in the parts correctly according to PIN
3. all the color code of wiring are correct
4. parts have to be set as primary or secondary
5. cpu are equipment with ventilation or fan
6. configuration of hardware (check whether it is plug and play devices)
7. drivers of the hardware are correct

Run Test On System

The system

1. BIOS
2. Bits
3. Boots
4. Bus
5. Card
6. CD-Rom
7. Driver
8. Hardware
9. Software
10.Motherboard
11.Modem
12.CPU
13.Ram
14.Rom
15.Ports

Prepare report/inventory/maintenance logs

All maintenance jobs that had been done for each computer have to record down in a log book. This will help or prevent unnecessary things that unwanted people who maintain the computer or damaged the computer. Each record are been wrote down will be a reference for future use. All the things that repair, changes, service or maintain are recorded down in the log book.

Recording procedures

All maintenance jobs have to be recorded down and the recording procedures to write the jobs in the log book are as followed:-

Did you check all Power cords to see if they are plugged into the wall and the computer?

Mouse and Keyboard cable were checked and are plugged into the correct ports. (all cables are color coded)

Was a SCSI scanner plugged into parallel port by accident?

Is there a disk in your "A" drive that prevents the computer from starting up?

Is the monitor plugged into the CPU and turned on?

Is the monitor cable plugged into the monitor?

Are the monitor cable pins straight and not bend?

Is the floppy diskdrive light on constantly with or without a disk?

Any error messages on video display? (if so, please write down)