One of your end-users called with a problem; when working on their PC, they heard a small “pop” and the screen went dark and all of the lights on the front panel of the computer went dark. There was no visible smoke, but there was a subtle burning smell. What are the next steps for troubleshooting this problem?
A) The most common failure of a moving part inside of a computer is the hard drive. Replace the hard drive and try powering on the system.
B) Restore the operating system from the original installation media.
C) Use a multimeter to test the power connections from the wall outlet, into the power supply, and onto the motherboard.
D) The cost involved in troubleshooting the problem would be too expensive to justify. Replace the entire system with a new computer.
Answer: C) Use a multimeter to test the power connections from the wall outlet, into the power supply, and onto the motherboard.
A popping sound, the loss of power, and a burning smell are clearly related to the electrical system of the computer. Using a multimeter, you can quickly determine if the problem is related to the power source, the computer’s power supply, or the motherboard itself.
The incorrect answers:
A) The most common failure of a moving part inside of a computer is the hard drive. Replace the hard drive and try powering on the system.
It’s true that the hard drive is one of the hardest working mechanical devices inside of a computer, but the failure of a hard drive doesn’t include the complete loss of power to the entire computer. Most often, hard drive problems include error messages or ominous clicking noises from the computer case.
B) Restore the operating system from the original installation media.
Since the computer has no power, the installation of a new operating system isn’t going to get very far.
D) The cost involved in troubleshooting the problem would be too expensive to justify. Replace the entire system with a new computer.
The prices of computers are low, but they aren’t THAT low. Also keep in mind that the cost of replacing a computer includes setup costs, administrative overhead, and the work lost before the new system is installed. Before completely replacing the system, it would be useful to know if the problem was a minor power supply failure or a much more expensive motherboard issue.
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Want to know more? Watch “Installing and Troubleshooting Computer Power.”Troubleshooting power problems with personal computers goes well beyond the power cord. In this module, we’ll show you how to use a circuit tester and multimeter to troubleshoot power on the motherboard, the PC components, and the power outlets themselves. You’ll also learn about power protection systems and the process for installing a PC power supply. |