Chapter Four

Troubleshooting
Windows Problem
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Outline

 Fixing problems caused by Hardware's

 Fixing problems caused by Software's/ Applications
 Troubleshooting windows startup problems
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Is it a Hardware or software
Problem?
A) Hardware B) Software
 A printer stops working.
 A printer prints from a word program but not from pdf reader.
 PC locks up when you open the same program again and again.
 Computer shuts itself off half an hour.
 CD-ROM drive no longer slides open.
 Enter key doesn’t work.
 Mouse stops working on only one program.
 Computer restarts itself again and again.
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4.1 Fixing problems caused by Hardware

 A hardware problem is classified as a fault in an actual component or

in the configuration of that component leading to issues with the
computer. It is distinct from a software problem, which is normally
caused by defect in software/operating system code respectively.

 Hardware faults are normally more difficult to cure as they usually

require case to be opened up and investigated, rather than just
applying a software patch.
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Common Hardware Problems

 More than 70% of all computer problems are related to cabling and
connections. Ensure all cables are connected and connected firmly. IDE
and floppy ribbon cables and power cables can often go loose. Ensure
microprocessor, memory modules, and adapters such as video card are
inserted correctly and didn't "pop-up" due to vibration.
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Common Hardware Problems
 System has no power at all.
 Power light does not illuminate,
 Fan inside the power supply
does not turn on,
 Indicator light on keyboard
does not turn on.
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Common Hardware Problems
 System inoperative.
 Keyboard lights are on,
 power indicator lights are lit,
 and hard drive is spinning.
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Common Hardware Problems
 System does not boot from hard disk drive, can be booted from floppy
disk drive.
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Common Hardware Problems
 After install an expansion card (network card, tape drive card, etc.) the
system no longer works properly.
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Common Hardware Problems
 Screen goes blank periodically.
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Common Hardware Problems
 Keyboard failure.
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Common Hardware Problems
 Keyboard is locked, no keys function.
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Common Hardware Problems
 Cannot boot system after installing second hard drive.
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Common Hardware Problems
 No color on screen.
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4.2 Fixing problems caused by
Software
 How to Deal With the Blue Screen of Death
 Replacing Missing DLL Files
 Applications Not Installing
 Abnormal Applications Behavior
 Applications Run Slowly
 Windows does not detect all of the RAM I have installed
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4.2 Fixing problems caused by
Software
 How to Deal With the Blue Screen of Death
BSODs are extremely difficult to isolate and fix, and if they reoccur
frequently, they often indicate a problem with your system’s hardware or the
drivers that tell your hardware how to operate. Update all the drivers for your
system’s hardware to see if this solves the problem. If the issue continues to
occur, it’s probably time to take your computer to a professional.
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Fixing problems caused by Software

 How to Deal With the Blue Screen of Death

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Fixing problems caused by Software

 Replacing Missing DLL Files

A Dynamic-Link Library (DLL) file is essentially a unique function that
developers can include with their applications. These files contain
instructions for the computer and OS (operating system). If one of these files
is missing, it can cause a lot of problems, especially since there are so many
of them.
The best way to deal with missing DLL files is to rely on the System File
Checker — an integrated Windows utility. It will scan the system files on your
computer’s main hard drive and check to see if anything is missing or
corrupted. It’s entirely possible for files to exist, but they might become
corrupted over time. This can even happen if a hard drive is starting to fail
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Fixing problems caused by Software

 Applications Not Installing

If an application or piece of software is not installing on your computer, it
typically means one of two things. Either the application is not compatible
with your particular operating system, or the software has requirements your
computer does not meet.
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Fixing problems caused by Software

 Applications Not Installing

Sometimes, it may be because your computer doesn't have enough hard
drive space. If this is the case, you need to free up some space. This is one of
the computer problems that's, well, least problematic. You can free up some
hard drive space by getting rid of files and folders you don't need. These
may be temporary files, duplicate files or data for software you've
uninstalled.
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Fixing problems caused by Software

 Abnormal Applications Behavior

Computer problems that involve applications acting strangely oftentimes

leave you wondering what has happened. Your application has been
working just fine, but now, seemingly without reason, it is doing something
strange.
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Fixing problems caused by Software

 Applications Run Slowly

There are several reasons software might be running at turtle speed. You
may have computer problems that involve your operating system or an
application, your operating system might be missing updates or your
computer doesn't have enough hard drive space or RAM. If you don't have
enough hard drive space, you can scan, clean and optimize your hard
drive. And if you don’t have sufficient memory you have to upgrade your
memory.
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Fixing problems caused by Software

 Windows does not detect all of the RAM I have installed

This issue, which can be a problem with computers that have more than four
gigabytes of Random Access Memory (RAM), is evident in the System
window. Instead of listing the proper amount of RAM, Windows will list that
some smaller amount is installed, most likely a number between three and
four gigabytes.
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When will a PC fails to Work?

 A change has been made to the System.

 New device installed
 New software installed
 Downloaded a software from the net. (Screen saver may be)
 An important files has been deleted for some reason.
 The PC is too old
 The system Unit has been opened
 For preventive maintenance routine
 To introduce or maintain a device (like NIC)
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Cont’d

 The PC is new or a newly assembled one. In both cases a component

may be missing or it may be wrongly fixed.

 Poor power supply.

 Power went wrong (high may be).

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The “R” solutions

 If a file is deleted (only delete not shift+delete) and you want to

recover it go to Recycle Bin.
 If a program is missing use System Restore and restore the system
to previous restore point.
 If an application is not working save all files in another location
and Reinstall the application.
 If your Hard disk or flash asks you to format it, format it and use a
Recovery Software to restore your files.
 If your system crashed and you have organized it with new
operating system Restore files from a Back up set.
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Question Based Troubleshooting
Problem One
Display is Black.
Solutions
1. Power
1. Check power
2. Check power connector to Case and Monitor
3. Check the Battery (Laptops)
2. Monitor
1. Check connection b/n PC and Monitor
2. Check brightness and Contrast setting
3. System Unit
1. Check the lights of the drive
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Cont’d

4. Short on motherboard, bad power supply.

5. Verify all the Expansion slot are placed properly

 Chip creep is caused by thermal expansion and contraction

which happens during the heating and cooling of components,
and causes components such as removable chips to shift position
or work their way out of their mounting clips.

6. Try unplugging & disconnecting everything except mother board, PC

speaker and Video card.
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Cont’d

7. Try different power supply

8. Replace RAM
9. Try different CPU
10. Replace Mother Board
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Problem Two
The system is booting but no display
Solutions
1. Check monitor is on.
2. Check monitor is connected to PC.
3. Check for brightness & contrast
4. Replace Video card
5. Replace Monitor
6. Change VGA Slot
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Problem Three
The system emits a series of beeps
Solutions
Check the beep codes in the mother board manual.
Problem Four
The screen displays a numeric error code. (Rare case-only in Modern system)
Solution
Check the codes in the mother board manual.
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Problem Five
System Restarts after loading the OS
Solutions
1. Try log in with safe mode
 Remove any lastly loaded software
 Recover the system to previous restore point
2. Remove any newly added Hardware
3. Check the fans. (Power supply, case and Processor)
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Problem Six
Blue screen with an error message
Reason
Most likely case after power failure.
Solution
Use a bootable disk to recover
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Problem Seven
Missing a file message
Solution
1. Use a bootable disk to recover
2. Coping the missing file
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Problem Eight
Non-System Disk error
Solutions
1. Check the FDD
2. Check the Flash Drive
Problem Nine
Windows was not properly shut down
Solutions
Restart the computer
Automatically starts scandisk
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Problem Ten
Not enough Memory or Insufficient Memory-Virtual memory
Solutions
1. Closing Windows
2. Restart/Reboot
Problem Eleven
No sound comes from the system
Solutions
1. Check for Mute (software & Hardware)
2. Check the Device Driver for the Sound Card
3. Restart System
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Problem Twelve
Machine/System is freezing
Solutions
1. Close applications using task manager
2. Reboot the system
Problem Thirteen
System asks for the date and time always
Solution
Change the CMOS battery
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Problem Fourteen
When I'm opening a web browser what I'm seeing is an advert/ offensive
page, a pop up page and etc.
Reason
An ad software is installed in your system
Solution
1.Change the your Home page address back.
2.Try to remove an known process from the task manager.
3.Disable unknown programs form msconfig startup files.
4.Download an anti spyware and malware software and scan your
system.
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Problem Fifteen
When I'm running a program it displays an error code.
Reason
Missing component or already running process
Solution
1. Try to run a missing component. E.g. start server before running server
script program.
2. Close pervious result windows or end executions.
3. Install missing component.
4. Use a stable version software.
5. Reinstall the software.
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Problem Sixteen
Device is not recognized (extra Hard drive, CD & Floppy drive, Flash, etc)
Solution
Check the following
 driver for the device. There will be a yellow “!” mark in device manager
for that device if not installed or corrupted. Red “X” for disabled.
 is power on or not if applicable. (digital camera)
 the cable connection b/n the device and the system.
 power connection or battery for the device.
 Change a port (for external device) or slot (for internal device).
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4.3 Troubleshooting windows startup
problems
 Start Repair is a Windows recovery tool that can fix certain system
problems like missing or damaged system files. If Windows fails to start
properly, you can often use the startup repair tool to troubleshot it. Here
we will see how to use the built-in Windows recovery tool.
3 Ways to Run a Startup Repair to Fix Windows Startup Problem
1. Run a Startup Repair from Advanced Startup Options
2. Run a Startup Repair from Windows Installation disc or USB Drive
3. Run a Startup Repair from System Recovery Options
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1. Run a Startup Repair from Advanced Startup Options

 If you are experiencing trouble booting into Windows, you can access the
advanced boot options menu, and then run a Startup Repair to
troubleshoot it. Here's how:
 Step 1: Boot to Advanced Startup Options.
 If you are unable to boot into Windows, you can boot to advanced
Startup Option from Hard Reboot like this: Press and hold the power button
on your PC until it powers off. Press the power button on your PC to turn it
on. Repeat power on and off your PC until you see the Windows logo
screen or Please wait during boot.
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1. Run a Startup Repair from Advanced Startup Options
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1. Run a Startup Repair from Advanced Startup Options

When displayed, click on See advanced repair options.

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1. Run a Startup Repair from Advanced Startup Options

Step 2: Click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.

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1. Run a Startup Repair from Advanced Startup Options

Step 3: If prompted, select the OS you want to perform a startup repair on.
Select an administrator account, type in the password for the selected
account. If you have not set password for Administrator, leave it blank, and
click on Continue.
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1. Run a Startup Repair from Advanced Startup Options

Step 4: Startup Repair will now start Diagnosing your PC, and attempt to
automatically repair it.
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2. Run a Startup Repair from Windows Installation disc or USB
Drive

If Startup Repair option at boot cannot automatically repair your

computer, you can run startup repair from Windows Installation disc or USB
drive. If you don't have a Windows installation disc or USB drive, you can
download a Windows ISO from Microsoft and copy it to a USB driver. Then
follow these steps below:
Step 1: Insert Windows installation USB drive into your computer and then
set computer boot from USB drive.
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2. Run a Startup Repair from Windows Installation disc or USB
Drive

Step 2: On Windows 8 or 10, click the Repair your computer in the installer
screen.
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2. Run a Startup Repair from Windows Installation disc or USB
Drive

Step 3: Then select Troubleshoot > Startup Repair to run startup repair.

On Windows 7, click a Repair your computer link, and then Windows will run
the startup repair tool.
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3. Run a Startup Repair from System Recovery Options

• If you haven't already created a system repair disc or recovery drive, you
can do so from another computer running the same version of Windows.
Windows PC allow you to create a USB recovery drive or burn a recovery
disc. Once you have a system repair disc or recovery drive, do as follows:
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3. Run a Startup Repair from System Recovery Options

Step 1: Insert a system repair disc or recovery drive into the PC that you
want to repair.
Step 2: Set your computer boot from the disc or USB drive.
Step 3: Choose an installed version of Windows, and then select Startup
Repair from the recovery options screen.
Startup Repair will now scan your computer to attempt to find and fix any
startup problems
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3. Run a Startup Repair from System Recovery Options

Alternatively, you can use System Restore to recover your computer using a
system image backup that you've created previously.
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End of Chapter 4