LESSON 5:
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
COMPUTER HARDWARE
ERRORS
What is Hardware Error?
Hardware errors are any defects
with hardware inside the computer or
connected to the computer. Although some
hardware issues can be fixed
with firmware updates, most of these errors
are resolved by replacing the defective
hardware.
Here are some Internal Components
that are likely to encounter errors:
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Motherboard and CPU
• Power Supply Unit (PSU)
• Optical Disc Drive (ODD)
Computer Hard Drive (HDD)
A bad hard drive can cause an assortment of different
issues on your computer. Below are just a few of the
possible issues you may encounter. It is important to
remember that the below issues can also be caused by
more than just a bad disk drive.
1. Errors when reading, copying, moving or deleting
data on the computer.
2. Extremely slow.
3. Operating system unable to boot.
4. Other random errors or computer reboots.
Software solutions
Below is a listing of a software programs
available that are designed to test your
computer's hard drive for errors.
1. Scandisk
2. Chkdsk
3. TestDisk
4. Hitachi Drive Fitness Test (DFT)
5. Seagate SeaTools
6. HDD health
Computer Memory (RAM)
Bad memory can cause an assortment of different
issues on your computer. Below are just a few of the
possible issues you may encounter. It is important to
remember that the below issues can also be caused by
more than just bad memory.
1. Computer does not boot, instead you get a beep
code.
2. Random computer crashes causing General
Protection Fault error messages, Illegal
Operations, Fatal Exceptions, etc.
3. Computer random reboots.
Note: Before testing your memory, if you have recently
added any new memory into the computer, we suggest
you temporarily remove it to make sure it is not the
cause of your issue. If the new memory is incompatible
or bad, it will be the cause of your issue.
BIOS Beep Codes
Swap and remove memory (Isolation)
If you have access to other compatible computers
memory, such as an extra computer in your home or
office, or a friend's or co-worker's computer, you can
swap that memory into your computer to see if it's a
memory issue. Using known good memory in a
computer that may have a memory problem is a good
method of checking to see if the memory in your
computer is bad.
If your memory works in another computer without
issues or other memory is experiencing the same issues
as your memory you're most likely encountering
Alternatively, if your computer has more then the
minimum requirements needed by your operating
system, for example if you have 2GB (4x512MB sticks
of RAM) you can also temporarily remove a partial
amount of RAM to see if you encounter the same
issues.
Replace memory
If you have found the memory to be bad we suggest
replacing the memory with new memory.
Computer Motherboard & Processor
(CPU)
A bad computer motherboard or CPU can cause an
assortment of different issues on your computer. Below
are just a few of the possible issues you may encounter.
It is important to remember that the issues below can
also be caused by more than just a bad motherboard
and CPU.
1. Computer does not boot, instead you get a beep
code.
2. Random computer crashes causing Illegal
Operations, Fatal Exceptions, etc.
Software and Hardware solutions
Below is a listing of a software programs available that
are designed to test your computer's motherboard and
CPU. However, with the complexity and wide variety of
computer motherboards and CPUs, these programs
may not detect every possible failure.
1. Hot CPU Tester
2. PC-doctor
3. PC Diagnostics
4. Ultra-X
Replace the motherboard and CPU
If the motherboard or CPU is bad after trying the above
suggestions, we suggest replacing it.
Computer Power Supply (PSU)
Although there are programs such as speedfan to help
monitor the voltage and power supplied to the fans in
the computer there is no software utility to test the
integrity of computer power supplies.
There are methods of testing the power connectors on a
power supply using a multimeter. However, because of
the potential damage that can be caused to the power
supply, potentially the motherboard and other
components connected to it, we suggest users who
believe their power supply is failing or is already bad,
Computer CD/DVD disc drives (ODD)
A bad disc drive can cause an assortment of different
issues on your computer. Below are just a few of the
possible issues you may encounter. It is important to
remember that the issues described below can also be
caused by more than just a bad disc drive.
1. Error when reading CD or DVD.
2. CD's or DVD's may not play or play audio or video
properly.
3. CD or DVD programs may not install or encounter
errors after being installed.
If a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM disc drive in your computer is
not reading discs correctly, the following tips and
information may help you fix the problem.
Bad or dirty CD
Make sure you have tested more than one CD in the
disc drive, as it may be one CD that is bad or dirty. If all
but one or two discs fail, the disc drive is bad or dirty. If,
after cleaning the drive and CDs, you still get errors, it's
likely the disc drive is bad.
Check Device Manager
Open the Control Panel.
Click or double-click the System icon.
In Windows XP and earlier, click the Hardware tab and
then the Device Manager button.
In Windows Vista and later, click the Device
Manager link on the left side of the System window.
Within Device Manager, verify the CD-ROM has
no exclamation marks or red X's. If listed with a yellow
exclamation mark or red X, remove the CD-ROM by
highlighting the drive and pressing the delete key.
Reboot the computer to reinstall the CD-ROM drive.
