Computer Hardware II

EEC 227
Hardware represents the physical and tangible components of the computer, i.e., the
components that can be seen and touched. Therefore, Computer Hardware
components can be defined as the physical and tangible components of a computer that
can be seen and as well as touched. Examples of Hardware are following:
 Input devices -- keyboard, mouse, touchscreens, etc.
 Output devices -- Printer, Monitor/VDU, Speakers etc.
 Secondary Storage devices -- Hard disk, CD, DVD, etc.
 Internal components -- CPU, motherboard, RAM, etc.
Computer components can be divided into the following categories:
 Microprocessors process instructions and perform calculations.

 Storage devices (memory and disks) hold data.

 Input devices (mouse and keyboard) let the user enter data.

 Output devices (monitor, speakers, and printer) (display data).

 Network devices (network card, modem) allow computers to transfer data to

and from other computers.

Input Devices

i. Keyboard
ii. Pointing devices
iii. Mouse
iv. Trackball
v. Joystick
vi. Gamepad
vii. Image scanner
viii. Webcam
ix. Light Pen
x. Barcode Reader
 xi. Biometrics
xii. Microphone
xiii. Digitizer
xiv. OCR
xv. MICR
xvi. Electronic Whiteboard
xvii. Punch card reader

Output Devices
i. Computer Display (Monitors LED, LCD, CRT etc.)
ii. Printers
iii. Plotters
iv. Fax Machines
v. Voice-Output Devices
vi. Speakers and
vii. Headphones
viii. Projector.
ix. LCD Projection Panels.
x. Computer Output Microfilm (COM)
xi. Webcam(softcam)

The following are the major components of a motherboard.

i. The chipset, a circuit which controls the majority of resources (including the bus
interface with the processor, cache memory and random-access memory,
expansion cards, etc.)
ii. CPU socket
iii. Temperature and reliability
iv. Peripheral card slots
v. The CMOS clock and battery,
vi. The BIOS,
vii. The system bus and the expansion bus.
Recent motherboards generally include a number of onboard multimedia and
Networking devices which can be disabled:
i. Integrated network card;
ii. Integrated graphics card;
iii. Integrated sound card;
iv. Upgraded hard drive controllers.

Storage devices includes

i. Floppy Disk (FDD)

ii. Hard Disk (HDD),
iii. CD-ROM- Compact Disk Read Only Memory
iv. Flash Drive
v. Removable hard disks
vi. Magnetic tape
vii. Optical Storage

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN INSTALLING A MOTHERBOARD

Plastic Standoffs
When you install a motherboard, DON'T screw it directly down to the chassis of the case!
You mount it to the case, using the little plastic standoffs provided when you buy the case and
power supply (if you don't have any, let me know, and I'll get you some). These standoffs keep the
board from shorting out against the case, and they provide enough stability to the board so that you
can push cards into the bus connections. If you don't install the standoffs correctly, any of the
following things could happen:
o the board touches against the case and shorts out, potentially damaging the motherboard and
other installed components
o you crack the motherboard when installing the cards into the bus connections
o you allow the board to warp into an unnatural position by leaving it unsupported
The plastic standoffs have 2 ends to them: one that snaps into the holes on the motherboard, and
one end that goes into little slots or grooves on the case. The idea is to have the bottom part of the
standoffs slide into the pre-made holes on the case.
If you find that there is a need for a plastic standoff, BUT there is no hole on the case for it, cut the
bottom off of the standoff, and let the standoff rest on the chassis. This will ensure that the
motherboard doesn't touch against the case.

Grounding Points
On most motherboards, there are CERTAIN holes that are designed as grounding points, that are
intended for you to screw the motherboard down to a metal standoff on the case. These grounding
point holes usually have a silvery-appearance around them. They are designed to take either a
metal screw or a plastic standoff when mounting the board. When using a new case, you will find a
bronze metal standoff (or two) in the package of screws that comes with the case. You will usually
mount ONLY ONE of these bronze standoffs on the case, and mount the motherboard with a metal
screw AT THAT ONE POINT ONLY.
If you mount a metal standoff and a screw into a hole that is NOT a grounding point, you can short
out the motherboard and PERMANENTLY damage it. Be very careful to notice the appearance of
the holes in the motherboard, and never screw the board down to a hole that is not a grounding
point.

Power Supply Connections

There are two power supply connections that connect to the motherboard. Each connector has a
pair of black wires on them.
The key in attaching these connectors is this: put the black wires together so that there are 4
black wires next to each other. This ensures that the power connections are installed correctly.
Putting them on incorrectly can subject the motherboard to abnormal voltages and permanently
damage the board.
When installing the power supply connectors to the motherboard, swing them in at an angle, and
then gently press them down onto the board. The connectors have a design that forces you to
hook them into the board, and then press them down. Some power supplies have these hook
connectors cut off, allowing you to press the supply lines directly onto the board. In either event, be
careful when installing power supply lines to the connectors on the motherboard.
STEPS TO BRINGING A NEW PC TO LIFE
Mount the motherboard and apply power first ...
When installing the motherboard to the case, use the proper guidelines for mounting the
motherboard to the chassis. Then, attach the power supply connections and the PC speaker ONLY:
no RAM, no video card, etc. Power the system up and listen for 3 low-toned beeps. If you hear
these beeps, the motherboard is OK (it powers up and finds the CPU). If you hear no beeps, check
your power and speaker connections, ensure the CPU is installed OK, and make sure the board is
not grounding out. If this does not resolve the problem, replace the motherboard.
Then, install the memory ...
Install the memory to the motherboard; be sure to put it in the right SIMM sockets (look for the
designation
"BANK 0"). You may need to set some jumpers on the board to get the memory to be recognized
properly; also, many boards require more than one SIMM on the board at a time. Once you install
the memory, power up the system and listen for a different set of beeps (usually 2 high short beeps
and 7 or 8 lower-toned short beeps). These beeps are telling you that the video card cannot be
found (mainly because it hasn't been installed yet!). If you get such a beep sequence, you can
continue and install the video card. If you still get the three low beeps as before, check and re-install
the memory. If the memory is installed correctly and you continue to get only the three low beeps,
replace the memory.
Then, install the video card and monitor ...
When you have the motherboard and memory installed correctly, then you can install the video card
into the system and attach a monitor. When properly installed, you should be able to see the
computer going through POST on the screen. If not, then
you may have a problem with the video card (check for 1 long and 3 short beeps) or the monitor. If
the system hangs after
installing the video card, the video card is probably defective, or not installed correctly. If you see no
video on the screen
after checking the video card, then either the monitor is off (or without power), or the monitor is
defective.
Then, install the drives and drive controllers ...
Once you have motherboard, RAM, and video installed properly, attach the drives to the drive
controller/interface. Be sure to
get the cable stripes attached next to pin 1 on the interface connectors. Also, be sure to attach
power cables to the drives.
You may now also install the keyboard.

Then, power up and run the CMOS Setup program on the BIOS ...
When the drives are fully connected, then run the Setup program. Watch the screen to tell you what
keystrokes to use in
order to enter the Setup program. Use the "Auto-detect" feature to detect the IDE-class hard drive(s)
in your system. If the
auto-detect feature does NOT find the hard drive(s), then power down and re-check your
connections. If the computer still cannot find the hard drives (or floppy drives), then either your
cables are bad, the controller is bad, the power to the drives is bad, or the drives themselves are
bad.
If the drives are recognized by the auto-detect feature, save the setup information and reboot. You
can now begin loading DOS onto the PC, and begin software loading as well.
Let the instructor know if you have any questions about this procedure.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN INSTALLING A MOTHERBOARD

If possible, use a dead motherboard and power supply to practice installing power connector; also,
practice installing a board
to the case with dead components.
NOTES

NEW PC BUILDING CHECKSHEET

Tools and parts needed:
o Flat/Phillips screwdrivers
o Needlenose pliers and/or wire cutter
o Case/power supply (including screws, plastic standoffs, and drive mounting hardware)
o Motherboard and CPU, floppy and hard drives, memory, drive and /or audio cables, video card,
CD-ROM drive, sound card, fax/modem, CPU cooling fan

Software needed:
o Bootable floppy disk with FDISK.EXE and FORMAT.COM installed on it for Window 95-Window
Me or bootable CD-ROM for Windows 2003 till Windows 10
o Checkit or a comparable diagnostic program
o Disk Manager on floppy disk (if low-level format or custom drive partitioning is needed)
o MS-DOS or Windows95 till Date operating system software
o Any desired application software (MS-Word, CorelDraw, Adobe photoshop etc.)
o Installation disks for the new sound card, CD-ROM drive, and video driver disk for Windows/Win95
o An audio CD and a data CD-ROM disk (for testing purposes)

Step-by-step instructions:
1) Open the computer case;
2) Mount motherboard to case using plastic standoffs, as well as bronze standoffs and screws (be
sure to use screws only on grounding points - use plastic standoffs elsewhere); the motherboard
MUST be flat, steady, and not grounded out against the case;
3) Attach the power supply connection to the motherboard, and attach the speaker connection; test
the motherboard to see that it is working correctly (it should give 3 long beeps, provided that no
memory is installed); power down the PC;
4) Install the SIMMs (memory) onto the motherboard, and apply power again; you should get an
audio error code (a series of beeps) indicating there is no video card installed; if there is no change,
check the installation of the SIMMs; if correct, power down the PC;
5) Install the video card, and attach the monitor; power up the PC and watch the monitor to see that
POST is testing the PC; if there is no change, check and/or replace the video card; if correct, power
down the PC;
6) Mount all drives to the case; attach drive cables to the drives, and then attach the cables to the
interface card or
motherboard; be sure to install the cables so that the stripe on the cable is closest to pin 1 on the
connector; be sure to attach power cables to all drives;
7) Power up the PC, and enter the CMOS setup program; enter into the program the exact types of
hardware found in the PC (specifically video, memory size, floppy/hard drive parameters, etc.); save
the information to CMOS RAM and reboot the PC;
8) Boot the PC from a bootable floppy disk; begin the installation process for the hard drives, and
any other installed equipment (CD-ROM, sound card, fax/modem, etc.); install whatever desired
operating system software and application software; use the installation checksheets for installing
hard drives, CD-ROM drives, sound cards and fax/modems to assist you in the PC building process
(see accompanying checksheets);
9) Run Checkit (or some comparable diagnostic software) to ensure that the PC is working properly;
also, run a burn-in
test program for 12-36 hours to check the system under load conditions;
10) Replace the computer case - do NOT install the cover until you know the system is working
properly.
Process of Fault diagnosis

Before getting into the troubleshooting details, it is important to know about what goes
on during the startup process. The reason is, there are actually quite a few steps that
occur in between switching the power ON and hearing the familiar Windows 95, 98 or
Windows ME./XP, Window Vista, 7,Window 8 or Window 10 startup sounds and seeing
the Windows desktop. In fact, there are a whole series of files that are automatically
loaded one after the other when you turn your computer on. The trick with
troubleshooting startup problems is trying to figure out which of those files (or what step
in the process) causes a specific problem in the computer. If we know approximately
where in the startup process the problem occurs (Computer gets stuck), we can
diagnose the problem easily.

This chapter explains the various problems that occur in a computer and the
troubleshooting procedures.

BIOS

When your computer is first turned on, it automatically loads a program called the BIOS,
or Basic Input/Output System, which is stored on a special chip on your computer’s
motherboard. The BIOS is essentially a combination of software and hardware in that it
consists of software, but the contents of that software is stored in a hardware chip.

One of the first things we should see on your computer’s monitor when we start the PC
is some type of message like "Hit Esc to enter Setup," although instead of Esc it may
say F2 or F10 or any number of other keys and instead of Setup it may say CMOS
Setup or BIOS Setup or just CMOS. Make note of the key required to enter the Setup
program because we may need that later (some startup problems can only be solved by
changing some BIOS/CMOS settings via the Setup program).

Power-On Self Test (POST)

POST is the Power-On Self-Test which your computer performs when you turn it on and/or re-boot.
That is, the first thing that the BIOS does when it boots the PC is to perform what is
called the Power-On Self-Test, or POST for short. The POST is a built-in diagnostic
program that checks the hardware to ensure that everything is present and functioning
properly, before the BIOS begins the actual boot. It later continues with additional tests
such as the memory test and then it lists any devices that it finds attached to the
computer’s internal IDE controller(s). (that is seen on the screen of the monitor) as the
boot process is proceeding.

The POST runs very quickly, and you will normally not even noticed that it is happening-
- unless it finds a problem. You may have encountered a PC that, when turned on,
made beeping sounds and then stopped without booting up. That is the POST telling
you something is wrong with the machine. The speaker is used because this test
happens so early on, before the video is activated! These beep patterns can be used to
diagnose many hardware problems with the PC. The exact patterns depend on the
maker of the BIOS; the most common are Award and AMI BIOS.

POST, AND ITS FUNCTIONS

Below is listed what POST checks:
100 Series: Motherboard checks
200 Series: Memory chip checks
300 Series: Keyboard checks
400 Series: Monochrome monitor checks
500 Series: Color monitor (CGA) checks
600 Series: Floppy Disk Drive checks
700 Series: Math Co-processor checks
900-1000 Series: Parallel Port Adapter Checks
1100-1200 Series: Serial Port Adapter Checks
1300 Series: Game Port Adapter Checks
1400 Series: Printer Checks
1700 Series: Hard Disk/Disk Controller Checks
Also, users may also observe or hear a series of beeps when you turn on the computer,
IF SOMETHING IS WRONG. Normally, hear only one short beep is heard.

Here is what the DOS Audio Error codes mean:

No display, no beeps: No Power

Continuous beep Power supply failure

Repeating short beeps: Power supply failure

One long and two short beeps: Display adapter (video card) failure

One long and three short beeps: Display adapter (video card) failure

STEPS IN THE BOOT PROCESS

1) When the PC is powered up, the CPU resets itself, clears out any left-over data, and
looks to an address in memory called F000 ...that is where the ROM BIOS chip is
located. The ROM BIOS chip is what makes your PC IBMcompatible.
When the CPU finds the ROM BIOS chip, it invokes the first program found in memory,
which is POST: the Power-On Self Test. This self-test ensures that all of your
components are operating properly BEFORE you begin working with the computer.
2) As POST checks your computer, it looks to a record of data stored in CMOS RAM
that tells what kinds of components are in your PC. Specifically, it records what type of
video card, floppy drives, hard disk, memory and so forth are contained in your PC.
POST will test your computer based on what it believes is in your PC ... if the
information is missing or incorrect, the PC may not be able to recognize or use certain
components in your system. It's important to keep a record of what specifically is inside
your computer, and that you have a record of what is written into CMOS RAM.
3) If POST finds that there is a problem with your PC, it will display an error message or
an error code that tells specifically what is wrong with the unit. If it cannot display such a
message, it will beep in a specific pattern that indicates exactly what is wrong. If
everything is OK with the computer, POST will sound one beep to the system speaker,
indicating that all of the tests passed normally with no errors.
4) The ROM BIOS will then look to the boot sector of either a floppy disk or a hard disk
to find IO.SYS, the boot loader program of your operating system. If it can't find this file
in that location, the PC will give an error message to the screen. When it does find the
file, it loads the file into RAM, and then your operating system takes charge of the
computer.
5) MSDOS.SYS then loads into memory (for both DOS and Win95). It contains the bulk
of the operating system code that makes DOS or Win95 operate. Specifically, it lets you
manage file names, execute programs, and allows hardware and software to manage
interrupt (IRQ) requests.
6) Then, CONFIG.SYS configures your system for the specific kinds of hardware that
are contained in the system. Lines like DEVICEHIGH=C:\MOUSE.SYS tell DOS where
to find the mouse driver, and where to load it into memory. DOS and Win95 both use a
CONFIG.SYS file.
7) Then, COMMAND.COM loads into memory. It is your command interpreter, and it
allows you to input commands at a DOS prompt. DOS and Win95 both have
COMMAND.COM as one of the system files.
8) Finally, AUTOEXEC.BAT loads into memory any programs you wish to run every
time you start or reboot your computer. Usually at the end of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file,
the PC will call up Windows, or a menu program, or will allow you to log into a network,
so that you can begin working with the computer as you would wish. Both DOS and
Win95 use AUTOEXEC.BAT.
If any of these steps do not occur in a normal manner, your PC may not boot up as you
would expect. Knowing the steps in the boot process will help you when trouble-
shooting or analyzing problems with your PC.

BIOS Startup Screen

When the system BIOS starts up, you will see its familiar screen display, normally after
the video adapter displays its information. These are the contents of a typical BIOS start
up screen:

· The BIOS Manufacturer and Version Number.

· The BIOS Date: The date of the BIOS can be important in helping you determine
its capabilities.

· Setup Program Key: The key or keys to press to enter the BIOS setup program.
(This is usually {Del}, sometimes {F2}, and sometimes another key combination.

· System Logo: The logo of the BIOS company, or in some cases the PC maker or
motherboard manufacturer.

· The "Energy Star" Logo: This distinctive logo is displayed if the BIOS supports
the Energy Star standard, which almost all newer ones do.

· The BIOS Serial Number: This is normally located at the bottom of the screen.
Since BIOSes are highly customized to the particular motherboard, this serial
number can be used in many cases to determine the specific motherboard and
BIOS version you are using. Check out Wim Bervoets' BIOS site for a huge list of
these numbers

Troubleshooting BIOS Beep Codes

When a problem is identified with the system during the POST, the BIOS will normally
produce an error message. However, in some cases the problem is detected so early in
the test that the BIOS cannot even access the video card to print the message! In this
case the BIOS will produce a beeping pattern on the speaker to tell you what the
problem is.

The exact meaning of the beep codes depends on the type and version of BIOS that
you have. The three most popular types of BIOS are those made by Award, American
Megatrends (AMI) and Phoenix. The beep codes for these BIOS products are described
in this part of the troubleshooter. If you are using a PC made by a company that writes
its own BIOS, you will have to consult your owner's manual

A single beep during the boot process, usually right before the BIOS startup screen is
displayed, is normal and does not indicate a failure as long as the boot continues on.

Beep codes can be in several different patterns, depending on the BIOS that you are
using. Some BIOSes use very simple beep codes in a pattern of varying numbers of
short beeps, while others may mix short and long beeps. The Phoenix BIOS is famous
for its complicated beep patterns that are actually in up to four groups--one or more
beeps and then a pause, followed by as many as three more patterns.

Introduction to Troubleshooting

The problems that occur in a PC can be categorized mainly into two.

1. Problem of booting or starting up of the PC

2. Problem occurring after the boot up.

For successful troubleshooting, we must always gather some vital information as listed
below:

· Description of the problem like what error message, unusual displays was seen
 before the trouble
· When did the problem start?
· What was the situation when the problem started ?
· What software or program was running when the problem occurred?
· Was the computer moved in the recent times?
· Was there any electrical power (Mains) supply problem or a thunderstorm prior to
the trouble?
· Was any hardware, software or configuration changes made in the computer?
· Has someone else used the computer?

Next check if the PC is booting or not. If there is any booting problem follow the
flowchart shown below to diagnose the fault.

If the screen is blank and entire system is "dead" nor lights, no spinning drive or no fan,
then there is obviously power supply problem.
 WEEK2
Power supply

A power supply is a device that supplies electric power to an electrical

load. The term is most commonly applied to electric power converters that
convert one form of electrical energy to another, though it may also refer to
devices that convert another form of energy (mechanical, chemical, solar) to
electrical energy. A regulated power supply is one that controls the output
voltage or current to a specific value; the controlled value is held nearly
constant despite variations in either load current or the voltage supplied by
the power supply's energy source.

Every power supply must obtain the energy it supplies to its load, as well as
any energy it consumes while performing that task, from an energy source.
Depending on its design, a power supply may obtain energy from:

Figure 2: The power supply unit for Desktop PC

Troubleshooting the power supply

First of all conduct a preliminary check as follows:

· check for any burnt parts
· Check all connections to the computer like the mains cord, monitor
cord are loose and ensure that they are well connected.
· Check if the switches of UPS, Extension cords etc., are switched ON.
· If the fan is not running, turn off the computer, open the case and
check the connections to the power supply.
 · In newer ATX power supplies, a wire runs from the power switch on the
front of the ATX case to the motherboard. Ensure that this wire is
connected to the motherboard and the switch turned on before the
power comes up.

o Check the output voltage from the power supply.

· If there is no voltage from the power supply or if there is a low voltage,
remove all non- essential expansion cards (modem, sound etc.,) and
check the voltage. If there is no voltage still then the power supply unit
is faulty.
· If the voltage is OK after all the cards are removed, Insert the cards
one by one and check the voltage. The voltage will fall or reduce when
the defective card is inserted.
· Using a soft brush clean the interiors of the case, slots etc., before
putting the cover back.

Trouble shooting of the Power supply unit

Some of the symptoms of the power supply failure in a PC are as follows:

· The PC sometimes halts during booting and after several tries boots
successfully.
· Error codes or beep occur during booting but they come and go.
· The computer hangs or stops for no reason. Sometimes it might even
reboot itself.
· Memory errors appear intermittently.
· Data is written incorrectly to the hard disk.
· The keyboard stops working at odd times.
· The motherboard fails or is damaged.
· The power supply overheats and will become too hot to touch.

Some remedial measures that can be carried out are as follows:

- An overheated system can cause intermittent problems. Use compressed

air or an antistatic vacuum to remove dust from the power supply and
the vents over the entire computer. Check the power supply fan and the
fan over the CPU both work.
- If a system is upgraded with additional drives and accessories, the
power supply unit may be operating above its rated capacity thus
causing reboots and intermittent otherwise unexplained errors. Upgrade
the power supply unit to withstand the additional loads.
 - An electrical conditioner (Protective device like Surge suppressor) might
solve the problem of intermittent errors caused by noise in the power
line connected to the PC.

If all the above checks fail to correct the problem, then check the voltage at
the pins of the power supply connectors referring to the pin configuration
given below:
Pin configuration for ATX case

COMPUTER COOLING

Computer cooling is required to remove the waste heat produced by

computer components, to keep components within permissible operating
temperature limits.

Components that are susceptible to temporary malfunction or permanent

failure if overheated include integrated circuits such as CPUs, chipset,
graphics cards, and hard disk drives.

Components are often designed to generate as little heat as possible, and

computers and operating systems may be designed to reduce power
consumption and consequent heating according to workload, but more heat
may still be produced than can be removed without attention to cooling. Use
of heatsinks cooled by airflow reduces the temperature rise produced by a
given amount of heat. Attention to patterns of airflow can prevent the
development of hotspots. Computer fans are very widely used to reduce
temperature by actively exhausting hot air. There are also more exotic and
extreme techniques, such as liquid cooling.

Many computers are designed to sound an alarm or switch off if certain

critical internal temperatures exceed a specified limit.
Cooling may be designed to reduce the ambient temperature within the case
of a computer e.g. by exhausting hot air, or to cool a single component or
small area (spot cooling). Components commonly individually cooled include
the CPU, GPU and the northbridge chip.
Generators of unwanted heat

Integrated circuits (e.g., CPU and GPU) are the prime generators of heat in
modern computers. Heat generation can be reduced by efficient design and
selection of operating parameters such as voltage and frequency, but
ultimately acceptable performance can often only be achieved by accepting
significant heat generation.

Fig. 3: liquid Cooling fan fig. 4: Active heat sink with a fan and heat
pipes.

Troubleshooting the power supply fan

An improperly working fan causes power supply problems. Usually before a

fan stops working, it hums or whines, especially when the PC is first turned
on. If this has just happened , replace the fan or replace the power supply
itself.

If the fan still does not work even after replacing the power supply then it is
not the problem with the fan. A short somewhere else in the system and
drawing too much power may be causing the problem.
Do not operate the PC if the fan does not work. Computers without cooling
fan can quickly overheat and damage the chips. To troubleshoot a non-
functional fan, which might be a symptom of another problem and not a
problem of the fan itself, follow the steps:

1. Turn off the power and remove all power cord connections to all
 components, including the connections to the motherboard and all the
power cords to the drives. Turn the power back on. If the fan works,
the problem is with one of the systems that was disconnected, not
with the power supply or its fan.
2. Turn off the power and reconnect the power cords to the drives. If the
fan comes on, you can eliminate the drives as the problem. If the fan
does not come on, then try one drive at a time till the drive with a
short is identified.
3. If the drives are not the problem, suspect the motherboard
subsystem. With the power off, reconnect all power cords to the
drives.
4. Turn off the power and remove the power to the motherboard by
disconnecting P8 and P9 or P1. Turn back the power on.
5. If the fan works, the problem is probably not the power supply but a
short in one of the components powered by the power cords to the
motherboard. The power to the motherboard also powers interface
cards.
6. Remove all interface cards and reconnect plugs to the motherboard.
7. If the fan still works, the problem is one of the interface cards. If the
fan does not work, the problem is the motherboard or something still
connected to it.
 EEC227 WEEK 3
Power problems with the motherboard.

The motherboard, like all other components inside the computer case, should be grounded to the
chassis. Look for a metal screw that grounds the board to the computer case. However, a short
might be the problem with the electrical system if some component on the board makes an
improper contact with the chassis. This short can seriously damage the motherboard. Check for
missing standoff (small plastic spacers that hold the motherboard a short distance away from the
chassis), the problem that most often causes these improper connections.

Shorts in the circuits on the motherboard might also cause problems. Look for damage on the
bottom of the motherboard. These circuits are coated with plastic, and quite often damage is
difficult to spot.

Frayed wires on cable connections can also cause shorts. Disconnect hard drive cables connected
directly to the motherboard. Power up P8 and P9 or P1 connected but all cables disconnected from
the motherboard. If the fan works, the problem is with one of the systems you disconnected.

Overheating Issues

If your computer hangs after it has been running for a while, you may have an overheating
problem. First, check whether there is air flow within the case. Open the case and make sure the
CPU and the power supply fans are turning and that cables will not fall into the fans and prevent
them from turning when you close the case. While you have the case open, use an antistatic
vacuum designed to be used around electronic equipment or a can of compressed air. To blow
dust off the motherboard and the CPU heat sink. Check the vents of the case, and clear any
foreign material that may be blocking airflow.

After you close the case, leave your system off for a few hours. When you power up the computer
again, let it run for 10 minutes, go in CMOS setup, check the temperature reading, and reboot.
Next let your system run until it shuts down. Power it up again and check the temperature in set up
again. A significant difference in this reading and the first one you took after running the computer
for 10 minutes indicates an overheating problem. Try adding an extra case fan or more powerful
fans than those you already have. When adding extra fans, for every fan that blows air out of the
case, use one that blows air into the case. Also, you can monitor the temperature inside the case
using a temperature sensor that sounds an alarm when a high temperature is reached or uses
software to alert you of a problem.

Be careful when trying to solve an overheating problem. Excessive heat itself may damage the
CPU and the motherboard, and the hard reboots necessary when your system hangs may damage
the hard drive. If you suspect damaged components, try substituting comparable components that
you know are good.
1|Page
 Troubleshooting BIOS Beep Codes - AMI BIOS
The AMI BIOS is one of the most popular in the PC world today, and fortunately is quite consistent in
its use of beep codes, across its many different versions. Please select the beep pattern you are
hearing from the list in the table given below.

Beep Explanation Diagnosis Troubles

DRAM refresh Troubleshoo
1 Beep: failure This code usually means a problem either t
The system is having a
problem with the system memory or with the a
accessing the system
memory motherboard itself.
to refresh it. Refreshing is failure.
done
on all system memory to
keep

its contents active.

This code usually means a problem
2 Beeps Parity circuit failure with a

The parity circuit is either the system memory or the failure.

responsible for generating Troublesho
and motherboard. o
checking the parity bit on
the
system memory when
parity
checking is used. This
circuitry
is not working
properly.
Base 64K RAM The first bank of memory probably has a
3 Beeps failure bad Treat as a
There is a failure of some memory chip in it somewhere. It is
sort possible failure.
within the first 64 KB that there is a failure related to
of the

system memory. motherboard or a system device as well. Troublesh

4 Beeps System timer failure This is usually a motherboard failure. Troublesh

2|Page
 There is a problem with
one or
more of the timers used by
the
system to control functions
on

the motherboard.

5 Beeps Processor failure

There is a problem related to the

The system processor Troublesh
processor or motherboard. Note that this
Is generating an error doesn't mean that the processor is
condition indicating a necessarily dead; with a dead processor If the proc
problem with it. the system won't boot at all (it runs the troublesho
BIOS code that is used to start up the
PC.)

6 Beeps
Keyboard controller
/gate A20 failure

The keyboard controller

is a chip on the Troublesh
motherboard that relatively
communicates with your
keyboard. It also controls Troublesh
the A20 gate that controller
provides access This is usually a problem with either Troubleshoot
to the high memory area the keyboard or the motherboard failure
Beep Explanation Diagnosis Troubles
(HMA). This component is
indicating a
failure.
Virtual mode exception There is a problem related to the
7 Beeps error processor or Troublesh
motherboard. Note that this doesn't
mean that Troublesh
Virtual mode is one of the processor is necessarily dead, since
the the

3|Page
 different modes that the system won't boot at all with a dead
processor can run in.
The processor.
system is reporting an
error
when testing this mode.
Display memory This is usually caused by a problem
8 Beeps read/write with the Troublesh
video card, or the memory on the video
failure card.
It can also be a motherboard issue. Troublesh
The BIOS is unable to write
to
the frame buffer memory on Note: Unlike the other AMI beep codes,
the this
one is "non-fatal". The system may
video card. continue
to boot despite this error.
ROM BIOS checksum The BIOS ROM chip on the Troubleshoot
9 Beeps failure motherboard is the
possible to
probably faulty. It could also be another replac
The read-only memory chip but often
(ROM) component on the motherboard. rep
containing BIOS motherboard
the program will
(which is what is running cost and
when simplicit
you turn on the PC and
what
generates this error) uses
a
checksum value as a
double-
check that the ROM
code is
correct. This checksum is
compared against the
values in
the ROM each time the PC
is
booted and if there is
a
mismatc
h, this code is
generat
ed
shutdo Troubleshoot
10 Beeps CMOS wn register There is likely a problem with the the
read/write error motherboard.

4|Page
 A component of
the
motherboard is
producing an
error interacting with the
CMOS memory that holds
the
BIOS
settings.
11 Beeps Cache memory error This usually means a problem with the Troublesh
system cache. It may also be a more
general cache.
The system has
attempted to problem with the motherboard. Troublesh
verify the operation of the
secondary (level 2) cache
and
has encountered an
error.
Continuou Memory or video This is usually caused by a problem
s problem with the Troublesh
system memory, or possibly the video
Beeping card. memory.
The system is producing The memory is more likely--the system Troublesh
constant beeping in no complains long and loud if it can't find
specific any Troublesh
pattern, or a fast usable memory, as there is no way to
"ringing" even
start the boot process when this is the
sound. case.
Trouble
Beep Explanation Diagnosis s
The motherboard itself could also be
the
problem.

Troubleshooting BIOS Beep Codes - Award BIOS

Award is the other major BIOS provider today, along with AMI. Award uses by
far the fewest beep codes of any of the BIOS manufacturers.

Beep Explanation Diagnosis Troubles

The first bank of memory probably has Treat as
1 Long Beep Memory problem a a
failure of some sort; this is usually just a failure.
Troubles
There is a failure of some physical problem such as an incorrectly h
sort related to the system inserted module, but may also mean a
5|Page
 bad
Memory chip in a module. It is possible
memory. that
there is a failure related to the
motherboard or
a system device as well.
1 Long, then This is usually caused by a problem Troubles
2 Video error with the h
video card, or the memory on the video If the
Short Beeps card. vid
troubles
The BIOS is unable to It can also be a motherboard issue. h
access the video system
in
order to write any error
messages to the screen.
1 Long, then This is usually caused by a problem Troubles
3 Video error with the h
video card, or the memory on the video If the
Short Beeps card. vid
troubles
The BIOS is unable to It can also be a motherboard issue. h
access the video system
in
order to write any error
messages to the screen.
Memory or video This is usually caused by a problem Troubles
Continuous problem with the h
system memory, or possibly the video memory
Beeping card. .
Troubles
The system is producing The memory is more likely--the system h
complains long and loud if it can't find Troubles
constant beeping in no any h
usable memory, as there is no way to
specific pattern, or a fast even
start the boot process when this is the
"ringing" sound case.
The motherboard itself could also be
the
problem.

6|Page
Checking the Power Supply

If the wall outlet, and the power cord are good, as well as the connection at the
motherboard is secure. Then you may have to face the fact that the power supply itself
is bad. If you have a Multimeter you can test the power supply output before purchasing
a new one. Simply follow these steps.

· Turn off the PC, but do not unplug it, open the system unit. Set the multimeter to
read DC volts in the next range higher than 12 volts. Locate a power connector
similar to the hard drive, or floppy drive connector that is unused and turn on the PC.
You can also unplug a drive connector and use it as well. Turn on the PC and insert
the BLACK probe into power connector on one of the BLACK wires. Touch the RED
probe to the YELLOW wire on the power connector.

Figures below illustrate the procedure for checking the power supply in a typical ATX
power supply.

The multimeter reading should be +12 volts. Now touch the RED probe to the RED wire
and the reading should be +5 volts. If no readings or different readings occurred, you,
will have to replace the power supply. If the readings were correct, you should check the
connector at the motherboard.
Refer to the power supply connector/voltage details shown in the figure below and
check the corresponding voltages.

7|Page
Check the power going to the Motherboard connections by inserting the multimeter
probes into the connectors as shown in the figure below.

DO NOT remove the power supply from the system unit case when performing these
tests Be sure to remove any and all electrical static build-up from your clothes and body
BEFORE touching any parts inside the system unit.

8|Page
Software Diagnostic tests for hardware

There are several diagnostic and maintenance tools provided in most of the operating systems.
Some of the most important diagnostic tools are:

1. Disk Error checking. Or Scan Disk

2. Disk Clean up.
3. Disk Defragmenter

1. Disk Error-Checking
Check Disk (Chkdsk.exe) is a utility which verifies the logical integrity of a file system. In the
event of the utility encountering logical inconsistencies in file system data, it will perform the
necessary actions to repair the file system data.
The equivalent utility in earlier versions of Windows was referred to as ScanDisk.
The following procedure describes how to perform error-checking of a hard drive under
Windows XP:
a) Launch disk error checking by double-clicking My Computer, right-clicking the hard disk
drive you want to have checked, clicking Properties and Select the Tools tab.

Click Check Now.

The Windows 98 equivalent to the Windows XP disk error-checking program
(chkdsk.exe) is the ScanDisk utility, accessed via Start > Programs >
Accessories > System Tools.
This provides options for performing either a standard or thorough test of the
specified disk volume. The former checks files and folders for errors, while the
latter additionally scans the disk for physical errors.

Select the required option for the areas of the disk to be scanned. ScanDisk
usually cannot repair errors in the system area of a disk. If such errors exist,
your disk probably needs to be replaced.
Specify whether or not you want ScanDisk to verify that sectors can be read
from and written to, and/or have the utility repair hidden and system files on
your disk.

b) A dialogue box showing the Check disk options is

displayed. Select the options as appropriate and click Start.

c) If either of the Check disk options are selected, you'll be notified that
the check cannot be performed immediately, and offered the opportunity
to schedule this to occur the next time your system is booted.
d) Click Yes to so schedule the disk check.

The next time you start your system, the chkdsk.exe utility will be run prior to
Windows being loaded, examining all the metadata on the volume in five separate
stages:

· Stage 1: Verifying file data

· Stage 2: Verifying security descriptors
· Stage 3: Verifying indexes
· Stage 4: Verifying files
· Stage 5: Verifying free space.

When the utility finishes, Windows will continue to load as per a normal system start-up.

2. Disk Cleanup

The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk by searching your
disk for files that you can safely delete. You can choose to delete some or all of:

· temporary Internet files

· downloaded program files, such as ActiveX controls and Java applets
· the Recycle Bin
· Windows temporary files
· optional Windows
components that you are not
using
· installed programs that you no
longer use.

The following provides step-by-step

instructions on how to use the Disk
Cleanup tool under Windows XP.

1. Launch Disk Cleanup via Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools.
2. A dialogue window will appear enabling you to select the drive you want to clean up.

Select the required drive and click

OK.

3. The specified drive is examined and the amount of space that can be
potentially freed up calculated.
4. The results, showing the amount of space that can be recovered by deleting
different areas and files, are then displayed on the Disk Cleanup tab

5. One of the options that isn't checked by default is Compress old files.
Checking this will result in files that haven't been used for a while being
archived. With this item selected in the list.
6. Click Options to set a time limit for files to be compressed.

7. Check the boxes associated with the items you want to delete and click OK. The

utility cleans up the specified areas and files.

8. The More Options tab provides further scope for freeing up disk space.
 WEEK 6

3. Disk Defragmenter

In older file system architectures, if a file could not be stored contiguously, it could not be saved
to the disk. Newer architectures intentionally divide files into multiple pieces so as to make more
efficient use of disk storage space.

Since files are constantly being written, deleted, and resized, fragmentation is a natural and
ongoing occurrence. However, it is also one that has significant performance implications. When
a file is spread out over several locations, it

takes longer to read and write. In fact, the effects of fragmentation can be more widespread than
that, causing long boot times, random crashes and system freeze-ups.

Defragmentation

The process of removing wasted space between fragments on a hard disk by reorganizing and
rewriting files is called Defragmentation.

Defragmentation is a time-consuming process, the more so the greater the extent of

fragmentation. It is therefore important to terminate any programs, including those running in the
background like firewalls and anti-virus programs - before starting the defragmentation process.
Failure to do so will mean that it is constantly interrupted, adversely impacting the time the
process takes possibly to the extent of it failing to complete.

The following describes how to subsequently defragment your hard drive under Windows XP.

Note that we cannot defragment a hard disk that is completely full, and that the less free space
there is, the longer defragmentation will take. This is because the defragmentation utility need
some room in which to temporarily store fragments as it reassemble files.

If the hard disk is relatively full, it is therefore good practice to run Disk Cleanup before
attempting to defragment a drive.

1. Launch the Defragmenter Tool, either through

Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools ........

or by double-clicking My Computer, right-clicking any hard disk drive, clicking Properties .....
and selecting to Tools tab.
 3. The resulting display will list your hard disk drives, showing the
capacity and amount of free space for each.

Select the drive

you want to
defragment and
click Analyse.

The drive is
scanned and a
visual representation of the degree to which it is fragmented displayed.

3. Depending on the the results of the analysis, you will be advised as to

whether of not the volume should be defragmented.
4. Even if it's not strictly necessary, you can choose to Defragment.

The length of time the defragmentation takes will depend on the size of the drive, the
degree to which it's fragmented and the amount of free space it has. Be prepared to to
allow it to run for several hours, if necessary.

5. The dialogue box will indicate when the process is complete

A visual representation of the now defragmented drive is shown above.

6. Click View Report

 WEEK 7

6. Click View Report

Figure below shows a typical defragmentation report.

Memory failure – Symptoms and Troubleshooting
When the PC is booted up, it does not show that it is detected all of the memory in the
machine. Several megabytes, usually an amount equal to the size of a memory module
or half a memory module, are missing.

Beep Codes:

Error Code:

Causes of Memory failure:

Memory failure is generally caused by the following:

1. Using the wrong type of memory,
2. Incorrect installation, or incorrect configuration.
3. Putting the modules into the wrong sockets,
4. Forgetting to change jumpers that may be present,
5. Using unsupported technology or unsupported module sizes
6. Hardware failure of the memory itself

Remedial procedure
Some of the steps involved in the remedy of the Memory failure are given below:

1) Check for possible general problems associated with new systems. One of these
could be causing the memory to appear to be bad when it is not.
2) Make sure to carefully check the memory modules, which sometimes appear to
be inserted correctly when they are not. Make sure they are all sticking up at the
correct height from the motherboard. Ensure that the modules have been pushed
all the way into their sockets and that the spring clips have snapped into position
properly to hold them.
3) Check for loose connections within the PC.
4) One of the most common causes of unrecognized memory is using an
unsupported module size. Ensure that the size of memory modules you have
selected is supported. Some motherboards will not support certain sizes of
modules; in particular, 2 MB, 8 MB and 32 MB modules are composite and will
not work in some machines. Consult your motherboard manual.
5) Make sure that you have used the correct sockets. Motherboards have multiple
sockets and putting modules in the incorrect ones will often cause problems. For
example, most Pentium motherboards have four SIMM sockets, which make up two
banks. If you put the SIMMs in the middle two sockets then you have accidentally put
memory into half of the first bank and half of the second bank, and the PC will not
boot. Putting the memory into the full second bank instead of the first won't work on
many motherboards either (but it will on some).
6) Check the technology of the memory you are using. Use the type of memory
 suitable for the motherboard. Using unsuitable memory in some machines can
cause the memory not to be recognized.
7) If you have an older motherboard, especially in a 486 or earlier system, there is a
chance that your motherboard requires jumpers to be set when adding memory to
the PC. If this is the case then failing to change the jumpers may result in either the
memory not being detected.
8) There could be a motherboard problem. If double-checking all the settings and
replacing the memory does not fix the problem, there may be a bad motherboard or
a problem with how it is configured.
9) There could be something wrong with the memory modules themselves. Note that
bad memory will often pass the BIOS memory test at boot time. If you can, try the
modules in another PC that uses the same kind of memory. If you have performed
all the checks listed in the points above, and the memory does not work in another
PC, the memory itself may very well be bad. Try to replace the memory and see if
the problem goes away. The figures below illustrate the procedure for removing and
inserting a memory module.

a) Release the clips holding the

memory module

b) Check the type of memory from its label.

 c) Replace the memory module by gently pushing it on both the ends and
securing the clip.

Sound Failure Symptoms

Some of the problems associated with the sound in computers are as follows:

· No sound from the computer's speakers or headphones.

· A sound seems to be played, but not heard.
· A sound is played, but then stops suddenly.
· The sound skips or misses in some areas.
· The sound is distorted or scratchy.
· The computer stops responding (hangs) when a sound is played.
· The computer restarts when a sound is played.
· An error message is received when you try to play sound. For example, you may
receive any one of the following error messages:
o MIDI output error detected.
o No wave device that can play files in the current format is installed.
o The CD Audio device is in use by another application. o WAV
sound playback error detected.
o Your audio hardware cannot play files like the current file.
Troubleshooting procedure:

1. If you added hardware or software to your computer immediately before the issue
started, remove the added hardware or software. Be sure to turn off the computer
before removing hardware. As with any problem that arises with computers,
reversing a process that started a problem may correct the problem.
2. Check the following points:
· Are the speakers turned on and have power?
· Try unplugging the speaker power adapter and keep it disconnected for 30
seconds or so, then plug it back in.
· Try plugging a known working item (such as a lamp) to check the wall outlet for
power.

3. Check to insure that the Mixer Control volumes are set to 3/4 volume and are not
muted. Analog or digital can be set in the Mixer Controls, depending on the type of
sound card and speakers used.
4. Make sure that all connections to all speakers are fully seated. Usually, these
plugs click twice before the fully seat.
5. Try plugging in a known working set of head phones to ensure that the sound
card is functioning.
6. Try plugging in the speakers to a known working portable CD player that will accept
the same connection. This will determine if the speakers are working.
7. Go to: Start>> Control Panel>> Administrative Tools>> Component
Services>> Services. Make sure audio is enabled.

8. Go to: Start>> Control Panel>> Sounds and Audio Device Properties. Be sure
that the "Mute" checkbox is unchecked.

Volume Control settings

The procedure for setting up the audio controls is outlined below:

Click on the Start button and continue to the Control Panel section of the
Start menu
Control Panel Window will appear
In the Control Panel window
find Sounds,
Speech, and Audio Devices section, click on it