Introduction

Teachers and Students alike interact with

the physical parts of the computer on a daily
basis. These parts of the computer are part
of a general category of computers called
Input/Output Devices. When you turn on
your computer and push the power button
on the computer monitor, you are
interacting with an I/O device. When you
show your students a video on a flash video
site with audio, you are using the speakers,
another I/O device. When these parts of the
computer are not functioning properly,
usage of the computer becomes severely
compromised. This section of site will focus
on troubleshooting Input/Output Devices.
Input/Output Devices

 Input Devices

oKeyboard
oMouse
oScanner
oMicrophone

 Output Devices

oPrinter
 oMoniter
oSpeaker
oProjector
Troubleshooting
Problem Of
Input Devices

 Keyboard

When you use a wired keyboard,

you may experience one or more
of the following problems:

 The keyboard is not detected.

 The keys on the keyboard do
not work.
 Wrong characters are typed.
To work around these problems,
use the following methods as
appropriate for your situation.

Fixing Trouble Shoot

Problem

Step 1: Verify the connection

If the keyboard is not functioning at all,

make sure that it is connected correctly
to the computer. Check all the
keyboard’s plugs to make sure that
there are no loose connections. Connect
the keyboard to your computer by using
a different USB port.

Step 2: Download and install the

latest keyboard software
To download the latest drivers for the
keyboard

Step 3: Manually reinstall the

drivers

The keys do not strike correctly

If the keys do not strike correctly, make
sure that the keyboard is free of dust,
dirt, and foreign matter.
 Mouse
Most problems with mice are related either
to its port connection, the mouse driver, the
trackball in a trackball mouse or a trackball
unit, and the operation of the mouse
buttons.

Mouse Configuration Checks

When a mouse does not work in a Windows
system, restart it and move into safe mode
by pressing the F5 function key while the
“Starting Windows” message is displayed.
This starts the operating system with the
most basic mouse driver available. If the
mouse does not operate in safe mode, you
must check the mouse hardware and the
port to which the mouse is connected.

Mouse Hardware Checks

The hardware check for the mouse involves
isolating it from its host port. Simply replace
the mouse to test its electronics. If the
replacement mouse works, the original
mouse is probably defective. If its
electronics are not working properly, few
options are available for actually servicing a
mouse. It might need a cleaning, or a new
trackball. However, the low cost of a typical
mouse generally makes it a throwaway item
if simple cleaning does not fix it.
Tips to follow for troubleshooting

 Verify that there is no mouse movement

at all. If your computer mouse has
stopped moving completely, check the
obvious. Make sure the computer mouse
 is plugged in completely. If it is, remove
the plug and examine for pins that may
be damaged.

 See that the mouse stops while you’re

using it. If the mouse is working perfectly
and suddenly stops, check the
connection to see if it is loose. If the
connection is fine, open up the trackball
and check for any fuzz or residue
trapped in the trackball chamber.
Remove any residue with a cotton swab
and alcohol. Remove the trackball and
clean it with the cotton swab and alcohol
as well.

 Observe that the pointer is not working

correctly. If the computer mouse pointer
is working in an odd way, check for a
virus. Some computer viruses cause the
mouse to not work properly. Download a
free anti-virus program at Free-AV to run
a virus scan on the computer.
  Scanner

 Verify cables connected properly to the

back of the scanner
If the scanner is a parallel port scanner, it
has two available connections on the back
of the scanner. Verify the cable coming from
the computer connects to the IN, Computer
IN, Computer, or similar connection.

 Ensure that the scanner is getting

power
If your scanner is not getting power, we
recommend you check all the scanner’s
electrical connections. Make sure they are
connected properly at the back of the
computer, at the scanner, and at your wall
outlet. If the scanner’s power cable is
plugged into a power strip or surge
protector

 Parallel port scanner

troubleshooting
If another device connects between the
scanner and computer, turn off the
computer and temporally disconnect the
devices connected to or from the scanner. If,
after disconnecting these devices, the
scanner works, it’s likely that device has
issues or cannot work with other parallel
devices.
 Microphone

With the work-from-home revolution

changing how we get work done, a working
microphone is now more crucial than ever.
You can now conduct a meeting from the
comfort of your home, but this does mean
you need a microphone that clearly
transmits your voice.

 The Mic Keeps Cutting Out or Isn't

Recording at All
There could be several issues if you get no
sound from your mic at all. It could be
because of an improperly configured sound
setting, or maybe because your microphone
has its gain control set to mute.
  There's Too Much Background Noise

Use a Noise-Canceling Mic

Since 1935, noise-canceling microphones
have been used in military and commercial
settings. They work by placing the mic
diaphragm between two ports—one directed
towards your mouth and the other put a bit
more distantly.

Troubleshooting Problem of
Output Devices

 Printer

 Printer Won’t Print

Are you getting error messages on the
control panel or simply feel like your
print job is stuck somewhere in
cyberspace? While the easiest solution is
to hit the power button and restart your
printer, it’s essential to double-check
you’ve selected the correct print settings
—preferably before you send a dozen
copies of your document to another
device located in the next room.

 Bad Print Quality

It may seem insignificant, but the paper
you print on can make a major
difference in your final print quality.
Generally, photo paper sold by your
printer’s manufacturer will have fewer
issues than generic printer paper. But
what’s even more important? Match the
printer settings to what you’re printing.

 Prints Too Slowly

Even though inkjet printers can be
notoriously slow with ink drying time,
laser printers can have issues, too. Just
as printing in draft quality for detailed
photos can result in print quality issues,
so can printing in presentation quality
 for simple black and white text
documents.

 Printing is Too Expensive

Before you pay for another set of toner
cartridges, consider the following:

 Can the majority of your documents

be printed in draft quality?
 Do you need every page of the
document, or maybe just a few?
 Is duplex or two-sided printing an
option?
 Are your ink cartridges truly made for
your device and are they being
purchased from a reputable vendor?

 Monitor

 Check to be sure that the Monitor has

power and that the light is on.
 Check your cables connecting your
monitor with your computer. NOTE:
Depending on your computer and
monitor set up you will a specific type of
cable. You could have a Standard VGA
cable, S-Video cable, DVI cable or HDMI
cable. Make sure all connections are firm
and properly in place before retrying to
start your computer.

 Disconnect all devices except for the

mouse, keyboard and monitor. Reboot
your computer to see if the issue is
resolved. If it is, then it is one of the
devices that you have disconnected that
is causing the problem. Try connecting
them one at a time and rebooting each
time until the original problem occurs.
Contact your technology coordinator and
explain the situation.
 Try connecting the monitor to a different
PC using the problem monitor’s video
cable. If it still doesn’t work, try the
known good monitors video cable.
 Try unplugging the monitors power
cable, then wait about 20 or 30 seconds
and plug it back in.
 Speaker

 Why Is There No Sound Coming

from Your Speakers?
Perhaps the most common issue with
speakers is a lack of sound. If your
speakers aren’t playing noise, they’re
virtually useless. The good news is there
are more than enough fixes, many of
which you can DIY without professional
help.
1. Adjust the volume coming
from the sound system
2. Check if the speakers are
muted
3. Repair, replace, or connect
any electrical wires.
4. Inspect the system’s output
device
5. Ensure you’re setting the
speakers to the proper channel.

 Audio Distortion is a Common

Issue
If your sound system sounds garbled or
inaudible, the fix might be easier than
you’d think. Before you buy a new
speaker or fork out hundreds of dollars
on pro-level repairs, we’ve made a list of
quick solutions for you to try.
1. Check if the speakers play
from another device
2. Switch the cable if necessary
or applicable
3. Loose wire connections,
cables, and plugs can cause
audio distortion
4. Bluetooth connectivity often
distorts with distance or
interference.
5. Check if a coil is blown.

 Check if Your Speakers Are

Blown
Blown speakers often seem like a
death sentence, but they’re not the
end of your sound setup. In fact,
most blown speakers can be repaired
without replacing any of the parts.

1. Reduce the Volume

2. Adjust the Bass and Treble
 3. Inspect the Wires, Coils, and
Fabric

 Tampered Source Material Can

Ruin Sound Systems
You can upload a song to a computer
program, increase the gain several
times, and burn it on a CD or digital
track. This process might sound
familiar and harmless, but it’s one of
the quickest ways to break your
speakers.
They can overheat, blow out, or
become completely unusable. The
source material is just as important
as the speakers themselves.
 Projector

 Projector turning on then off straight

away
 Projector on but no image
 Shadows appearing on the image
 Dull image being produced
 Projector inputs not working
1. Project Turning on then Off
straight away
There are a number things to look out
for. The first thing to check is your
power supply and make sure that all of
your cables are in fully working
condition and connected properly.
After that, it would be worth checking
how dusty the projector is, this may
occur after a long period of time. This
would mean having to service your
projector.

2. Projector on but no image

If you can get your projector to turn on
but then get no image, make sure that
the cables that you are connecting
with are connected correctly. If this is
all OK, then it most likely you have a
problem with your lamp ballast unit or
the lamp itself. The lamp ballast unit is
what provides power to the lamp. If the
lamp ballast unit goes, then most likely
the lamp will usually go as well.

3. Shadows appearing on the image

 This problem only applies to DLP
Projectors. This yet again could be a
problem with the projector’s main
board or it could be a problem with the
mirror. The projector would need to be
assessed to find the full extent of your
problem. A mirror for your projector
would be a reasonably cheap repair
but again with the main board if that is
the problem, it would be worth
considering buying a new projector.

4. A dull image being produced

This problem only applies to LCD
Projectors. All projector lamps will have
a certain lamp life varying from model
to model. If the image is starting to get
more dull, it would be worth thinking
about getting a new bulb. Some
projectors will tell you how many lamp
hours have been used to date, if not
you may have to have a think and
estimate how long you’ve been using
the projector for. If you think it is near
the estimated lamp life of the
projector, then it may be time to
 enquire about buying a new projector
bulb.

Conclusion

Troubleshooting is a systematic
approach to problem solving
that is often used to find and
correct issues with complex
machines, electronics,
computers and software
systems. The first step in
troubleshooting is gathering
information on the issue, such
as an undesired behavior or a
lack of expected functionality
To troubleshoot is solving a
problem or determining a
problem to an issue.
Troubleshooting often involves
the process of elimination,
where a technician follows a set
of steps to determine the
problem or resolve the
problem.

Reference

 https://jprojectors.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/
projector-troubleshooting/
 https://playbutton.co/common-speaker-problems-and-
how-to-fix-them/#:~:text=Common%20speaker
%20problems%20include%20a,can%20instantly
%20damage%20new%20speakers.
 https://webpage.pace.edu/ms16182p/
troubleshooting/monitor.html
 https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gflesch.com/
blog/common-printer-problems%3fhs_amp=true
 Index

Sr.No Title Sign

1. Introduction
2. Input/
Output
Devices
3. Keyboard
4. Mouse
5. Scanner
6. Microphone
7. Printer

8. Monitor
9. Speaker
10. Projector
11. Conclusion
12. Reference