 |
Home > Support > Data Recovery Guide > DIY Data Rescue > Windows Troubleshooting > Faulty Hardware |
Faulty Hardware
Faulty hardware varies tremendously, and thus a small article like this will not cover the whole gamut of problems or signs of faulty hardware.
However, what can help you narrow down the range of possible hardware failure you have is the age of the machine, the operating system and any recently installed new hardware (Graphic cards? RAM?)
Age of system
AGE OF SYSTEM
There is a high possibility that if your computer system has been long for very long (5 years is long, 5 months is not), hardware failure will be imminent, if not already happening. And even if the reverse were true, there is a high probability that it will run very slowly with newer or latest software or even surfing the internet.
In this case, unless you are only going to use your system for basic work like typing documents and such, it is best to simply get a new system (within your budget of course) as things aren’t going to get better any soon.
OPERATING SYSTEM
As Windows Vista has just made its launch, chances are some hardware is not supported or not supported fully by the new operating system.
Also, system updates, driver updates can also fix your “hardware” problems.
| Related Topic: Install Latest Patches and Fixes |
NEWLY INSTALLED HARDWARE
Here is the crux of the matter, newly installed hardware. Sometimes, the hardware you bought, be it graphic card, sound card, hard disk or even power supply, rolled out of the factory faulty, missed by the manufacturers QC department.
Or you could have simply installed the hardware improperly. There are various things to check to identify the problem/problematic hardware before you decide to replace the offending piece.
FAULTY HARDWARE
Even if you don’t suffer failed hardware immediately, in due time hardware may fail, again due to manufacturing errors. However, electrical storms can cause power surges, which may affect your hardware, causing it to fail.
Physical abuse, like hard knocks, can also cause hardware to be knocked loose, and in worse scenarios, permanently damage your hardware.
RESOLUTION:
- If you have installed a new card (or you recently knocked on you computer hard), or RAM, make sure that the cards are seated flushed in their slots properly. Remove the cards and install the card again, applying gentle pressure to make sure that the card is properly seated.
- If you have installed a new hard disk or reconfigured it, make sure that all the connections are not loose.
Also, refer to the sections below to see any other problems.
See how to install a new hard disk
- Check the connections from you PSU to the various devices. Have you knocked any connections loose while installing the hardware?
- Check the PSU itself to see if it is running properly.
