How To Repair A Computer. Structure is the key to succes.

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How to repair a broken computer.



Use a structured approach.


The fastest and best way to repair a broken computer is to use a structured approach. With a structured approach is ment an approach in which each component of the computer is delt with each after the other.

Ways to make sure a component is not the part that causes the trouble are:
1. Use software to test the component of the computer.
2. Use a new component in stead of the studied component.
3. Use another component out of a working computer.
4. Place the studied component of the computer in another working computer.

ad 1. There is software to test computer components. The test software for memory units is well known. Most builders of hard discs have test programs available on their website to test the health of the hard disc. Most of the time the results of these tests are needed before an order for a return of the hard disc can be made and an RMA-number can be asked for.

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How to repair a computer.



Part 2: The start.




One of the problems that will be faced is that a lot of problems are not visible from the outside of the components of the computer. So there are only a few problems that can be found when looked at the outside of the computerparts. This happens a lot when dealing with electronic components.

The speciality of the approach of repairing a broken computer is that the research is not in the first place aimed at finding the component that is broken. The reason for the approach of aiming on finding the computer components that work fine is that there are almost no means to find the component that is broken. And it is very often too costly and often not necessary to replace a lot of components. To be as sure as possible to know what component of the computer needs to be replaced the approach described in this topic is to eleminate the components that don't cause the problem. This is done by testing to see if the component works the way it is supposed to do.

The components of the computer that can cause a problem are in most computers:

1. case
2. computer board.
3. bios of the compuer board.
4. processor.
5. power unit.
6. internal memory unit.
7. hard disk.
8. processor fan.

9. software.

10. optical drive, like a dvd burner.
11. internal connections.
12. external connections.
13. internal wires.
14. external wires.
15. buttons.

The structured approach means that the mentioned components of the computer are tested 1 by 1 to see if the component works the way it should work. If a component works fine this component can be excluded from being the reason for the computer to be out of order. There are several disadvantages of an approach in which a few components are testde and changde at the same time. The biggest disadvantage is that it is not very sure which component works fine and can be excluded from the list of components that can cause the problem of the computer. The second bad point is that when the computer works after several changes at the same time it is not sure what change repaired the computer and what component caused the problem. Th 1 after the other approach gives the biggest ensurance that a component can be excluded from the list of components that might be broken and might cause the problem and might prevent the computer from working.

The internal memory unit

Almost the only way to check the memory unit is to test it using a software program. The second way to test to see if the memory unit works fine is to replace it by another unit and to test the memory unit in a working computer.

The program that is used the most to test the memory unit is memtest86+. It can be found on the website of memters.org. In november 2010 the latest version is version 4.10.

The way to use this program is to download it from the website http://www.memtest.org/..
This is an iso file. This file can be used to write a program to a cd. Two programs that can be used to write the iso-file to a cd are ImgBurn and ISO Recorder.

The program can run under Windows. It is not recommended to run Memtest under Windows. The reason is that Windows uses a part of the memory unit. And the part that Windows uses can't be tested by Memtest. This means that using Memtest while Windows runs on the computer doesn't give a trustable result of the test.

The cd with the program that is burnt with the iso file is a bootable cd. The cd can be put in the cd-player. The computer can be started while the cd is in the cd player. When the start menu in the bios is set right the computer starts from the program on the cd. This means that Memtest will start.

It is the best to run Memtest like about during 6 to 8 hours. Sometimes mistakes are only reported by Memtest after several runs. When Memtest reports a mistake there is a very big possibilitythat the memory unit is broken. It is recommended to test the memory units 1 by 1. It is recommended also to test the memory unit in memory unit slot A1.
Edited November 3, 2010 by zenia (see edit history)

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Part 3: Hard disk


Diagnostic program

The builders of hard disks provide test programs for the hard disks on the website of the builders.

Some diagnostic programs are here available:

Hitachi:
http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Samsung
http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Seagate
http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Western Digital
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.as1=6〈=en

Trouble shooting guide

Some builders of hard disk drives provide trouble shooting guides too.

Hitachi provides a trouble shooting guide.
http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Seagate
http://www.seagate.com/

RMA

When the problem occurs in the warranty time there might be a possibility to return the hard disk to the builder. This can be done through the shop where the hard disk is bought. This can be done directly with the hard disk factory too. Most hard drive factory websites have programs to see if the warranty is still working.
Edited November 4, 2010 by zenia (see edit history)

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How to repair your computer?



Part 4: The processor

Five ways to find out if the processor is broken.

1. View.
2. Take out.
3. Temperature.
4. Change.
5. New.



1. View.

Have a look at the processor. Is it mounted straight into the socket? Is the processor fan attached straight to the processor? Is the processor attached firmly into the socket? Is the lock handle closed?

2. Take out.

Take the processor out of the socket. Turn the processor upside down. Have a look at the little pins at the bottom of the processor. Check if all pins are straight. Check to see if all pins are present. Make sure no pin is bended. Make sure no pin is missing.

3. Temperature.

Feel in the neighbourhood of the processor. Feel if there is an extreme heath radiature. The processor can reach a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius before the processor turns itself off.

Download a software program to measure the temperature of the processor. An example of a software program to test the temperature is FanSpeed.

4. Replacement.

When all the other components are checked out an if all the other components are excluded from being the cause of the problem and if there is a big assumption that the processor is broken the suspicious processor can be placed into a working computer. It is also possible to replace the suspicious processor by a working processor from another working computer.

5. New.

A way to test if the processor works fine is to build a new processor into the socket of the computer board. If the computer works fine with the new processor the old processor might be suspicious.

[levimage 0]

It is the best to run Memtest like about during 6 to 8 hours. Sometimes mistakes are only reported by Memtest after several runs. When Memtest reports a mistake there is a very big possibilitythat the memory unit is broken. It is recommended to test the memory units 1 by 1. It is recommended also to test the memory unit in memory unit slot A1.

If you do get errors make sure you know which RAM sticks have the errors. If you do the test with four (4) or two (2) sticks of ram in your PC/laptop make note of it. Then take a out a pair if you have four (4) and test again; or, if you just have one, take out one and run the memory test again. I know this may take time (time consuming) but you are trying to identify which memory stick is out of commission. Which is giving errors. Also if you need to RMA the stick. A photo or LPT print out of the screen might also help expedite the return/replacement.

Diagnostic program
The builders of hard disks provide test programs for the hard disks on the website of the builders.

Hard disks also have a temperature, a failure rate, and a life span called Mean Time Between Failiure (MTBF). So this should also be taken into consideration when you are using a drive which has been out for sometime. Usually I notice the number one problems from hard disks are incomplete shutdowns or power failure as a result of bad power supplies, laptop battery going dead or power outtage. Also some troubleshooting utilities also do not turn off the hard drive properly when you have to force a shutdown with the hard drive light still spinning. What I hate is that hard drive light blinking as a result of antivirus searches, caching programs, and anything that requires excessive use of the hard drive, especially when I want to make my laptop sleep or shutdown, cause you are usually interrupting a process.

4. Replacement.
When all the other components are checked out an if all the other components are excluded from being the cause of the problem and if there is a big assumption that the processor is broken the suspicious processor can be placed into a working computer. It is also possible to replace the suspicious processor by a working processor from another working computer.

5. New.

A way to test if the processor works fine is to build a new processor into the socket of the computer board. If the computer works fine with the new processor the old processor might be suspicious.

Dont forget your thermal paste. Looks like it can get quite expensive in your step (4) and Step (5).

[labstuffs 0]

Very good info post, I was wondering how many people actually need to repair their computer, you may need to upgrade it before it break down.

[imjjss 0]

Nowadays, upgrading might be cheaper than repairing. If you have some vivid computer hardware shop around, upgrading a component is very convinient, you gain a better performence at a reasonable cost.It'd be great if it's a small problem and you can fix it at home. Otherwise, the repair shops killing. Not mention the cost of bringing the computer on the traffic. The worst case is the repair shop couldn't solve the problem.

[iGuest 3]

Well thanks but if you explain a little more then it would be better for every one to use.By giving a little more information like blue scen, bootung up problem, time date not fixed , would user a better. hoping a detail information about how to repair a broken computerin near future from you.

[wutske 0]

Great tuto, but this probably won't do for most people; you could write a whole book on repairing computers and still not cover every aspect of the process. First of all, the most important part of the process is based on knowledge, intuition and some good guessing. I know by experience that I shouldn't start testing the memory when my computer says "bootable media not present". You've also listed a load of stuff that can break down, but I've never seen a case causing a malfunction (unless you've failed to correctly install the hardware in the case, but that's a user error) and you've forgotten stuff like the graphics card.Second, you talk about repairing a computer, which means you're stating that something is broken, but when a computer stops working, it's often caused by a software problem and not a hardware, so you have to be sure that it's not just a corrupted driver that prevents your computer from working. Here I'd like to second infotronix's advice that BSOD information should be analyzed (if present) or that any other error message should be analyzed before starting the slow and painful testing procedure.Third, you're going to take out the CPU before checking it's temperature and you even suggest to hold you're hand near the cooler even tough this thing can reach temperature near boiling point ? That is just foolish ! Besides, if you don't know what you're doing you should never remove a CPU from it's socket. It's sensitive equipment and the application of cooling paste is a very important step which must be done in a correct matter and you've never mentioned that you must discharge yourself or wear special ESD-protection equipment.I'm sorry for being so hard on your tutorial, but I'm doing this to protect you and other people that read your guide. Your guide is far from complete and can possibly cause physical damage (but to the user and the hardware).