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howtos:hardware:hardware_diagnostics [2014/01/21 19:55 (UTC)] – [Common Symptoms] metaschima | howtos:hardware:hardware_diagnostics [2014/07/06 00:57 (UTC)] – [Solutions] Added warning about replacing CMOS battery metaschima | ||
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=== CPU === | === CPU === | ||
* May or may not POST. | * May or may not POST. | ||
- | * Kernel panics are possible with multi-core machines, when only one core is affected. | ||
* There may be beep codes. | * There may be beep codes. | ||
* The fans are typically running at 100%. | * The fans are typically running at 100%. | ||
- | * If it is overheating it may trigger a MCE (Machine-check exception) | + | |
+ | | ||
=== Motherboard === | === Motherboard === | ||
* Check for swollen capacitors. | * Check for swollen capacitors. | ||
Line 74: | Line 74: | ||
* May not open when you press the button, but instead make some clunking sounds and open only after many button presses. | * May not open when you press the button, but instead make some clunking sounds and open only after many button presses. | ||
=== Mouse === | === Mouse === | ||
- | * Problems with drag-and-drop, | + | * Problems with click-and-drag, |
* Mouse pointer jumps. | * Mouse pointer jumps. | ||
* Acceleration issues. | * Acceleration issues. | ||
Line 96: | Line 96: | ||
You should **ALWAYS** use a surge protector on **ALL** electronic devices **ALL** the time. This prevents damage to the PSU, to the motherboard, | You should **ALWAYS** use a surge protector on **ALL** electronic devices **ALL** the time. This prevents damage to the PSU, to the motherboard, | ||
</ | </ | ||
+ | === Power Button === | ||
+ | * A bad power button is surprisingly difficult to diagnose, and there are no software tests that can help. Looking for characteristic symptoms such as a reboot loop and swapping out hardware may be the only way to diagnose it. | ||
=== CMOS battery === | === CMOS battery === | ||
* You could take the battery out, making sure to use the special tab to remove it rather than trying to pry it off, and measure its voltage. Or you could just throw it away in the proper battery disposal container and replace it anyway just to be sure, and also because you may have had to remove a graphics card or PCI/PCIE card to reach the battery and you may not have a battery tester for these types of batteries. | * You could take the battery out, making sure to use the special tab to remove it rather than trying to pry it off, and measure its voltage. Or you could just throw it away in the proper battery disposal container and replace it anyway just to be sure, and also because you may have had to remove a graphics card or PCI/PCIE card to reach the battery and you may not have a battery tester for these types of batteries. | ||
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=== PSU === | === PSU === | ||
Replace the PSU with a new PSU, if the symptoms disappear, you can be sure it was the PSU. However, note that a bad PSU may damage the motherboard or other components, or maybe it was a power surge that damaged everything. | Replace the PSU with a new PSU, if the symptoms disappear, you can be sure it was the PSU. However, note that a bad PSU may damage the motherboard or other components, or maybe it was a power surge that damaged everything. | ||
+ | === Power Button === | ||
+ | Try to clean the power button using compressed air. If that doesn' | ||
=== CMOS battery === | === CMOS battery === | ||
Replace the battery carefully using the special tab. Do **NOT** pry it off using a screwdriver because then it will break and it won't go back in. | Replace the battery carefully using the special tab. Do **NOT** pry it off using a screwdriver because then it will break and it won't go back in. | ||
+ | <note important> | ||
+ | Replacing the CMOS battery will reset your BIOS/UEFI settings, so be prepared for this. | ||
+ | </ | ||
=== HDD === | === HDD === | ||
You should first get your important data off of it. If you feel it is failing fast, use ddrescue to image the drive to another drive. Once you have the image, be it complete or incomplete, you can use [[http:// | You should first get your important data off of it. If you feel it is failing fast, use ddrescue to image the drive to another drive. Once you have the image, be it complete or incomplete, you can use [[http:// | ||
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=== CPU === | === CPU === | ||
If you suspect the CPU is overheating, | If you suspect the CPU is overheating, | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | If you cannot replace the CPU and it is a multi-core CPU with only one core that has failed, [[http:// | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | maxcpus=2 | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | this is because CPU cores are numbered starting with 0, so 4 cores would be numbered 0, 1, 2, 3. Note that if CPU #0 is failing, you may be out of luck. Another complementary way is to first make sure you have '' | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | echo 1 > / | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | on every boot. In this example this turns ON CPU #3. So, basically you would have the 3 good cores running i.e. 0, 1, 3. | ||
+ | </ | ||
=== Motherboard === | === Motherboard === | ||
Replace the motherboard, | Replace the motherboard, | ||
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Replace the drive. | Replace the drive. | ||
=== Mouse === | === Mouse === | ||
- | Although replacing | + | Replacing |
- | * For click-related problems, | + | * For click-related problems, |
+ | * It may be that the small plastic switch inside the mouse has worn down with repetitive use. Correcting | ||
+ | * It may also be that the plastic button arch has fatigued over time and doesn' | ||
* For wandering / jumping pointer problems, cleaning the optical / laser window on the underside of the mouse with alcohol and a q-tip may help. If it is a wireless mouse consider infrared or microwave interference depending on the wireless mouse type. Removing or isolating sources of interference or distancing oneself from the sources may help. Wireless mouse manuals recommend placing the base station away from electronic devices or other sources of electromagnetic interference. | * For wandering / jumping pointer problems, cleaning the optical / laser window on the underside of the mouse with alcohol and a q-tip may help. If it is a wireless mouse consider infrared or microwave interference depending on the wireless mouse type. Removing or isolating sources of interference or distancing oneself from the sources may help. Wireless mouse manuals recommend placing the base station away from electronic devices or other sources of electromagnetic interference. | ||
* For acceleration issues one can try [[https:// | * For acceleration issues one can try [[https:// |