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howtos:hardware:hardware_diagnostics [2014/01/21 20:05 (UTC)] – [Solutions] metaschimahowtos:hardware:hardware_diagnostics [2014/06/21 17:17 (UTC)] – [Common Symptoms] 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) which will cause a kernel panic and forced shutdown, or it may throttle itself down and the system will seem slower.+  * Kernel panics are seen with multi-core machines, when only one core is affected. These are clearly listed as ''Hardware Error'' MCE (Machine-check exception). 
 +  * If it is overheating it may also trigger a MCE which will cause a kernel panic and forced shutdown, or it may throttle itself down and the system will seem slower.
 === Motherboard === === Motherboard ===
   * Check for swollen capacitors.   * Check for swollen capacitors.
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   * 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, drag-and-select, double-click.+  * Problems with click-and-drag, drag-and-drop, drag-to-select, double-click.
   * Mouse pointer jumps.   * Mouse pointer jumps.
   * Acceleration issues.   * Acceleration issues.
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 === CPU === === CPU ===
 If you suspect the CPU is overheating, then you can try to remove the heatsink-fan block according to your CPU or heatsink manual, [[http://www.howtocleananything.com/home-interior-tips/computer/how-to-clean-thermal-paste-off-cpu/|clean off the old thermal paste]], [[http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/howto_install_cpu_and_apply_thermal_paste|apply new thermal paste]], or let an expert do it. Otherwise, replace the CPU. Make sure it is actually the CPU and not the RAM that is the problem, as a CPU is very expensive compared to RAM. If you suspect the CPU is overheating, then you can try to remove the heatsink-fan block according to your CPU or heatsink manual, [[http://www.howtocleananything.com/home-interior-tips/computer/how-to-clean-thermal-paste-off-cpu/|clean off the old thermal paste]], [[http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/howto_install_cpu_and_apply_thermal_paste|apply new thermal paste]], or let an expert do it. Otherwise, replace the CPU. Make sure it is actually the CPU and not the RAM that is the problem, as a CPU is very expensive compared to RAM.
 +<note>
 +If you cannot replace the CPU and it is a multi-core CPU with only one core that has failed, [[http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?p=5162136|for example the L1 cache of CPU core #2]], then you can try to disable the failed core. One way to do this is to use the ''maxcpus='' kernel boot option. In the example you would use:
 +<code>
 +maxcpus=2
 +</code>
 +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 ''CONFIG_HOTPLUG_CPU'' built-in to the kernel, and running:
 +<code>
 +echo 1 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu3/online
 +</code>
 +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.
 +</note>
 === Motherboard === === Motherboard ===
 Replace the motherboard, and make sure the PSU is not damaged, as it can damage your new motherboard. Replace the motherboard, and make sure the PSU is not damaged, as it can damage your new motherboard.

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