Hardware Failure Signs Ts Guide

Hardware Failure Signs & TS Guide

Hardware Failure Signs:

CPU:

  • Random shutdown/crashing
    1. Check thermal paste, replace if dry
    2. Bench test using Heaven bench mark
  • BSOD error indicating a fatal error & cannot function
    1. Usually, 0X000000 error code indicates CPU failure
  • Series of BIOS beeps or failure to post at all
    1. Research BIOS beeps online
  • Extremely slow, performing poorly
    1. Run Malware scan
    2. Run SFC batch file
    3. Check disk utilization in task manager
  • No power & will not boot at all
    1. Test PSU
    2. If PSU tests fine, use a spare PSU in store, plug into machine & attempt to boot as PSU testers are not always accurate
  • Machine will boot but no display
    1. Test on both available monitors in store
    2. Remove graphics card & test with onboard graphics
      1. If no onboard graphics, use another GPU & test.
    3. Test current RAM- replace with new ram & test again.
  • Machine randomly freezes
    1. Check thermal paste, replace if dry
    2. Windows Memory Test
    3. Replace RAM sticks & test
  • Mouse tracing, machine not recognizing mouse or keyboard
    1. Test a different mouse/keyboard combo
  • Red CPU LED light indicator on Motherboard

Motherboard:

  • Completely dead system- no fans spinning, no LED indicators on board, no RGB.
    1. Test PSU. If PSU tests fine, replace with store PSU (of the same or higher wattage) & attempt to boot.
    2. Reset CMOS
      1. Remove CMOS, let sit 10 minutes, reinsert. Attempt boot.
      2. Replace CMOS with new.
  • Components like fans & drives may spin but will immediately stop
  • No display
    1. Test on both available monitors in store
    2. Remove graphics card & test using Onboard Graphics
    3. If no Onboard graphics, use GPU in store & test again
  • Continuous system reboots
  • BIOS beeps
  • One or more ports, expansion slots, or memory modules has failed or not reading properly.
    1. Remove all unnecessary components (GPU, hard drives) and attempt to boot.

Graphics Card:

  • Machine will boot but no display
    1. Test on both available monitors in store
    2. Remove GPU & test onboard graphics
      1. If no onboard graphics, use a store GPU & attempt to boot.
  • Graphics related errors
    1. Check for GPU driver updates
    2. If NVIDIA card, ensure drivers downloaded are game-ready drivers
  • Graphics distortion/glitches/pixelation while gaming
    1. Test with another graphics card
      1. This issue is typically indicative of a failed GPU though, however proceed with troubleshooting as this CAN be signs of CPU issues as well.
    2. Test RAM sticks, replace RAM sticks, run Windows Memory Test
  • Abnormal GPU fan noise
    1. Run Heaven bench mark & report results
  • GPU overheating
    1. Run Heaven Bench Mark & report results
  • GPU fans are not working or spinning
    1. Run Heaven bench mark & report results
    2. The abnormal GPU fan noise, GPU overheating issue, and GPU fans not working or spinning under heavy load are indicative that the GPU is failing.

RAM:

  • BSOD errors
    1. Research BSOD error code
  • Random crashes/reboots
    1. Run Windows Memory Test
    2. Test RAM sticks to see if one or both sticks is faulty
    3. Test with good RAM
  • Crashes during heavy workloads like gaming
    1. Check thermal paste, replace if dry. Clean machine.
    2. Run Windows Memory Test
    3. Run Heaven Bench Mark
    4. Test individual RAM sticks
    5. Replace with good RAM & test again
  • No display
    1. Test machine on both available monitors
    2. Test onboard graphics
      1. If no onboard graphics, replace GPU & test again
  • Memory related errors
    1. Run Windows Memory Test
    2. Replace with new RAM.
  • PC freezing
    1. Check thermal paste and replace if dry
    2. Clean out machine
    3. Run Windows Memory Test
    4. Replace with good RAM & test again
  • Ram not being recognized by machine
    1. Replace the RAM.

Multiple components can show the same failure types. Things can be redundant, but we want to rule things out.

Example- a customer comes in and drops off their gaming desktop because it will not boot. There is no power at all.

        Questions To Ask:
  • When did the issue happen?
  • Did you have any sort of power outage or power surge?
    1. Power surge/outage can affect all PC components, but most often it affects the PSU & the hard drive. If the customer answers yes, then we know we need to test EVERY component in the machine for any failures.
  • Have you replaced any components recently?
  • What happened when you discovered the issue?

Then I would go into diagnostics.

  • Test the PSU. PSU tester indicates it’s fine, I’m still going to swap it out for another power supply of the same wattage just in case. It still doesn’t boot with the store PSU, so I’ll test with another just in case.
  • It still didn’t work, so I’m going to remove the RAM, unplug the hard drive, and unplug the graphics card, then test again with the store PSU and the customer’s PSU.
  • That still didn’t fix the issue, so I’m going to replace the CMOS battery.
  • Replacing the CMOS battery didn’t fix the issue either, so I’m going to let the customer know that the motherboard is likely shot and will likely be replaced. I will also let the customer know that I will have to complete additional testing after we have a working motherboard to ensure the issue is resolved.
    1. I know that the motherboard is likely dead because there is NOTHING happening to the board, no lights, no fans, nothing. A dead CPU will typically not affect the motherboard from working. It can, but it is rare.

In a machine that is crashing..

  • First step should ALWAYS be checking the thermal paste on the CPU & replacing it.
  • Clean out the machine.
  • If there’s a BSOD error, research.
  • Test the power supply.
    1. When a power supply starts going bad, it absolutely can cause the machine to crash.
  • Watch the CPU temps. If it’s overheating but the fans/cooler are in good working condition, and the paste was super dry, the CPU may be damaged from excessive heat and need to be replaced.
  • In the event it’s not overheating, I’d start a bench test to see how long it takes to crash.
  • I’d then run a Windows Memory Test.
  • After the memory test, even if the RAM passed, I’d still swap out the RAM with good, known RAM and test again.
  • Check for Windows/drivers updates
  • There are also crash/dump logs you can check.
  • Run SFC/DISM in case of a bad update.

We always want to make sure to ask the customer proper questions. What are you doing when it crashed? What game were you playing? Is it constant or intermittent? How long does it take to crash? Does whatever your doing crash & take you do the desktop or does the machine shut off? Answers to these questions can lead you in the right direction.

Revision History

  • Status: approved
  • Imported from legacy approved SOP archive

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