How to Identify and Resolve Hardware Failure Issues

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Having issues with your computer? Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling software and still no luck? Don't worry—in this article, we'll walk you through how to identify hardware failure issues so you can resolve them. Keep reading to get started.

Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Checking the Hard Drive

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  1. Bad sectors are sectors on a hard drive that can no longer be used. This may be due to permanent damage or the inability of the OS to access them. If you find your system freezing, getting stop errors, or other errors this may be due to bad sectors. Use chkdsk and repair these problems.
  2. To do that, click on Start (in the bottom left-hand corner), and then you would see several options and select computer.
    • Right-click the volume that you wish to check and click on properties.
    • In the Properties dialogue box, click on the Tools tab.
    • Under Error-Checking there is a button that says Check Now. Click on this to start chkdsk.
    • In the Check Disk dialogue box, select the options you wish to run. To attempt to fix bad sectors you must check the second option, Scan For and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors.
    • If you are checking the system volume, you will see the message “Windows can’t check the disk while it’s in use. Do you want to check for hard disk errors the next time you start your computer?” Click Schedule Disk Check to run the check next time you start your computer.
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  3. Click Start, type cmd, then right click cmd and select Run as Administrator.
    • Type chkdsk without parameters to see the status of the disk.
    • Chkdsk /? Will display all of the possible parameters.
    • Type chkdsk c: \f \v to check and repair the disk as well as displaying any clean-up messages. 5. If you wish to check a volume other than c: change to the appropriate letter.
    • If you are checking your system volume, you will see a message saying:
    • “The type of file system is NTFS. Cannot lock current drive. Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”
    • Type Y, and then restart your computer. A message will appear saying that chkdsk is running. When this finishes, Windows will start automatically.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

Checking the Memory

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  1. A faulty RAM can cause problems with a system. Some of the more common signs of a memory problem are stop errors of the system failing to start.
  2. This will attempt to resolve any errors on the hard disk, or problems with software configuration that may stop the computer from starting normally. If the computer still fails to start after this, launch the Windows Memory Diagnostic in Windows Boot Manager.
  3. Thus, you can schedule it to run the next time you start your computer. To do this, go to Control Panel, click on System and Security, and then on Administrative tools. Double click on Windows Memory Diagnostic, and then select the appropriate option.
  4. Type mdsched at the command prompt, or by clicking Start and typing mdssched.
  5. To access this, repeatedly press the space bar as the system starts.
    • Press Tab to select Windows Memory Diagnostic is also available through System Recovery Options.
  6. There are three levels of testing, Basic, Standard, and Extended.
  7. More passes takes longer, but it more likely to find any intermittent memory problems.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Checking the Power Supply

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  1. Use a fire extinguisher if necessary. Make sure that the fire extinguisher is approved for use on electrical devices.
  2. If the computer doesn’t do anything when you have pressed the power button, the first thing to do is check that it is plugged in and the wall outlet is switched on.
    • Check that the wall outlet is working. You can do this by plugging in something that you know works and seeing if it will power on.
  4. You can do this using a multimeter or by just swapping the cable for one that you know works.
  7. It is fails to work then replace it.
  8. Check that the power supply provides the necessary wattage to power the machine.
  9. Verify that the fan is working.
  10. The system may be shutting down because it is overheating. Make sure that your system is clean of dust, if necessary, replace the fan.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Fixing the Motherboard

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    • Ensure that the computer is receiving power and that the monitor is switched on and connected.
    • Remove all external accessories such as wireless cards or external drives.
    • Check that the power supply fan is running. If it is not then the problem is most likely to be with the power supply.
    • Open the computer and visually inspect the motherboard. If it is blackened or melted, replace the motherboard.
    • Ensure that all necessary power connectors are plugged in to the motherboard and that any internal power switch is power turned on. Also check that the power supply is set to the correct voltage.
    • Ensure that the motherboard, RAM, and CPU are seated properly.
    • If there are any jumpers on the motherboard, check the manual to make sure that they are in the correct position.
  3. If none of these steps have worked, set the BIOS back to its default settings by removing the battery from the motherboard for 30 minutes.
    • Remove all external accessories such as wireless cared or external drives. Just leave the monitor, keyboard and mouse connected. By doing this you're singling out the devices that could be causing the beep codes.
    • Refer to the manual or manufacturer website to check the meaning of the beep code that you hear.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Stop Overheating

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  3. This especially important with laptops, make sure that none of the cooling ports are blocked.
  4. This will obviously cause the cooled area to overheat. The fan can also burn out.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Random Shutdowns

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  2. The diagnostic software can be obtained from the motherboard manufacturer
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Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Seeking Professional Help

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  1. There's nothing wrong with asking for help. A professional may notice something you might have missed.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I know if my power supply is bad?
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Almost any symptom on your machine can be a sign of a power supply failure. It could be weird hard drive symptoms, it could be your CD ROM drives not working correctly, it could be all sorts of RAM restarts, or it could be cue errors.
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  • Question
    How long does the BIOS battery last and can it prevent the PC from powering up?
    Community Answer
    Usually they will last for 5 years or more; they save the settings for the BIOS and the clock. As to whether they will cause the computer to not power up, that's based on the design. Usually it just causes you to lose all of your settings if you disconnect the computer from AC power, but it could also cause the computer to not boot up if your BIOS is completely dependent on it.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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