A+ Tech’s Toolset

1. A+ Tech’s Toolset • Tools you will use will include: • tape and pen to label parts with • a notebook to note assembly/diagnostic steps • chip and small parts extractor • grounding strap and ESD mat • POST card • items in this picture:

2. Initial Troubleshooting • Power-on activities: • Fans • Drive spin-up • Indicator lights • Beep codes • Indicate POST failures, dependant on BIOS manufacturer and programming (p. 239) • Visual Display Error Messages • Basic diagnostics of detected I/O equipment (pp. 238, 243) • Operating System messages (or lack thereof)

3. Further Troubleshooting • Software Diagnostics • Using built-in BIOS auto-detection and testing routines • Basic configuration/conflict testing • Burn-in Testing • Using a POST card • Hardware Diagnostics • Odors • Burnt wiring or charring • Noises • Reseating of chips, cables, jumpers, etc. • Seating cable in proper positions • FRU Diagnostics • Part swapping or in-place testing of suspected equipment • System isolation

4. Power Supply Troubleshooting • No lights, drive actions, display, or running fans • One continuous beep • Individual component failure

5. System Board troubleshooting • Power indicators active, but no drive action or display • Power indicators active, but no display or POST indicators • Lock-ups during normal operation • Continuous memory testing or lockups during memory test • BIOS beep codes • Cannot hold date, time, or configuration settings • CMOS errors, including: • Motherboard/CPU • Gate A20 • DMA Error • Checksum Error • Memory • Memory Mismatch • Checksum Error • CRC Error • Battery • CMOS System Option(s) Not Set • Clock Not Set. • Low Battery • Memory Mismatch

6. Keyboard Troubleshooting • no response from keyboard, or only some characters work • No changes in num/cap/scroll lock lights • CMOS Errors • KB test failure • Keyboard locked • Interface error • Stuck Key • Wrong characters displayed • Typematic and repeat delay problems • 6 BIOS beeps during POST

7. Mouse Troubleshooting • Dirty mouse ball or buttons • Incorrect driver setup • DOS • Mouse.com in autoexec.bat • Mouse.sys in config.sys • Windows • Selection of proper driver and settings • Interrupt conflicts on serial ports with modems

8. Mouse Troubleshooting, cont.

9. Video troubleshooting • No display • Incorrect colors or degaussing failures • Wrong characters displayed • Unwanted control lines • Lack of horizontal or vertical hold • 1 long and 6 short, or 1 long and 2 short BIOS beeps during POST • Setup problems • Safe mode start • DOS start • Color depth, refresh, and resolution incompatibilities • Incorrect drivers

10. Floppy Drive troubleshooting • Drive Read, Write, and Seek screen errors • On-light lights up without motor action • Motor action without on-light being lit • Same directory listing comes up no matter how many disks are swapped in/out. • No Boot Record found when trying to boot from floppy disk. • Mis-set CMOS configuration or incorrect max size reading when doing a directory listing. • Write-protect tab set

11. Hard Drive Troubleshooting • No Boot Record found when trying to boot from drive • The PC does not start when turned on • No motor sounds or access lights when power is applied • CMOS HDD Controller failure messages • Out of Disk Space message • Current Drive No Longer Valid message • Incorrect size, sector, landing zone, or head settings during POST.

12. IDE Master/ Slave/CS confusion SCSI ID/LUN confusion No OS files present Io.sys Msdos.sys Command.com Hard Drive Troubleshooting, cont.

13. CD Drive Diagnostics • No power lights or drive spin-up • No eject (software or hardware control) • MSCDEX not detecting drives • IDE master/slave/CS confusion • SCSI ID/LUN confusion • Failure to read disks • Interface card confusion • RW issues

14. Port Troubleshooting • Resource Confusion • Loopback Testing • Modes/Speed/Flow Control incorrectly set • No/inadequate power to external devices • Driver issues

15. Modem Troubleshooting • Panel light issues • Driver Conflicts • Resource Conflicts • Confusion with mice • Plug and Play • Failure to detect in DOS or CMOS modes • Failure to respond to AT commands (pp. 315-317) • Failure of Dial-Up Networking • Wireline failures • Demarc Failures

16. Memory Troubleshooting • Incorrect memory counts • Parity errors • Crc errors • Checksum errors • System lockups/blue screens/errors • Module mismatches • Incorrect module paring

17. Preventive Maintenance Schedule (PMS) Documentation • TASK • Description of task • PROCEDURE • Description of method for completing task • FREQUENCY • Weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually, etc • ACKNOWLEDGEMENT • Who last did the task

18. Basic PM Tasks • Cleaning • Dust build-ups and static-free removal • Fans and filters • Oxidation removal • Temperature and Humidity Control • Dust • Ventilation paths • Fans • Covers • Adequate power

19. Monitor PM • Dust Control • Glare Control • Image burn-in prevention • Qualified technicians for in-case work • High voltage anode and capacitors • Yoke protection

20. Hard Drive PM • No lateral movement unless: • Drive platters are not spinning • Heads are locked in LZ • Never: • Open the dust free vacuum chamber that the platters/heads are in • Low level format an IDE drive unless you are absolutely sure the error table is corrupt • Allow the drive heads to hit the platter • Always have a backup plan • Ensure physical security of the units • Perform regular data maintenance • Defrag • Scandisk • Anti-virus • Other utilities

21. Floppy PM • Regular head cleaning and alignment • Protection from magnetic fields • Protection from dust, media scratches and heat/sunlight • Regular replacement of both drive and media

22. System Protection • Power-line protection • Transient spikes • Surge suppression • Clamping speed • Clamping voltage • Sags/brownouts • UPS • VA (wattage) rating • Amp-hour rating • Response time • Laser printer caveats • Remote shutdown systems • ESD Control • Environmental conditions • Grounding and MOS control