If power is obviously flowing to the computer system and its peripherals, there
may be a component issue. When you first turn on the computer, do
you hear or
see anything out of the ordinary? Many times the computer's Power-On Self-Test
(POST) will let you know what's going on with the machine.
Beep Codes
If you hear any beeps when your computer turns on, they can help you
troubleshoot common PC hardware problems. Here's a list of beep codes (hint:
remember these if you're taking the COMPTIA A+ exam).
No beep but the system turns on and runs fine - Under normal
circumstances, most computer systems
will beep one short beep when turned
on. If yours doesn't, your "beeper" may have died out.
No beep The power supply is not plugged in
or turned on. Or. the power
supply is completely dead.
Steady, short beeps The power supply may be bad or the voltages might
be wrong. A replacement would usually be necessary.
No beep - The power supply is not plugged in or turned on. Or, the
power
supply is completely dead.
Steady, short beeps The power supply may be bad or the voltages might
be wrong. A replacement would usually be necessary.
Steady, long beeps The
power supply has gone bad.
Long, continuous beep - Your Random Access
Memory (RAM) sticks may
have gone bad.
If there is more than one stick installed, try taking one out to
see if the computer boots. If it does not, try the same thing with the other
stick. This will tell you which stick has gone bad and you can replace or
upgrade accordingly. If there is only one stick installed, you will need to
replace or upgrade it to fix the problem.
•
One long, two short beeps - There has been a video card failure. Your first
action is to try reseating the video card. This often solves the problem when
the computer system is connected to projectors because the VGA/DVI/Video
cable gets moved so often that the card can be slowly unplugged. If reseating
doesn't work, replace the video card.
Problem #3: Your
Computer Screen
Freezes
When your computer freezes and isn't responsive to your mouse or keyboard, the
first thing to do is just wait. Sometimes it will just take a few minutes for your
computer to process. Then, end-task the non-responding program. If that doesn't
work, turn off the computer by holding down the power button and then
rebooting into Safe Mode (don't forget about saving your work first, if you can).
If you've tried all of this and your computer still won't unlock, you may be
dealing
with either defective hardware or a defective device driver. If this is your case,
replace the defective piece immediately so it doesn't cause further damage.
Another thing you could be dealing with is a virus that is overwhelming your
system. Run a virus scan. remove the virus, recover or reinstall damaged files or
software, and implement the latest security software.
Problem #4: Your
Computer Has
Insufficient Memory
Receiving an "insufficient memory or disk space" error message can usually be
solved (at least temporarily) by closing extra windows to free up some RAM. If
you've done that and the error still comes up, you can try rebooting your
computer and installing the latest operating system update.
If
you really don't have enough available memory and space (which can be
checked in Windows 10 by pressing the Windows-R button and typing perfmon in
the Open field to run the Performance Monitor), you can uninstall or delete any
unused or unnecessary files, especially those of the video/music type. Your final
solution is to add more RAM.
Problem #5: You Get a
CMOS Error
The CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) is an onboard chip that
stores information ranging from the time and date to system hardware settings. If
you get a CMOS alert message showing up on your screen, it's likely you need to
replace the CMOS battery located on the motherboard. Remove it carefully.
insert a new battery that is exactly the same as the old one.
and enter the CMOS
values to the defaults.
