Hardware Repair: Computer Hardware Troubleshooting Tips and Tools

It's certainly frustrating when are you in the middle of some work on your computer, and experience some hardware problems. In such cases, you may want to follow some hardware repair tips. Read on to know more on computer hardware troubleshooting tips and tools.
The computer hardware includes devices such as the mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer, scanner, etc. All are machines, and can at some or the other time fail to function. However, you can perform some basic computer troubleshooting tips to make them functional. If they don't seem to work with the troubleshooting tools, you need to send them for hardware repair. Let's discuss some of the computer troubleshooting tips that can generally be used.

Monitor

If the monitor is not working, using the computer is useless as you can't view what you are doing. If it's not displaying the content, the first thing you need to do is to ensure that it has been turned on by pressing the on/off button. The next thing you have to do is to check if the cable which connects the computer monitor and the CPU is connected properly. If not, connect it in a proper manner, or remove and plug it in again. Also make sure that the cord which is used to power the monitor is plugged in the UPS the right way. If this doesn't function the monitor, you need to check both the cables turn by turn on a different monitor which is in working condition. If the other monitor doesn't work with any one of the cords, that cable needs to be replaced. If the other monitor works with both cords, there is possibly a problem in your monitor. If you are unsuccessful in starting your monitor, you may turn off the PC, restart it in few minutes, and then check whether the monitor is working or not. When all efforts fail, a professional technician should be consulted.

Keyboard

The keyboard is also an important part of the computer, without which you are unable to perform several PC tasks. The keyboard should be kept away from dust for its proper functioning. If it doesn't work, you first need to check its connection with the CPU. If the connection is fine, and still it's nonfunctional, simply try to connect it to another PS/2 socket, or USB port (in case of a USB keyboard). In case of wireless keyboards, special drivers are needed to be installed in the computer for proper functioning. Ensure that such drivers are installed. Also make a point to check whether the drivers are updated. Hold the keyboard in an inverted manner and remove the dust or debris which is hampering the proper working of a key or a set of keys. You can also remove dust with the help of a vacuum cleaner or an air compressor.

Mouse

If the cursor on the screen is not moving in a smooth manner, you need to check for dust or any residue on the trackball rollers which enable the computer to accurately identify the movement of the mouse. Remove the rear mouse cover which will let the ball come out, clean the trackball if needed, remove the dust or residue, put the ball in again, and finally put the cover back. Check whether this works. If the cursor doesn't move at all, check whether the mouse is correctly connected to the CPU. If it's a USB mouse, try to use a different USB port. There can also be possibilities of a virus, if the mouse pointer doesn't work in an acceptable manner. Run an anti-virus software and delete the virus as soon as possible. Also check if the mouse drivers are corrupted, if yes, reinstall them.

Printer

If the printer doesn't work, there is a possibility of a paper jam which normally occurs if the papers are not placed in the tray in a right manner. In case of bigger printers, you may need to open various printer parts to get to the place where there is a paper jam. This exclusively has to be done by a professional printer technician. Don't use tools to remove the paper jam as some components may get damaged during the process. If the printer doesn't turn on, the power cord may be loose, and needs to be plugged in properly. The cord which connects the printer to the computer also needs to be checked.

These are some of the very common computer hardware troubleshooting steps which can be followed before taking the PC to a professional hardware repair shop.

Thank to Stephen Rampur

Article source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hardware-repair-computer-hardware-troubleshooting-tips-and-tools.html

Knowing Your Computer Hardware

There is a personal computer in almost every home and office and yet there are still people confused about computer hardware. You can define a personal computer as a system that was built for one person to use but there come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The tower size was the most common when they first became popular, but today people are more prone to purchase a midi or mini tower to save on space. The difference in size mainly dictates the amount of bays that are available for drives and the type of motherboard that will fit into the case.

The computer contains multiple components that are placed inside to create the unit. You can have all the hardware in place, all in working order but without software, mainly an operating system you are left with a dumb computer. The operating system will manage the hardware inside the computer and determine how it is utilized and also allows the user to control the way the system operates. You may have heard the term firmware and it has been associated with computer hardware, it is not considered hardware, just a program that is embedded into the hardware itself. The firmware in the hardware can be updated to help your hardware work properly with different operating systems and other software on your computer.

The hardware is considered all parts that are inside or connected to the outside of the computer. The computer case, mouse, keyboard, monitor and speakers are considered hardware. Inside the computer you have parts such as the motherboard, CPU, memory, hard drive, ROM drives, video card, sound card, Ethernet card and power supply. The computer hardware in each system may vary by type, brand or even size but the main components are always the same in order for the system to work. If you go to purchase a bare bone system it will come complete with case, power supply, mother board and CPU, memory, video, sound and sometimes hard drive. This is the basic components to get the tower to operate; you can then add ROM drives, speakers, keyboard, and mouse and monitor to have a working dumb computer. In order to have a computer that is completely operational you have to install an operating system and the necessary drivers for the hardware to work.

Each piece of hardware in your computer is different; some will require drivers while others will not. The memory for instance requires no drivers and is simply plug_and_play and most ROM drives and hard drives act the same way. But, other hardware inside your system such as your Ethernet card, video card or sound card will require drivers to be loaded once the operating system is installed to operate correctly. Many times the operating system you use will pick up the computer hardware drivers without having you install them manually. Once you boot your system up for the first time your operating system will detect the new hardware and begin searching for the necessary drivers.

Thank to Computer Knowledge
Article source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/knowing-your-computer-hardware-4922651.html 

About various Computer hardware components

A computer is nowadays used in every facet of our daily lives from business to personal communication. Although computer is a complex system built by assembling several components, having some knowledge related to these components can help in upgrading it easily. Each component has certain role in a PC that can be either internal or peripheral devices connected directly to the computer.

Basically hardware components are devices designed for a specific purpose like inputting data or outputting data. Computer hardware components include monitor, CPU, keyboard, mouse, speakers, memory modules and external storage devices.

Monitor

The monitor is display of computer because all the pictures and videos are seen there. Earlier computer monitors were used as glass tube referred to CRT but new models incorporates flat screen or LCD screen to protect eyes from harmful radiations and display a crisper image.

Keyboard

The keyboard is an input device used to send input data to the computer. It can be connected to a computer by old style serial connection or newer version USB connector. Keyboard performs more than just providing a way to type data as it can also control audio and video such as DVD player.

Mouse

The mouse is a standard component used mostly in a computer. A mouse is typically plugged in a computer's USB port for easy working. A mouse has left, right and center wheel for easy navigation on the monitor. The center wheel is ascetically used to scroll pages up and down that can be documents or web pages.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The Central processing unit is a brain of a computer. This computer hardware component performs all calculations and operations. It is dependable on the frequency of CPU as high it is, more powerful it will work. A powerful CPU can handle many tasks simultaneously and that too in quick process.

Memory

Memory is an internal component that connects with motherboard in slots. It comes in different sizes that can range from 512 MB to 16 GB and much more ahead in super computers. Mostly there are two slots in the computer motherboard for adding or upgrading the memory of a computer. It pose a great impact on the performance thus for smooth and fast applications every computer must get upgraded after some passage of time.

Hard Disk Drive

The hard disk drive is a storage component of a computer. It can store all data including files, documents, movies, games, pictures and many more. These disks come in various storage spaces and at a time multiple hard disks can be fitted if necessary.

Video Card

The video card is also known as graphics card to process images, videos, Games and much more that is displayed on the screen. Graphic cards are essential components for a computer that demands high graphics processing power like in gaming or video editing.

Sound Card

A sound card is necessary if there is necessity of sound output from the computer. It can be either separate components or can be directly integrated on motherboard.

Thanks to Computer hardware components
Article source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/about-various-computer-hardware-components-6955254.html