How to fix an old computer. How to fix a computer that won't start

If the work of the desktop computer has become unstable or it has stopped turning on, check according to the documents, it may not have expired yet warranty service. Before contacting the warranty workshop, you need to make sure that everything is in order with the software and the computer is not infected with viruses, since the malfunction of the computer for the above reasons is not a warranty case and you will have to pay for this expensive service.

Some programs can restart the computer after the update, if there is a checkmark in the settings that allows you to restart the computer without notification after the update. If, after the revision of the installed programs, the computer continues to work unstably, then the reason lies in the malfunction of the hardware and the repair of the material part will be required. This is a warranty case and it is better not to repair it yourself.

Any connections of connectors and blocks to prevent failure of the computer can only be carried out when the system unit is de-energized, you need to turn off the pilot or remove the plug from the 220 V socket.

The main causes of unstable computer operation

Malfunction of coolers (fan)

One of the most common computer breakdowns is the failure of cooling coolers due to a decrease in their speed or stop. The processor heatsink can also become clogged with dust. So if everything is in order with the programs, then first of all you need to check the operation of the coolers.

Power supply failure

The second most common cause of computer malfunction is the failure of the power supply unit (PSU) system block. A malfunction of the PSU may manifest itself as obvious or not obvious.

In the event of a clear malfunction of the unit, the computer does not show any signs of operability when turned on, the coolers do not work and the LEDs do not shine. In the event of an unobvious malfunction of the unit, unstable computer operation, sudden system freezes, spontaneous reboots, and errors during operation are observed.

The power supply is the most loaded part of the computer and, in addition, is exposed to the effects due to instability in the supply network in the form of voltage surges and natural ones during a thunderstorm. Therefore, it is recommended that during a thunderstorm it is mandatory not only to turn off the computer, but also to remove the electrical and network Internet socket plugs. You can work on a laptop during a thunderstorm provided it is powered by a battery and connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi.

Random access memory (RAM) failure

It is not uncommon for a computer to become unstable due to a malfunction random access memory RAM. Even positive test results special programs they cannot 100% guarantee the health of the memory, and the only way to verify the reliability is to replace the memory bar with a known good one. If more than one plank is installed in the slots of the computer, then taking out one at a time, you can thus perform a check. If the computer starts to work stably, then the removed memory bar is to blame.

Hard disk drive (HDD) failure

If the computer has worked for many years, then often the culprit of the unstable operation of the computer is HDD(Winchester). But, as a rule, if the hard drive malfunctions, even before the systems start loading, an error message is displayed about reading from the disk. Sometimes the hard drive starts to make sounds uncharacteristic for its operation.

If the system boots and there is a suspicion of a hard drive malfunction, then you need to test it for bad sectors on the disks and set a ban on writing to these sectors. After a while, check again if new bad sectors have appeared, then the hard drive will have to be replaced.

There are programs that allow you to physically make a copy of the hard drive installed in your computer to a new one, of any capacity. Then you do not have to spend time reinstalling programs and drivers.

Start button malfunction

I also had to deal with a completely unusual reason for the unsystematic shutdown of the computer due to a malfunction of the Start button. The fact is that if this Start button on the system unit is held down for more than three seconds, then the system is forced to shut down and the computer turns off. So in this button, the contacts periodically arbitrarily closed and thus turned off the computer. For a long time I could not understand what was the reason, until I thought of disconnecting the wires coming from this button from the motherboard.

Microcracks in the tracks of the motherboard

And finally, the saddest case is a violation of the stable operation of the computer due to microcracks formed over time in the tracks of the motherboard. They appear on some models, illiterately designed motherboards.

Microcracks appear as a result of fastening the processor heatsink not to the socket into which the processor is inserted, but to the printed circuit board. Since the heatsink is pressed with a rather large force, the motherboard bends, and microcracks form on the tracks, which leads to periodic contact failure. At first, the computer starts to freeze periodically and eventually stops working completely.

It is possible that such a design for mounting the processor heatsink is not an accident, but was done on purpose so that after the end of the warranty period, consumers would buy a new motherboard or a new system unit.

I had to deal with such a malfunction of motherboards more than once. In some cases, the revision of the radiator mount helped, after which the computer began to work stably. If you, opening the system unit, found a similar radiator mounting system, then I advise you to redo it, using my experience.

If the computer freezes while loading a system program

BIOS (Basic input-output system) is the primary software that is stored in a special chip on motherboard. When you turn on the computer, the processor first of all accesses the BIOS and reads a “guide” from it for further action. The task of the BIOS also includes checking all the main components of the computer.

When you turn on a working computer, if there is a speaker in the system unit, always at the beginning of the boot software one short beep sounds. Everyone is used to this BIOS beep, and no one pays attention to it. One short beep means that the automatic diagnostics of the health of all computer units, carried out by POST program(Power On Self-Test), wired into the BIOS of the motherboard, was successful, all units are operational and ready to go.

However, if Computer BIOS will publish several short sound signals or long ones, it will be difficult not to pay attention to it, despite the fact that in this case the software will not be loaded. These signals are not random, and by their combination and duration, you can determine the malfunction of the computer.

How to determine the type of BIOS installed in the computer

In consumer computers, one of the two types of BIOS is most popular - Award or AMI, and for each type the same sound signal indicates different events. Therefore, in order to decipher the malfunction, you need to know which BIOS type, Award or AMI is installed on the computer. At the first moment of booting the computer, a hint is usually given at the bottom of the monitor screen, which key must be pressed several times to enter the BIOS, it can be one of two "DEL" or "F2", usually it is "DEL".

Entering the BIOS control panel, you will see something like this picture.

The BIOS type is written at the top of the screen, in this computer Award installed.

through the system speaker of a computer with Award BIOS

Table of beeps emitted by the BIOS through the system speaker of a computer with an Award BIOS
Sound emitted	Deciphering sounds
1 short	Computer is OK	No action required
2 short	Small bugs found. I get a message asking you to enter the BIOS	You need to check the BIOS configuration and fix inconsistencies
3 long	Keyboard controller error	Check the reliability of the keyboard cord connection to the system unit
1 long + 1 short	RAM (Random Access Memory) error	Check the correct installation of the RAM strips, remove and insert back, rearrange into a free slot
1 long + 2 short	Video card error	Check whether the video card is fully inserted into the slot on the motherboard, the operation of the video card cooler
1 long + 3 short
1 long + many short	Error reading from BIOS	Check for a contact in the contact pad of the BIOS chip
Repeating series of short sounds	Faulty power supply
Repeating series of long sounds	RAM failure	Replace the RAM stick with a good one, or remove one of them if more than one is installed
Repeating series of short and long sounds	Processor failure	Check the performance of the processor cooler, the reliability of the radiator
The beep sounds continuously	Power supply failure	Check the output voltage of the power supply

What do the sounds emitted by the BIOS say?
through the system speaker of a computer with AMI BIOS

Table of beeps emitted by the BIOS through the system speaker of a computer with AMI BIOS
Sound emitted	Deciphering sounds	Troubleshooting Tips
1 short	Computer is OK	No action required
1 long + 1 short	Faulty power supply	Check the output voltage of the power supply
2 short	RAM (Random Access Memory) Parity Error	Disable parity in BIOS
3 short	Error testing the first 64Kb of RAM	Increase the size of the typings in memory in the BIOS, if it does not help, replace the RAM bar with a working one
4 short	System timer failure
5 short	Processor failure	Check the performance of the processor cooler, the reliability of the radiator, remove and insert the processor, if it does not help, replace it with a working one
6 short	Keyboard initialization error	Check the reliability of the connection in the connector. Press the Num Lock button, if the indicator on the keyboard does not light up, then the keyboard is faulty
7 short	Motherboard failure	Needs to be replaced
8 short	Video card memory error	Video card needs to be replaced
9 short	BIOS checksum is incorrect	Check for a contact in the contact pad of the BIOS chip, flashing may help
10 short	BIOS write error	Check for a contact in the contact pad of the BIOS chip, the error is not critical and you can continue to work
1 long + 3 short	Video card error	Check whether the video card is fully inserted into the slot on the motherboard, the operation of the video card cooler

If the computer does not turn on

You press the start button, but the computer does not turn on. In order to understand what is the reason for the inoperability of the computer, you need to analyze its behavior after pressing the power button. Several options are possible.

The complete absence of any sounds coming from the system unit and the glow of the LED on the monitor. It is unlikely that the monitor and the system unit failed at the same time. It is necessary to check the presence of the mains in the electrical outlet, the serviceability of the pilot, if any, for which it is enough to plug it into the outlet or the pilot table lamp or any other electrical appliance. Are the plugs inserted into the sockets, are the power cords connected to the monitor and the system unit, are the switches on the monitor and on the back of the system unit turned on. Most likely, you will find what is the reason and the computer will work.

Low battery

The computer may not start if the lithium battery is discharged, which is a flat cylinder with a diameter of 20 mm, a thickness of 3.2 mm and is installed on the motherboard. As a rule, a CR2032 or equivalent battery of the same size is installed. It is worth noting that the marking of the battery contains its overall dimensions.

The task of the battery is to store, when the computer is not powered, in the BIOS memory the settings made by the user and ensure the clock runs. A harbinger of the end of battery life is the failure of the clock and date after the computer is turned on again.

Such a battery must be checked by measuring the voltage at its poles with a voltmeter. It must be at least 3 V. If the battery voltage is less than 3 V, then it should be replaced with a new one. If the voltage is more than 3 V, then you need to wipe the contacts in the battery compartment and the plane of the battery with alcohol. When installing the battery, the polarity must be observed. A new battery usually lasts more than five years.

To remove the battery, you need to remove the side cover of the system unit (how to remove the cover is described in the article below), find the installation location of the battery compartment and move the metal latch aside. After removing the battery, it may be necessary to restore the BIOS settings and set the current date and time.

Short circuit in the power circuit of components

The computer is connected to the mains, when you press the Start button, a jerk of the impeller of the cooler of the power supply is observed, the impeller does not continue to rotate, and nothing else happens. This means that the power supply protection system is triggered due to the presence of an overload in the power circuit in any of the installed elements in the system unit or in the power source itself.

To determine the cause of the failure, it is necessary to open the system unit and sequentially disconnect the wires coming from the power supply, except for the wires connected to the motherboard. It's easier to start with disk drives. Before the next shutdown of the unit, it is necessary to de-energize the system unit. Further, all cards are sequentially removed from the motherboard. After turning off the next device, they try to start the system unit. If the launch succeeded, it means that the last disconnected block is the culprit for the computer failure. If all units are turned off, and the power supply does not start, then the power supply itself or the motherboard is faulty.

If the same power supply is available, even if it is of lower power, then you can temporarily connect it for verification without removing the regular power supply from the system unit, but simply disconnecting it from the components of the system unit.

From the power supply to the motherboard, supply voltages are supplied using a 20 or 24 pin connector and a 4 or 6 pin connector. For reliability, the connectors have latches.

In order to remove the connectors from the motherboard, you need to press the latches up with your finger at the same time, applying quite a lot of effort, rocking from side to side, pull out the mating part.

To check the power supply, you need to completely disconnect it from all equipment, leaving only any that is powered by a four-pin connector or a Serial ATA connector, such as a hard drive or any drive.

If the connector has 20 contacts, then you need to connect the conclusions 14 (green wire, some power supplies may be gray, POWER ON) and 15 (black wire, GND).

If the connector has 24 contacts, then you need to draw conclusions among themselves 16 (green, in some power supplies the wire may be gray, POWER ON) and 17 (black GND wire).

If the cooler works, then with a high probability, the power supply can be considered serviceable. For complete certainty, the source must be checked on the load block or in another serviceable system unit, and the motherboard must be tested in the workshop.

If, when you press the Start button and make sure that the supply voltage is supplied to the system unit, the computer does not show signs of life, then the power supply is definitely not working and you need to replace it or try to repair it yourself.

How to open the system unit

Before disassembling the system unit, it is imperative to unplug the 220 V supply voltage cable from the socket, since while it is inserted, the system unit is under voltage dangerous to human life. When carrying out any work with the system unit, you must first remove the power cord, and insert it last when connected. In order to gain access to the contents of the system unit, you must remove one of the side covers. Next, you need to unscrew the two screws (in the photo they are upper), which fix the cover. Slide the cover towards you, the hooks will disengage in the grooves, and the cover will be released.

Visual troubleshooting of the system unit

After cleaning the system unit from dust and if the coolers are working properly, you need to carefully inspect the motherboard and the cards inserted into it. Particular attention should be paid when inspecting the appearance of electrolytic capacitors. In the vast majority of cases, the failure of the motherboard and power supply is associated with the failure of electrolytic capacitors.

Such a capacitor consists of two strips of aluminum foil, twisted together through an insulating gasket that is impregnated with an electrolyte. This roll is inserted into an aluminum cylinder and sealed. A conclusion is made from each strip, one of which is connected to the plus, and the other to the minus. Thanks to the electrolyte, the capacitor has a large capacity with small dimensions and is therefore called electrolytic.

In the event of a breakdown of the insulation, thermal energy is released, the electrolyte boils, and the pressure inside the capacitor rises sharply. To protect against an explosion, notches are made on the end side of electrolytic capacitors. With an increase in pressure, a swelling or rupture of the case occurs at the notch, and by this sign it is easy to find a failed capacitor. The main reason for the failure of capacitors is their overheating or excess voltage.

The photo clearly shows that the end of the left capacitor is flat, while the end of the right one is swollen and with traces of electrolyte leakage. Such a capacitor must be replaced. On the motherboard, electrolytic capacitors on the +5 V power bus most often fail, as they are installed with a small voltage margin, only 6.3 V. I have seen cases when all the capacitors on the motherboard on the +5 V power circuit were swollen .

When replacing, I usually install capacitors in the +5 V supply circuit, for a voltage of at least 10 V, and in the +12 V supply circuit for a voltage of 25 V. The higher the voltage the capacitor is designed for, the better, the main thing is that it fits in the dimensions to the installation site. Replacing a failed capacitor on the motherboard is not difficult on your own.

If you found and replaced swollen capacitors, then most likely you have eliminated the cause of the unstable operation of the computer. You need to connect all the connectors and check its performance. If a appearance parts of the system unit available for review did not arouse suspicion, then it is necessary to check the condition of the power supply capacitors. It is possible that you will have to deal with it

How to repair your computer yourself? In the event of a breakdown, not all users are ready to return the faulty device to the SC or use the services of specialists who repair computers at home. Many try (with varying degrees of success) to understand the breakdown and fix it without the intervention of outsiders. If you dare to repair your computer with your own hands, you need to know the basic principles of its operation. By the way, Scott Muller's wonderful book "Modernization and PC Repair" can help you with this. It is accessible and plain language topics such as: the history of the emergence and development of computers, the evolution and design of processors, the principles of operation of motherboards, hard drives and other equipment, and its modernization.

Computer repair starts with diagnostics

For successful computer repair, it is desirable to know the materiel well. This book will help you with this. Possession of assembly skills and the practice of repairing at least some electronic equipment will also come in handy. And finally, the most important thing: you need to have a head on your shoulders and preferably not empty. When repairing a computer, you will have to analyze, compare, draw conclusions, think ... If you are not inclined to this or consider yourself a born humanitarian, it is better not to try.

I consider it necessary to emphasize that the repair of computers is the prerogative of engineers. To avoid further damage to equipment or loss of data, PC diagnostics and repairs should only be trusted by experienced IT professionals.

Computer repair must begin with diagnostics. Competent diagnostics is already a half-solved problem! For diagnostics faulty computer you will need utilities such as Memtest (memory test), ViktoriaHDD (test hard drive), AIDA64 (general system information, stress tests, component temperatures). Download links for each, I will give in the section corresponding to their application.

Brief table of the main computer malfunctions

If you are repairing a computer with your own hands for the first time, a brief table of faults will be of great help. You will have to analyze the appearance of the components, computer sounds (BIOS POST signals). It should be noted that sometimes even a working computer may not give any POST BIOS beeps due to the lack of a speaker (it is also called a “tweeter”) connected to the “SPEAKER” pins on the motherboard.

Sometimes it is tightly soldered to the motherboard, sometimes being connected via a cable, it hides in other wires going to the front panel.

If you took up computer repair on your own or decided to do it on a professional basis, an extra speaker, also known as POST Speaker, will not hurt you.

We repair a computer: a table of faults and BIOS beeps

Malfunction	Cause	elimination
One short beep	Computer is OK
The computer does not turn on, the coolers in the power supply and on the processor do not spin up, there are no sound and video signals.	Power supply defective. The motherboard is faulty.	Computer repair should start by connecting obviously good power supply to the MP and check start. Otherwise, the motherboard (MP) is faulty.
The computer turns on for a couple of seconds, the coolers spin up, but immediately stop.	CPU overheating, thermal protection is activated. Loose fit of the cooler to the processor. K.Z. along the supply lines.	Computer repair must begin with the removal of the processor cooler. It is necessary to check its pins (latches that are inserted into the motherboard) for cracks. Replace the thermal paste, put the cooler firmly pressing each pin until it clicks. If it doesn't help, then there is a high probability of a malfunction of the motherboard.
The computer turns on, the coolers spin up, but there is no signal on the monitor. There are no sound signals. Monitor is correct.	Faulty random access memory (RAM), motherboard. Very rarely - the power supply (in the case of using the Nouname PSU, even in the event of a malfunction by the issuing PowerOK).	Remove the memory modules (RAM) from the slots. If the next time you turn on the BIOS speaker, it gives signals indicating a malfunction (repeating long ones), there is every chance that the motherboard is working. Replace the RAM module (one of the modules, or a known good one).
The computer does not turn on. Sound signals are heard: one long two short ones.	Faulty video card	In this case, computer repair comes down to installing a known-good video card.
The computer does not turn on. Sound signals are heard: three long ones, a repeated long one.	The computer's RAM is defective.	Put a known working RAM module and check the start of the computer.
"Siren" - short-long.	Faulty processor	Replace processor.

Computer RAM

How did the appearance of the computer's RAM modules change. Top down:

1. SIMM 30 pin 1 Mb
2. SIMM 72 pin 4 Mb
3. SIMM 72 pin 8 Mb
4. DIMM SDRAM 168 pin 128 Mb
5. DIMM DDR SDRAM 184 pin 1 Gb (chips are located on 2 sides)
6.DIMM DDR2 SDRAM 240pin 1Gb

The first three "found in nature" is already unrealistic, 4 and 5 on the list can often be found on old PCs, the last DDR-II is a modern, but already outdated memory module. At the time of writing this article, modules of the DDR-III type are actively used, and DDR-IV prototypes already exist. When repairing a computer, you should be aware that memory modules, like other electronics made using MOS technology, are afraid of static electricity. When manipulating the RAM, it is advisable not to touch either the contacts of the microcircuits or the contacts of the module itself.

Typical malfunctions of RAM:

• Messages: "Memory accessed at x0xxxxxxxx and cannot be Write"
• Blue screens with error: STOP 0x0000008e or STOP 0x00000050 PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA
• No display on monitor
• No image on the monitor accompanied by repeated long beeps

The first step in computer repair is a RAM test

If you have more than one RAM module, try connecting them one by one - the system will boot successfully on good RAM. For self-repair of a computer, in particular for testing RAM, you will need a bootable version of the MemTest utility.

You should download the iso image of the Memtest program from the website www.memtest86. com and burn it to disk. Boot from the created disk (you may have to change the boot priority in the BIOS settings) and test the RAM. With good RAM, the bottom of the screen (see photo above) will remain clean, without any messages.

To repair a computer, you need to know what the connectors and interfaces look like

Anyone who decides to repair a computer on their own, with their own hands, should be able to distinguish between various hardware interfaces.

computer motherboard chipset

The motherboard connects the main components of the computer using the chipset (bridges) and buses (conductors on the board). Below is a diagram of a motherboard (already outdated architecture, but found everywhere) for an Intel processor. The processor and the northbridge chip (MCH) are connected by a high-speed FSB bus. Its frequency is set by a special generator (Clock). The processor frequency is obtained by multiplying the FSB frequency by the value of the processor multiplier. Intel Celeron 1000MHZ = 100×10 (where 100 is FSB frequency, and 10 is the processor multiplier). The bus frequency can be raised, the multiplier can be increased by overclocking your PC.

An example of a block diagram of a modern motherboard for a hybrid AMD processor A Series. north bridge completely "moved" to the processor chip.

Diagnostics of the computer motherboard

There are two administrators on the bus. Here one says to another: - Can you imagine, my mother died yesterday! Second: - Well, what about you? - Well, what about me? I took my brains out and threw them in the trash... There is silence in the cabin...

If you are reading this article, then it can be assumed that self-repair of a computer is something new and unknown for you. Therefore, for informational purposes, here is a photo of the motherboard (in this case, Gigabyte) on which the most important nodes and connectors are marked.

Main components and connectors of the motherboard

A sign of a faulty motherboard is the complete absence of BIOS POST beeps (with no RAM) and no video signal on the monitor. When repairing computers, you can often encounter the phenomenon of protection against a short circuit of the power supply: when you press power buttons the processor cooler spins up for just a couple of seconds and the computer reboots. And so it is cyclical. During external examination, it is also possible to identify swollen electrolytic capacitors or a "shot" southbridge chip.

Swollen capacitors and "shot" mosfets (transistors)

Self-repair of the computer motherboard must be carried out using the appropriate tool: a digital multimeter, a soldering iron with a power of not more than 25W, hot air / IR soldering station(for soldering mosfets, chips).

DIY computer repair: hard drive diagnostics

Typical hard drive failures:

• Windows tries to boot, but the computer "goes" to restart
• BIOS message "Missing boot device"
• Uniform clicks (clatter) coming from the system unit

When diagnosing and repairing a computer, it is necessary to distinguish between the types of hard drive malfunctions:

Type of malfunction	Cause	Solution Method
The computer turns on, Windows does not boot, the screen says "Reboot and select proper Boot device"	Moved away, the power cable and signals going to the hard drive were damaged. Faulty hard drive.	Check cable connections, replace with new ones. Otherwise, the hard drive is faulty.
The computer turns on, Windows does not boot, the screen says “Reboot and select proper Boot device” the hard drive makes loud knocks and clicks.	Faulty hard drive.	Faulty hard drive. Replace with a new one.
Windows on boot shows blue screen with ERROR 0x0000007B "Unmontable_Boot_Device" and reboots again and again	The appearance of bad blocks on the surface of the hard drive	Boot computer from ViktoriaHDD and Remap (F4 key)

A program for diagnosing and repairing a computer hard drive - ViktoriaHDD

Viktoria HDD - professional computer help your hard drive at home. The program was written by a talented Belarusian programmer and is designed to assess the condition of your PC drive and repair its surface - Remap.

With the help of this program, you can find out the state of the electronics and mechanics of the drive (this utility is not suitable for SSD drives). ViktoriaHDD does an excellent job with the surface repair function (Remap) by replacing bad, unreadable sectors with serviceable disk platters from the reserve (Remap is called by the F4 key). Many users, having taken up computer repair on their own for the first time, mistakenly believe that programs like ViktoriaHDD or MHDD themselves “close” bad sectors disk. I consider it necessary to clarify that the remap utilities themselves do not perform - they "dragon" the disk controller trying to re-read the suspicious sector many times, forcing it (the disk controller), thereby, to recognize the sector as faulty and replace it with a backup one according to their internal algorithms.

On the site hdd-911. com you can download both a bootable version of the program for repairing the surface of a computer disk, and a version for Windows.

We repair the computer ourselves. Spontaneous shutdowns

When repairing computers, I often have to deal with tightly clogged cooler radiators. Spontaneous shutdowns of the computer may be associated with overheating of the cooling system (CO) of the processor or video card. in such cases, it helps to dismantle the cooler, clean it from dust, apply thermal paste and install the cooler back.

We snap the pins diagonally until they click.

When installing the CPU cooler, press the plastic pins diagonally (A1<—>A2, B1<—>B2) until a characteristic click. Don't forget to connect the fan connector to the mating part on the motherboard labeled CPU Fan.

Computer shuts down while playing games

Dust clogging of the cooling system and, as a result, high temperatures GPU video cards (GPU) are one of the common reasons why the computer turns off while playing games.

Dust in the cooling system is the reason why the computer turns off during the game.

Due to the dense layer of dust, the cooler cannot supply cold air to the CO heatsink. Cooling dramatically loses efficiency, GPU temperature starts to rise.

The AIDA64 program will help you control the temperature of the processor of the video card.

The video card cooling system is easy to clean with a regular brush. It is not necessary to dismantle (tear off from the GPU crystal) the metal heatsink itself.

AIDA64 - a program for obtaining information about computer hardware

The AIDA64 program will help you find out complete information about all the components of your computer. In the process of repairing a computer, it can be urgent to know the temperature of a particular node under load or to check the stability of the computer during prolonged loads on the entire system at once or a separate unit. AIDA64 (formerly Everest) is an indispensable tool for collecting information and diagnosing a computer.

You can download the Aida64 program from the official source at www.aida64. com

Computer repair forum

I hope that this article is about how to repair your computer will help you deal with malfunctions without problems and snags, but if you still have questions, you can ask them at.

Unfortunately, computers, like people, sometimes get sick and even die. But unlike people, fixing a computer is much easier, and sometimes it can even be resurrected from the "dead". And this sometimes requires elementary knowledge.

Of course, there are situations when you can’t cope on your own, and you need to order a computer repair in the near future. service center or call the master to the house. But more often than not, the solution is much simpler. So, here are some symptoms and solutions to fix them.

How to fix your computer yourself?

There are several main symptoms of illness or even complete death of a computer.

1. The computer does not turn on at all.

3. The operating system constantly reboots.

4. The computer is very slow.

It happens more and more trivially, the bios battery just sat down. Check it with a multimeter, it should give 3 volts.

3. The operating system starts to load, but reboots again

The operating system crashed. You just need to reinstall it. But before that, go to the computer through and transfer the data from drive C to drive D.

If you have Linux installed, and the home directory HOME is on a separate partition, then you can start right away.

4. The computer is very slow

To start slowing down Linux, I don't even know what to do. But Windows starts to slow down for various reasons that need to be installed and fixed. Here possible reasons computer braking:

1. Viruses. You need to go through different antiviruses, antispyware and antitrojans to go through the computer up and down.

The simplest and the best solution, is to download a special Live CD, which contains a special program. The one that kills this shit is called Anti WIN Locker.

If all else fails, see point 3.

7. Computer shuts down out of the blue

Perhaps some process loads your processor and it turns off in defense. and keep an eye on its load level.

I want to tell you in this article about how you can repair a computer or laptop yourself. In this article, I will teach you to determine what exactly is not working and how to fix it at home without calling a computer wizard who will charge you a huge amount of money.

First, without a doubt, you need to know some idea about the computer and what is in it and just know what is in it. Secondly, we will learn to understand why and what does not work in it in order to understand how to fix it. So, let's break, perhaps, from a small one and slowly move on to larger solutions to the problem of repairing our computer. There are three breakdown options:

1. When the computer does not turn on at all.
2. When the computer turns on but does not start.
3. We will classify them as other breakdowns.

There are so many reasons why your computer won't work, it could be anything. We will consider the most basic of these breakdowns. So the first point:

Our computer does not turn on: what to do?

To determine what is the reason, you need to do a small procedure for checking the performance of our computer. This means that we need to turn it on and if we hear the noise of the fans, then in this case the system unit is working. In this case, you need to check the connection of all cables leading to the monitor and the system unit.

Sometimes quite often the computer does not want to turn on after a short voltage drop in the system unit. Quite often it happens that he does not react at all to turning on the power button.

Monitor does not turn on

It often happens that the computer turns on, but the monitor does not turn on. This is a very tricky malfunction that is treated very simply: disconnect the cable leading from the system unit to the monitor for a while (do not remove the monitor's power cable). If our monitor is working, then it should work, and an image will appear on the monitor (different inscriptions or logos). If there is still no image, then the capacitors may have swollen inside, which must be replaced with new ones by soldering.

By the way, if you ask me, what's the difference from which end to disconnect the power cable: from the outlet or from the power supply? I will answer right away that, according to the laws of physics, current still passes in the cable, and when we turn off the cable from the outlet, it still supplies some particles of current. When we turn it off from the system unit itself, the current remains only in the cable and does not pass further to the power supply. This method has already been tested by more than one electronics engineer.

The computer turns on, only the cooler is heard: what to do?

And after our check, we turned on the computer, but it does not work, but inside the system unit we hear the noise of the fans. Then in this case we have two options:

• Replace the power supply in the system unit.
• Ask your neighbor for a monitor to check the system unit.

Let's say that you turned on the computer and you can't hear any noise from the fans from the system unit, then most likely your power supply is not working properly and cannot cope with the power supply. In this situation, it must, of course, be replaced, unfortunately, with another one.

The computer turns on but does not boot: what to do?

Now we will consider the second option for failure when the computer turns on but does not boot. When this happens, you need to understand the reason why it does not load, and there can be many options. To understand and be able to eliminate them all, of course, you will need experience. Therefore, we will consider the most basic and most simple ways. When your computer is running, but not booting, it immediately gives some kind of error, for example:

1. When a message appears on the screen like (Invalid system disk. Replace the disk, and then press any key), this means that you need to remove the floppy from the drive and press any key on the keyboard.
2. There is also a message such as (DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ANY KEY), then this message will be more complicated than the previous one, but solvable, and most likely you have mistakenly deleted some system file, or caught a virus, but there is a high probability that your hard drive is out of order. Despite this problem, all the files that were stored on it can be restored, but you can no longer use such a hard drive!

Other problems

The category of other problems that can happen to a computer is so numerous that it is beyond the scope of this article. Usually such breakdowns are associated with the settings operating system, programs, drivers, etc. In such cases, it is recommended to read manuals, instructions, and also use licensed programs (you still need to be able to download pirated ones without viruses!). At least your hardware is in working condition, you don’t need to buy anything, just set it up ... This article is intended for all beginners in the field of computers who do not have extra money to turn to the masters. Therefore, I have given here some common causes of computer failure, but they will help you a lot in repairing and setting up your computers (and laptops) at an early stage. Only registered and authorized users can leave comments.

informpedia.ru

How to fix your computer yourself?

Unfortunately, computers, like people, sometimes get sick and even die. But unlike people, fixing a computer is much easier, and sometimes it can even be resurrected from the "dead". And this sometimes requires elementary knowledge.

Of course, there are situations when you can’t cope on your own, and you need to order computer repair at the nearest service center or call the master to your house. But more often than not, the solution is much simpler. So, here are some symptoms and solutions to fix them.

How to fix your computer yourself?

There are several main symptoms of illness or even complete death of a computer.

1. The computer does not turn on at all.

3. The operating system constantly reboots.

4. The computer is very slow.

5. Unable to connect to the internet.

6. A window popped up that your computer was locked.

7. The computer turns off for no reason.

That's about it. Many problems can be fixed easily, and some cannot be fixed without replacing computer components. Of course, diagnosing a problem is not so easy, but you can know the main points. So, in order.

1. The computer does not turn on at all

In this case, the problem is exclusively in the hardware. The first thing to check is the power button. The second thing to do if this is a desktop computer is to remove or disconnect everything that is possible: video card, hard drive, memory, DVD-ROM, and so on.

If after that nothing squeaked even when turned on, then the motherboard was covered. Buy a new one, or better, take it from a friend for a while, just to check and not buy an expensive thing for nothing. Although the diagnosis of 99% is the death of the motherboard.

If something starts blinking, then insert everything one at a time and check. Where everything stops, that is most likely the problem.

2. The computer turns on, but the BIOS does not go further

In this case, the BIOS is disabled. We go to the manufacturer's website and look for our model. Download the BIOS firmware and flash it.

It happens more and more trivially, the bios battery just sat down. Check it with a multimeter, it should give 3 volts.

3. The operating system starts to load, but reboots again

The operating system crashed. You just need to reinstall it. But before that, go to the computer through a LIVE CD LINUX and transfer the data from drive C to drive D.

If you have Linux installed, and the home directory HOME is on a separate partition, then you can proceed to Linux installation straightaway.

4. The computer is very slow

To start slowing down Linux, I don't even know what to do. But Windows starts to slow down for various reasons that need to be installed and fixed. Here are the possible causes of computer slowdown:

1. Viruses. You need to go through different antiviruses, antispyware and antitrojans to go through the computer up and down.

2. Defragmentation. Defragment your hard drive and do it regularly.

4. Register. Clean the registry from garbage, defragment it.

5. Services. Disable unnecessary services. But be careful not to completely ruin everything completely, do not turn off what you do not know.

6. Drivers. Video card driver not installed or crashed. Without it, the graphics can barely move.

But even after that, the computer may continue to slow down. Then see point 3.

5. Unable to connect to the internet

Most likely, either the driver has crashed, or the virus has overwritten the connection settings with its own. Treat with antiviruses. If it doesn't work, see point 3.

6. A window popped out, which does not work

Usually it is a virus that blocks the computer. Rewrite everything he writes, go to your friends, and search the Internet for a utility that can kill this muck.

The simplest and best solution is to download a special Live CD containing a special program. The one that kills this stuff is called Anti WIN Locker.

If all else fails, see point 3.

7. Computer shuts down out of the blue

Perhaps some process loads your processor and it turns off in defense. Open the task manager and monitor its load level.

Perhaps the processor is overheating due to the lack of normal cooling. Clean the laptop or desktop computer from dust, check for thermal paste on the processor. In extreme cases, replace the power supply, it may have failed.

It is also possible that the RAM is out of order, check it special utility memory test.

These are just the most basic symptoms, in fact, there can be many more nuances and you can’t describe them all. But write to me in the comments, maybe I can give you some good advice :)

There is already one comment ;)

prostolinux.ru

How to Fix Your Computer: Troubleshooting Methods

Do-it-yourself laptop cooling system cleaning

Many PC and laptop users underestimate the damage caused by dust particles. More than 50% of computer equipment breakdowns are associated with overheating of individual device components. As you know, dust tends to get everywhere where at least theoretically it can get. Therefore, with sufficient accumulation on the hard drive, processor or video card, parts overheat. An increase in the temperature of the individual components contributes to the additional load. As a result, the overall performance of the laptop drops. There is an unstable operation of the device (periodic shutdown), an increase in noise from the fan, heating of certain areas of the case, and in the most neglected cases, the motherboard may fail.

How to set up a webcam on a laptop

The modern world is full of amazing discoveries, many of which have become an integral part of our lives. For example, today there is great demand for computer technology especially laptops. Almost all modern young people know everything about laptops, but there are also those who need help in a particular issue with its work. The actual problem today is the correct setting of the webcam.

Drivers for wifi connections on a laptop

In this article, we will look at the problem with network connection, namely how to install the driver for Wi-Fi. For example, a popular operating system, Windows 7, will be used. We will also consider how this issue is solved in other versions of Windows operating systems.

Laptop does not see wi-fi

In every house, apartment there are different ways to get out. global network. The most popular method today is considered to be Wi-Fi technology. This is due to the fact that a huge number of devices can work on this standard and for this you do not need to connect a separate device by wire. But, as a rule, where there is more demand there are more problems. WiFi is no exception. This article will help determine why the laptop does not see Wi-Fi and solve this problem in the most common operating system - Windows.

How to repair a laptop keyboard with your own hands

First of all, this article is addressed to those who love and know how to do repairs with their own hands. Here we will look at the basic principles and steps for repairing the most important node of a laptop - the keyboard. We will tell you what the key consists of and how to repair it. The article highlights the issue of repairing the keyboard at the board level. We will consider the repair on the example of laptops of different brands.

How to clean a laptop from viruses yourself?

How to clean a laptop from viruses yourself? This question is asked by both beginners who have just recently bought their first computer, and experienced users for whom protecting their PC is not a new task. This article will help everyone learn how and where to clean their laptop from viruses.

Drivers for sound map windows 7

Drivers for sound card windows 7 is always available for free on the official website of your sound card manufacturer. To get an answer to the question of how to find out where to find the brand of a sound card, how to download and install a sound driver, and how to subsequently adjust the sound of speakers or headphones, this article will help you.

Drivers for Windows 10

Our article is devoted to installing drivers in the operating Windows system 10. We will tell you how to install drivers in automatic mode and how it can be done manually. Here are examples of how this is done with manual and automatic installation.

In this article, we will talk about how to deal with viral advertising in Opera, Google Chrome and Mozilla browsers. Consider how to disable unnecessary extensions in browsers, as well as how to remove adware using programs. Here are some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of an advertising virus.

Download drivers for windows 7: procedure

In our article, we will tell you how to properly install device drivers for Windows 7. We will describe several ways to install drivers under windows 7. We will tell you where to find drivers for your devices if you have problems during installation, as well as how to choose a driver that suits your needs. for your operating system.

Knowing how to set up a computer in our time is a useful skill. It's no secret that the computer and the Internet play a huge role in the life of a modern person. According to 2015 data, 3.2 billion people on our planet use the Internet (the population of the Earth is now about 7.5 billion), and the number of users is growing every day. The diaspora of Russians on the Internet is about 88 million people.

With the development of the Internet, the computer has ceased to be just a tool for work. It has become a real “window to the world”. For schoolchildren and students, this is the key to education and communication; for people with disabilities, the opportunity to get an education and work without leaving home; for the elderly, this is a convenient way to communicate with loved ones and relatives. A computer with Internet access has made life easier for people and given more free time.

It happens that the computer stops working, and then the person begins to be interested in how to fix the computer at home. Most users can do this. To begin with, let's highlight the main computer malfunctions: when the computer does not turn on and when the operating system does not load. Let's dwell on each of them in more detail.

Computer won't turn on

Let's figure out how to fix the computer in this case. Make sure the computer is plugged in. Check if there is power in the outlet. If you find no problems here, check the connection of the connectors. If everything is in order here, continue troubleshooting.

Behind the computer there is another switch - on the power supply next to the cord. Check if it's enabled. Next, disconnect all devices from the computer, except for the monitor, and turn them on. It does not help? You will have to arm yourself with a screwdriver and disassemble the system unit. Unscrew a couple of screws on the back wall and slide the cover.

Attention! You can disassemble the computer by disconnecting it from the mains and removing static electricity (by touching any metal object).

We blow the computer from dust and try to turn it on. If it turns on, everything is fine. We collect and work. If not, check the power supply. We disconnect all the wires from the motherboard and close the contacts with a paper clip. There is a video on how to do this on the Internet. It is enough to write in the search engine the query "video how to fix a computer." There are two scenarios here. The power supply did not start - a direct road to the store. The power supply started up - a problem with other computer components. Contact the service.

Computer won't boot

Another type of failure is when the computer turns on, but instead of the operating system, it shows a black background with white letters on the screen or white letters on a blue background. Find out how to fix your computer if it won't boot.

Black background, white letters

Let's start with the case where the black screen shows white letters. It is possible that the battery on the motherboard "sat down" and the settings flew off. This is the simplest case. Replace the battery and set the settings by entering the BIOS. This can be done by pressing the keys (F1, F8, F10, Del). We check the settings: is the hard drive detected, is the time set correctly. The main thing is the boot order of the computer. The first boot item should be your hard drive.

If the computer does not "see" the hard drive, do not despair - perhaps it has not "died" yet. Turn off the computer, disassemble it and check the security of all cables and cables. Flip them. Perhaps somewhere "lost" contact.

Blue screen of death"

The computer tries to boot, the Windows logo appears on the screen, but the download does not go any further: a white cursor blinks on a black screen or white letters appear on a blue background. This is a sure sign of problems with the operating system. You can allow them:

• while loading the operating system by pressing the F8 key and going into safe mode. If the computer boots, copy all the files and folders you need to another hard drive or flash drive. Reinstall the operating system;
• trying to boot the computer using a special flash card and copying the information you need, if in safe mode the computer does not boot. After that, reinstall the system.

Lack of regular maintenance of the system unit can seriously impair the performance of the computer. You can find out how much computer maintenance costs here. And the cost antivirus protection and cleaning your hard drive from malware can be found here.

Computer settings

You have reinstalled the operating system. Let's see how you can set up your computer yourself. Make sure you have drivers installed for all devices on your computer. Task Manager should not have devices with an exclamation mark. Drivers are freely available on manufacturers' websites.

Do not rush to perform other operating system settings. Secure your computer first. There are many antivirus products on the Internet, both commercial and free.

How to properly set up your computer? Determine for yourself what you need - the "beauty" of the operating system or performance. We will improve performance through the "Properties" section, which can be accessed by right-clicking on the icon labeled "My Computer". Go to "Advanced system settings". Next, on the "Advanced" tab, opposite the "Performance" item, click the "Settings" button. Knowing how to change the computer settings and how to configure the computer yourself, you can later easily orient the computer to solve certain problems.

An important parameter for the operation of a computer is the presence of free space on the hard disk in the amount of at least 15% of the total volume. Regular file defragmentation also improves performance.

In fact, setting up a computer on your own is not such a difficult process. Just do backups your information and monitor the performance of your computer - this will save you time and nerves. Knowing how to fix a computer yourself will improve your skills, after which setting up a computer yourself will be simple and broaden your horizons.

bitu.ru

5 things you shouldn't do without experience

Our computers are constantly working, the system and programs are updated. Due to our actions, or due to errors in programs, or maybe from the consequences of viruses, the system may begin to fail. Of course, almost any problem can be solved with someone's help or on our own. Many people want to do their own computer repair, but there are 5 things that you should not do if you do not have experience, or at least 100% accurate instructions on how to do it right. Instead of solving the problem that has arisen, it can turn out even worse. There is a lot of different information on the Internet, both in the form of articles and step-by-step video instructions. But a computer is a complex device, so some things are worth doing only with full confidence in the correctness of the actions.

1. Editing system registry. Windows Registry is a complex database with a hierarchical presentation of information. It stores all the settings and parameters of the operating system, installed programs and equipment. The stable and correct operation of the system directly depends on the registry. Corrupted or incorrect data in the registry can lead to a system crash. If the system stopped loading or started to work worse after manipulating the registry, use the recovery from checkpoint.
2. Removing files from system folders. In general, Windows warns that you go into system folders, and by default their contents are not displayed (in the case of using the standard explorer). But sometimes you need to delete or change files to solve a specific problem. But without special knowledge or correct and detailed instructions it's better not to go there. There is a high risk of getting a broken system, and restore points may not help.
3. Do not delve into the system unit. I'm not saying that in no case do not open the system unit. It is enough just to clean it from dust, add a memory bar or replace the video card. But some try to replace the motherboard or cooling system on the central or video processor, and then cry that nothing works. Computer components are very fragile and capricious things that are afraid of static electricity and awkward movements. Step to the left, step to the right and at the exit we have a non-working computer, or even smoke. If the computer does not turn on, you can try what you are sure of, and leave the rest to specialists.
4. Don't play with the BIOS. In addition to the operating system, the computer has another "mini-OS" that controls the computer before Windows loads. The BIOS controls the CPU, fans, hard drives, and other devices, and stores the settings for their modes of operation. Incorrectly changing the BIOS settings may result in a complete system inoperability, or minor problems such as slow work or unavailability of some devices. Do you need it?
5. Command line manipulation. As many people know, the command line is a powerful tool for controlling the behavior of the operating system and other programs, but only when used skillfully. If you run command line and start executing commands, especially those related to changing file system go to other data, you must be sure that you are doing everything correctly. Otherwise, you may find yourself face to face with a more serious problem than before. And that's really bad.

Don't do complicated things, like do-it-yourself computer repair, unless you're good at it or have clear instructions. It is better to ask a friend or a computer wizard to help for little money, or at least use reliable sources of information! For novice users, I advise you to read what programs are needed for a computer.

Dessert for today, a joke with a mirror, the Japanese burn

Alexey Vinogradov, 2016-04-19 Edited: 2017-04-25

IT-like.ru

DIY computer repair

No technique, even the most expensive, is everlasting. Therefore, no matter how sad it may sound, in any case, someday your computer will fail. No, it can turn on and work somehow, but we don’t want to work for a PC that freezes and slows down every minute, right? The problem needs to be solved. By the way, if you still have a warranty period, and you are sure that you yourself did not contribute to the breakdown, hand over the equipment under warranty without any hesitation. Otherwise, check out the article, thanks to which you will learn how to fix your computer with your own hands.

First of all, you do not need to immediately look for a mechanical breakdown. It is possible that your computer freezes or works very poorly solely due to malware (users encounter such a nuisance very often). Also, the reason may be in some drivers that are not suitable for your system. Or because they installed some important, but unlicensed version of the program. In any case, first make sure that there are no viruses on the PC, you can do this using Kaspersky or a simpler utility - DrWeb Cureit. Next, clean your computer from various junk files with help popular program– Ccleaner. Because of it, the PC can seriously hang.

Attention! If you need to disassemble the system unit, then in no case should it be done until you turn off the power. It is very easy to do this - you just need to unplug the power cord from the outlet. If you have the opportunity, I advise you to purchase an antistatic wrist strap. It will be safer for you to work with it, but this item is optional.

Top causes of bad computer performance

The power supply for a computer is a very “vulnerable” thing that can fail at the most inopportune moment. The fact is that it is this thing that regulates nutrition, stabilizes it in case of unexpected changes. But if suddenly your voltage constantly jumps, then this stabilizer will simply burn out. How not to face such a problem? Do not use a power source that is not reliable. Get a "Pilot" that will control the power, act as its fuse in case of surges. Bad weather, namely a thunderstorm, can not only destroy our power supply, but also “walk through” all other devices connected to the network. So the computer should be turned off at such a time. But if you have a laptop and you work with it in offline When the weather is like this, there is nothing to worry about.

In some cases, RAM can let us down. There is, of course, a special program for checking it (MemTest), but you should not completely rely on its verification results. If you need to check the performance of the memory with a 100% guarantee, then install a different memory bar that definitely works. Thus, having at hand one, and preferably several strips, we can definitely make sure which one is working and which is not.

The hard drive, of course, does not break down so often, but still with such a problem as hard recovery disk, each user may encounter. It is very simple to understand that the cause of a PC malfunction is in the HDD. When you turn on the computer, pay attention to what “notifications” the BIOS gives us. For example, if the hard drive is not working, then when we turn on the PC, we will see the following warning: “Select Proper Boot Device”. Sometimes there may not be any notifications, but the external signs of a breakdown will be “on the face”. The hard drive can sometimes make too strange sounds, in some cases it either stops working, then works again. In the event of a breakdown, the user may also hear something like a crunch, cod, and so on. If your disk is working, but you notice such external signs, immediately copy all your data to the media, because soon you will not get access to the HDD. We will not bother with the repair of such a spare part. So feel free to go to the store and buy new disk, and I advise you to pay attention to the SDD, not the HDD. This one works hard type disk is much faster, and most importantly, this work will not distract you with its noise.

No matter how silly it may sound, but even because of the most ordinary button used to turn the PC on and off, you may experience a breakdown. The fact is that if the contacts are slightly damaged, or the button is too close to these contacts, the system will recognize the signal to turn off and turn off the computer. Thus, the user can disassemble the entire PC and not even guess that the cause of the breakdown lies before his eyes. So be sure to make sure that everything is in order with this part (check the contacts).

We will have really serious problems with the PC if the motherboard "flies". And here, even the breakdown will not be in the board itself, but in the digital tracks located on this spare part. The assembly of the motherboard is important here. For example, very often the board can be connected to the processor heatsinks not directly, as it should be, but using a separate connector. And when a PC is diagnosed (it needs to be done every year), you have to constantly “push back” the radiator, but this is not easy to do. Naturally, with such efforts, the board wears out. Small and invisible cracks appear. Now manufacturers are already quite serious about protecting the board, but still, each of you can face such a problem. In this case, there is nothing left but to purchase a new motherboard. Because under the guarantee we will not accept such a PC, because the board was damaged in fact by us.

If suddenly, when disassembling the unit, you saw that you have such a situation with the motherboard, this mount will need to be replaced with a direct connection of the radiator to the board.

The computer turns on, but performance is not noticeable

When you turn on the PC, a small but loud enough sound (bios beeps) is emitted. Many users believe that this is “just the way it is supposed to be”, and this sound does not tell us anything. But in reality, if we hear one signal, then everything is fine with the PC, the whole system works without interruptions, and we should not have any troubles while working with the computer. Such a check is carried out by a special built-in program.

But what if a series of signals sounded at once? Or there was one, but a very long one. This signal, which, by the way, is emitted by the BIOS, is simply impossible not to notice. In this case, we obviously have some problems with the software, but what exactly, let's try to figure this out.

BIOS types on a computer

Basically, manufacturers install one of 2 BIOS versions on ordinary computers: either AMI or Award. The signals of the two versions are the same, but the reasons for these sounds are completely different. So first you need to figure out what kind of BIOS we have. Before Windows boots up, a small window will appear, at the bottom of which it will be written how we can start the BIOS. In most cases, you either need to press F2 or Delete.

As soon as we got into the BIOS after pressing the indicated button, the following appears in front of us:

At the top, the version of our BIOS immediately catches the eye. I have, as you can see, Award.

What the sounds emitted by the BIOS through the system speaker of a computer with an Award BIOS say

Table of beeps emitted by the BIOS through the system speaker of a computer with an Award BIOS
Sound emitted	Deciphering sounds
1 short	Computer is OK	No action required
2 short	Small bugs found. I get a message asking you to enter the BIOS	You need to check the BIOS configuration and fix inconsistencies
3 long	Keyboard controller error	Check the reliability of the keyboard cord connection to the system unit
1 long + 1 short	RAM (Random Access Memory) error	Check the correct installation of the RAM strips, remove and insert back, rearrange into a free slot
1 long + 2 short	Video card error	Check whether the video card is fully inserted into the slot on the motherboard, the operation of the video card cooler
1 long + 3 short
1 long + many short	Error reading from BIOS	Check for a contact in the contact pad of the BIOS chip
Repeating series of short sounds	Faulty power supply
Repeating series of long sounds	RAM failure	Replace the RAM stick with a good one, or remove one of them if more than one is installed
Repeating series of short and long sounds	Processor failure	Check the performance of the processor cooler, the reliability of the radiator
The beep sounds continuously	Power supply failure	Check the output voltage of the power supply

What do the sounds emitted by the BIOS through the system speaker of a computer with AMI BIOS say?

Table of beeps emitted by the BIOS through the system speaker of a computer with AMI BIOS
Sound emitted	Deciphering sounds	Troubleshooting Tips
1 short	Computer is OK	No action required
1 long + 1 short	Faulty power supply	Check the output voltage of the power supply
2 short	RAM (Random Access Memory) Parity Error	Disable parity in BIOS
3 short	Error testing the first 64Kb of RAM	Increase the size of the typings in memory in the BIOS, if it does not help, replace the RAM bar with a working one
4 short	System timer failure
5 short	Processor failure	Check the performance of the processor cooler, the reliability of the radiator, remove and insert the processor, if it does not help, replace it with a working one
6 short	Keyboard initialization error	Check the reliability of the connection in the connector. Press the Num Lock button, if the indicator on the keyboard does not light up, then the keyboard is faulty
7 short	Motherboard failure	Needs to be replaced
8 short	Video card memory error	Video card needs to be replaced
9 short	BIOS checksum is incorrect	Check for a contact in the contact pad of the BIOS chip, flashing may help
10 short	BIOS write error	Check for a contact in the contact pad of the BIOS chip, the error is not critical and you can continue to work
1 long + 3 short	Video card error	Check whether the video card is fully inserted into the slot on the motherboard, the operation of the video card cooler

Computer cannot be turned on

It seems that we press the "Start" button, but there is no reaction of the system to this action. You can't tell right away what's wrong. So let's immediately proceed to the options for which the PC does not respond to our commands at all.

If the computer does not give any signals, the LED on the system unit also does not work, then it cannot be said that both the unit and the monitor are not in working order. First of all, make sure that there is normal power to turn on the computer, if the pilot (if you have one) is working. Check that each necessary cord is connected and that the cords themselves are not damaged. Most likely the problem lies in one of the above points. In general, the slightest contact violation can lead to the inoperability of the computer, so you should always check the cords first.

The problem may also lie in the lithium battery. As you know, any battery tends to discharge. This part is on the motherboard. The task of the battery is that after the supply voltage to the PC disappears, save all the necessary BIOS settings. To check if we have a lithium battery in a normal state, we need a voltmeter. After you measure the voltage, look at the results - if the result is less than three volts, then there is nothing left but to change this part. If more than three volts, it will be enough just to lubricate the cotton wool with alcohol and go through the contacts of the battery, and then wipe the part itself. Most importantly, when you install the part back, make sure that the polarity is fully observed. With regards to the service life of such a component, the battery is designed to work for five years.

How to remove the battery? First, "get rid" of the side cover of the block. Next, find the place where the battery is installed. The battery is held by a metal latch, gently move it to remove the part of interest to us. After you work with the battery, you will need to set the time and date in the BIOS (the settings will fail).

What to do in such a situation when we turn on the computer, after that the cooler starts to work, but immediately almost stops spinning, then silence sets in? In this case, it's all about the protection system of the power supply. For some reason, there is an overload. And here it can be either in the power source, or in some part where the power comes, but does not go further. Here you can not do without parsing the system unit. You will need to disconnect all the wires that are related to the power supply. Most importantly, take care of first de-energizing the system unit. After that, it will be necessary from the mat. boards to pull out each card. So, we turned off one device, then we try to turn on the system unit. Got a launch? Accordingly, the last device that we disabled is the culprit of all the problems. But what if the devices are all turned off, but there is still no power? In this case, the problem is either in the power supply, or we have a more serious problem related to motherboard.

If suddenly you have another power supply lying around somewhere, albeit not very powerful, try testing it on your computer. But there is no need to get a regular unit from the system unit. It will be enough just to turn it off.

From the power supply to the motherboard, there are either twenty or twenty-four pin connectors. Thus, mat. board and voltage appears. Usually there are special latches for more secure connectors. It makes no sense to talk about which contacts go to which connectors, because this article is devoted to a slightly different topic.

When we need to get the connectors on the motherboard, it will be enough to point your finger upwards with a decent latch force. Pulling out the counterpart is also a little problematic, because the latches are quite reliable and strong.

To fully check the power supply, no equipment should be connected to it. In working condition, you can leave either the hard drive or the drive. These connectors will not interfere with us in any way.

Now you need to short 2 pins in the connector. Next to the latch you will see the necessary wires. For this procedure, a paper clip made of metal can be used (during parsing, we removed it from the motherboard).

Let's say our connector has twenty pins. In this case, it is necessary to short the output numbered 14 and 15. 14 will be green or gray. 15 must be black anyway.

Let's say the connector has twenty-four pins. In this case, you need to short-circuit 16 and 17 pins. 16 will also be either gray or green, the seventeenth, as before, remains black.

Now it remains to check the condition of our cooler. He works? So, there are no problems with the power supply. To finally verify that the unit is working, you can connect it to another system unit. But with the motherboard everything is more difficult - you need to test it only in the workshop.

Determining that the problem is in the power supply is very simple. We start the PC, and we are sure that there are no problems with the power supply of the system unit, but the computer still does not work. In this case, either replacing the power supply will help, or repairing it.

We disassemble the system unit

Make sure you unplug the system unit from the power outlet. For if you disassemble it in the on state, then here it is not the health of the computer that can be damaged, but damage to one's own health - they are not joking with 220 volts. When you test the system unit, first remove the power cable, you need to connect it at the very end. Disassembling the structure is as easy as shelling pears - it is enough to first "get rid" of any side cover. After that, unscrew the 2 screws (below the photo), they hold the side cover. Next, we pull it towards us with little effort, and after that it will be free to be removed from the structure.

Those users who have worked with a PC for many years and never diagnosed it will be shocked by how much dust they have in the system unit. Naturally, before proceeding with the repair work, all this dust needs to be sorted out. Get rid of it especially carefully in the cooler area. It is not necessary to manually clean the PC, you can also use a vacuum cleaner, but carefully so as not to damage anything in the system unit. After cleaning, try turning on the CPU cooler. Sometimes fixing it is easier than you think - just destroying all the accumulated dust is enough.

We study the system unit externally

As soon as we put the computer cooler in order, we proceed to study the motherboard. We are interested in this moment electrolytic capacitors. Usually, if there are any problems with the board, then all this is the fault of the capacitors that have failed. What do these details look like? 2 strips of aluminum foil tied together. An electrolyte will be applied to these strips, to be more precise, the electrolyte is inside the capacitors. One strip goes to the plus, the other, respectively, to the minus. Without electrolyte, these capacitors will not work normally. If suddenly the foil rolls are “pierced”, then the electrolyte has leaked out of them. Because of this, the electrolyte begins to heat up, respectively, and it becomes almost impossible for the capacitor to work. Fortunately, we do not need to be afraid of an explosion, because the capacitors have notches. If the pressure is too high, then the capacitor will not only work poorly, but will generally lose its performance. Determining which capacitor failed is easy. Because it will either be torn or severely inflated. As you understand, if such a part overheats, then it will not work. In some cases, the voltage adversely affects the capacitors, which is why they also either work poorly or do not work at all.

Looking at the picture, you can immediately understand that the left capacitor has a flat end, but the right one, on the contrary, is thick, it is immediately noticeable that there are small electrolyte smudges. Here, without much thought, you will need to change the right capacitor. Most often, such problems occur with those electrolytic capacitors that have a +5 V supply. Some PCs even have both capacitors with similar characteristics. It is best to put those capacitors that can easily handle a voltage of ten volts. If it is possible to install a part with a large number of volts, then this is even better. To replace such a part, you do not need to be a particularly professional repairman. If you know how to work with a soldering iron and have reliable and correct hands, then there will be nothing difficult for you to replace the capacitor. The most important thing is to be careful, because we are still working with the motherboard.

How to install a printer on a computer without an installation disc

If the work of the desktop computer has become unstable or it has stopped turning on, check according to the documents, maybe its warranty period has not yet expired. Before contacting the warranty workshop, you need to make sure that everything is in order with the software and the computer is not infected with viruses, since the malfunction of the computer for the above reasons is not a warranty case and you will have to pay for this expensive service.

Some programs can restart the computer after the update, if there is a checkmark in the settings that allows you to restart the computer without notification after the update. If, after the revision of the installed programs, the computer continues to work unstably, then the reason lies in the malfunction of the hardware and the repair of the material part will be required. This is a warranty case and it is better not to repair it yourself.

Any connections of connectors and blocks to prevent failure of the computer can only be carried out when the system unit is de-energized, you need to turn off the pilot or remove the plug from the 220 V socket.

The main causes of unstable computer operation

Malfunction of coolers (fan)

One of the most common computer breakdowns is the failure of cooling coolers due to a decrease in their speed or stop. The processor heatsink can also become clogged with dust. So if everything is in order with the programs, then first of all you need to check the operation of the coolers.

Power supply failure

The second most common cause of computer malfunction is the failure of the power supply unit (PSU) of the system unit. A malfunction of the PSU may manifest itself as obvious or not obvious.

In the event of a clear malfunction of the unit, the computer does not show any signs of operability when turned on, the coolers do not work and the LEDs do not shine. In the event of an unobvious malfunction of the unit, unstable computer operation, sudden system freezes, spontaneous reboots, and errors during operation are observed.

The power supply is the most loaded part of the computer and, in addition, is exposed to the effects due to instability in the supply network in the form of voltage surges and natural ones during a thunderstorm. Therefore, it is recommended that during a thunderstorm it is mandatory not only to turn off the computer, but also to remove the electrical and network Internet plugs from the sockets. You can work on a laptop during a thunderstorm provided it is powered by a battery and connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi.

Random access memory (RAM) failure

It is not uncommon for a computer to become unstable due to a malfunction of the RAM memory. Even positive test results with special programs cannot 100% guarantee that the memory is working, and the only way to verify the reliability is to replace the memory bar with a known good one. If more than one plank is installed in the slots of the computer, then taking out one at a time, you can thus perform a check. If the computer starts to work stably, then the removed memory bar is to blame.

Hard disk drive (HDD) failure

If the computer has worked for many years, then often the hard drive (hard drive) is the culprit for the unstable operation of the computer. But, as a rule, if the hard drive malfunctions, even before the systems start loading, an error message is displayed about reading from the disk. Sometimes the hard drive starts to make sounds uncharacteristic for its operation.

If the system boots and there is a suspicion of a hard drive malfunction, then you need to test it for bad sectors on the disks and set a ban on writing to these sectors. After a while, check again if new bad sectors have appeared, then the hard drive will have to be replaced.

There are programs that allow you to physically make a copy of the hard drive installed in your computer to a new one, of any capacity. Then you do not have to spend time reinstalling programs and drivers.

Start button malfunction

I also had to deal with a completely unusual reason for the unsystematic shutdown of the computer due to a malfunction of the Start button. The fact is that if this Start button on the system unit is held down for more than three seconds, then the system is forced to shut down and the computer turns off. So in this button, the contacts periodically arbitrarily closed and thus turned off the computer. For a long time I could not understand what was the reason, until I thought of disconnecting the wires coming from this button from the motherboard.

Microcracks in the tracks of the motherboard

And finally, the saddest case is a violation of the stable operation of the computer due to microcracks formed over time in the tracks of the motherboard. They appear on some models, illiterately designed motherboards.

Microcracks appear as a result of fastening the processor heatsink not to the socket into which the processor is inserted, but to the printed circuit board. Since the heatsink is pressed with a rather large force, the motherboard bends, and microcracks form on the tracks, which leads to periodic contact failure. At first, the computer starts to freeze periodically and eventually stops working completely.

It is possible that such a design for mounting the processor heatsink is not an accident, but was done on purpose so that after the end of the warranty period, consumers would buy a new motherboard or a new system unit.

I had to deal with such a malfunction of motherboards more than once. In some cases, the revision of the radiator mount helped, after which the computer began to work stably. If you, opening the system unit, found a similar radiator mounting system, then I advise you to redo it, using my experience.

If the computer freezes while loading a system program

BIOS (Basic input-output system) is the primary software that is stored in a special chip on the motherboard. When you turn on the computer, the processor first of all accesses the BIOS and reads a “guide” from it for further action. The task of the BIOS also includes checking all the main components of the computer.

When a working computer is turned on, if there is a speaker in the system unit, one short beep is always heard at the beginning of the software download. Everyone is used to this BIOS beep, and no one pays attention to it. One short beep means that the automatic diagnostics of the health of all computer blocks, carried out by the POST (Power On Self-Test) program, wired into the BIOS of the motherboard, was successful, all blocks are operational and ready for operation.

However, if the BIOS of the computer emits several short beeps or long ones, then it will be difficult not to pay attention to this, despite the fact that in this case the software will not load. These signals are not random, and by their combination and duration, you can determine the malfunction of the computer.

How to determine the type of BIOS installed in the computer

In consumer computers, one of the two types of BIOS is most popular - Award or AMI, and for each type the same sound signal indicates different events. Therefore, to decipher the malfunction, you need to know what type of BIOS, Award or AMI is installed in the computer. At the first moment of booting the computer, a hint is usually given at the bottom of the monitor screen, which key must be pressed several times to enter the BIOS, it can be one of two "DEL" or "F2", usually it is "DEL".

Entering the BIOS control panel, you will see something like this picture.

The BIOS type is written at the top of the screen, Award is installed in this computer.

through the system speaker of a computer with Award BIOS

Table of beeps emitted by the BIOS through the system speaker of a computer with an Award BIOS
Sound emitted	Deciphering sounds
1 short	Computer is OK	No action required
2 short	Small bugs found. I get a message asking you to enter the BIOS	You need to check the BIOS configuration and fix inconsistencies
3 long	Keyboard controller error	Check the reliability of the keyboard cord connection to the system unit
1 long + 1 short	RAM (Random Access Memory) error	Check the correct installation of the RAM strips, remove and insert back, rearrange into a free slot
1 long + 2 short	Video card error	Check whether the video card is fully inserted into the slot on the motherboard, the operation of the video card cooler
1 long + 3 short
1 long + many short	Error reading from BIOS	Check for a contact in the contact pad of the BIOS chip
Repeating series of short sounds	Faulty power supply
Repeating series of long sounds	RAM failure	Replace the RAM stick with a good one, or remove one of them if more than one is installed
Repeating series of short and long sounds	Processor failure	Check the performance of the processor cooler, the reliability of the radiator
The beep sounds continuously	Power supply failure	Check the output voltage of the power supply

What do the sounds emitted by the BIOS say?
through the system speaker of a computer with AMI BIOS

Table of beeps emitted by the BIOS through the system speaker of a computer with AMI BIOS
Sound emitted	Deciphering sounds	Troubleshooting Tips
1 short	Computer is OK	No action required
1 long + 1 short	Faulty power supply	Check the output voltage of the power supply
2 short	RAM (Random Access Memory) Parity Error	Disable parity in BIOS
3 short	Error testing the first 64Kb of RAM	Increase the size of the typings in memory in the BIOS, if it does not help, replace the RAM bar with a working one
4 short	System timer failure
5 short	Processor failure	Check the performance of the processor cooler, the reliability of the radiator, remove and insert the processor, if it does not help, replace it with a working one
6 short	Keyboard initialization error	Check the reliability of the connection in the connector. Press the Num Lock button, if the indicator on the keyboard does not light up, then the keyboard is faulty
7 short	Motherboard failure	Needs to be replaced
8 short	Video card memory error	Video card needs to be replaced
9 short	BIOS checksum is incorrect	Check for a contact in the contact pad of the BIOS chip, flashing may help
10 short	BIOS write error	Check for a contact in the contact pad of the BIOS chip, the error is not critical and you can continue to work
1 long + 3 short	Video card error	Check whether the video card is fully inserted into the slot on the motherboard, the operation of the video card cooler

If the computer does not turn on

You press the start button, but the computer does not turn on. In order to understand what is the reason for the inoperability of the computer, you need to analyze its behavior after pressing the power button. Several options are possible.

The complete absence of any sounds coming from the system unit and the glow of the LED on the monitor. It is unlikely that the monitor and the system unit failed at the same time. It is necessary to check the presence of the mains supply in the electrical outlet, the serviceability of the pilot, if any, for which it is enough to plug a table lamp or any other electrical appliance into the outlet or pilot. Are the plugs inserted into the sockets, are the power cords connected to the monitor and the system unit, are the switches on the monitor and on the back of the system unit turned on. Most likely, you will find what is the reason and the computer will work.

Low battery

The computer may not start if the lithium battery is discharged, which is a flat cylinder with a diameter of 20 mm, a thickness of 3.2 mm and is installed on the motherboard. As a rule, a CR2032 or equivalent battery of the same size is installed. It is worth noting that the marking of the battery contains its overall dimensions.

The task of the battery is to store, when the computer is not powered, in the BIOS memory the settings made by the user and ensure the clock runs. A harbinger of the end of battery life is the failure of the clock and date after the computer is turned on again.

Such a battery must be checked by measuring the voltage at its poles with a voltmeter. It must be at least 3 V. If the battery voltage is less than 3 V, then it should be replaced with a new one. If the voltage is more than 3 V, then you need to wipe the contacts in the battery compartment and the plane of the battery with alcohol. When installing the battery, the polarity must be observed. A new battery usually lasts more than five years.

To remove the battery, you need to remove the side cover of the system unit (how to remove the cover is described in the article below), find the installation location of the battery compartment and move the metal latch aside. After removing the battery, it may be necessary to restore the BIOS settings and set the current date and time.

Short circuit in the power circuit of components

The computer is connected to the mains, when you press the Start button, a jerk of the impeller of the cooler of the power supply is observed, the impeller does not continue to rotate, and nothing else happens. This means that the power supply protection system is triggered due to the presence of an overload in the power circuit in any of the installed elements in the system unit or in the power source itself.

To determine the cause of the failure, it is necessary to open the system unit and sequentially disconnect the wires coming from the power supply, except for the wires connected to the motherboard. It's easier to start with disk drives. Before the next shutdown of the unit, it is necessary to de-energize the system unit. Further, all cards are sequentially removed from the motherboard. After turning off the next device, they try to start the system unit. If the launch succeeded, it means that the last disconnected block is the culprit for the computer failure. If all units are turned off, and the power supply does not start, then the power supply itself or the motherboard is faulty.

If the same power supply is available, even if it is of lower power, then you can temporarily connect it for verification without removing the regular power supply from the system unit, but simply disconnecting it from the components of the system unit.

From the power supply to the motherboard, supply voltages are supplied using a 20 or 24 pin connector and a 4 or 6 pin connector. For reliability, the connectors have latches.

In order to remove the connectors from the motherboard, you need to press the latches up with your finger at the same time, applying quite a lot of effort, rocking from side to side, pull out the mating part.

To check the power supply, you need to completely disconnect it from all equipment, leaving only any that is powered by a four-pin connector or a Serial ATA connector, such as a hard drive or any drive.

If the connector has 20 contacts, then you need to connect the conclusions 14 (green wire, some power supplies may be gray, POWER ON) and 15 (black wire, GND).

If the connector has 24 contacts, then you need to draw conclusions among themselves 16 (green, in some power supplies the wire may be gray, POWER ON) and 17 (black GND wire).

If the cooler works, then with a high probability, the power supply can be considered serviceable. For complete certainty, the source must be checked on the load block or in another serviceable system unit, and the motherboard must be tested in the workshop.

If, when you press the Start button and make sure that the supply voltage is supplied to the system unit, the computer does not show signs of life, then the power supply is definitely not working and you need to replace it or try to repair it yourself.

How to open the system unit

Before disassembling the system unit, it is imperative to unplug the 220 V supply voltage cable from the socket, since while it is inserted, the system unit is under voltage dangerous to human life. When carrying out any work with the system unit, you must first remove the power cord, and insert it last when connected. In order to gain access to the contents of the system unit, you must remove one of the side covers. Next, you need to unscrew the two screws (in the photo they are upper), which fix the cover. Slide the cover towards you, the hooks will disengage in the grooves, and the cover will be released.

Visual troubleshooting of the system unit

After cleaning the system unit from dust and if the coolers are working properly, you need to carefully inspect the motherboard and the cards inserted into it. Particular attention should be paid when inspecting the appearance of electrolytic capacitors. In the vast majority of cases, the failure of the motherboard and power supply is associated with the failure of electrolytic capacitors.

Such a capacitor consists of two strips of aluminum foil, twisted together through an insulating gasket that is impregnated with an electrolyte. This roll is inserted into an aluminum cylinder and sealed. A conclusion is made from each strip, one of which is connected to the plus, and the other to the minus. Thanks to the electrolyte, the capacitor has a large capacity with small dimensions and is therefore called electrolytic.

In the event of a breakdown of the insulation, thermal energy is released, the electrolyte boils, and the pressure inside the capacitor rises sharply. To protect against an explosion, notches are made on the end side of electrolytic capacitors. With an increase in pressure, a swelling or rupture of the case occurs at the notch, and by this sign it is easy to find a failed capacitor. The main reason for the failure of capacitors is their overheating or excess voltage.

The photo clearly shows that the end of the left capacitor is flat, while the end of the right one is swollen and with traces of electrolyte leakage. Such a capacitor must be replaced. On the motherboard, electrolytic capacitors on the +5 V power bus most often fail, as they are installed with a small voltage margin, only 6.3 V. I have seen cases when all the capacitors on the motherboard on the +5 V power circuit were swollen .

When replacing, I usually install capacitors in the +5 V supply circuit, for a voltage of at least 10 V, and in the +12 V supply circuit for a voltage of 25 V. The higher the voltage the capacitor is designed for, the better, the main thing is that it fits in the dimensions to the installation site. Replacing a failed capacitor on the motherboard is not difficult on your own.

If you found and replaced swollen capacitors, then most likely you have eliminated the cause of the unstable operation of the computer. You need to connect all the connectors and check its performance. If the appearance of the parts of the system unit available for review did not arouse suspicion, then it is necessary to check the condition of the power supply capacitors. It is possible that you will have to deal with it