Diagnose a Computer Problem

How to Diagnose a Computer Problem(2)

Steps

7.Check RAM and CPU consumption. A common problem is a choppy or sluggish system. If a system is choppy it is good practice to see if a program is consuming more resources than the computer can provide. An easy way to check this is to use the Task Manager, right click on the taskbar select Task Manager, and click the Processes tab. The CPU column contains a number that indicates the percentage of CPU the process is consuming. The Mem Usage column indicates how much memory a process is consuming.

8.Listen to the computer, if the hard drive is scratching or making loud noises, shut off the computer and have a professional diagnose the hard drive. Listen to the CPU fan, this comes on a high speed when the CPU is working hard, and can tell you when the computer is working beyond its capacity.

9.Run a virus and malware scan. Performance problems can be caused by malware on the computer. Running a virus scan can unearth any problems. Use a commonly updated virus scanner (such as Norton Antivirus or Avast! Antivirus) and a commonly updated malware scanner (such as Spybot Search & Destroy).

10.Check for the problem in safe mode. As a last ditch effort, check the problem in safe mode. To enter safe mode, tap F8 repeatedly during POST (this works on most systems). If the problem persists in safe mode, it is a fair bet that the operating system itself is to blame.

Tips

1.If you do not feel comfortable diagnosing or repairing a computer problem, it is best to take the computer to a certified technician and have it repaired for a moderate fee.

2.These procedures will begin to narrow down common problems, but to find a specific problem, tools or specialized techniques may need to be used.

Warnings

Do not attempt to repair problems unless you are sure of what you are doing, what the result will be, as well as any adverse reactions.

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