The troubleshooting process is a process used to identify problems and solve them correctly. The troubleshooting process is divided into two:

1. Hardware Troubleshooting (PNP)

External devices. Examples include monitors, keyboards, mice, and any input/output devices. Hardware troubleshooting also includes internal parts such as the CPU.

2. Troubleshooting Using Software

Troubleshooting using software (by error code and system error).

Before You Start Any Troubleshooting Procedure, You Must:

• Be brave and confident.

• Make sure to disconnect all electrical sources before touching any electronic parts.

• Take a picture before dismantling any parts (parts inside the CPU).

PLUG AND PLAY PART

MONITOR

Monitor has no power / no display & no signal / monitor has a line.

I. Monitor No Power

• Try to power on the monitor using a different power plug on the extension.

• Or use a direct plug. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• Change the power cord. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• If the issue still persists, you may replace the monitor with another monitor.

II. Monitor No Display

• Try to connect the display cable to a different port on the monitor or motherboard. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• Try to change the display cable. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• Try to connect to another monitor or television. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• If the issue still persists, you may check the RAM inside the CPU. For RAM troubleshooting, I will explain it later, so keep scrolling.

III. Keyboard Not Detected / Some Keys Not Functioning

• Try to connect to a different USB port. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• If you are using a wireless keyboard, try to change the battery on the keyboard. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• Check the Bluetooth / wireless connection. If it is not connected, try to reconnect again. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• If the issue still persists, you may replace the keyboard.

• If you are facing a problem where some keys on the keyboard are not functioning, you also have to change the keyboard because there is no further troubleshooting for this kind of problem.

IV. Mouse Not Detected / Some Clicks Not Functioning

• Try to connect to a different USB port. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• If you are using a wireless keyboard, try to change the battery on the keyboard. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• Check the Bluetooth / wireless connection. If it is not connected, try to reconnect again. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• If the issue still persists, you may replace the keyboard.

• If you are facing a problem where some keys on the keyboard are not functioning, you also have to change the keyboard because there is no further troubleshooting for this kind of problem.

V. Input/Output Device (USB)

• If you are facing a problem with an input/output device (USB), examples include a Wi-Fi USB dongle, external camera, and etc.

• Try to disconnect and reconnect the USB device. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• If the issue still persists, you may replace the keyboard.

CPU DESKTOP TROUBLESHOOTING

• The CPU is the main important part of a PC. The CPU contains:

  • a. Power Supply Unit (PSU)

  • b. RAM & RAM SLOT

  • c. CMOS battery

  • d. Storage (SSD / HDD)

  • e. Processor

  • f. Thermal paste (on processor)

  • g. Processor FAN (on processor)

Safety Procedure Before Starting CPU Troubleshooting

• Make sure your hands are dry / discharge before touching any part of the CPU.

• Make sure to disconnect the power cord from the electrical socket.

• Take a picture before starting.

• Set aside all the screws after you loosen the parts from the motherboard.

VI. Power Supply Unit (PSU)

• The power button has an LED light indicator with an amber light code, e.g., Dell 4-2. HP has an orange LED light indicator. For another model, you may Google the model on the provider's support website and key in the serial number.

• If there is no sign of power and no LED light on the power button and motherboard, try swapping it with another working PSU and try to turn on the PC.

• If you need to replace the PSU, please find the manufacturer's sticker that contains labels listing the exact model number, part number (P/N), and total wattage.

VII. RAM and RAM Slot

• RAM and RAM Slot symptoms generally include no display on the monitor and a blue screen on the PC.

• Some models of corporate PC lines have an amber code that indicates a RAM issue, such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, and etc.

• The amber light usually flashes on the LED light on the PC power button. The amber code is as follows:

2-amber/4-white flashing pattern

• RAM error codes are also shown on the blue screen error code. The error codes are as follows:

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT (0x0000001A)

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (0x00000050)

System will unexpectedly reboot or freeze.

To Solve the RAM & RAM Slot Issues, You May Try the Following Steps:

• Try to disconnect the RAM from the slot. While disconnecting, you may check whether the RAM is abnormally hot or normal. If the RAM is abnormally hot, you may replace the RAM right away. If the RAM is normal, you may undergo the following troubleshooting process:

• Try to clean the gold gridline on the RAM with an eraser. Try to power on the PC. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• Install the RAM in a different slot. Try to power on the PC. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• Try to swap the RAM and install it in another RAM slot. Re-do the same step with the same RAM by installing the RAM into the remaining slot on the PC motherboard. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• If all troubleshooting has been done and the issue still persists, the RAM slot may be malfunctioning. You may need to change the motherboard.

VIII. CMOS Battery

A common issue with the CMOS battery is that the date and time in the system BIOS and Windows are incorrect. You have to set the date and time once you power on your PC. To resolve the issue, you have to replace the CMOS battery.

Before replacing the CMOS battery, please check the CMOS battery model on the battery. After replacing the battery, you may set the date and time again.

IX. STORAGE (SSD AND HDD)

The common issues with SSD and HDD are as follows:

• Bad sector (short or long HDD test failure)

• SSD overheating

• SSD / HDD not detected

• HDD clicking sound

a) HDD BAD SECTOR & SSD OVERHEATING

• A symptom of an HDD / SSD bad sector is usually a Windows operating system that runs slowly and keeps freezing. For HP and Dell PCs, you may run diagnostics in the BIOS pre-boot menu. To access the diagnostic tool, you have to press F2 / F12 frequently right after boot-up. You can see the BIOS menu for diagnostics, run the diagnostic process, and wait for the result. If an error code appears, you need to replace your HDD / SSD.

• For other PC models, you can check SSD / HDD health using third-party software, for example, NVH Boot. However, you need to download the NVH-Boot software and burn the software onto a pendrive using Rufus. After the burning process is complete, connect the pendrive to the PC and boot from the pendrive. Locate the Disk Sentinel software and run it. You may be able to see your storage health and temperature.

• If storage health is 60% and below, you may need to prepare to replace the storage before your data can no longer be read or written.

• For SSDs, if the temperature of the SSD is 60% and higher, you can apply a thermal pad or heatsink on the SSD to reduce the SSD temperature and prevent further damage to the SSD, as the SSD can be damaged if it continuously operates at an abnormal temperature.

• If you have applied the thermal pad or heatsink but the temperature remains the same, you can try to update the SSD firmware. Every SSD has its own firmware update depending on the manufacturer or brand. The firmware update process will ensure the SSD is working in an optimal and stable state. If the issue still persists, you need to back up your data on the current SSD and replace the current SSD before the SSD can no longer be detected by the PC.

b) HDD Clicking Sound & HDD / SSD NOT DETECTED

Some issues with HDD clicking sounds may allow the HDD to still be used as usual, but you need to be prepared for an unexpected HDD failure. You can run NVH-Boot as mentioned before to check the HDD health and prevent an unexpected HDD failure.

c) SSD / HDD Suddenly Not Detected

If the SSD / HDD is suddenly not detected, you can try to disconnect the storage for 5 minutes for the system reset process. Try to reconnect the storage to the motherboard and go into the BIOS menu overview or storage section to check.

Check whether the model and capacity of the storage appear or not. If the storage details still do not appear, you need to replace the storage.

d) Storage Details Appear

If the storage details appear, exit the BIOS menu and try to boot the PC normally. Please run a hardware diagnostic tool or NVH Boot to ensure the storage health.

X. PROCESSOR, THERMAL PASTE, PROCESSOR FAN

Usually, symptoms of a CPU that is nearly dead / having problems include the following:

• PC hangs frequently

• PC has no display

• PC automatically shuts down

• PC overheats

• Processor FAN produces a noisy sound (abnormal sound)

To undergo the troubleshooting process for the processor, you need to prepare some tools. The following tools are required:

• Isopropyl alcohol / alcohol pad

• Thermal paste

• Microfiber towel / tissue

• Screwdriver set

For the safety procedure when dismantling the processor FAN from the processor, you need to loosen the screws alternately on opposite sides. Re-do the same step when you want to install it back. If this step is done, you can start the thermal paste replacement process.

Re-paste the thermal paste with the following steps:

a) Clean Up the Current Thermal Paste

Clean up the current thermal paste on the CPU with isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber towel / tissue. Pour some isopropyl alcohol onto the microfiber towel and rub the processor until the current thermal paste is completely removed from the processor. Please rub softly to prevent processor problems.

b) Re-paste the Thermal Paste

After the thermal paste cleaning process is done, you may re-paste the new thermal paste with a dot of thermal paste in the middle and four corners of the processor. After applying the new thermal paste, re-do the processor fan dismantling process to reinstall the processor fan. Make sure all screws are tight as before. Now you can try to power up your PC. Issue solved? YES? NO? If no, follow the next step.

• If the system is working fine but the processor fan still produces an abnormal sound, you need to replace the fan.

• If the issues stated before still persist, you need to replace the CPU after you have completed the troubleshooting process starting from the RAM & RAM Slot and so on. The CPU is the most important part of a CPU. The CPU controls all functions in a PC.