How to Boot Faster

You computer no longer runs as fast as it once did and it certainly no longer boots up as quickly as it did when you first pulled it out of the box. It could simply use some general maintenance, but more likely, the reason is there are a lot of programs loading at startup than you want or need to load up. This can gradually happen over time because as you install more programs on your PC, they want to load themselves into your memory and system tray at boot. In addition to that, you can disable hardware you do not use. Follow these tips to reduce your bootup time in Windows:

1. In the BIOS, disable the floppy drive. You know you don't use it.
2. Go to START>Run and type msconfig. Under the startup tab, uncheck those programs you KNOW you do not need to load at start.
3. If you have a major brand name computer, chances are you have extra goodies they installed at the factory--like that AOL trial or those other shareware programs that always want to load and update themselves. Run the de-crapifier to rid yourself of pre-installed garbage.

Online Data Backup Services

We've all lost documents and photos because they were accidently deleted or the hard drive they were on failed. With the technology available today, this should never have to happen again. There are numerous ways to backup your data--from internal hard drives, high-speed external hard drives and even DVDs. But unless you get the data offsite, you really have no backup.

New online services, like Carbonite, allow you to quickly setup which drives you want monitored and continuously uploads changed from those drives to their encrypted servers. If you lose data on your computer, you can easily reinstall it from the Internet.

There are many online backup services availabe and they all vary from capacity and price. But if you have important data you need backed-up, an online data backup service should be part of your budget.

How to Reboot Your Router

Your router sits in the closet, on your desk or in the dank, dark basement working 24 / 7 defending your network from outside port scans and allowing you to connect and receive transmissions from the outside world. It has log files, memory and cache info just like your PC does, so it makes sense that the router should be rebooted every once in a while to clear this info out.

There are a couple different ways you can reboot your router. You can physically turn it off by the switch or by unplugging it. Or you can take a moment to login and do some manual router maintenance, like look for a firmware update or clear log files. Some newer router can perform the firmware update while you're logged into it and reboot when it is done. Some will require that you go to the manufacturer's website to download the update.

When you reboot the router, take a moment to reboot the modem attached to it, as well. You should start with the modem, router and PC off. Plug the modem back in after a few minutes, wait for all green lights, then plug in the router and do the same. A few minutes later, boot up the PC. This is called power-cycling. It gives everyone the opportunity to get a new IP address and often fixes random problems that are hard to identify.

Delete Website URLs From Browser Address Bar

Privacy is an important. Making sure your browser histor URLs aren't recorded is one way to make sure your privacy is kept. To prevent URLs from staying in the IE address bar, all you have to do is open IE and go to Tools>Internet Options>Content and in the Personal Information section, click the AutoComplete button.

Here you will see options for recording Web Addresses, Forms, Usernames and Passwords, etc. Uncheck the information you do not want retained.

You should also go to Tools>Internet Options and under the General tab, click Clear History. Restart your web browser.

Computer Keeps Restarting

There are many reasons why a computer will restart. Some are legitimate, such as a restart after a Windows Update. But if your computer randomly restarts and does it often, this could mean the reboot is related to a system crash.

In the past, you would see a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) displaying a useless message about an obscure critical error of some type or another. We want to see that BSOD, therefore we will disable the automatic reboot of Windows when there is a crash.

To do this, go to Start>Run and type sysdm.cpl and press enter. Click on the Advanced tab, then click settings in the Startup and Recovery section. Uncheck the box that says Automatically restart. Now when you get a system crash, you can write down that obscure message and it will hint you toward a resolution.

Perform Regular Computer Maintenance

Performing computer maintenance on a specific date each month is one way to make sure you do it. Granted, you can setup a scheduler in Windows to do the same. The important thing is that you make sure it gets done. Some of the basic and advanced computer maintenance you should do is as follows:
Basic Computer Maintenance

Run Defragmenter monthly - Go to START>ALL PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>SYSTEM TOOLS>DEFRAGMENTER. This will organize your hard drive to make access time quicker.

Run Disk Cleanup - from the same System Tools area, run disk cleanup to remove temp files and clear the Recycle bin.
Advanced Computer Maintenance

Backup your hard drive - Whether you backup your entire disk or just your My Documents folder, take a minute to burn this data to CD or put it on an external hard drive.

Run a registry cleaner-A program like ccleaner will help cleanup lost tid-bits in the registry.

Run a virus and anti-spyware scan - If your system isn't setup to do a scan automatically, make sure you get updated virus definitions and scan you computer for malware.

Replace Your Task Manager With Process Explorer

We've all done the Ctrl+Alt+Del to open the Windows Task Manager to see what applications are running. The list is confusing, to say the least. Process Explorer was created by SysInternals, which is now owned by Microsoft. The Process Explorer gives users a highly detailed view of the processes running on your computer, as well as icons and the command line used to run them.

While the basic Task Manager available in Windows is fine for most users, those who want more control over the applications running on their computer will want to download it. It can help track down stubborn programs will not shut down, or mysterious programs that load without your knowledge.

DIY Computer Repair

This guide will help you get a good understanding of what you need to perform Do It Yourself computer repair. Whether you're going to be working in the field or in your home, this tools and tips will help make sure you have everything you need to get the job done right the first time. PC repair can get costly if you do not have the tools you need for the job. Keeping time and costs down will help you develope a professional relationship with your customers.

Computer Tools

Having the right tools for the job is essential. A great computer repair kit should be portable and contain the basic tools as well as those for cutting, stripping and crimping network cabling. You will lose tools in the field, so make sure you have a good set for the home or office and a basic set for offsite computer jobs.

A basic toolkit should consist of the following:

A set of precision screwdrivers
A ratchet screwdriver with exchangable tips
A set of nutdrivers
A soldering iron and desoldering pump.
Wire strippers
Long nose pliers
Wire cutters
Electrical tape
Telescoping tweezers
Razor knife
Spare parts holder
Antistatic wristband
Flashlight


Advanced toolkit should consist of the following:

Everything from the basic toolkit
Multimeter
LAN and cable tester
Punch down tool for network cables
Line tracer / tone probe
Hard case with foam liner
portable vacuum

Power Supply Tester

A power supply tester will help give you immediate results on whether a power supply is good or bad. This can quickly help indicate if the problem is with the PSU or the motherboard. While these tiny testers do not eliminate the need for a multimeter, they are easy to use and inexpensive.

How to Use a Power Supply Tester

A power supply tester will have a switch on one end and socket on the opposite end. The socket will accept the 20-pin male end of the power supply connector that would normally be plugged into the motherboard.

power supply testerAfter you make this connection, plug the power cable into the wall and into the back of the power supply as you normally would.

Next, switch on the tester. If the power supply is good, the LED light built into the tester should glow green and the PSU fan should kick on.

If this doesn't happen, the power supply is probably bad. You can double-check these results by using a multimeter.

PCI Diagnostic Card

A PCI Diagnostic card gives you the ability to troubleshoot a motherboard at the board level. This card goes beyond the ability of a simple BIOS beep code. It allows users to troubleshoot a motherboard that will not POST or a PC that is malfunctioning but will not produce a beep code.

How to Use a PCI Diagnostic Card

These cards are just like any PCI card and they will plug into any open PCI expansion slot on the motherboard. The card will have an LED display mounted either on the side or the top.

pci diagnostic cardUnplug the computer, touch a metal area of the case and then unplug the power cable. This will ground you. You can also use an antistatic wristband. Insert the card and screw it down so it doesn't move.

Depending on the type of card you have, the display might be difficult to read, so be sure to position the card in a slot where the display can be easily seen.



When you boot up the machine with this card installed, it will produce a code or a series of codes on the LED screen. You will then refer to the documentation provided with the card, or consult the manufacturer of the board for their error codes. The codes should pinpoint the problem with the board.

While PCI cards are a great addition to your DIY computer repair kit, they are often used when common sense and logical deduction fail.


Do It Yourself Computer Maintenance

Computer maintenance is key for the long term survival of a PC. There are two main types of computer maintenance. The first, which is probably the most important, is the backing up, virus scanning, registry cleaning and defragging of a hard drive. The second is the physical maintenance of a computer.

Tips on Keeping a Computer Clean

compressed airCompressed Air
The most commonly used tool for keeping a PC clean is compressed air. If used regularly, it will help keep fans and air passages free of hair and dust that can cause your PC to overheat and fail. Shake well and point the nozzel at an angle toward the area you are cleaning. Make sure the debris blows out and away from the PC.



DIY computer cleaningCotton Swabs
Cotton swabs are great for cleaning hard to reach areas of a a keyboard,monitor or case. If possible, look for the long-handled swabs and only uses alcohol free liquids to clean sensitive areas of your computer. You can often find these cleaners at a computer or electronics store.



DIY PC maintenanceComputer Vacuum
While you may be tempted to use a vacuum inside of your computer, it is not recommended. You can use tiny portable vacuums around and near the computer to get rid of heavy dust, hair and other debris that are slowly making their way toward the intakes of your computer case. You can also a vacuum to cleanup after blowing the computer out with compressed air.

You can buy cleaning packs at your local PC shop that also include LCD monitor wipes and soft cloth for cleaning mice, keyboards and other hard surfaces of your computer.

Questions About Hard Drives

What is the difference between SATA and IDE?
The first thing you'll notice is the interface. SATA drives have a single cable with a small connector, while an IDE drive will have a flat ribbon cable. SATA drives have a faster data transfer rate. Your motherboard must be able to support a SATA drive. Otherwise, you'll need to buy an IDE drive.

How often should I defrag my hard disk?
That really depends on what you do with the drive. If you add and delete a lot of data, you'll want to defrag monthly. If you're a casual user, every three to six months is probably fine.

How can I diagnose problems with my hard drive?
A great place to start with hard drive diagnostics is right at the manufacturer's website. All major brand drives will have utilities for their drives, such as Maxtor's Maxblast or Western Digital's Data Lifeguard.

Can I put my old laptop hard drive in my desktop computer?
Sure, all you need is an adapter. The adapter converts the connection to the laptop drive to interface with the IDE and power cables of your desktop PC.

What is the best way to partition my drive?
If you have a Windows XP or Vista disk, you can install the Operating System and create partitions during the install. The installation will ask you how much of the drive you want to use for the Windows install, and you can specify a portion of the drive's space and leave the rest to be formatted later within Windows. That extra space is another partition.

Can I recover data that has been erased by my hard drive?
Yes, there are programs out there that recove lost data quite esily. The important thing to remember is that data will be overwritten the more you use the PC. So if you accidently erased something critical, be sure to stop and use a program like Undelete Now to get the data back.

Networking Your Computers

Should I go wireless or wired on my network?
If you are in near proximity to your router or modem, then you should go with a wired network. While there may be no real speed advantage, there are security risks when going with a wireless network setup.

Do I need a router?
If you only have one PC in the house then, no, you do not need a router. If you have two or more PCs, then we recommend a router because they are pretty inexpensive and also help secure your internal network from snoops by providing Network Address Translation (NAT). NAT means the router has an external IP address provided by your ISP and then provides your internal network with an internal IP address, such as 192.168.1.2. This means the outside world cannot "see" the internal computers.

How can I renew my IP Address?
Try going to Start, then Run and type cmd and hit OK. At the command line type ipconfig /release and hit enter. They type ipconfig /renew or simply reboot the PC.

What is my external IP address?
To figure out your external IP address, you can visit a site like whatismyip.com. This will should you the IP address given to you by your Internet provider.

Do I need encryption on my network?
If you're running a wireless network, or if you have a wireless router, then yes you do need to run some type of encryption. If you a running an unsecured network, anyone in close proximity can access your network. Run WPA encryption with a secure pass phrase. If you have older devices, you may need to run the obsolete WEP, but it's better than nothing.

Questions About Your Display Settings

How do I change my screen resolution?
You can change your screen resolution by either right-clicking the desktop and selecting Properties, or by going into the control panel and clicking the Display icon. You will then click the Settings tab. In Vista, you will find the monitor settings under the Personalization icon, then the monitor tab.

Next, look for the slider bar that says Resolution. Be careful not to set the resolution too high, as older monitors may not be able to handle the resolution and could possibly go black. If this happens, do nothing, as Windows will usually revert the resolution back after 15 seconds without a response from you. Typical resolutions are 800X600 or 1024X768. If you have a widescreen monitor, you can even try 1280x768.

My colors are grainy and speckled with dots. What should I do?
You may have a couple of problems here. 1) Your colors may be set to 256 and should be set to 16-bit or 32-bit depending on your graphics capabilities. Or 2) You should make sure your graphics drivers are installed. To update your graphics drivers, visit the manufacturer of the card (nVidia, ATI, etc..) and download the latest drivers, then go to the Control Panel, then System, then Device Manager. You will see a listing for your display adapter. Right-click the adapter, then click Properties, then select the Driver tab and finally Update Driver.

What does the refresh rate on the monitor do?
Generally, you will not want to mess with these settings if your monitor is working okay. If you're monitor flickers or if you are suffering unusual eye strain, you may want to increase the refresh rate to reduce the flickering.

I have a dual output video card and want to use two monitors. Is this possible?
Yes, having two monitors is great for multitasking or increasing the amount of your workspace for photo editing, spreadsheets or other tasks that demand multiple Windows open at once. To do this, connect both monitors to the card and navigate back to the Display settings area. You should see a box with a 1 and a box with a 2. The number 1 box is your main monitor. If you click on the second box, you can now adjust the settings for the second monitor. If you're not sure which monitor you're adjusting, click Identify Monitor and a huge number will be displayed on your screen. You can even drag the boxes around to get the exact orientation of the physical monitors.

Questions About EMail

Can I use Outlook or Outlook Express instead of my ISP's mail client?
Yes, you can usually use any Email program in place of your ISP's mail client as long as you know or can find out the mail settings they use. For instance, if you want to configure Outlook Express to use with your Comcast email, just setup a new account in Outlook Express and input the proper POP3 and SMTP settings when asked. Comcast uses mail.comcast.net for POP3 and smtp.comcast.net for their SMTP settings.

How can I backup my Emails, contacts and other data in Outlook or Outlook Express?
We have some tutorials on that located here but you may want to invest in a program called Backup Email to do the job for you. This way you know that it's done properly and you can restore your Emails whenever you need to.

I get so much SPAM, how can I stop it?
If you're completely inundated with SPAM, it may already be too late. Perhaps you should consider switching to a different Email address. Otherwise, there are some programs out there that do quite a good job, such as SPAMBully, while others are hit and miss. GMail also does a great job of filtering SPAM, and you can sign up for a free Email account or even add your existing POP3 accounts.

How do I create an account in Outlook Express?
You will need to know the server's POP3 and SMTP settings to create a new account in Outlook Express (or any other client, for that matter). Open OE and go to TOOLS, then Accounts and the Wizard will begin. Type the name you want to appear in your Emails in the first box and click NEXT. Then enter the Email address, ie. bobsmith@comcast.net and click NEXT. You will then be asked to enter both the POP3 and SMTP information. Lastly, you'll need to enter the username and password to access that Email. That's it, you're finished.

Can I check my Email from anywhere?
That depends. If you have Outlook or a similar client already configured on your laptop, then sure, you can check your Email anywhere. All you need is an Internet connection. But if you're on a library computer or borrowing one from a friend, then you cannot use a Windows mail client unless you go through the process of configuring that on their computer. Instead, try logging in directly through your ISP's website. Or if you have an Internet Email client, such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, ect. . . you can check it from anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Questions About Power Supplies

My power supply fan isn't moving. Can I replace it?
You can if you have experience working with a soldering iron, but we advise against it because the fan may not even be the source of the problem. It's also dangerous. You can easily replace the entire PSU for very little money.

Our computer's power supply has failed. What type should I get?
You'll probably find your power supply is a standard ATX power supply with a single 20-pin connector to the motherboard. You should replace it with one of equal or greater wattage. Spending more on a power supply with greater wattage will not improve performance, just allow you to run more devices. Look for a name brand like Antec or Thermaltake.

Is there any easy way to test my power supply?
Many local PC and electronics stores will sell stand-alone power supply testers for about $12 USD. All you have to do is plug the power supply into the adapter and turn it on. The device will instantly tell you if the power supply is bad. If you have a multimeter, you can also test the voltages. Read more here.

Why can't I turn off my computer when it crashes? I have to use the power supply switch on the back.
Try holding the front power button for five or six seconds. Merely pressing the button will not turn the PC off, as this isn't a spring-loaded switch that has an On and Off. By holding the button for several seconds, the computer knows to shut the the power supply down.

I just installed a new device. Does it matter which power plug I use?
No. You'll notice that your power supply has several plugs not being used. As long as it fits, it's okay to use. There may be a couple of odd connectors that go to the case fans or floppy drive, but any of the 4-wire plugs can be used for devices such as hard drives, CD and DVD drives, case fans, etc.

Questions About System Restore

What is System Restore in Windows?
System Restore is a Windows utility that allows you to revert your system's state to previous point in time. This allows you to undo damage caused by a program, update or driver.

What are "restore points?"
A Restore Point is a snapshot of your registry at a specific time. Restore Points are created each time you install or upgrade Windows, and updates are also created before each update via Microsoft Updates.

Do I need to create Restore Points?
You should occasionally create a Restore Point. Before Vista, Windows would generally create restore points after a major event, such as an update or a program installation that uses InstallSchield or the Windows Installer. If your system is running good, consider it part of a good preventive maintenance scheme to create a restore point.

Will I lose my data if I do a System Restore?
No. Windows restores programs and Windows files only and will not erase data such as photos, Emails, music, or any other personal files.

How do I start System Restore?
You can access the System Restore utility by going to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools and clicking System Restore. A Wizard will launch and help you either restore your PC or create an actual restore point.

Can I undo a System Restore?
Yes, you can undo a System Restore in the same manner by which you initiated the original system restore. You will now see an option to undo the last restoration.

I have a installed a bad driver. Do I need to perform a system restore?
No. Windows has the ability to roll back drivers. You can do this from the Device Manager under the System icon of the Control Panel. While a system restore will fix driver problems, its overkill in this point.

Do I still need to backup my system?
Yes. System restore is not a substitute for backing up your data.

What's Wrong With My Computer

"What's wrong with my computer?" you ask.

Computer troubleshooting is a process requiring both logic and knowledge of every component inside of a PC. Knowing the boot process and the way components interact with each other can save techs and PC users a lot of time when troubleshooting problems with a system.


Types of Computer Problems

Problems can basically be separated into either hardware or software. Hardware computer problems can result in beeps codes, nothing on the screen, a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death),a dead system or even smoke. Software problems can manifest themselves in BSODs and other errors that show up once Windows boots.
Starting The Troubleshooting Process

First thing to do is just stop. Yep, stop and try to think back to any recent software or hardware that was added. Then proceed with the following checklist:

1. Write down any error messages you see on the screen. Write clearly, as the syntax in the error must be exact for techs to track down the problem.
2. If anything is smoking or running hot, be sure to unplug the computer.
3. Do you hear any beep codes? If so how many and note if they are long or short beeps.
4. Is there any power? Do you hear fans spinning or the hard drive churning?
5. If it says "No Operating System Found," can you tap the BIOS setup key and confirm that the hard drive is showing up in the BIOS under the Primary Master?
6. Confirm there are no disks in the floppy or CD drive.

The above steps should at least help you determine if the problem is hardware or software related. In either case, make sure you have the system recovery disk or your Windows Operating System disk, as you may not be able to repair your computer without those.

General Computer Troubleshooting

Computer problems are frustrating. Becoming frustrated during the troubleshooting process will only lead to more problems. So the important thing to do first is take a deep breath, think happy thoughts, and plan out your course of action. Have tools ready, restore disks and drivers. This will save you time and patience.

Before you begin, jot down notes about any recent activity you have taken: Have there been any software changes? Did you recently add any new hardware? Did you unplug the PC and move it across the room?

If there have been no changes to the PC or its environment, then its time to pay attention to precisely what happens, if anything, when the PC boots.

Your first clues will be given during the POWER ON SELF TEST (POST). A successful test results in a short, single beep. This means that the BIOS received no errors from the hardware initializing during the boot process. If there was a problem, the BIOS would issue a beep code specific to the BIOS manufacturer that describes the nature of the problem. It is important to know what BIOS is on your motherboard. You can determine this by watching the name that flashes in the upper left corner during boot, or by opening the case open and looking for the BIOS chip. Common BIOS manufacturers are AMI BIOS, AWARD and PHOENIX. An example of an Award BIOS beep code for a video card problem would be one long beep followed by two short beeps.

If you get no beep code, and everything seems to be spinning inside the case, then the main culprit is probably the processor.

Memory - Memory errors could generate a "201: Memory Error" message on the screen. Any error codes beginning with 2 indicate a memory error.

Keyboard - a problem with the keyboard will result in a "301: Keyboard Failure" error message followed by a short beep. System may halt or may ignore the error.

Floppy - any problems will result in a "601: Floppy Disk" error code appearing on the screen.

The Power Supply, or PSU, is another main culprit in hardware failures. The Power Supply is the first connection to the outside world and can be damaged by unclean power, brown-outs, spikes and blackouts. The PSU will appear to function normally, but may actually be damaged. If you're lucky nothing will happen when you press the power button. Nothing at all. But usually the lights will flash, the hard drives will spin, and you will immediately eliminate the PSU because it appears to be functioning correctly. Thus, you are taken down a frustrating road of trial and error while attempting to find the source of the hardware problem.

Since power supplies are relatively inexpensive and by far the easiest piece of hardware to swap out. We recommend replacing this first if there are no POST codes or hints to any other device being bad.

Software Troubleshooting

If the PC passes the POST, the hard drive begins to load the operating system into memory. Software no w takes over and will sometimes generate errors at this point. If you cannot boot properly at this point in the game, then you should first see if you can get into SAFE MODE. Safe Mode is accomplished by repeatedly pressing the F8 key during this critical moment . A new menu will appear with boot options. You can choose Safe Mode here or a Step by Step Confirmation that will ask you to confirm when loading devices and drivers. Keep your note pad handy because if you choose this option, you will need to know exactly what failed.

If, by luck, you are able to get into Windows, you can then run Scandisk (or CHKDSK) to determine if something is wrong with the file structure. Or you can navigate to the Device Manager in the Control Panel (under SYSTEM) to get a visual on any devices that have errors or or conflicts. You can disable hardware here or update drivers.

In Conclusion

Whatever the problem is, it's important to take a step back and look at the situation. Is it hardware or software? Did I change anything? Do I have a backup? Maybe I should simply reformat and reinstall? Or perhaps I have a virus or Trojan?

Routinely backup your important documents, do basic preventive maintenance on the fans and keyboard with compress air, use an Uninterruptible Power Source for your power supply, routinely update your virus definitions, and defrag monthly. These are a few of the basic techniques that will keep things running smooth.

Power Supply Troubleshooting

This article in our ultimate computer troubleshooting guide will be focussing on the power supply. The power supply is the componet at the rear of the PC that the powr cord plugs into. The inside consists on a numerous wires that plug into the motherboard and other devices, such as the hard disk drive, optical drives, floppies and even video cards. The power supply will normally either work or not work. This article will show you how to determine if the power supply is the cause of your computer problems.

The power supply can partially fail, completely fail, or even fail intermittently. The PSU can cause a myriad of problems and can frustrate computer users who are not use to dealing with this temperamental component. This tutorial will help you diagnose problems with the power supply to determine if it is time to replace the unit. Links to the tools we talk about can be found on this page.

To begin, is the power supply working? Just because the computer isn't powering up, doesn't mean the power supply isn't doing its job. Is the fan on the back spinning?

When troubleshooting power supply issues, you first make sure you have the correct voltage set on the rear of the unit. You should see a red switch that can be set to 115V or 230V. Depending on the country you live, this switch will need to be set appropriately. For instance, the Unites States uses 115V. Secondly, make sure you are not plugging into a power strip. Power strips can fail, so be sure to try plugging the power cable directly into a working, properly grounded wall outlet.

If you've been working inside the case, check the thin power wires running from the front of the case to the motherboard. These generally plug into the motherboard at the lower right of the motherboard and may be labeled something like "power sw" or "pw switch." If this wire has popped off, the PSU will not work. To test the switch, you can remove the "power sw" wire and short the pins by touching a flathead screwdrive to the two pins. If the switch is bad, the computer should power up right away. There is also the main motherboard connector, which is the long 20 pin connector. Make sure this is properly secured. Some graphics cards or motherboards also require an addition 4-pin wire connector. If you motherboard requires it, be sure this is plugged in to the appropriate socket.

Use a multi-meter or stand alone power supply tester to check the PSU. To test with a multi-meter, make sure the power supply is plugged in to a power source and that the 20-pin connector is plugged into the motherboard. It's best if you lay the case on it's side so you can look directly down on the motherboard. Next, you'll jam the black lead down into any of the black (ground) wires. Then you can probe each colored wire for the appropriate voltage. If voltage is seriously out of range or does not exist, then the power supply is bad. The colored wires should have the following voltages:

The pin-outs for an ATX power supply

Pin# Color Function
1 Orange +3.3V DC
2 Orange +3.3V DC
3 Black Ground
4 Red +5V DC
5 Black Ground
6 Red +5V DC
7 Black Ground
8 Gray Power OK
9 Purple +5V standby
10 Yellow +12V DC
11 Orange +3.3V DC
12 Blue -12V DC
13 Black Ground
14 Green PS-ON
15 Black Ground
16 Black Ground
17 Black Ground
18 White -5V DC
19 Red +5V DC
20 Red +5V DC

An alternative to the multi-meter is the stand-alone power supply tester. This small device plugs directly into the 20-pin connector of the power supply. It will immediately tell you if the power supply is bad. These are cheap and easy to use.

If you are not getting power, or if your system randomly reboots or develops bizarre symptoms that you cannot nail down, consider swapping in a new power supply. Spending too much time trying to diagnose a flaky power supply could become expensive, as unexpected dip in power can damage other computer parts, such as the hard drive.

Hard Drive Troubleshooting

This article in our ultimate computer troubleshooting guide will be focussing on the Hard Disk Drive. The HDD in your system may be an IDE or a SATA. IDE is the older variety, with the long, flat ribbon cable connector. SATA drives began appearing a couple of years ago. Gone is the flat ribbon cabe. In its place is a thick serial cable.

You hard drive will have jumper on the rear. On IDE drives, these jumpers indicate which HDD is the Master and Slave. Yu can even configure a jumper to indicate which place on the cable determines who is the boss. This is called Cable Select. Either Cable Select or Master / Slave modes are fine, but the drives must be set up one way or the other.

Is the Hard Drive Detected?

If this is a new installation of a hard drive, be sure to check the power and jumpers setting first. If the hard drive is not showing up, you first need to confirm that it is getting power and that the Master / Slave / or Cable Select jumpers are set properly. If you are using a Serial ATA drive, jumper setting are not necessary.

Check the BIOS. You will need to tap a certain key to enter the BIOS settings. This is normally either the ESC, F1, F2, F10 or Delete key and is usually indicated on the very first screen when booting the PC. Once in the BIOS make sure the drive shows up in the appropriate place. If this is the Primary drive, is should show up under the Primary Master position. If it does not, then it could be connected to the motherboard incorrectly or the jumpers may be wrong. Also, while in the BIOS, make sure it is set to Auto Detect the drive.

Check the IDE Cable

If you're using an IDE drive, it can be possible to connect the ribbon cable incorrectly. The ribbon cable will usually have a red or dotted line down one side. This line indicates Pin 1 on the cable. One the hard drive end, this line needs to be closest to the Hard Drive's power connector. On the motherboard side, this line needs to be at Pin 1 on the motherboard (you may need to look close, but it should be printed on the motherboard).

Is the Drive Making Noise?

A defective drive will often produce unusual clicking or scraping sounds. There are a lot of moving parts inside a hard drive, so if the read / write head, platters, spindle or actuator arm becomes defective it can produce noise shortly before complete failure.

Does the Hard Drive Spin Up?

If the hard drive is not spinning, then it may not be getting power. You may need to listen real close to hear it spin, or touch the side with your finger to feel any vibration. If the drive is not spinning, test the power dongle with a multimeter, or try a different power connector. A power supply will ofter have severl molex connectors not being used. If the hard drive still does not spin up, the drive may be dead.

Computer Will Not Start

If your computer will not start, meaning it seems like it is dead or partially dead, then you probably have a bad power supply. There are, of course, other components that can cause a no power issue, but usually we need to start at the source and check the power supply first. The power supply is at the rear of the PC, usually near the top of the case, and it is what gets plugged into the wall or power strip. If you open the case, you will notice the power supply is more complex inside. You will have a main power connector that is either a 20-pin or a 24-pin. You will also have multiple connectors that go to various components in the case, like the hard drive, optical drives and sometimes even the video card.

There are a couple of ways to test the power supply. The easiest is to purchase a cheap Power Supply Tester. You can also use a multimeter to check for proper voltages of 3.3, 5.5 and 12.

power supply pinsYou can also try running a jump from the PS_ON pin--the one with the green wire to a black ground lead. A paperclip can be used for this test.

Power off the computer, disconnect the power supply from the wall outlet. Insert one end of the paperclip down into the space where the green wire attaches to the power supply plug. Do the same for the black wire using the other end of the paper clip.

If the computer fires up, then you have a bad power supply. You can buy new power supplies straight from the manufacturer or go through your local computer repair shop. If you know exactly what type you need, you can purchase them online, as well.