Testing and diagnostic control programs. Diagnostics of all PC devices

Even the weakest personal computer is a complex digital system that often fails for a number of reasons. Like any other equipment, a PC is subject to diagnostics, the main part of which is to check it with special programs. Some of them come bundled with drivers for system components, but the bulk of software of this kind is unified with most device models, identifies several diagnostic parameters at once and is distributed on a free or shareware basis.

Today we will talk about 10 computer diagnostic programs that are available to every user.

The first program reviewed in this article, Speccy, is the creation of the British IT company Piriform, which created the popular CCleaner utility for cleaning your computer from junk. Specky will help you diagnose your computer's hardware, displaying basic information about each installed device on board: processor, video card, motherboard, hard drive and other components. The software is distributed by the company free of charge for private use, and can run on legacy and new Windows operating systems, including XP.

After installation and the first launch, Speccy, without additional greetings, immediately gets down to business - analyzing the installed equipment. Key indicators are instantly displayed in the “General Information” tab. In the left tab panel, the user selects the device of interest. In addition to the component data included in the firmware, Speccy displays the current temperature of the device and can warn the owner of critically high values. For the convenience of exchanging diagnostic data, the program implements the function of snapshotting data in the form of an image or saving it in XML and TXT format.

Advantages:

• displays information about the type, manufacturer, batch number, year of manufacture, firmware version, etc.;
• takes readings from temperature sensors;
• displays nominal and current frequency indicators;
• saves the received information in the form of a document or image;
• has a simple interface without frills;
• full-fledged free software in Russian.

Flaws:

• there are no diagnostic tools (tests) to check system stability;
• displays an incomplete list of component parameters.

CPU-Z

The CPU-Z program can easily be called the world's most popular Windows-based system analyzer. It provides comprehensive information about the processor, RAM and its subsystem, and graphics adapter. CPU-Z is completely free and compatible with all current versions of Windows.

CPU-Z stands out among competitors due to two qualities: great depth of computer analysis and simplicity of the shell. With its help, you will learn about such parameters of your processor as the type and process technology of the chip, its heat dissipation, core voltage, revision and stepping, as well as the level and capacity of the cache. The same detailed report is available for RAM and motherboard chipset. This data is indispensable both for enthusiastic overclockers and for ordinary users who are interested in upgrading and customizing their computer. However, information about the video system is presented here in a compressed form, and the hard drive is not affected at all.

In addition to dry text display in CPU-Z, you can conduct simple stress tests of the system to check its stability under load. Test reports and PC status reports are saved as TXT and HTML documents.

The appearance of the utility is extremely simple and has not changed since the beginning of its development. Moving through the items is done through the tabs on the top panel. There is also a portable version for running from a flash drive or other media.

Advantages:

• maximum information about the CPU, RAM and chipset;
• works on a computer with any version of Windows;
• undemanding to resources;
• has a simple interface (including in Russian);
• saves reports in text form;
• free software.

Flaws:

• does not display information about the status of the hard drive;
• a meager report on the video card.
• Does not show the temperature of system components.

GPU-Z

A video card is almost a full-fledged “computer within a computer” with its own subsystems and operating modes. Therefore, developers from TECHPOWERUP have developed a separate program for checking a computer’s video system - GPU-Z. Its basic principles are the same as those of CPU-Z - complete information content and ease of use. It is available online for free use.

GPU-Z is an indispensable and necessary tool for anyone who is interested in what their computer consists of. The utility will report to you about all parameters of the video core, video memory and power subsystem, right down to the device identification code and BIOS version. In addition, GPU-Z scans the current readings of the temperature and frequency of the chip, the frequency of memory chips, the rotation speed of the cooling fan, the load and voltage on the core, etc. All these values ​​are recorded at the owner’s request in a text file or screenshot.

The utility has earned special recognition for its ability to detect “fake” video cards that do not meet the specifications stated in the BIOS. Near the name of such a card you will notice the status “”, and an exclamation mark will appear instead of the vendor’s image.

Advantages:

• a full report on the characteristics of the video card and its current condition;
• simple interface shell;
• saving the report as a document or screenshot;
• ability to send a problem report;
• a large website database for checking your adapter and comparing it with similar cards;
• does not require payment.

Flaws:

• the interface is not fully translated into Russian;
• no built-in stress or performance tests;

HWMonitor

The HWMonitor program from CPUID is used to fully diagnose a computer, determine its operating parameters and operating modes. Unlike the well-known CPU-Z product from the same company, Hardware Monitor provides a comprehensive check of hardware status in real time, but without providing data on characteristics and firmware. The software is available in free and paid PRO versions.

HWMonitor is a single table that displays the devices installed in the system and indicates their voltage and operating frequency, thermal package, cooler rotation speed, temperature at the sensors and the percentage of load (work) or occupied memory. Since the utility does not display firmware data, it is better to use it in conjunction with other products, for example, CPU-Z, for overclocking and tuning. Available readings can be written by the user to a TXT notepad file at any time.

The HWMonitor PRO version is equipped with additional functions for remotely checking computer sensor readings via a smartphone or another PC. It also has a temperature panel that can be folded into a tray for working in the “background” during overclocking and monitoring the heating of electronic components.

The program interface is minimalistic and does not have additional functions or decorations.

Advantages:

• full PC scan, including video system and hard drive;
• taking all available readings from device sensors;
• extremely simple and intuitive interface;
• remote check of the computer status from a smartphone (on the PRO version);
• free product.

Flaws:

• there is no official localization in Russian;
• characteristics of components are not provided;
• there is no detailed information about the performance of the hard drive according to S.M.A.R.T.;

FurMark

The FurMark utility has been the unspoken “standard” for testing high-performance video cards and integrated computer video systems for many years. It is a set of stress tests to test the graphics subsystem for stability and maximum performance in 3D with support for the OpenGL API. FurMark receives regular updates and is distributed free of charge.

Fur Mark consists of a settings dialog and a test window, in which a complex render of a toroidal-shaped object (or popularly known as a “hairy donut”) rotates. Before starting testing, you must select the graphics level and operating mode. In addition to resolution and anti-aliasing, the user can enable full-screen mode instead of windowed mode. An important point is to indicate the time for the test, since keeping the video accelerator under 100% load for a long time can damage the device.

After pressing the button « GPU stress test» A rotating object appears on the screen, drawing which consumes the entire resource of the video card. The upper part shows a graph of changes in the temperature of the video core. Depending on the specified parameters, the test stops automatically after a certain time or manually by the user.

Advantages:

• checking the video card under the maximum permissible load for stability, performance, power consumption;
• several modes of “running” the test;
• simple interface without unnecessary elements;
• includes GPU-Z and GPU Shark utilities;
• free software.

Flaws:

• FurMark puts maximum load on the video adapter, which can lead to failure of the graphics chip, memory chips and other “unpleasant” consequences;
• The interface is not Russified in the official version.

Warning! We do not recommend downloading this program to those who have just begun to get acquainted with the computer structure. FurMark has caused many computer failures due to improper testing and overheating of radio components. Before running Fur Mark, make sure that your video card has a powerful cooling system. We do not recommend running the test for more than 5 minutes.

SpeedFan

A simple and undemanding utility, SpeedFan, will help you monitor key indicators of computer devices, such as cooler rotation speed, voltage, CPU core frequency, component temperature, etc. For almost 20 years, this software has been the favorite tool of many overclocking enthusiasts and ordinary users. SpeedFan can be downloaded for free on the developer's website.

Speed ​​Fan is a universal tool for monitoring computer operation in real time. With its help, you can change the speed of the fan impellers, control the processor frequencies, monitor the readings of temperature sensors and check the voltage at the power supply terminals along the 3.3V, 5V and 12V lines. In addition, it displays a S.M.A.R.T report. about the status of the hard drive. Knowing these indicators, the user can increase heat dissipation or, conversely, reduce the noise of the system unit.

The program interface, in addition to the standard Windows shell, includes many graphs for a visual representation of changes in indicators. There is also a warning function when the set temperature thresholds are exceeded, and the “CPU Usage” scale will tell you about the load on each CPU core.

Advantages:

• takes readings from temperature, voltage, frequency, etc. sensors;
• monitoring the status of the hard drive;
• displays voltages on power supply lines;
• simple interface in Windows 2000 style;
• support for most modern microcontrollers;
• free software with localization.

Flaws:

• there is no representation of the characteristics of RAM, chipset and other equally important information.

AIDA64 Extreme

As the successor to the famous EVEREST, AIDA64 is the most powerful utility today for comprehensive computer diagnostics. In addition to the information stored in the BIOS memory, Aida provides statistical data from the Internet and other useful information regarding the selected device. It contains many different tests to check performance and stability under load, and to compare with other models. AIDA64 Extreme is a shareware product, since the user is given only 30 days for trial use with reduced capabilities.

The usefulness of AIDA64 Extreme is difficult to overestimate, because it is one of the few programs that provides comprehensive information about all the characteristics of each component device, and even each chip on the board. By installing it on your PC, you will learn about all available frequency and temperature indicators, voltage at device pins, cooler rotation speed, power consumption, etc. In addition to the hardware component, Aida 64 displays information about the operating system and installed components (for example, DirectX).

In mode "Test" AIDA64 Extreme tests and compares your configuration with other devices from its own database, thus creating a rating. It is worth noting the ability to check network devices and connections over a local and global network.

Advantages:

• provides the maximum possible list of characteristics about the computer;
• comparison with other systems from the database;
• takes readings from all available sensors of the system;
• checks RAM for errors;
• there are tests for video cards;
• At the same time simple and beautiful design in the classic Windows style.

Flaws:

• the program is not free - only a 30-day trial version is available.

3DMark

At the moment it is difficult to find a better and more beautiful tester than 3DMark from Futuremark (now UL Benchmark). Its tasks include checking the performance of the central processor + video card combination. The developer offers several versions of the benchmark: a free Basic Edition with reduced capabilities, an Advanced Edition with a large number of tests and settings, and a Professional Edition (available for commercial use).

The main feature of this tester is the increased requirements for computer hardware, so even on mid-level systems the user may be surprised by the low number of points received. The second “calling card” of 3DMark is the colorful, well-designed three-dimensional scenes that simulate games during testing. Tests are carried out not only with qualitative, but also with quantitative scenes, which put more load on the CPU. 3DMark supports all modern graphics processing technologies, including DirectX 12 and NVIDIA RTX and DLSS.

At the end of the test, you will see the result in the form of points scored for the system as a whole and for each device separately. You can publish your result and compare it with others in a rating created by other users.

Advantages:

• the benchmark loads the system 100% without causing breakdowns;
• benchmark tester for high-performance systems;
• beautiful 3D models and scenes;
• there is a free version of 3DMark Basic Edition;
• intuitive interface.

Flaws:

• there is no Russian language in the demo version settings;

PCMark

Another product from the Finnish company Futuremark, aimed at testing the performance of the system as a whole. It differs from 3DMark in its wider coverage of subsystems subject to testing. With its help, the user will determine the capabilities of his PC in video rendering and editing, complex calculations, storing and transferring data from ROM and other tasks. Free Basic and paid Advanced Editions are available for download.

Computer performance analysis follows the same principle as in 3DMark, but now taking into account all the main components of the device. For example, PCMark checks the reading and writing speed of RAM and permanent memory (hard HDD or solid-state SSD), the performance of each processor core, and the speed of drawing objects on the screen by a video card. It also tests performance while browsing, watching videos, and while talking through VoIP voice clients, as well as while running Windows. To determine a PC's suitability for gaming, the developers have included some tests from 3DMark here.

At the end of the test run, the user will see the result in points on the screen, by which one can judge the performance of the PC, based on the rating. If problematic slow devices are identified, the tester will inform you about the need to upgrade them.

Advantages:

• a general performance test of the entire computer with explanations of problems;
• operating system state analysis;
• comparison of the result with the “live” rating of other users;
• very convenient and beautiful interface;
• there is a free version.

Flaws:

• There is no Russian-language interface (in the Basic version).

HWiNFO

A small utility, HWiNFO, is capable of displaying all the main parameters of the computer and its components, as well as monitoring temperature and voltage from device sensors in real time. According to the developers, it is characterized by increased operating stability and high accuracy of measurements of diagnostic parameters. There is no need to pay for the utility; the developer only accepts donations.

The main quality of HWiNFO is its stability on weak systems with outdated versions of Windows. This software will run even on Win XP, not to mention modern “tens”. The second advantage is detailed reporting on the state of the PC at the time of verification and the provision of detailed information about its parameters. A simple search for each device is provided by a hierarchical structure of icons with a description on the left side of the window. The available data can be easily saved into a test file using the “Save Report” button. In addition to checking your computer, HWiNFO has a routine for updating the motherboard BIOS and device drivers.

The HWiNFO software interface is designed in the familiar Windows style and is easy to use. At the top of the window there is a panel with icons for the most frequently used functions. The “Program” tab has a large number of settings for driver verification and management modes.

Advantages:

• simplicity and detail of the report;
• convenient control and configuration;
• high accuracy of sensor readings;
• updating BIOS and drivers;
• completely free software.

Flaws:

• There are no tests to check system stability and performance.

Conclusion

Among the ten computer diagnostic programs we reviewed, there is no ideal option - each has its own set of pros and cons. However, we can advise making a choice in a given situation for specific tasks set by the user himself.

For a standard and comprehensive computer test, we would choose Speccy, HWMonitor, HWiNFO and PCMark. They provide detailed data on the characteristics and current state of the hardware and operating system, and PCMark will help you load and test your PC for performance without risk.

For more demanding users, overclockers and gamers, AIDA64 Extreme, 3DMark and FurMark are suitable. The first program displays data about the PC at the highest possible level, and the other two are perfect for testing video adapters.

CPU-Z, GPU-Z and SpeedFan will fit any of the groups, but they mostly have similar capabilities to the above options.

In order to measure computer performance using tests, it is not necessary to download any third-party applications and utilities.

It is enough to use the resources already built into the operating system.

Although to obtain more detailed information the user will have to find a suitable program.

Based on the test results, you can draw conclusions about which part of your PC or laptop requires replacement sooner than others - and sometimes you can simply understand the need to buy a new computer.

The need to perform a check

Computer speed testing is available to any user. The test does not require any specialized knowledge or experience with specific versions of Windows OS. And the process itself is unlikely to require spending more than an hour.

Reasons why you should use the built-in utility or third-party application refers to:

• Unreasonable slowdown of the computer. Moreover, not necessarily the old one - the check is needed to identify problems with new PCs. For example, the minimum results and indicators of a good video card indicate incorrectly installed drivers;
• checking the device when selecting several similar configurations in a computer store. This is usually done before buying laptops - running a test on 2-3 devices with almost identical parameters helps to find out which one is better suited to the buyer;

• the need to compare the capabilities of various components of a gradually modernized computer. So, if the HDD has the lowest performance value, then it should be replaced first (for example, with an SSD).

According to the results of testing, which revealed the speed at which the computer performs various tasks, you can detect problems with drivers and incompatibility of installed devices. And sometimes even poorly functioning and broken parts - for this, however, you will need more functional utilities than those built into Windows by default. Standardized tests reveal minimal information.

System check

You can check the performance of individual computer components using the built-in capabilities of the Windows operating system. Their operating principle and information content are approximately the same for all versions of the Microsoft platform. And the differences lie only in the method of launching and reading information.

Windows Vista, 7 and 8

For versions 7 and 8 of the platform, as well as Windows Vista, the performance counter of computer elements can be found in the list of basic information about the operating system. To display them on the screen, just right-click on the “My Computer” icon and select properties.

If testing has already been carried out, information about its results will be available immediately. If you are running the test for the first time, you will have to run it by going to the performance test menu.

The maximum score that Windows 7 and 8 can achieve is 7.9. You should think about the need to replace parts if at least one of the indicators is below 4. For a gamer, values ​​above 6 are more suitable. For Windows Vista, the best indicator is 5.9, and the “critical” indicator is about 3.

Important: To speed up performance calculations, you should turn off almost all programs during the test. When testing a laptop, it is advisable to plug it into the network - the process significantly consumes battery power.

Windows 8.1 and 10

For more modern operating systems, finding information about computer performance and starting to calculate it is no longer so easy. To run a utility that evaluates system parameters, you should do the following:

1Go to operating system command line(cmd via menu "Run" caused by pressing keys simultaneously Win + R);

2Enable evaluation process, leading the team winsat formal –restart clean;

3Wait for the job to complete;

4Go to folder Performance\WinSAT\DataStore located in the Windows system directory on the computer’s system drive;

5Find and open the file in a text editor "Formal.Assessment (Recent).WinSAT.xml".

Among the multitude of text, the user must find the WinSPR block, where approximately the same data is located that is displayed on the screen of Windows 7 and 8 systems - only in a different form.

Yes, under the name SystemScore the general index calculated from the minimum value is hidden, and MemoryScore, CpuScore And GraphicsScore indicate the memory, processor and graphics card indicators, respectively. GamingScore And DiskScore– performance for gaming and for reading/writing the hard drive.

The maximum value for Windows 10 and version 8.1 is 9.9. This means that the owner of an office computer can still afford to have a system with numbers less than 6, but for full operation of a PC and laptop it must reach at least 7. And for a gaming device - at least 8.

Universal method

There is a method that is the same for any operating system. It consists of launching the task manager after pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys. A similar effect can be achieved by right-clicking on the taskbar - there you can find an item that launches the same utility.

You will be able to see several graphs on the screen - for the processor (for each thread separately) and RAM. For more detailed information, go to the “Resource Monitor” menu.

Using this information, you can determine how heavily loaded individual PC components are. First of all, this can be done by the loading percentage, secondly - by the color of the line ( green means normal operation of the component, yellow– moderate, red– need to replace the component).

Third party programs

Using third-party applications, checking your computer's performance is even easier.

Some of them are paid or shareware (that is, they require payment after the trial period ends or to increase functionality).

However, these applications conduct more detailed testing - and often provide a lot of other information useful to the user.

1. AIDA64

AIDA64 includes tests for memory, cache, HDDs, SSDs and flash drives. And when testing a processor, 32 threads can be checked at once. Among all these advantages, there is also a small drawback - you can use the program for free only during the “trial period” of 30 days. And then you have to either switch to another application, or pay 2265 rubles. for a license.

2. SiSoftware Sandra Lite

3.3DMark

4.PCMark 10

The application allows you not only to test the operation of computer components, but also to save test results for future use. The only drawback of the application is the relatively high cost. You will have to pay $30 for it.

5. CINEBENCH

The test images consist of 300 thousand polygonal images that add up to more than 2000 objects. And the results are given in the form PTS indicator - the higher it is, the more powerful the computer. The program is distributed free of charge, which makes it easy to find and download it on the Internet.

6. ExperienceIndexOK

Information is displayed on the screen in points. The maximum number is 9.9, as for the latest versions of Windows. This is exactly what ExperienceIndexOK is designed for. It is much easier to use such a program than to enter commands and search for files with results in the system directory.

7.CrystalDiskMark

To test a disk, select the disk and set the test parameters. That is, the number of runs and file sizes that will be used for diagnostics. After a few minutes, information about the average read and write speed for the HDD will appear on the screen.

8. PC Benchmark

Having received the test results, the program offers to optimize the system. And after improving performance, a page opens in the browser where you can compare the performance of your PC with other systems. On the same page you can check whether your computer can run some modern games.

9. Metro Experience Index

10.PassMark PerformanceTest

conclusions

Using different methods to test your computer's performance allows you to check how your system is performing. And, if necessary, compare the speed of individual elements with the performance of other models. For a preliminary assessment, you can conduct such a test using built-in utilities. Although it is much more convenient to download special applications for this - especially since among them you can find several that are quite functional and free.

Video:

How to identify the components located inside the computer and view their parameters? How to check a processor or video card for performance and absence of overheating? It is enough to use testing and diagnostic software.

Alternative programs: Catzilla, Unigine Superposition, Unigine Heaven, 3D Mark 11

PCMark is, in turn, a popular tool for checking the overall performance of a computer. The tests include, but are not limited to, applications such as office worksheet operations, 2D graphics operations, Internet browsing, and video conferencing.

In the latest version, however, they abandoned the media test (SSD or HDD). Only the Basic version is free.

If you want to check how your computer copes with the task of virtual reality and serves games designed for Oculus Rift or HTC Vive glasses, VR Mark will come in handy. As with other Futuremark programs, only the Basic version is free.

The tool is equipped with three tests, of which one is basic (Orange), for VR games using DirectX 12 (Cyan) and the most demanding ones (Blue).

Alternative program: SteamVR Performance Test

CPU-Z – for hardware identification

The main and most popular program for identifying processors, motherboards (including UEFI BIOS versions), memory (including SPD) or graphics cards. We get an accurate preview of the hardware data.

You can also test the processor in mono- and multi-threaded applications, and compare the results with other processors in the database. If you want to know what exactly is on your computer and how it works, this is the first application you should install.

Thanks to CPU-Z you can easily check, for example, at what frequency and delays the RAM operates, as well as the processor clock speed in real time. It is worth noting the fact that an Android version is available.

Alternative programs: Crystal CPU ID, Speccy

GPU-Z is the main program for identifying video cards and their characteristics, including their current frequency. A basic test is available in the application, which allows you to “quickly” verify that the video card is working correctly.

It is worth noting, however, that the test in this program will not give confidence that, for example, when overclocked, the video card will work completely stably. To do this, it is worth using more advanced products, for example, a stress test in the 3D-Mark program.

Alternative program: GPU Caps Viewer

Cinebench is a benchmark tool based on the Cinema 4D engine to test CPU performance. It does this by creating a 3D scene - the test can be run using all CPU threads or just one thread. This gives a good idea of ​​the capabilities of the processors.

Cinebench also has a built-in graphics card test that uses a complex 3D scene that, using a car chase example (made by renderbaron), measures the performance of the graphics card in OpenGL mode.

Alternative programs: LuxMark (3D graphics rendering using CPU or GPU), CompuBench (3D graphics rendering using GPU)

OCCT 4.5.1 – stability and temperature check

Alternative programs: FurMark, Prime95 or for temperature monitoring SpeedFan, RealTemp and CoreTemp.

MemTest86 is an excellent program for checking whether your RAM is working correctly. This is one of those components whose stable operation is very important for the performance of the computer.

The program runs from a bootable USB flash drive (or CD/DVD if someone else uses them).

Alternative program: Prime95

Prime95 – stability or temperature test under load

Another great program for testing the stability or temperatures of computer components under high load. We can choose between tests that load the most, for example, RAM or CPU.

Alternative programs: OCCT, MemTest86

It is difficult to point out one, the best program for checking the performance of storage media (HDD and SSD hard drives), but if you already have to do so, then CrystalDiskMark will be your favorite. It allows you to check the performance of media, both in the case of reading/writing sequential data and for small files.

It gives a good idea of ​​the actual performance of the node being tested. If you are interested not only in performance (but, for example, also in SMART readings, the ability to download new firmware or perform Secure Erase operations), it is worth taking an interest in the applications included with the manufacturer's drives. For example, in the case of SanDisk, the SanDisk SSD Dashboard program is available, and in the case of Samsung, Samsung Magician is available.

Alternative programs: AS, AS SSD, manufacturer's programs included

I have a PortableSoft folder on my disk, which contains my favorite utilities - those that do not require installation or console ones. I also keep this folder on a "combat" flash drive and include it in so they are always at hand. Today's story includes seven graphical utilities from this folder and three more tools. What they have in common is that they are all designed to quickly diagnose common problems that occur in Windows.

If you've ever been asked to “look at a system,” you know that the most valuable thing in this case is your time. Therefore, you need to skillfully use a set of tools that allow you to identify and eliminate the problem as quickly as possible or determine the right direction for further action.

I bring to your attention my favorite ten! And I’m sure that you won’t often see the last two tools in such lists :)

1. AutoRuns

Startup determines the stability and speed of the system. As you load Windows, it will float... or crawl :) AutoRuns from the Sysinternals set knows absolutely everything about system startup. The utility shows not only the standard places from which programs are downloaded, but also all services, scheduled tasks, Explorer extensions and even Internet Explorer add-ons.

The utility is indispensable for quickly analyzing startup for unnecessary programs. In this context, it is very convenient to hide entries related to Windows components ( Hide Windows Entries). You can also hide all Microsoft-owned entries.

You will find a practical example of using AutoRuns to put things in order in startup in the story about speeding up system loading by distributing startup programs over time.

To identify malicious activity, the function of checking digital code signatures is very useful ( Verify Code Signatures). In this case, there is no need to hide Windows entries. On the contrary, if you see that the digital signature of a system component is not confirmed, this may indicate that it has been tampered with. This is exactly the case that Mark Russinovich describes in the Malicious Autorun Case.

Alternatives

In the absence of a stamp, we write in a simple way, namely, we use the system utility “System Configuration” ( Start – Search – msconfig). You can also use WhatInStartup from NirSoft, although it is not as comprehensive. AutoRuns.

2.BlueScreenView

Oh these BSODs, when will they end! The BlueScreenView utility is indispensable for quickly diagnosing blue screens of death in the presence of a memory dump.

It cannot be used to conduct a deep analysis, but in many cases this is not required. If the problem is in a third-party driver, solving it is much easier.

The ease of use and usefulness of BlueScreenView is at the usual high level of NirSoft utilities. I already told you.

Alternatives

I have already given a practical example of identifying a program that writes strange files to disk (there you will also find links to a video report by Vasily Gusev with other examples). And don’t forget about Mark Russinovich’s blog, where untangling complex problems is rarely complete without Process Monitor.

Alternatives

You can monitor processes using Windows performance counters and Resource Monitor, but they have different tasks and are not an alternative. Process Monitor It has capabilities “tailored” specifically for diagnostics, and is therefore incomparably more convenient.

5. Scanner

6. Multiboot

Trumps Multiboot in the ease of troubleshooting the problem yourself and detailed diagnostic information, since the utility was created based on many real problems from the forum. I already wrote.

Of course, the program itself does not fix the problem, but it allows you to quickly diagnose a remote computer yourself, which is precisely the topic of today’s conversation. The time saved is incredible!

The TeamViewer client is installed on all friends and relatives who turn to me or my brother for support. By following my example, you will quickly forget about long written instructions and tedious phone instructions.

Did you know that I always search in English? So you can find more options! I often translate exact messages about unfamiliar errors into English using the Microsoft term search, and then look for the translation.

The search service is indispensable for finding solutions to problems - after all, it is impossible to know everything about Windows! Unique problems are incredibly rare, and if one person has one, then other people have probably already encountered it. And even if an exact solution is not found, the search often pushes diagnostics in the right direction. And you don’t even have to bookmark links to known solutions to common problems—they’ll be found faster on Google.

Alternatives

Yandex, Bing or any other search engine dear to your heart, and it doesn’t matter what it’s called. The main thing is that he finds for you what you are looking for!

As you noticed, Sysinternals and NirSoft utilities occupy two places on my list. I have other programs from these wonderful suites in my PortableSoft folder - I'm sure you're familiar with them. But in this top ten I have collected tools for quickly diagnosing the system and solving common problems, and for each you see practical examples of use.

What do you use?

What diagnostic tools do you use? I love good tools and never miss an opportunity to stock my toolbox. Share your experience– tell us about your favorite utilities and real-life examples of their use. What would you include in the top ten?

Many PC owners encounter various errors and malfunctions in their computer, but cannot determine the cause of the problem. In this article, we will look at the main methods for diagnosing a computer, allowing you to independently identify and fix various problems.

Keep in mind that high-quality diagnostics of a computer can take the whole day; set aside a day in the morning specifically for this, and do not start everything in the late afternoon.

I warn you that I will write in detail as for beginners who have never disassembled a computer, in order to warn about all possible nuances that can lead to problems.

1. Disassembling and cleaning the computer

When disassembling and cleaning your computer, do not rush, do everything carefully so as not to damage anything. Place components in a pre-prepared safe place.

It is not advisable to start diagnostics before cleaning, since you will not be able to identify the cause of the malfunction if it is caused by clogged contacts or the cooling system. Additionally, diagnostics may fail to complete due to repeated failures.

Unplug the system unit from the outlet at least 15 minutes before cleaning so that the capacitors have time to discharge.

Perform disassembly in the following sequence:

1. Disconnect all wires from the system unit.
2. Remove both side covers.
3. Disconnect the power connectors from the video card and remove it.
4. Remove all memory sticks.
5. Disconnect and remove cables from all drives.
6. Unscrew and remove all discs.
7. Disconnect all power supply cables.
8. Unscrew and remove the power supply.

There is no need to remove the motherboard, processor cooler, or case fans; you can also leave the DVD drive if it works normally.

Carefully blow off the system unit and all components separately with a powerful stream of air from a vacuum cleaner without a dust bag.

Carefully remove the cover from the power supply and blow it out without touching the electrical parts and the board with your hands or metal parts, as there may be voltage in the capacitors!

If your vacuum cleaner does not work on blowing, but only on blowing, then it will be a little more difficult. Clean it well so that it pulls as hard as possible. When cleaning, it is recommended to use a soft bristled brush.

You can also use a soft brush to remove stubborn dust.

Thoroughly clean the processor cooler heatsink, having first examined where and how much it is clogged with dust, as this is one of the common causes of processor overheating and PC crashes.

Also make sure that the cooler mount is not broken, the clamp is not opened and the radiator is securely pressed to the processor.

Be careful when cleaning fans, do not let them spin too much and do not bring the vacuum cleaner attachment close if it does not have a brush, so as not to knock off the blade.

After cleaning, do not rush to put everything back together, but move on to the next steps.

2. Checking the motherboard battery

The first thing after cleaning, so as not to forget later, I check the battery charge on the motherboard, and at the same time reset the BIOS. In order to pull it out, you need to press the latch with a flat screwdriver in the direction indicated in the photo and it will pop out on its own.

After this, you need to measure its voltage with a multimeter, optimally if it is within 2.5-3 V. The initial battery voltage is 3 V.

If the battery voltage is below 2.5 V, then it is advisable to change it. The voltage of 2 V is critically low and the PC is already starting to fail, which manifests itself in resetting the BIOS settings and stopping at the beginning of the PC boot with a prompt to press F1 or some other key to continue booting.

If you don’t have a multimeter, you can take the battery with you to the store and ask them to check it there, or just buy a replacement battery in advance, it’s standard and very inexpensive.

A clear sign of a dead battery is the date and time on the computer constantly disappearing.

The battery needs to be changed in a timely manner, but if you don’t have a replacement on hand right now, then simply do not disconnect the system unit from the power supply until you change the battery. In this case, the settings should not be lost, but problems may still arise, so do not delay.

Checking the battery is a good time to completely reset the BIOS. This resets not only the BIOS settings, which can be done through the Setup menu, but also the so-called volatile CMOS memory, which stores the parameters of all devices (processor, memory, video card, etc.).

Errors inCMOSoften cause the following problems:

• computer won't turn on
• turns on every other time
• turns on and nothing happens
• turns on and off by itself

I remind you that before resetting the BIOS, the system unit must be unplugged from the outlet, otherwise the CMOS will be powered by the power supply and nothing will work.

To reset the BIOS, use a screwdriver or other metal object to close the contacts in the battery connector for 10 seconds; this is usually enough to discharge the capacitors and completely clear the CMOS.

A sign that a reset has occurred will be an erroneous date and time, which will need to be set in the BIOS the next time you boot the computer.

4. Visual inspection of components

Carefully inspect all capacitors on the motherboard for swelling or leaks, especially in the processor socket area.

Sometimes capacitors swell down instead of up, causing them to tilt as if they were just slightly bent or unevenly soldered.

If any capacitors are swollen, then you need to send the motherboard for repair as soon as possible and ask to resolder all the capacitors, including those located next to the swollen ones.

Also inspect the capacitors and other elements of the power supply; there should be no swelling, drips, or signs of burning.

Inspect the disc contacts for oxidation.

They can be cleaned with an eraser and after that be sure to replace the cable or power adapter that was used to connect this disk, since it is already damaged and most likely caused oxidation.

In general, check all the cables and connectors so that they are clean, have shiny contacts, and are tightly connected to the drives and motherboard. All cables that do not meet these requirements must be replaced.

Check that the wires from the front panel of the case to the motherboard are connected correctly.

It is important that the polarity be observed (plus to plus, minus to minus), since there is a common ground on the front panel and failure to observe the polarity will lead to a short circuit, which is why the computer may behave inappropriately (turn on every other time, turn off itself or reboot) .

Where the plus and minus in the front panel contacts is indicated on the board itself, in the paper manual for it and in the electronic version of the manual on the manufacturer’s website. The contacts of the wires from the front panel also indicate where the plus and minus are. Typically the white wire is the negative wire, and the positive connector may be indicated by a triangle on the plastic connector.

Many even experienced assemblers make a mistake here, so check.

5. Checking the power supply

If the computer did not turn on at all before cleaning, then do not rush to assemble it; first of all, you need to check the power supply. However, in any case, it won’t hurt to check the power supply; maybe it’s because of it that the computer is crashing.

Check the power supply fully assembled to avoid electric shock, short circuit, or accidental fan failure.

To test the power supply, connect the only green wire in the motherboard connector to any black one. This will signal to the power supply that it is connected to the motherboard, otherwise it will not turn on.

Then plug the power supply into the surge protector and press the button on it. Don't forget that the power supply itself may also have an on/off button.

A spinning fan should be a sign that the power supply is turned on. If the fan does not spin, it may be faulty and needs to be replaced.

In some silent power supplies, the fan may not start spinning immediately, but only under load; this is normal and can be checked while operating the PC.

Use a multimeter to measure the voltage between the contacts in the connectors for peripheral devices.

They should be approximately in the following range.

• 12 V (yellow-black) – 11.7-12.5 V
• 5 V (red-black) – 4.7-5.3 V
• 3.3 V (orange-black) – 3.1-3.5 V

If any voltage is missing or greatly exceeds the specified limits, then the power supply is faulty. It is best to replace it with a new one, but if the computer itself is inexpensive, then repairs are allowed; power supplies can be done easily and inexpensively.

The startup of the power supply and normal voltages is a good sign, but in itself does not mean that the power supply is good, since failures can occur due to voltage drops or ripples under load. But this is already determined at subsequent stages of testing.

6. Checking power contacts

Be sure to check all electrical contacts from the outlet to the system unit. The socket must be modern (suitable for a European plug), reliable and not loose, with clean elastic contacts. The same requirements apply to the surge protector and the cable from the computer's power supply.

Contact must be reliable, plugs and connectors must not dangle, spark, or be oxidized. Pay close attention to this, since poor contact is often the cause of failure of the system unit, monitor and other peripheral devices.

If you suspect the quality of the socket, surge protector, power cable of the system unit or monitor, then change them as quickly as possible to avoid computer failure. Do not delay or save on this, as repairing a PC or monitor will cost much more.

Also, poor contact is often the cause of PC malfunctions, which are accompanied by a sudden shutdown or reboot with subsequent failures on the hard drive and, as a result, disruption of the operating system.

Failures can also occur due to voltage drops or ripples in the 220 V network, especially in the private sector and remote areas of the city. In this case, failures may occur even when the computer is idle. Try measuring the voltage in the outlet immediately after the computer spontaneously turns off or restarts and watch the readings for a while. This way you can identify long-term drawdowns, from which a linear-interactive UPS with a stabilizer will save you.

7. Assembling and turning on the computer

After cleaning and inspecting the PC, carefully reassemble it and carefully check that you have connected everything you need. If the computer refused to turn on before cleaning or turned on only once, then it is advisable to connect the components one by one. If there were no such problems, then skip the next section.

7.1. Step-by-step PC assembly

First, connect the motherboard power connector and the processor power connector to the motherboard with the processor. Do not insert RAM, video card or connect disks.

Turn on the power to the PC and if everything is fine with the motherboard, the processor cooler fan should spin up. Also, if a beeper is connected to the motherboard, a beep code usually sounds indicating a lack of RAM.

Memory installation

Turn off the computer with a short or (if that doesn’t work) long press of the power button on the system unit and insert one stick of RAM into the colored slot closest to the processor. If all the slots are the same color, then just go to the one closest to the processor.

Make sure that the memory stick is inserted evenly until it stops and that the latches snap into place, otherwise it may be damaged when you turn on the PC.

If the computer starts up with one stick of memory and there is a beeping sound, then a code usually sounds indicating that there is no video card (if there is no integrated graphics). If the beep code indicates problems with the RAM, then try inserting another stick in the same place. If the problem continues or there is no other bracket, then move the bracket to another nearby slot. If there are no sounds, then everything is probably fine, continue further.

Turn off the computer and insert the second memory stick into the slot of the same color. If the motherboard has 4 slots of the same color, then follow the instructions for the motherboard so that the memory is in the slots recommended for dual-channel mode. Then turn it on again and check whether the PC turns on and what sound signals it makes.

If you have 3 or 4 memory sticks, then simply insert them one by one, turning the PC off and on each time. If the computer does not start with a certain stick or produces a memory error code, then this stick is faulty. You can also check the motherboard slots by moving the working strip into different slots.

Some motherboards have a red indicator that lights up in case of memory problems, and sometimes a segment indicator with an error code, the explanation of which is in the motherboard manual.

If the computer starts, then further memory testing occurs at another stage.

Installing a video card

It's time to test the video card by inserting it into the top PCI-E x16 slot (or AGP for older PCs). Don't forget to connect additional power to the video card with the appropriate connectors.

With a video card, the computer should start normally, without sound signals, or with a single sound signal, indicating the normal completion of the self-test.

If the PC does not turn on or emits a video card error code, then it is most likely faulty. But don't rush to conclusions, sometimes you just need to connect a monitor and keyboard.

Connecting a monitor

Turn off the PC and connect the monitor to the video card (or motherboard if there is no video card). Make sure that the connector to the video card and monitor is connected tightly; sometimes tight connectors do not go in all the way, which is the reason for the absence of an image on the screen.

Turn on the monitor and make sure that the correct signal source is selected on it (the connector to which the PC is connected, if there are several of them).

Turn on the computer and a graphical splash screen and text messages from the motherboard should appear on the screen. Usually this is a prompt to enter the BIOS using the F1 key, a message about the absence of a keyboard or boot devices, this is normal.

If the computer silently turns on, but there is nothing on the screen, there is most likely something wrong with the video card or monitor. The video card can only be checked by moving it to a working computer. The monitor can be connected to another work PC or device (laptop, player, tuner, etc.). Don't forget to select the desired signal source in the monitor settings.

Connecting a keyboard and mouse

If everything is fine with the video card and monitor, then move on. Connect the keyboard first, then the mouse, one at a time, turning the PC off and on each time. If the computer freezes after connecting a keyboard or mouse, it means they need to be replaced - it happens!

Connecting drives

If the computer starts with a keyboard and mouse, then we begin to connect the hard drives one by one. First, connect the second drive without the operating system (if you have one).

Do not forget that in addition to connecting the interface cable to the motherboard, you also need to connect the connector from the power supply to the drive.

Then turn on the computer and if it comes to BIOS messages, then everything is fine. If the PC does not turn on, freezes or turns itself off, then the controller of this disk is faulty and needs to be replaced or repaired to save the data.

Turn off the computer and connect the DVD drive (if any) with an interface cable and power supply. If problems arise after this, then the drive has a power failure and needs to be replaced; repairing it usually makes no sense.

At the end, we connect the main system drive and prepare to enter the BIOS for the initial setup before starting the operating system. We turn on the computer and if everything is fine, move on to the next step.

When you turn on your computer for the first time, go to the BIOS. Usually, the Delete key is used for this, less often others (F1, F2, F10 or Esc), which is indicated in the prompts at the beginning of the boot.

On the first tab, set the date and time, and on the “Boot” tab, select your hard drive with the operating system as the first boot device.

On older motherboards with a classic BIOS it may look like this.

On more modern ones with a UEFI graphical shell it is a little different, but the meaning is the same.

To exit the BIOS and save the settings, press F10. Don't be distracted and watch the operating system load completely to notice possible problems.

After the PC has finished booting, check whether the fans of the processor cooler, power supply and video card are working, otherwise there is no point in further testing.

Some modern video cards may not turn on the fans until a certain temperature of the video chip is reached.

If any of the case fans does not work, then it’s not a big deal, just plan to replace it in the near future, don’t be distracted by it now.

8. Error analysis

This is where diagnostics essentially begin, and everything described above was just preparation, after which many problems could go away and without it there was no point in starting testing.

8.1. Enabling Memory Dumps

If blue screens of death (BSOD) appear while your computer is running, this can make troubleshooting much easier. A prerequisite for this is the presence of memory dumps (or at least self-written error codes).

To check or enable the dump recording function, press the “Win ​​+ R” key combination on your keyboard, enter “sysdm.cpl” in the line that appears and press OK or Enter.

In the window that appears, go to the “Advanced” tab and in the “Boot and Recovery” section, click the “Options” button.

The “Record debugging information” field should be “Small memory dump”.

If so, then you should already have dumps of previous errors in the "C:\Windows\Minidump" folder.

If this option was not enabled, then dumps were not saved, enable it at least now to be able to analyze errors if they recur.

Memory dumps may not be created in time during serious failures that involve rebooting or shutting down the PC. Also, some system cleaning utilities and antivirus programs can remove them; you must disable the system cleaning function during diagnostics.

If there are dumps in the specified folder, then we proceed to their analysis.

8.2. Memory dump analysis

To analyze memory dumps in order to identify what leads to failures, there is a wonderful utility “BlueScreenView”, which you can download along with other diagnostic utilities in the “” section.

This utility shows files in which a failure occurred. These files belong to the operating system, device drivers, or some program. Accordingly, based on the file’s ownership, you can determine which device or software caused the failure.

If you cannot boot your computer in normal mode, then try booting into safe mode by holding down the “F8” key immediately after the motherboard screen saver or BIOS text messages disappear.

Go through the dumps and see which files appear most often as the culprits of the failure, they are highlighted in red. Right-click on one of these files and view its Properties.

In our case, it is easy to determine that the file belongs to the nVidia video card driver and most of the errors were caused by it.

In addition, some dumps contained the “dxgkrnl.sys” file, even from the name of which it is clear that it refers to DirectX, which is directly related to 3D graphics. This means that it is most likely that the video card is to blame for the failure, which should be subjected to thorough testing, which we will also consider.

In the same way, you can determine that the fault is caused by a sound card, network card, hard drive, or some program that penetrates deeply into the system, such as an antivirus. For example, if a disk fails, the controller driver will crash.

If you cannot determine which driver or program a particular file belongs to, then look for this information on the Internet by the file name.

If failures occur in the sound card driver, then most likely it is faulty. If it is integrated, then you can disable it through the BIOS and install another discrete one. The same can be said about the network card. However, network failures can be caused by updating the network card driver and connecting to the Internet through a router.

In any case, do not make hasty conclusions until the diagnostics are completely completed; maybe your Windows is simply faulty or a virus has entered, which can be solved by reinstalling the system.

Also in the BlueScreenView utility you can see the error codes and inscriptions that were on the blue screen. To do this, go to the “Options” menu and select the “Blue Screen in XP Style” view or press the “F8” key.

After that, switching between errors, you will see how they looked on the blue screen.

By the error code you can also find the possible cause of the problem on the Internet, but by the ownership of the files this is easier and more reliable. To return to the previous view, you can use the “F6” key.

If the errors always include different files and different error codes, then this is a sign of possible problems with the RAM, in which everything crashes. We will diagnose it first.

9. Testing RAM

Even if you think that the problem is not in the RAM, still check it first. Sometimes a place has several problems, and if the RAM fails, then diagnosing everything else is quite difficult due to frequent PC failures.

Conducting a memory test from a boot disk is a must, as it is difficult to get accurate results in the Windows operating system on a faulty PC.

In addition, “Hiren’s BootCD” contains several alternative memory tests in case “Memtest 86+” does not start and many more useful utilities for testing hard drives, video memory, etc.

You can download the “Hiren’s BootCD” image in the same place as everything else – in the “” section. If you don’t know how to properly burn such an image to a CD or DVD, refer to the article where we looked at it, here everything is done exactly the same.

Set the BIOS to boot from the DVD drive or use the Boot Menu as described in, boot from Hiren's BootCD and run Memtest 86+.

Testing can last from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the speed and amount of RAM. One full pass must be completed and the test will go around the second round. If everything is fine with the memory, then after the first pass (Pass 1) there should be no errors (Errors 0).

After this, testing can be interrupted using the “Esc” key and the computer will reboot.

If there were errors, you will have to test each strip separately, removing all the others to determine which one is broken.

If the broken bar is still under warranty, then take a photo from the screen using a camera or smartphone and present it to the warranty department of the store or service center (although in most cases this is not necessary).

In any case, it is not advisable to use a PC with broken memory and carry out further diagnostics before replacing it, since various incomprehensible errors will appear.

10. Preparation for component tests

Everything else, except RAM, is tested under Windows. Therefore, in order to exclude the influence of the operating system on the test results, it is advisable to do, if necessary, temporarily and the most.

If this is difficult for you or you don’t have time, then you can try testing on an old system. But, if failures occur due to problems in the operating system, some driver, program, virus, antivirus (i.e. in the software part), then testing the hardware will not help determine this and you may go down the wrong path. And on a clean system, you will have the opportunity to see how the computer behaves and completely eliminate the influence of the software component.

Personally, I always do everything as expected from start to finish as described in this article. Yes, it takes a whole day, but if you ignore my advice, you can struggle for weeks without identifying the cause of the problem.

The fastest and easiest way is to test the processor, unless of course there are obvious signs that the problem is in the video card, which we will discuss below.

If your computer starts to slow down some time after turning it on, freezes when watching videos or playing games, suddenly reboots or turns off under load, then there is a possibility of the processor overheating. In fact, this is one of the most common causes of such problems.

At the cleaning and visual inspection stage, you should have made sure that the processor cooler is not clogged with dust, its fan is spinning, and the radiator is securely pressed against the processor. I also hope that you did not remove it when cleaning, as this requires replacing the thermal paste, which I will talk about later.

We will use “CPU-Z” for a stress test with warming up the processor, and “HWiNFO” to monitor its temperature. Although, it is better to use the proprietary motherboard utility for temperature monitoring, it is more accurate. For example, ASUS has “PC Probe”.

To begin with, it would be a good idea to find out the maximum allowable thermal envelope of your processor (T CASE). For example, for my Core i7-6700K it is 64 °C.

You can find out by going to the manufacturer’s website from an Internet search. This is the critical temperature in the heat spreader (under the processor cover), the maximum allowed by the manufacturer. Do not confuse this with core temperature, which is usually higher and is also displayed in some utilities. Therefore, we will focus not on the temperature of the cores according to the processor sensors, but on the overall temperature of the processor according to the readings of the motherboard.

In practice, for most older processors, the critical temperature above which failures begin is 60 °C. The most modern processors can operate at 70 °C, which is also critical for them. You can find out the actual stable temperature of your processor from tests on the Internet.

So, we launch both utilities – “CPU-Z” and “HWiNFO”, find the processor temperature sensor (CPU) in the motherboard indicators, run the test in “CPU-Z” with the “Stress CPU” button and observe the temperature.

If after 10-15 minutes of the test the temperature is 2-3 degrees below the critical temperature for your processor, then there is nothing to worry about. But, if there were failures under high load, then it is better to run this test for 30-60 minutes. If your PC freezes or reboots during testing, you should consider improving cooling.

Please note that a lot also depends on the temperature in the room; it is possible that in cooler conditions the problem will not appear, but in hotter conditions it will immediately make itself felt. So you always need cooling with a reserve.

If your CPU is overheating, check if your cooler is compatible. If not, then you need to change it; no tricks will help here. If the cooler is powerful enough, but can’t handle it a little, then you should change the thermal paste to a more effective one; at the same time, the cooler itself may be installed more successfully.

Among inexpensive but very good thermal pastes, I can recommend Artic MX-4.

It must be applied in a thin layer, having first removed the old paste with dry material and then with cotton wool soaked in alcohol.

Replacing thermal paste will give you a gain of 3-5 °C; if this is not enough, then simply install additional case fans, at least the most inexpensive ones.

14. Disk testing

This is the longest step after the RAM test, so I prefer to leave it for last. To begin with, you can conduct a speed test of all drives using the “HDTune” utility, for which I give “”. This sometimes helps to identify freezes when accessing the disk, which indicates problems with it.

Look at the SMART parameters, where the “disk health” is displayed, there should be no red lines and the overall disk status should be “OK”.

You can download a list of the main SMART parameters and what they are responsible for in the “” section.

A full surface test can be performed using the same Windows utilities. The process may take 2-4 hours depending on the size and speed of the disk (about 1 hour for every 500 MB). Upon completion of the test, there should not be a single broken block, which are highlighted in red.

The presence of such a block is an unequivocal death sentence for the disk and is a 100% guaranteed case. Save your data faster and change the disk, just don’t tell the service that you dropped your laptop

You can check the surface of both regular hard drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD). The latter really don’t have any surface, but if the HDD or SSD freezes every time during the test, then most likely the electronics are faulty and need to be replaced or repaired (the latter is unlikely).

If you are unable to diagnose a disk under Windows, the computer crashes or freezes, then try doing this using the MHDD utility from the Hiren’s BootCD boot disk.

Problems with the controller (electronics) and the disk surface lead to error windows in the operating system, short-term and complete freezes of the computer. Typically these are messages about the inability to read a particular file and memory access errors.

Such errors can be mistaken for problems with the RAM, while the disk may well be to blame. Before you panic, try updating the disk controller driver or, conversely, returning the native Windows driver as described in.

15. Testing the optical drive

To check an optical drive, it is usually enough to simply burn a verification disc. For example, using the “Astroburn” program, it is in the “” section.

After burning a disc with a message about successful verification, try copying its entire contents on another computer. If the disk is readable and the drive reads other disks (except for hard-to-read ones), then everything is fine.

Some of the problems I have encountered with the drive include electronics failures that completely freeze or prevent the computer from turning on, failures of the retractable mechanism, contamination of the laser head lens, and breakage of the head as a result of improper cleaning. In most cases, everything is solved by replacing the drive; fortunately, they are inexpensive and even if they have not been used for several years, they die from dust.

16. Body check

The case also sometimes breaks, sometimes the button gets stuck, sometimes the wiring from the front panel falls off, sometimes it shorts out in the USB connector. All this can lead to unpredictable behavior of the PC and can be solved by thorough inspection, cleaning, a tester, a soldering iron and other available means.

The main thing is that nothing short-circuits, as evidenced by a non-working light bulb or connector. If in doubt, disconnect all wires from the front panel of the case and try working on the computer for a while.

17. Checking the motherboard

Often, checking a motherboard comes down to checking all components. If all components individually work normally and pass tests, the operating system is reinstalled, but the computer still crashes, the problem may be with the motherboard. And here I can’t help you; only an experienced electronics engineer can diagnose it and identify a problem with the chipset or processor socket.

The exception is the crash of a sound or network card, which can be solved by disabling them in the BIOS and installing separate expansion cards. You can resolder the capacitors in the motherboard, but, say, replacing the north bridge is usually not advisable, since it is expensive and there are no guarantees; it is better to immediately buy a new motherboard.

18. If all else fails

Of course, it’s always better to discover the problem yourself and determine the best solution, since some unscrupulous repairmen try to pull the wool over your eyes and rip off your skin.

But it may happen that you follow all the recommendations, but cannot identify the problem, this has happened to me. In this case, the problem is most often in the motherboard or in the power supply; there may be a microcrack in the PCB and it makes itself felt from time to time.

In this case, there is nothing you can do, take the entire system unit to a more or less well-established computer company. There is no need to carry components in parts if you are not sure what is wrong, the issue will never be resolved. Let them sort it out, especially if the computer is still under warranty.

Computer store specialists usually don’t worry, they have a lot of different components, they just change something and see if the problem goes away, thus quickly and easily fixing the problem. They also have enough time to conduct tests.

19. Links

Transcend JetFlash 790 8GB
Hard drive Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EZEX 1 TB
Transcend StoreJet 25A3 TS1TSJ25A3K