At some point in life, due to time restrictions, budget constraints
or sheer curiosity you may feel the need to diagnose a dead computer
on your own; either to use it as a backup PC or to gift it to your
nephew. Diagnosing a dead computer is not as hard as it
sounds. These days the number of internal hardware components in
computers has decreased considerably and are easily identifiable.
Follow the steps below to diagnose your dead system.
Step 1
The first step in diagnosing a dead computer is to check for the
Power On Self Test (POST). This will display hardware faults if they
exist and you can deal with them there and then. If the POST screen
doesn’t load when powered on, move on to the next step.
Step 2
Check for power cables and connections. In some cases they may have
become loose or developed rust or cracks at their copper contact
points. Trace all the cables from source and firmly reset them after
making sure they’re not damaged and then try turning it on.
Step 3
If the system still doesn’t respond, the next step in diagnosing a
dead computer is to check the power supply unit. The supply may have
burnt or it may have accumulated dust or rust. Switch it on after
making sure it’s on the current power rating (110 or 220v, depending
on your computer). Check if you hear the internal fan operate or if
the motherboard power light at the bottom turns on. If this doesn’t
solve the issue, replace your power supply
Step 4
Your motherboard could be the culprit if the new supply doesn’t
work. A motherboard is responsible for transmitting signals and
power to its attached units. If the supply works but the motherboard
fails to power up then it needs to be replaced.
Step 5
If everything checks out but there is no signal to the monitor, it
could be a faulty graphic card. Changing it should fix the issue.
Step 6
Upon powering, if you hear a clicking and/or whirring noise it means
you have a damaged hard-drive that needs replacement.
Step 7
If you hear a loud twin beep at startup, it means your memory (RAM)
is damaged or missing and needs replacement.
If these steps fail you, then it’s best to take your system to the
manufacturer for a thorough checkup.
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