Table 9-2 Motherboard, RAM, CPU, and Power Symptoms, Causes, Solutions

Symptom Possible Items to Check Typical Solution
  Cause    
       
Unexpected Bad power sup- Check the Power Replace the power supply
shutdowns ply Good and other volt- if bad.
    age on power supply  
    with multimeter.  
       
System lock- Overheating Check the fans on the Replace defective fans.
ups   CPU and in the case Clean up dirty components.
    for proper operation.
     
    Check the case, RAM,  
    and motherboard for  
    dirt and dust.  
       
  Memory error Check the memory for Test memory modules with
    proper installation. Windows Memory Diagnostic
      or third-party utilities; replace
      defective RAM.
       
POST code RAM, video, Look up the beep code Replace the defective item.
beeps motherboard, in the BIOS documen-  
  others tation.  
       
Blank screen Monitor turned Verify that the moni- Replace the monitor if
upon boot off or discon- tor is turned on and defective.
  nected connected to a work-  
    ing video port.  


 

Monitor con-nected to dis-abled video port


 

Verify the monitor is turned on and con-nected to a working video port.


Enable a video port or con-nect a monitor to another video port on the system.


 

Monitor config- Use the monitor’s

 

ured to look for onscreen menu to select

 

incorrect video the correct video port

 

signal (DVI or VGA, HDMI

 

or VGA, and so on).


Save the new default setting on the monitor.


 

  40-wire PATA Verify the correct ori- Replace a 40-wire cable
  cable connected in entation of the 40-wire (not always keyed) with a
  reverse prevents PATA cable connected 80-wire cable.
  video display to the hard disk.  
       
  None of the Use a POST card Look up the last code
  above (Figure 9-3) to deter- displayed in the BIOS
    mine how far the boot documentation to diagnose
    process goes before problems.
    stopping.  
       

166 CompTIA A+ Quick Reference

 

Table 9-2 Continued

Symptom Possible Items to Check Typical Solution  
  Cause      
         
BIOS time and CMOS battery Check the battery with If the battery fails, or if it  
settings resets failure a battery tester. is more than 2 years old,  
      replace it with a fresh bat-  
      tery. (Most motherboards  
      use CR-2032.)  
         
Attempts to Incorrect boot Start the BIOS setup Restart the computer.  
boot to incor- order in CMOS program, verify that If the boot continues to fail,  
rect device setup the boot sequence lists  
check CMOS settings. If  
    hard disk, and remove  
    settings not retained, replace  
    media that might have  
    the CMOS battery and redo  
    bootable files.  
    settings.  
       
         
Continuous Incorrect voltage Check the Power If Power Good voltage is out  
reboots on Power Good Good voltage with a of range, replace the power  
  line from power multimeter. supply.  
  supply      


 

No power Power supply Verify the power sup-

 

unplugged ply plugged into a

 

working AC outlet.


If the system will not start, continue.


 

Power supply Verify that the power If the power supply was set
set for incorrect supply has the correct for 230V on a 115V circuit,
voltage voltage level selected. no harm done.
    If the system will not start
    after setting correct voltage,
    continue.
    If the power supply was set
    for 115V on a 230V circuit,
    check to see if the power
    supply and other compo-
    nents have been damaged or
    destroyed.
     
Power switch Check the front-panel If cables are connected prop-
from case not wiring from the case erly, or system does not start
properly con- to the front-panel con- after reconnecting cables,
nected to moth- nectors on the moth- test power supply.
erboard erboard (see Figure  
  9-4).  
     

Chapter 9: Troubleshooting 167