Determining the Computer Systems Errors
Using Manual and Software Diagnosis
In this lesson, you should be able to determine the
computer systems errors using manual and
software diagnosis.
Computer systems are great tools in accomplishing a job
requirement in a more efficient manner. As time passes
by, computer systems are subjected from light to heavy
usage depending on the tasks at hand. Because of this,
computer systems typically encounter errors no matter
how high their specifications are. It is the responsibility
of a computer technician to determine the computer
system errors that may arise from time to time so that he
would know how to respond to them.
The following are the common ways to manually
diagnose computer system:
1. Determine if all the components and peripherals are
in good physical condition. Any dents, holes, or gaps
can cause malfunctions.
2. For checking the external peripherals, be sure to
inspect all of the parts. Moving parts must be well
lubricated and moves freely. Fixed parts must
remain intact and should not move even in a slight
manner.
3. For the integrated peripherals like the CPU, main
memory, and other components, careful inspections
must be made. Common problems may be dirty
contact points, physical damages, short circuiting,
improper locking, and loose connections.
There are different software diagnosis tools that can be
used to determine computer system errors. Listed
below are some of the most commonly used:
1. External peripherals are often accompanied by a
dedicated software diagnostic tool. This is
commonly installed together with its system driver.
For example, a printer diagnosis tool will determine
why a printer is not printing. This could be caused
by paper jams or empty ink cartridges.
2. The internal peripherals can be checked using the
following software diagnosis tools:
CPUs normally get hot while in use. This is why a heat
sink and a fan is placed over it. A CPU that is too hot
will cause a computer system to constantly shut down.
To determine whether the CPU really is overheating, a
temperature monitor may be run to be sure that the
CPU is not experiencing overheating. Aside from this, a
CPU process monitor can also be run to determine the
number of processes that is being handled by the CPU.
Main memories (RAM) can be checked
for errors using a memory diagnostic
tool. Running this tool will find and fix
the bad sectors of the main memory. An
operating system automatically suggests
running this tool whenever it detects
errors that might be caused by errors in
the main memory.
Hard disk drives can be checked using two
common tools, disk cleanup and disk
defragmenter. The disk cleanup tool
searches and analyzes files that are no
longer in use, then deletes them. The disk
defragmenter on the other hand
reorganizes data present on the hard disk
to reduce fragmentation, or data being
broken down into smaller, separate pieces.
3. The network connectivity issues can be
detected by a network diagnosis tool. This is
often pre-installed with the operating system.
This software will automatically search and
repair the issues that restricts a computer
system from connecting to the network.
In the end, determining computer systems
errors using both methods will help in
maintaining them. Manual checking are often
scheduled while software diagnosis can be
automatically set every time a computer boots
up.
Identifying the Diagnosed Computer
Systems and Network Errors Based on the
Job Requirements
In this lesson, you should learn how to identify the
diagnosed computer systems and network errors based
on the job requirements.
Computer and network systems often undergo a
series of test to determine any faults that may be
experienced while using them. These tests are
intended to diagnose and troubleshoot the errors
that may arise based on the job requirements
specified. There are multiple ways of diagnosing a
computer and network system to find out what
faults and errors are present.
Listed in the table are the most common diagnosing
method and the errors that can identified:
Diagnostic Test Procedures Possible errors that
can be found
1. Hardware The hardware components of • Overloaded CPU
tests the computer systems are • Inadequate main
subjected to tests that are memory (RAM)
specific for them. This is to • Full or fragmented
ensure that all of the hard disk drive
installed components will (HDD)
perform according to the job • Insufficient power
requirement supply
2. Software tests The installed software • Incomplete
application are launched and installation
tested for any issues that may • Corrupted or missing
prevent it from running installation files
correctly and performing their • Incompatible software
designated functionalities. version
• Outdated software
version
3. Network The integrity of the network is • Invalid IP addresses
connectivity tests being tested here. This • Connectivity errors
determines if the network is • No internet connection
capable of facilitating • Failure to share
communication and resource resources
sharing among the connected • Restricted access
computer systems and devices to
it.
In some cases, tests are not really needed in
identifying if a computer system or the network
have errors. They are most likely to be identified
once the error was already experienced by the end-
user or a computer technician who looks out for
the network activities. In this scenario, a computer
system that is behaving in a manner that is
different from what it is designed to do can already
be suspected to have faults and errors.
Careful diagnosis and troubleshooting of all the
computer systems and network must be carefully
accomplished by the personnel from the IT
department.
Being unable to address such errors will lead to
stoppage of work which will highly compromise the
whole operations of the workplace.
Quickly acting to troubleshoot the identified errors
must be the priority of all the concerned personnel.
