The Ultimate Guide to Solving Computer Hardware Issues

The reasons behind computer issues can be elusive and difficult to pinpoint. The components of the Windows operating system are relatively complex, making it almost impossible for the average user to accurately identify the root cause of a problem. However, this does not mean that we are completely helpless when encountering computer issues. Although there are many potential causes for problems, with careful observation and thorough analysis, we can still identify patterns and develop effective solutions. In this booklet, we will showcase some of the most common and typical computer problems, along with their diagnostic and maintenance methods. Through it, you will discover that the solution to computer problems is within reach – simple, yet effective!

Ⅰ. Motherboard

The motherboard is a crucial component of the entire computer system, playing a vital role in its operation. Any problems with the motherboard can have a significant impact on the functioning of the entire computer system. In the following discussion, we will explore the most common issues that can arise during the use of a motherboard.

Frequently Asked Question 1: No Display on Startup

If a computer fails to display anything upon startup, the first thing to check is the BIOS. The BIOS of a motherboard stores important hardware data and is a relatively fragile component that is vulnerable to damage. Any damage to the BIOS can render the system inoperable. This issue is often caused by the CIH virus damaging the motherboard BIOS, although it is not uncommon for other motherboard issues to cause the same problem. Generally, when the BIOS is damaged by a virus, all data on the hard drive is lost. Therefore, one can determine if the BIOS is damaged by checking the integrity of the hard drive data. If the hard drive data is intact, there are three other reasons why a computer may fail to display anything upon startup:

1. The first thing to check when a computer has no display upon startup is the BIOS. The BIOS on the motherboard stores important hardware data and is also a vulnerable component that can easily be damaged. If the BIOS is damaged, the system may not be able to run properly. This issue is commonly caused by the CIH virus attacking the BIOS, although it is not entirely impossible for the problem to be due to issues with the motherboard itself. Generally, when the BIOS is damaged by a virus, all data on the hard drive will be lost. Therefore, checking the integrity of the hard drive data can be used to determine if the BIOS has been damaged. If the data is intact, there are three other reasons that may cause the no display issue during startup:
2. The expansion slots or cards on the motherboard, such as sound cards, may cause no response from the motherboard after being plugged in, resulting in no display. This is a common issue.
3. Improper processor frequency settings in the CMOS of a non-jumper motherboard may also lead to no display issues. This can be resolved by clearing the CMOS. The jumper for clearing CMOS is usually located near the motherboard’s lithium battery, with its default position being short-circuited on pins 1 and 2. Changing it to 2 and 3 for a few seconds can solve the problem. For older motherboards, if the jumper cannot be found, removing the battery and waiting for the computer to enter the CMOS settings before shutting it down will also discharge the CMOS.
4. The motherboard may also fail to recognize memory or mismatched or damaged memory can cause display issues upon startup. Some older motherboards are more picky with memory, and if the motherboard cannot recognize the installed memory, it will fail to start. In some cases, the motherboard will not give any error message or beep. Installing memory of different brands or types may also cause this problem, so extra care should be taken during troubleshooting.

For the issue of a damaged BIOS on the motherboard, we can insert an ISA graphics card to see if there is any display (if there is a prompt, follow the instructions to operate). If there is still no display, you can make a self-updating BIOS disk and re-flash the BIOS. However, some motherboard BIOS may not work even after the floppy disk is inserted. In this case, you can try hot-plugging to solve the problem (I have tried it before, as long as the BIOS is the same, it can be successfully burned at the same level as the motherboard). However, using hot-plugging may cause damage to some components of the motherboard besides requiring the same BIOS, so a reliable method is to use a programmer to write the BIOS update file into the BIOS (you can seek help from a computer shop that provides this service for safety).

Frequently Asked Question 2: CMOS settings cannot be saved.

This type of problem is usually caused by insufficient voltage in the motherboard battery. Replacing the battery should solve the issue. However, in some cases, replacing the battery may not fix the problem. In this situation, there are two possible explanations:

1. It could be a motherboard circuit problem, which requires professional repair.
2. It could also be a problem with the CMOS jumper on the motherboard. Sometimes, if the CMOS jumper is set to the wrong option, such as the clear option or an external battery option, it can prevent CMOS data from being saved.

Frequently Asked Question 3: The computer freezes or the CD/DVD drive slows down after installing motherboard drivers on Windows.

On some generic motherboards, it is possible to encounter a situation where after installing the motherboard driver, the computer cannot enter the Windows desktop in normal mode upon restart, and the driver cannot be uninstalled under Windows. If this happens, it is recommended to find the latest driver and reinstall it, which can usually solve the problem. If that doesn’t work, then reinstalling the operating system may be the only solution.

Frequently Asked Question 4: Mouse not working when installing or booting Windows

This type of problem is usually caused by an error in the CMOS settings. In the power management section of the CMOS settings, there is an option called “modem use IRQ”, with options ranging from 3, 4, 5, …, to NA. The default option is usually 3. Changing it to a different interrupt option can usually fix the problem.

Frequently Asked Question 5: Frequent computer crashes, and the phenomenon of crashing also occur when setting CMOS

The occurrence of a system freeze in CMOS is generally due to problems with the motherboard or processor. If pressing the reset button does not fix the problem, then the only solution is to replace the motherboard or processor.

The problem typically arises from issues with the motherboard cache or poor heat dissipation design on the motherboard. For instance, I once encountered this problem on an 815EP motherboard, where inadequate heat dissipation caused the processor and motherboard components around it to overheat. After replacing the low-power fan with a high-power one, the system freeze issue was resolved. If the problem is related to the cache, you can disable the cache in the CMOS settings to fix the issue. However, disabling the cache will result in a decrease in system performance.

Frequently Asked Question 6: Motherboard’s COM port or parallel port, IDE port not working

This type of problem usually occurs when the user hot-plugs related hardware, in this case, the user can use a multifunction card instead. However, before using the card, the user must first disable the onboard COM ports, and parallel ports (some motherboards may even require disabling IDE ports) to avoid conflicts.

Ⅱ. Graphics card

Frequently Asked Question 1: No Display on Startup

This type of problem is generally caused by poor contact between the graphics card and the motherboard or by issues with the motherboard slot. For some motherboards with integrated graphics cards, if the video memory shares the main memory, the position of the memory module should be noted, usually in the first memory slot. If the problem is caused by the graphics card, the computer will generally emit one long and two short beeps (for AWARD BIOS graphics cards) after startup with no display.

Frequently Asked Question 2: The screen display is distorted and the text is unclear

This type of problem is usually caused by the display or graphics card not supporting a high resolution. When the screen is garbled, you can switch the startup mode to safe mode, then go to the display settings in Windows to adjust the resolution to match the display, and then click the “Use”, “OK”, and “Save” buttons.

Frequently Asked Question 3: Abnormal Color Display

The common reasons for this type of problem are:

1. Poor connection between the display card and the monitor signal cable.
2. Issues with the monitor itself.
3. Abnormal color display when running certain software, usually found in older machines. There is a color calibration option in the BIOS that can be turned on to address this.
4. A damaged display card.
5. Magnetization of the monitor, which is often caused by placing it too close to objects with magnetic properties. Magnetization may cause the display to become distorted or misaligned.

Frequently Asked Question 4: System Crash

This type of problem is generally more common in cases where there is an incompatibility between the motherboard and the graphics card or poor contact between the motherboard and the graphics card. Incompatibility between the graphics card and other expansion cards can also cause the system to crash.

Frequently Asked Question 5: Abnormal dots or patterns on the screen

This type of problem is usually caused by a problem with the graphics card’s memory or poor contact between the graphics card and the motherboard. Cleaning the golden fingers of the graphics card or replacing the graphics card is necessary to resolve the issue.

Frequently Asked Question 6: Graphics Card Driver Missing

This type of problem is generally caused by poor-quality graphics cards or incompatibility between the graphics card and the motherboard, resulting in the graphics card running at a high temperature and making the system unstable or causing it to crash. The solution is to replace the graphics card.

In addition, there is a special case where the graphics card driver can be loaded, but the system crashes when entering Windows. In this case, you can try replacing the graphics card with a different model and loading its driver before inserting the old graphics card. If the problem persists, it may be due to registry issues. Restoring the registry or reinstalling the operating system can solve the problem.

Ⅲ. Sound Card

Frequently Asked Question 1: No Sound from the Sound Card

Common causes of this problem include:

1. The driver program defaults to “mute.” Click the sound icon in the lower right corner of the screen to bring up the volume control slider. Below the slider is a “mute” option. Click the checkbox in front of it to clear the checkmark and enable sound.
2. There is a conflict between the sound card and other expansion cards. The solution is to adjust the system resources used by the PnP card to avoid interference between cards. Sometimes, even if there is no yellow exclamation mark (conflict symbol) in the device manager, the sound card still does not produce sound. This is because there is a conflict, but the system did not detect it.
3. After installing Direct X, the sound card cannot produce sound. This indicates poor compatibility between the sound card and Direct X, and the driver program needs to be updated.
4. One channel is silent. Check if the audio cable between the sound card and speakers is disconnected.

Frequently Asked Question 2: The sound card produces excessive noise

Common reasons for this problem are:

1. Poorly inserted sound card. Due to the insufficient precision of the case manufacturing, or the poor installation of the sound card bracket, the sound card cannot be tightly combined with the motherboard expansion slot. Visually, there is a misalignment between the “gold fingers” on the sound card and the slot spring. This phenomenon exists in both ISA and PC I cards and is a common problem. It can generally be corrected with pliers.
2. The input of active speakers is connected to the Speaker output of the sound card. Active speakers should be connected to the Line out of the sound card. The signal output from the Line out has not been amplified by the sound card, so the noise is much lower. Some sound cards only have one output terminal, and whether it is a Line out or Speaker depends on the jumper on the card. The manufacturer’s default method is often a Speaker, so you need to unplug the sound card and adjust the jumper.
3. The built-in driver program in Windows is not good. When installing the sound card driver program, select “Manufacturer’s driver program” instead of “Windows default driver program”. If installing through “Add new hardware”, select “Install from disk” instead of selecting from the list. If the Windows default driver program is already installed, go to “Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager -> Sound, video, and game controllers”, click on each sub-device, and select “Properties -> Driver -> Update driver -> Install from disk”. Then insert the disk or CD that comes with the sound card and install the driver program provided by the manufacturer.

Frequently Asked Question 3: No Sound When Playing a CD

1. No sound at all. When using the “CD player” in Windows to play a CD, there is no sound, but the “CD player” appears to be working properly. This indicates that the audio cable of the CD-ROM drive is not connected properly. Using a 4-core audio cable to connect the CD-ROM drive’s analog audio output to the CD-in on the sound card will resolve the issue. This cable usually comes with the purchase of a CD-ROM drive.
2. Only one channel has sound. The CD-ROM drive’s output generally has left and right signal lines, with the middle two lines being ground wires. Since the four lines of the audio signal cable are usually different colors, you can find the corresponding interface based on the color of the cable. If there is only one interface on the sound card or each interface does not match the audio cable, you will need to change the order of the audio cable’s connections. Usually, simply swapping two of the lines will resolve the issue.

Frequently Asked Question 4: The computer’s sound card produces crackling noise

This is generally due to the Bus Master technology used by the computer’s onboard graphics card, which amplifies background noise during operations such as reading/writing to the hard drive and moving the mouse on the computer’s bus. The solution is to turn off the Bus Master function of the onboard graphics card, switch to an AGP graphics card, or move the computer’s sound card to a different slot.

Frequently Asked Question 5: Unable to Record Audio

First, check if the microphone is plugged into the correct jack. Then, double-click the speaker icon and select “Properties -> Recording” to check if the settings are correct. Next, adjust the “Mixer device” and “Line input device” to “use” status in “Control Panel -> Multimedia -> Devices”. If the “Recording” option in “Multimedia -> Audio” is grayed out, you can try adding “ISA Plug and Play bus” in “Add new hardware -> System Devices”, and then reinstall the sound card driver software and restart the computer.

Frequently Asked Question 7: Unable to play Wav music or Midi music

The inability to play WAV music is a relatively rare phenomenon, often caused by multiple “audio devices” under “Multimedia” → “Devices”. Disabling one should fix the problem. As for the inability to play MIDI files, there may be three possibilities:

1. Early ISA sound cards may not be compatible with 16-bit and 32-bit modes, causing abnormal MIDI playback. This can be fixed by installing the software Wavetable.
2. Nowadays, most PC-based sound cards use wavetable synthesis technology. If the MIDI part cannot be played, it is likely because you have not loaded the appropriate wavetable sound library.
3. The MIDI channel in Win volume control is set to mute mode.

Ⅳ. Hard Disk

Frequently Asked Question 1: The physical problem of the hard disk

Hard disk circuit problem: The spindle motor is out of control, causing whining noise and the hard disk indicator light keeps flashing. During self-diagnosis, error messages such as “1701” or “Hard Disk Error” are displayed, indicating a problem with the hard disk control circuit. Hard disk circuit problems account for a small proportion of hard disk problems and are usually exposed during the self-diagnosis process, with relatively simple symptoms. Problems with the read and write control circuits usually occur simultaneously, and there are almost no phenomena where only reading is possible (but not writing) or only writing is possible (but not reading).

Hard disk compartment problem: After the machine is powered on, there are abnormal noises from the hard disk compartment and a significant “clattering” sound of the magnetic head “collision” during self-diagnosis, indicating a mechanical problem inside the hard disk compartment. This is mostly due to loose or broken magnetic head stepper belts, caused by severe impact or vibration on the disk.

Hard disk adapter or connector problem: When the system is powered on and self-diagnosis reaches the hard disk subsystem, the self-diagnosis fails, and the hard disk indicator light does not light up, while the screen displays error messages such as “1701, Hard Disk Error” or “HDD Controller Error.” If it is not the main boot record of the hard disk that is damaged, it may be a hardware problem with the hard disk subsystem, such as a damaged hard disk adapter card or hard disk drive, or a damaged connector and cable connecting the hard disk adapter card to the motherboard I/O slot and the hard disk drive.

Hard disk track 0 damage: After a relatively long self-diagnosis process, “DiskBoot Failure TRACK 0 BAD” is displayed during booting. If the system immediately crashes and fails to boot, it may be due to track 0 damage on the disk. As a result, the hard disk’s main boot sector or DOS boot sector may be damaged, making the hard disk unusable. Although this problem falls into the category of physical problems, it can be repaired using software methods.

Frequently Asked Question 2: The software issue of the hard disk

The term “soft problem” refers to the failure or read/write issues caused by the loss, damage, or modification of important and significant data on the hard disk. This is the main content of soft problems in hard disks, as the majority of these issues occur in the system information area of the disk, and a large number of files or data in the disk are not lost, making it particularly important to address these soft problems. The main reasons for hard disk boot failure are usually due to system area information damage, CMOS parameter loss, or virus intrusion. Generally speaking, users can judge the cause of the problem based on the prompt messages on the screen. These reasons can be summarized as three types: CMOS data parameter loss, hard disk main boot area damage, and hard disk DOS boot area error (including damage or loss of the three DOS system files). The following will describe the phenomena, causes, and handling methods of these three types of problems:

① If the error message displayed on the screen after booting up is caused by the damage to the battery used to maintain the CMOS information on the motherboard, resulting in the loss of CMOS content, it can be resolved by replacing the battery and resetting the CMOS parameters (especially the hard disk type parameters and three basic logical formatting parameters), after which the hard disk can be booted up normally.

② During system startup, if the following prompt messages appear on the screen: “Invalid drive specification Invalid partition table” or “Device Error”, it is usually due to an error in the hard disk’s master boot record. The reasons for this type of error may be that the active partition is not specified as the main boot partition (no boot flag), there are no bootable flags on several partitions or there are multiple bootable flags, the end flag (55AA) of the master boot record is lost, or the master boot record is destroyed due to unexpected user operations or virus intrusion.

③ During system startup, if the following prompt messages appear on the screen: “Error loading operating system Missing operating system Non-system disk or disk error Disk boot failure”, it is usually caused by an error in the DOS boot sector. During the system startup process, after the hard disk’s master boot partition is checked correctly, the DOS system boot sector is read according to the starting address of the partition indicated in the bootable partition. If the read operation fails, the error message “Error loading operating system” will be displayed. If the last two bytes of the boot sector’s signature “55AA” are not valid, the error message “Missing operating system” will be displayed. If the implicit file name information in the DOS boot sector is destroyed, or if the first two file names read by the boot program from the beginning sector of the disk’s root directory are not the two hidden system files of the current DOS version, the error message “Non-system disk or disk error” will be displayed. If the record format of the DOS boot sector or system file is destroyed for some reason, an error occurs when the boot program reads the memory, and the error message “Disk boot failure” will be displayed. To resolve this type of problem, the “SYS C:” DOS command can be used, or computer tools, Norton, and other utility software can be used for repair.

Ⅴ. Memory/RAM

Memory, also known as RAM, is one of the most important components in a computer. Its primary function is to provide temporary storage for data and programs that are currently in use by the CPU. The most common problems that can occur with memory include:

1. Memory failure: Over time, memory modules can develop faults due to wear and tear, voltage fluctuations, or other factors. This can result in errors and crashes when running programs, or the computer may fail to boot up altogether.
2. Incompatibility issues: Memory modules are designed to work with specific types of motherboards and CPUs. If the memory is not compatible, it may not work at all, or it may cause the computer to crash or behave erratically.
3. Overheating: Memory modules can generate heat during operation, and if they get too hot, they can malfunction or fail. This can be caused by poor ventilation in the computer case, overclocking, or using memory modules with high voltages or frequencies.
4. Insufficient memory: If a computer does not have enough memory to run the programs and processes it needs, it may run slowly or crash frequently. This can be remedied by adding more memory to the computer.
5. Memory leaks: Sometimes, programs may fail to release memory that they are no longer using, causing the computer to slow down or crash. This can be caused by bugs in the program code or by memory management issues in the operating system.

Overall, memory problems can be frustrating and difficult to diagnose, but many can be resolved by replacing faulty modules, upgrading to more compatible or higher-capacity memory, or tweaking system settings to improve performance and stability.

Frequently Asked Question 1: No Display on Startup

The most common problems with memory include poor contact between the memory module and the motherboard memory slot, which can be solved by cleaning the gold fingers of the memory module with an eraser (do not use alcohol or other solvents). Memory damage or issues with the motherboard memory slots can also cause these problems.

When there is no display on startup due to memory-related issues, the computer speaker usually emits a long beep (specifically for Award BIOS).

Frequently Asked Question 2: The Win registry is often inexplicably damaged, prompting users to restore it

This type of problem is generally caused by poor-quality memory modules and is difficult to repair. The only solution is to replace them with new ones.

Frequently Asked Question 3: Windows frequently enters safe mode automatically

This type of problem is usually caused by incompatibility between the motherboard and the memory module or poor quality of the memory module. It is common when high-frequency memory is used on certain motherboards that do not support this frequency of memory. You can try to lower the memory read speed in the CMOS settings to see if the problem can be solved. If it doesn’t work, the only solution is to replace the memory module.

Frequently Asked Question 4: Random System Crashes

This type of problem is usually caused by using different types of memory modules with different chips, resulting in a timing difference that leads to system crashes. This can be resolved by lowering the memory speed in the CMOS settings, or by using memory modules of the same model. Another possibility is that the memory modules are not compatible with the motherboard, although this is rare. Additionally, poor contact between the memory module and the motherboard can also cause random system crashes.

Frequently Asked Question 5: After increasing memory, system resources actually decrease

This type of issue is generally caused by incompatibility between the motherboard and the memory. It is common when using high-frequency memory on a motherboard that does not support this frequency. When this problem occurs, you can try to lower the memory speed in the BIOS settings and see if it resolves the issue.

Frequently Asked Question 6: Insufficient Memory Prompt When Running Certain Software Frequently

This phenomenon is generally caused by insufficient remaining space on the system disk. You can try deleting some unnecessary files to free up more space.

Frequently Asked Question 7: When booting from the hard drive to install Windows and checking disk space, the system prompts that there is not enough memory

This type of problem is usually caused by the user adding the “emm386.exe” file in the “config.sys” file. To fix the problem, you can simply comment or remove the “emm386.exe” line in the “config.sys” file.

Ⅵ. CD-ROM Drive

The CD/DVD drive is one of the hardware components with the shortest lifespan in a computer. In fact, many discarded drives still have a great deal of value and can be repaired with minimal effort. This often does not require any advanced knowledge of wireless technology or the use of complex repair tools or materials. You just need to carefully observe the problem and refer to the following troubleshooting methods to revive your old drive and bring it back to its former glory.

Frequently Asked Question 1: The hard drive light keeps flashing when the optical drive is in use

This is a misconception, it’s not true. The blinking of the hard disk light is because the CD-ROM drive and the hard disk are connected to the same IDE interface, and when the CD-ROM drive is working, it also controls the activity of the hard disk light. You can try connecting the CD-ROM drive to a separate IDE interface to solve this issue.

Frequently Asked Question 2: When operating the CD-ROM in a Windows environment, it displays “32 disk access failed” and then freezes

Apparently, the 32-bit disk access of Windows has some impact on CD-ROM. Most CD-ROMs are connected to the IDE interface of the hard drive and do not support the 32-bit disk access function of Windows, causing internal errors and system crashes. To resolve this issue, enter the “Control Panel” in the “Main Group” after booting into Windows, and then enter the “386 Enhanced Mode” settings. Click the “Virtual Memory” button and then click “Change.” Uncheck the “32-bit disk access” box in the lower left corner, confirm the changes, and then restart Windows. After restarting, accessing the CD-ROM should not cause any errors.

Frequently Asked Question 3: The CD-ROM cannot read the disk normally, and the screen displays “There is no disk in drive X. Insert a disk and try again” or “CDR101: NOT READY READING DRIVE X ABORT.RETRY.FALL?” Occasionally, after inserting and ejecting the tray several times, it can read the disk, but soon it will not be able to read it again

In this situation, you should first check for viruses and use antivirus software to scan the entire computer. If no virus is found, you can use a file editor software to open the “CONFIG.SYS” file in the root directory of the C drive and check if there is a CD-ROM driver program added and if the driver program is damaged, and then process it accordingly. You can also use the text editor software to check if there is “MSCDEX.EXE/D:MSCDOOO /M:20/V” in the “AUTOEXEC.BAT” file. If there is still no solution, you can disassemble and repair the CD-ROM.

Frequently Asked Question 4: Reading and Writing Errors or No Disc Prompt When Using Optical Drive

This phenomenon is mostly caused by operating the CD-ROM drive before the disc is properly in place during disc replacement. All operations on the CD-ROM drive must wait until the disc indicator light shows that it is in place before proceeding. When playing a movie, the time should be set to zero before changing the disc, to avoid the above error.

Frequently Asked Question 5: The video playback of the VCD is interrupted or broken

Check if the “SMARTDRV” statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file is placed after MSCDEX.EXE. If it is, then it should be moved before MSCDEX.EXE. Also, try not using the high-speed disk cache program for the CD-ROM and instead use SMARTDRV.EXE/U to disable it. This should resolve the issue.

Frequently Asked Question 6: When the optical drive is reading data, sometimes it cannot read it and the time to read the disc becomes longer

Hardware problems that cause the CD-ROM drive to fail to read discs are mainly concentrated in the laser head assembly, and can be divided into two situations: one is caused by the aging of the laser tube due to prolonged use; the other is caused by the surface of the photoelectric tube being too dirty, or the laser tube lens being too dirty or displaced. Therefore, when adjusting the power of the laser tube, the photoelectric tube and the laser tube lens should be cleaned.

The cleaning method of the photoelectric tube and focusing lens is as follows: unplug a group of flat cables connected to the laser head assembly, remember the direction, and disassemble the laser head assembly. At this time, the focusing lens covered by the protective cover of the laser head can be seen. After removing the protective cover, it will be found that the focusing lens is connected to the focusing and tracking coils by four thin copper wires, and the photoelectric tube assembly is installed in a small hole directly below the lens. Use a thin iron wire wrapped in cotton wool with a small amount of distilled water to wipe (do not use alcohol to wipe the surface of the photoelectric tube and focusing lens), and see if the lens is horizontally suspended and facing the laser tube. If not, adjust it properly. At this point, the cleaning work is completed.

Adjust the power of the laser head. There is a small potentiometer on the side of the laser head assembly that looks like a cross screw. Use a colored pen to record its initial position. Generally, first, rotate clockwise by 5°-10°, test the machine, and then rotate counterclockwise by 5°-10° if it still doesn’t work until it can read the disc smoothly. Be sure not to rotate too much to avoid burning the photoelectric tube due to too much power.

Frequently Asked Question 7: Unable to detect optical drive during startup or detection failure

This could be caused by a loose connection in the optical drive data cable, a damaged hard drive data cable, or an incorrect optical drive jumper setting. When encountering this problem, the first thing to do is to check if the data cable connection of the optical drive is loose. If it is not properly connected, reinsert and tighten it. If this does not solve the problem, try using a new data cable. If the problem still persists, then check the jumper setting of the optical drive to see if there is an error and make the necessary changes.

Ⅶ. Mouse

The analysis and repair of mouse problems are relatively simple. Most problems are caused by poor contact or breakage of the interface or buttons and dirty mechanical positioning systems. A small number of problems are caused by internal components or circuitry that are poorly soldered, which mainly exists in some low-quality products, especially in those where damage to the LED or IC circuitry is most common.

Frequently Asked Question 1: Cannot Find Mouse

1. The mouse is completely damaged and needs to be replaced.
2. The mouse’s connection to the computer’s serial or PS/2 port is poor. After carefully reconnecting the cable, restart the computer.
3. The serial or PS/2 port on the motherboard is damaged. This is a rare occurrence, and if it is the case, the only solution is to replace the motherboard or use a multi-functional card with a serial port.
4. The mouse cable has poor contact, which is the most common problem. The poor contact is usually at the connection between the mouse’s internal wiring and the circuit board. If the problem is not at the PS/2 connector, it can generally be repaired easily. Usually, the problem is caused by the short or messy wiring, which results in the mouse cable being pulled hard. The solution is to open the mouse and use a soldering iron to fix the solder joint. Another situation is that the internal contact of the mouse cable is poor due to aging over time, which is difficult to diagnose. In this case, the quickest solution is to replace the mouse.

Frequently Asked Question 2: The mouse can be displayed, but cannot move

The flexibility of the mouse decreases, and the mouse pointer is not as free as before. It responds slowly, positions inaccurately, or simply cannot move. This is mainly because too much dirt has accumulated on the mechanical positioning scroll axis inside the mouse, causing the transmission to malfunction and the scrolling to be inflexible. The focus of the repair is on the X and Y-axis transmission mechanisms inside the mouse. The way to fix it is to open the ball lock and remove the mouse scroll ball, clean the ball with a clean cloth dipped in a neutral detergent, and use alcohol to clean the friction shaft and other parts. It is best to drop a few drops of sewing machine oil at the axis center, but be careful not to let it flow onto the friction surface or code disc grille. After removing all the dirt, the flexibility of the mouse will be restored to its original state.

Frequently Asked Question 3: Mouse Buttons Not Working

1. The mouse button not responding may be caused by the distance between the mouse button and the micro switch on the circuit board being too far, or the rebound ability of the click switch decreasing after a period of use. To fix this, open the mouse and stick a piece of plastic of appropriate thickness under the mouse button. The thickness should be determined according to actual needs.
2. The mouse button’s unable to bounce back may be caused by the rupture of the bowl-shaped contact piece in the micro switch under the button, especially when the plastic spring is prone to rupture after long-term use. If it is a three-button mouse, the middle button can be removed as a temporary solution. For high-quality original branded mice, the micro switch can be soldered off, opened, and the contact points carefully cleaned, lubricated, and reassembled for use.

Ⅷ. Keyboard

The problems that may arise during the use of a keyboard can manifest in various ways, and their causes can also be diverse. These issues may include poor contact, mechanical problems with the keys, logic circuit problems, virtual soldering, false soldering, desoldering, and oxidation of metal holes. To repair the keyboard, it is necessary to analyze and identify the root cause of the problem based on the specific symptoms and then perform the appropriate repairs.

Frequently Asked Question 1: Some keys on the keyboard, such as the space bar and enter key, do not work. Sometimes it takes numerous attempts to input one or two characters. For some keys, such as the cursor keys, once pressed they do not come back up and the cursor continues to move across the screen. At this time, other characters on the keyboard cannot be inputted until another press is made for them to pop back up.

This is a “stuck key” problem with the keyboard, which can occur not only in old keyboards that have been used for a long time but also in some new keyboards that have not been used for very long. The stuck key phenomenon in the keyboard is mainly caused by two reasons: one reason is that the positioning of the plug post below the key cap is offset, which causes the key cap to be stuck in the key body shell and cannot bounce back, resulting in a stuck key.

This reason is more common in new or recently used keyboards. Another reason is that after prolonged use, the reset spring elasticity becomes very poor, and the frictional force between the spring and the button lever becomes greater, which prevents the button from bouncing back, causing a stuck key. This reason is more common in keyboards that have been used for a long time. When the keyboard has a stuck key problem, you can remove the key cap and press the button lever. If the button lever cannot bounce back or is weak, it is caused by the second reason, otherwise, it is caused by the first reason. If the stuck key problem is caused by the key cap being stuck in the key body shell, you can place a shim between the key cap and the key body. The shim can be made of slightly harder plastic (such as discarded floppy disk covers), which is the same size as or slightly larger than the key body, and has a square hole at the position where the button lever passes through.

After placing the shim on the button lever, you can insert the key cap to prevent the key cap from being stuck in the key body shell. If the stuck key problem is caused by fatigue of the spring or increased resistance of the button lever, you can open the keyboard body and slightly stretch the reset spring to restore its elasticity. Remove the button lever to restore the keyboard body. By removing the button lever, the resistance to bouncing back can be reduced, so that the problem key can be restored.

Frequently Asked Question 2: Some characters cannot be inputted

If only a single key character cannot be input, it may be due to the malfunction or false soldering of the key switch. To check, follow the method described above to open the keyboard and use a multimeter to measure the contact’s on-off state. If the contact remains open when the key is pressed, it may be due to fatigue or poor contact of the key spring and needs to be repaired or replaced. If the contact’s on-off state is normal when the key is pressed, it may be due to false soldering, detachment, or oxidation of the metal hole. You can measure along the printed circuit to find the problem and then re-solder it. If the key switch is malfunctioning due to oxidation of the metal hole, you can clean the oxidation layer and then re-solder it. If the metal hole is completely detached and causing a short circuit, you can add a new soldering wire to connect it.

Frequently Asked Question 3: If there are multiple keys that cannot be inputted, and they are neither in the same column nor row

If the entire keyboard or a group of keys is not functioning, it could be due to a break in the column or row lines, or a problem with the logic gate circuitry. In this case, a 100MHz high-frequency oscilloscope can be used for detection to locate any faulty components or solder joints that need to be repaired.

Frequently Asked Question 4: Inconsistent Characters between Keyboard Input and Screen Display

This type of problem may be caused by a short circuit on the circuit board, which results in pressing a key but displaying other characters in the same column. In this case, you can use a multimeter or an oscilloscope to measure and locate the problem, and then perform the necessary repairs.

Frequently Asked Question 5: Pressing one key produces multiple characters, or the characters jump around when a key is pressed

This phenomenon is caused by logic circuit problems. First, select a column of characters. If it does not include the Enter key and is located in a certain row and column, multiple other character phenomena may occur. If it includes a column of the Enter key, it will cause characters to jump around and cannot enter the system at the end. Use an oscilloscope to check the logic circuit chip, find the problem chip, and replace it with a new chip of the same model to eliminate the problem.

Ⅸ. Printer

In the office, inkjet printers are commonly used devices. However, due to improper use, maintenance, and operation, inkjet printers often encounter various problems. It is a concern for users how to deal with these problems. Here, we have summarized the common problems and solutions in daily work, hoping to be helpful to everyone.

Frequently Asked Question 1: The ink is too thin when printing and the text cannot be recognized. This problem is mostly caused by long-term disuse of the printer or other reasons, resulting in blockages in the ink delivery system or clogged nozzles

Solution: If the nozzle is not completely blocked, you can try cleaning it using the printer’s cleaning function. If the problem persists, you can remove the ink cartridge (or nozzle for printers with separate nozzles) and soak it in warm water for a while. Be careful not to soak the circuit board part in water, as it can cause serious damage. Use an absorbent paper to remove any water droplets, and then install the cartridge and run the cleaning function again several times to resolve the issue.

Frequently Asked Question 2: What to do when the “Ink Out” light on the printer panel lights up after replacing a new ink cartridge?

Under normal circumstances, the “Out of Ink” light on the printer panel only lights up when the ink is completely used up. If the “Out of Ink” light still stays on after replacing the new ink cartridge, there may be two possibilities. Firstly, the ink cartridge may not be installed properly. Secondly, the old ink cartridge was removed and replaced with a new one while the printer was turned off. This prevents the printer from detecting the new ink cartridge as it won’t be able to initiate the ink supply system. Additionally, some printers use an electronic counter to measure the ink levels, especially for color ink usage. When the counter reaches a certain value, the printer detects that the ink is out. During the ink cartridge replacement process, the printer will reset the internal electronic counter to confirm that a new ink cartridge has been installed.

To solve this problem, turn on the printer and move the print head to the ink cartridge replacement position. Install the new ink cartridge properly and let the printer perform the ink-filling process. After the ink-filling process is completed, the problem should be resolved.

Frequently Asked Question 3: How to deal with soft clogs in the nozzle?

Soft clogging refers to the problem of the ink becoming too viscous on the print head due to various reasons. Generally, it can be restored by multiple cleanings with the original ink cartridge, but this method wastes ink. The easiest way is to use an empty ink cartridge for cleaning the print head. Before cleaning with an empty ink cartridge, use a syringe to extract the residual ink in the cartridge as much as possible, the cleaner the better, and then add a cleaning solution (available in the accessory market). When adding a cleaning solution, it should be done in a clean environment. Install the ink cartridge with cleaning solution according to the normal operation of the printer, and continuously press the printer’s cleaning button to clean it. Print a test page using the light color of the mixed residual ink and cleaning solution, and replace the ink cartridge after normal printing.

Frequently Asked Question 4: Troubleshooting Printer Cleaning Pump Nozzle

Cleaning the printer’s nozzle with the cleaning pump is a common practice, but it has many disadvantages and is one of the main factors that cause clogging. The cleaning pump plays a decisive role in protecting the printer’s printhead. After the printhead carriage returns, the cleaning pump weakly draws air to seal and protect the printhead. When installing a new ink cartridge or when there is a break in the nozzle, the suction pump at the bottom of the machine needs to draw air through it to the printhead. The higher the precision of the nozzle, the better it’s working performance and air tightness. However, in actual use, its performance and airtightness may decrease due to the passage of time, dust, and the increase of residual solidified ink in it. If the user does not inspect or clean it regularly, it will cause continuous problems with the printer’s printhead.

To maintain this component, remove the printer’s top cover and move the carriage, use a syringe to rinse it with clean water, and thoroughly clean the microhole pads embedded in the nozzle. It is important to note that when cleaning this component, do not use ethanol or methanol, as this will dissolve and deform the microhole pads embedded in this component. Also, it is best to keep the inkjet printer away from high temperatures and dusty working environments to ensure the machine’s long-term normal use.

Frequently Asked Question 5: Handling a significant decrease in printing accuracy despite normal detection of ink lines

In the process of using an inkjet printer, the printing precision may gradually decrease due to the number of times it has been used and the passage of time. The printhead of an inkjet printer also has a lifespan. Generally, a new printhead can be used for 20-40 ink cartridges before reaching the end of its lifespan, assuming no problems arise. If your printer has been in use for a long time and the printing precision has decreased, you can try replacing the ink cartridges. If the output remains the same after replacing several ink cartridges, it means that the printhead needs to be replaced. If there is a change in output after replacing the ink cartridges, it may indicate that the ink cartridges you are using are of poor quality and not original equipment.

If the printer is new and the printing results are not satisfactory, such as unclear print lines, skewed text or graphics, unclear borders, or poor synchronization of ink control, it may be due to using fake or non-original ink cartridges. In this case, the ink cartridges should be immediately replaced.

Frequently Asked Question 6: How to handle misaligned collisions of mobile carts?

The track of the inkjet printer carriage is completed by the precise combination of two powder metallurgy copper sleeves and a round steel shaft for sliding. Although the carriage is planned to be equipped with an oil-impregnated felt pad to supplement the lubricating oil on the shaft, dust is everywhere in our living environment. Over time, due to the oxidation of the air and the destruction of dust, the lubricating oil on the surface of the shaft will age and become ineffective. If the printer continues to be used, the friction between the shaft and the copper sleeve will increase, causing the carriage to walk off the track and eventually collide with the end of the rail, rendering it unusable.

The solution is to immediately turn off the printer when this problem occurs, manually push the carriage back to the parking position, and use a small piece of sponge or felt soaked in sewing machine oil to wipe the spindle back and forth with tweezers. It is best to remove the spindle, clean it, and then apply lubricating oil for the best effect.

Another reason for carriage collision is device damage. Above the parking position of the printer carriage, there is an important component, a photoelectric sensor, which provides the printer mainboard with a reset signal for the carriage. If this component is damaged due to too much dust or other reasons, the printer carriage will collide with the end of the rail, making it unable to function properly. In general, when this problem occurs, the component needs to be replaced.

Ⅹ. Display

After prolonged use, various minor issues can arise with computer monitors. Experts believe that these issues can actually be easily resolved with just a pair of eyes to identify the problem areas.

Frequently Asked Question 1: When the computer is first turned on, the screen of the monitor shakes severely, and sometimes even icons and text cannot be seen clearly. However, it will return to normal after one or two minutes.

This phenomenon occurs more frequently in humid weather and is due to moisture inside the monitor. To completely solve this problem, you can use moisture-absorbing silica gel from food packaging and string it together with cotton thread. Then, open the back cover of the monitor and hang the silica gel near the neck of the display tube close to the socket. This way, even in humid weather, the above-mentioned “defects” will not occur again.

Frequently Asked Question 2: After turning on the computer, the monitor only produces sound but no image, and it is completely black. It takes several tens of minutes before the screen appears.

This is caused by a leakage in the cathode ray tube socket and the socket needs to be replaced. After removing the back cover, a small circuit board can be seen at the end of the cathode ray tube, and the socket is soldered onto the circuit board. Carefully remove the circuit board and unsolder the socket. Purchase a new socket from an electronics store and solder it back onto the circuit board. Before putting the circuit board back, use a small piece of sandpaper to carefully clean the protruding pins on the end of the cathode ray tube. Pay special attention to any oxidation on the pins, as failure to clean them thoroughly will result in the problem recurring quickly. Once the circuit board is back in place, the problem should be solved.

Frequently Asked Question 3: There are always persistent interference waves or lines on the display screen, and there is also annoying noise in the speaker.

This phenomenon is mostly caused by the poor anti-interference ability of the power supply. If you are lazy, you can replace the power supply with a new one. If you have enough DIY skills, you can try to replace the filter capacitor inside the power supply, which often works; if the effect is not significant, you can also replace the switch tube at the same time.

Frequently Asked Question 4: Screen Flickering

This problem is often caused by the graphics card. If it’s a new graphics card, it may be due to poor quality or incompatibility, or simply because the correct driver software has not been installed. If it’s an old card that has had additional memory installed, it’s possible that the new memory doesn’t match the specifications of the original memory.

Frequently Asked Question 5: Black Screen on Monitor

If there is no signal being sent to the monitor due to reasons such as a faulty graphics card or a disconnected monitor, the monitor’s indicator light will blink continuously to indicate that it has not received any signal. Setting the resolution too high, beyond the maximum resolution of the monitor, can also result in a black screen, and in severe cases, damage the monitor. However, modern monitors have protection mechanisms that automatically kick in when the resolution exceeds the set value. Additionally, hardware conflicts can also cause black screens.

Frequently Asked Question 6: Reasons for Display Shaking

Possible reasons for screen shaking on a computer monitor:

1. The refresh rate of the monitor is set too low.

When the refresh rate of the monitor is set lower than 75Hz, the screen may shake or flicker. Setting the refresh rate higher, such as above 85Hz, can often solve this problem.

2. The power supply transformer is too close to the monitor or computer case.

The operation of the power supply transformer can cause electromagnetic interference, which can lead to screen shaking. Moving the transformer away from the computer case and monitor can help to solve this problem.

3. Poor quality or aging power supply equipment.

The use of substandard or aging components in the computer’s power supply can cause problems with the system’s circuitry or power supply capacity. When the system is busy, the monitor may experience screen shaking.

4. Speakers are placed too close to the monitor.

The magnetic field effect of the speakers can interfere with the normal operation of the monitor, causing screen shaking and color distortion.

5. Virus infection.

Some computer viruses can disrupt screen display, such as character inversion, screen shaking, or graphics inversion. Screen shaking scripts available online can cause serious problems if infected.

6. Poor connection of the graphics card.

Re-seating the graphics card can often solve the problem.

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