Computer Hardware Repair: Tools, Safe Practices, and Basic Repairs, Lecture notes of Computer System Design and Architecture

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Computer Troubleshooting and Repair Basics

Fixing Hardware Problems

Tools and Safe Repair Practices

• (^) Tools that need to perform basic hardware repair depend on the type of computers being worked on, and also on what tools are locally available.
• (^) Quality screwdrivers – Available in different sizes on every lab equipment list. The majority of the screws in computers are of the Phillips type (the screw head has an X shape on the top), but flat head and hex head screws may also occur.
• (^) Need to recognize what types of screws are in use in the lab before making a purchase. Magnetic tip screwdrivers can be very useful since the screws will stay magnetically attached to the screwdriver while user locates the screw hole.
• (^) However it is very important to avoid touching the tips of magnetic screwdrivers to RAM or hard drives, since the magnetic storage on those devices could be damaged.

• (^) Working Environment – Computer work room

should be clean, well organized and properly lit.

• (^) Avoid hazards to the computer (such as dust or

moisture) and hazards to the workers (such as

electrical cords that can be tripped over).

• (^) Should also consider good organization as a way to

make repair work more efficient. It should be easy

for a worker to return to a project without any

difficulty finding the parts involved.

Safety Concerns

• (^) Static Electricity - Static electricity discharges (sparks) can be significantly damaging to computer equipment such as RAM, CPUs and motherboards. Therefore it is important to ground him or herself before working with computer equipment.
• (^) If electrostatic mats or grounding wrist straps are available locally, these items can also be used to prevent electrostatic shocks.
• (^) Avoid walking around as much as possible while working on a computer. Shuffling your feet (particularly on carpeted surfaces) can build up electrostatic charges.
• (^) Make sure to ground yourself before beginning a computer repair or before picking up a new computer component. Touch a large metal object (such as a filing cabinet or metal computer case) will avoid this.

Safety Concerns

Hardware Repair, Planning and

Strategy

• (^) Before beginning a computer hardware repair, it is important to make sure that the repair is necessary and that a repair plan is in place.
• (^) To determine if a repair is necessary, you should have worked through the troubleshooting steps described earlier.
• (^) If a computer is still operational, user should be using software tools to diagnose (and in some cases repair) problems before physically opening the computer.
• (^) For example, the Device Manager can be used to check for hardware faults, and a hard drive diagnostic tool (such as Chkdsk) can be used to determine if a hard drive needs to be replaced. Also remember that error messages can give important information about what is wrong with a computer.

• (^) When developing a repair plan, need to know which parts are going to be replaced and how to find and remove those parts from the computer. It is also important to have replacement parts on hand that are known to be in good condition.
• (^) Part re-seating and part swapping are both good strategies to keep in mind when repairing computers.
• (^) Re-seating means removing or disconnecting a part, cleaning it if appropriate, and correctly replacing the part. Sometimes a computer part can function poorly just because a connection is loose or dirty, and re-seating will improve its performance.

Hardware Repair, Planning and

Strategy

• (^) Replacing a Power Supply - For desktop computers in developing countries, power supply failure is a common problem.
• (^) This is due to an uneven or “dirty” voltage and power surges. Before replacing a power supply, you should make sure that it truly is dead by using some tips. Tips
• (^) Unplug the power cord from the back of the computer case.

Basic Hardware Repairs

• (^) Open up the computer case. The method varies with the brand and model of computer, but often involves laying the case on its side and opening up the side panel. Some computer cases use screws and others have buttons to press that release one side panel.

Basic Hardware Repairs

FReplacing a Power Supply For the complete procedure see http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_power.htm

• (^) Detaching one by one will help make sure that no components are missed.
• (^) There will be power supply connectors for the motherboard and all drives. When removing the cables, keep an eye out for latches that need to be depressed to release the connector.
• (^) All of the connectors should only fit in one direction, and with little force. If a connector does not attach easily, make sure that it is properly aligned before pushing harder.

Basic Hardware Repairs