hardware diagnostic tool

marrittm

hello i have a PC i built a wile ago but i keep getting trouble with it i know its a hardware fault but what i don't know, ideally i would like to swap and change each device but i don't have the money to buy all new parts i was wondering if there is any free diagnostic tool for testing PC hardware so i can pinpoint problem. thank you

custardy

is it just crashing?
have you removed anything you can?
eg remove the GFX card and run onboard
if it has 2 sticks of ram then remove one and swap if it crashes etc

fuzzball172

The old fashioned way to do this is to strip out every component from the PC, then add each one back in, one at a time. See if the PC will boot up ok with just the motherboard, CPU and RAM. If you have multiple RAM modules, and your motherboard will allow it, try using half the RAM, if that works, try the other half... PCs suffere from the heat, make sure the insides are free from dust, get a CLEAN and DRY paint brush and take the PC outside and gently brush off all the dust from the fans, grills and heat-sinks, dont forget the power supply as well (DONT open the power supply as it holds dangerouly high charges for days after the PC has been switched off.) Don't use a hoover as the static from the motor can damage your components.

Lee

marrittm

first of all it kept crashing and i tried all you mentioned turned out to be power supply, then i got the blue screen error message saying i had hardware fault i got that twice, now it keeps crashing when on internet. the only thing i have changed software wise is google toolbar nothing else. so i thougth there might me a application that could test all hardware for errors.

fuzzball172

what is the blue screen error number?

The event log > application log will give you some info about the crashes

Lee

marrittm

how do i get into event log in xp

basmic

Start menu > Run > type in eventvwr and press OK.

marrittm

ok i have white X marks in red boxes and ! marks in yellow triangles hich do i need there are loads.

John_Gray

Be brave and look at what each type says (double-click on one) - you will find that the red ones are errors and the yellow ones are warnings. Give some information about a few of the errors - assuming they are different!

basmic

To make things easier for yourself, click the Date header at the top, until it has a down arrow in it. Ie: Date V

Look for the most recent errors first, then warnings. Tell us what the most recent say.

totalsolutions

Free memory testers and hard drive maintence programs. Is the OS cosher? Is the PSU upto the job. What are the quality of compoments you have used. All interconnects good???? Software fully updated and which OS do you have.