Troubleshooting and maintaining a PC

1. Troubleshooting and maintaining a PC Unit objectives • Identify tools and software that make up a troubleshooter’s toolkit • Perform preventive maintenance on computer equipment

2. Topic A • Topic A: Tools and software • Topic B: Preventive hardware maintenance

3. Gathering information • Customer environment • Symptoms and error codes • Situation when problem occurred

4. Hardware or software problem? • Hardware • Configuration • Intermittent • Prior to POST finishing • Software • Configuration • After POST finishes • Check • Documentation • Web sites • Computer settings

5. Hardware toolkit • Screwdrivers • Pliers, tweezers, IC puller • 3-prong grabber • Flashlight • Antistatic bags and containers • Wrist strap and static mats • Humidity control devices

6. Hardware toolkit Screwdrivers, pliers Grabber, tweezer Digital multimeter Wire stripper Soldering iron Wrist strap

7. Optional tools • Multimeter • Nut driver • Wire stripper • Crimper • Soldering iron

8. Multimeters, soldering iron

9. Activity A-1 Identifying common toolkit components

10. Software toolkit • Diagnostic software • Virus protection software • Boot disk • Common drivers disk • Operating system CD • Common problems searchable CD

11. CD binder

12. Activity A-2 Identifying software tools for troubleshooters

13. Topic B • Topic A: Tools and software • Topic B: Preventive hardware maintenance

14. Preventive measures • Complete on a schedule • Ventilation • Dust • Moisture • Verify UPS and surge protectors

15. Activity B-1 Performing preventive maintenance tasks

16. Cleaning computer equipment • Wear latex or other synthetic gloves • Liquid cleaning compounds • Cleaning contacts and connections • Non-static vacuums • Cleaning monitors, keyboards, mice

17. Activity B-2 Cleaning computer equipment

18. Unit summary • Identified tools and software that make up a troubleshooter’s toolkit • Performed preventive maintenance on computer equipment