Most of us own at least one computer, which might take the form of a desktop PC, a laptop or even a tablet, and much like everything else in this world, computers can and do malfunction. This applies to both hardware and software and this article is more focused on computer hardware (Look at this article “how can computer recycling help the environment” to get rid of your old PC).
Essential
Computer Hardware
Fortunately, there
are online suppliers of computer hardware and once you have diagnosed which
component is faulty, all it takes to find a replacement is a Google search, and
as most components are plug & play, you simply affix the new component and
the computer recognises it and installs the software automatically.
Here is a list of
key computer hardware components:
- Mainboard
– This is the foundation
for the many various computers to sit into, and each has its own plug that is
different to the others, which means you cannot install the component in the
wrong location. - Central
Processing Unit (CPU) –
This is the very core of your computer, as the CPU processes all the data and
sends it to the correct path, while this component is also one of the most
expensive computer hardware items, depending on the specifications. - Solid
State Drives (SSD) – If
your computer is a few years old, it might not have solid state drives, but the
old spinning hard drive and if a drive malfunctions, it cannot usually be
repaired and you might need a specialist to recover the data. Newer computers
have solid state drives’ typically two for each computer, one for the OS and
one for data storage. - VGA
Card – The video card is
responsible for sending the data to the monitor and if you are planning to play
games on your computer, you will need a VGA card with enough power to refresh
at high rates. If the video card malfunctions, you will likely see a pixelated
screen, which tells you the card is not responding, and sometimes reseating the
card into the slot cures the problem. - Random Access Memory – These chips slot into the
mainboard and should one malfunction, the operating system would notify you and
you can look in systems to determine whether the RAM chips are all working as
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gadgets. - Power Supply – In the event you turn on the computer and there are
no power lights that come on, this means your power supply unit is defective.
This is not an expensive piece of kit and you can order one from the online
computer hardware supplier.
Troubleshooting Computer Issues
If the computer boots up normally, then you can look
in systems settings, specifically the device manager, which will inform you of
the status of each component. Windows, in particular has great fault-finding systems
that will scan each component to check if it is working as it should.
In the event you have a computer issue that you are not able to fix, simply search online for a computer repair store in your area, or you could check the Microsoft website if the issue is software.