25 Common Problems & Diagnostic Paths
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No display
Start: Screen black │ ├── Check monitor power/cable → Best: reconnect ├── Swap monitor/cable → Normal: replace monitor/cable └── GPU/motherboard failure → Worst: replace GPU/board -
PC won't boot
Start: Power on, no POST (Power On Self Test) │ ├── Check PSU cables → Best: reconnect ├── Test RAM/CPU seating → Normal: reseat/replace └── Motherboard failure → Worst: replace board -
Random Shutdowns
Start: System powers off unexpectedly │ ├── Check temps → Best: clean dust ├── Replace PSU/fan → Normal: faulty PSU/cooling └── Overheating damage → Worst: CPU/GPU replacement -
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
Start: BSOD appears │ ├── Update drivers → Best: fix software conflict ├── Test RAM/storage → Normal: replace faulty stick/drive └── Motherboard failure → Worst: board replacement - Slow Performance
Start: System sluggish │ ├── Close apps/clean startup → Best: free resources ├── Upgrade RAM/SSD → Normal: hardware bottleneck └── CPU aging → Worst: replace CPU/system - Overheating
Start: High temps │ ├── Clean dust → Best ├── Replace fan/paste → Normal └── Component damage → Worst: replace CPU/GPU - No internet
Start: No connection │ ├── Reset router → Best ├── Replace NIC/Wi-Fi card → Normal └── Motherboard networking failure → Worst - Keyboard failure
Start: Keys unresponsive │ ├── Reconnect/clean → Best ├── Replace keyboard → Normal └── USB controller failure → Worst - Mouse cursor Erratic
Start: Cursor jumps │ ├── Clean sensor → Best ├── Replace mouse → Normal └── USB controller failure → Worst - Battery not charging (laptop)
Start: Battery stuck │ ├── Calibrate battery → Best ├── Replace battery → Normal └── Charging circuit failure → Worst - Fan Noise
Start: Loud fan │ ├── Clean dust → Best ├── Replace fan → Normal └── Overheating damage → Worst - Hard Drive Clicking
Start: Clicking HDD │ ├── Backup data immediately ├── Replace drive → Normal └── Professional recovery → Worst - SSD not Detected
Start: SSD missing │ ├── Reseat cable → Best ├── Update firmware → Normal └── Drive failure → Worst - USB port(s) not working
Start: No USB response │ ├── Test other device → Best ├── Replace port/card → Normal └── Motherboard controller failure → Worst - Audio not working
Start: No sound │ ├── Check settings → Best ├── Update drivers → Normal └── Sound card failure → Worst - Webcam not detected
Start: No video │ ├── Check privacy settings → Best ├── Update drivers → Normal └── Hardware failure → Worst - Optical drive not reading
Start: Disc won’t read │ ├── Clean lens → Best ├── Replace drive → Normal └── Controller failure → Worst - System Freezes
Start: Frozen screen │ ├── End task → Best ├── Test RAM/storage → Normal └── Motherboard failure → Worst - Randon Reboots
Start: PC restarts │ ├── Check PSU → Best ├── Replace PSU/RAM → Normal └── Board failure → Worst - WiFi 'drops' frequently
Start: Connection unstable │ ├── Reset router → Best ├── Replace Wi-Fi card → Normal └── Motherboard networking failure → Worst - Dead Pixels on screen
Start: Pixel stuck │ ├── Pixel massage :-) software → Best ├── Replace monitor → Normal └── GPU failure → Worst - Touchpad not responding (laptop)
Start: No touchpad input │ ├── Enable in settings → Best ├── Update drivers → Normal └── Hardware failure → Worst - BIOS corrupted
Start: BIOS won’t load │ ├── Reset CMOS → Best ├── Reflash BIOS → Normal └── Motherboard replacement → Worst - Power button doesn't react
Start: Button dead │ ├── Check cable → Best ├── Replace switch → Normal └── Motherboard failure → Worst - Laptop overheats
Start: Hot chassis │ ├── Use cooling pad → Best ├── Clean vents → Normal └── Fan/circuit failure → Worst