When Your Equipment Runs Into Trouble

What to do when equipment malfunctions? This article covers the most common types of equipment problems, including failure to start, stalling, and abnormal noise, and provides practical steps to help you quickly locate the root of the problem and restore normal operation.

Don't panic if the equipment malfunctions.

When equipment breaks down, many people's first reaction is, "Is it broken? How much is it going to cost to fix?Actually, most of the time the problem is just a minor one.First, calm down and try these basic checks:

Check the power source and the cables.

Don't laugh! At least half of all "breakdowns" are just loose plugs or dead outlets.First check to see that the power cord is firmly plugged in and that the outlet has power. Then look to see if the indicator lights on the equipment are on.If it's a computer or an intelligent device, try restarting it.

Observing the details of abnormal phenomena.

Did the machine make a strange noise? Did the screen flicker? Record these details.For example, "a buzzing sound could be caused by accumulated dust on a fan" or "frequent crashes could be caused by poor heat dissipation." These clues can help you zero in on the problem faster.

High frequency fault scenarios and responses.

Equipment suddenly freezes or responds slowly.

Close down unused programs or functions, especially when you have several software programs running at the same time.If it's a computer, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and take a look at the task manager to see if there are any memory hogs.If it's an appliance (like a robot vacuum cleaner), cleaning the sensors and the dust and hair off the wheels can often restore the speed of the device.

Abnormal noise or excessive heat.

If you hear any clacking sounds, turn the computer off immediately! Abnormal sounds from a hard disk may be a warning sign of hardware damage. Back up your data right away.If the fan is spinning at full speed and the computer is hot, then you can open up the case (after disconnecting the power!) and clean the cooling vents with a soft brush. You can also add some oil to the bearings of the fan. This can lower the temperature by 10 ° C!

The equipment was completely unusable.

First the power supply was ruled out, and then the internal components were checked.For example, if you have a computer problem, try unplugging and replugging the memory stick or graphics card (remember to first touch something metallic to discharge static electricity).For peripherals like printers, try changing the data cable or connecting it to another computer to see if the problem is with the host computer's interface.

These tools are worth having.

Basic maintenance kit.

Prepare a tool kit containing a screwdriver (cross-head and flat-head), tweezers and a soft brush, so that you can clean the dust out of your computer yourself.A 20-yuan screwdriver set is enough, but you have to pick one with a magnetic tip, or else the screws will fall into the machine.

Temperature monitoring software.

Free software such as HWMonitor and AIDA64 can display the temperature of components in real time.If the CPU or GPU temperature is often 90 ° C or higher, check the cooling system!

The spare parts test method.

Is it the power source? Try replacing it with another one of the same model.If the memory sticks are causing a problem, take them out one at a time and test them.This trick allows one to quickly determine whether a particular component is on the blink, making it a lot more reliable than blind guessing.

What do you do if you really can't figure it out?

If you have tried every possible solution and still can't solve the problem, don't give up! First check the warranty on your product. If it is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer. If it's out of warranty, don't just take it to a roadside repair shop.Check the manufacturer's website for authorized service points, or find a reputable third-party repair shop. Don't forget to ask for a price estimate first, so you don't get ripped off.