Common PC Hardware Problems
Regardless of which brand of computer you have, all PCs have hardware to make the computer run effectively and efficiently. However, there are common hardware problems and failures that can happen. It is helpful to understand these so that you can better identify specific problems. Some problems can be solved on your own when you know what they are.
Various Types of PCs Problems
Problems with your keyboard, mouse, and other devices that plug into your computer are called peripheral issues. This happens if suddenly one of these devices plugged into your PC fails to respond.
A motherboard problem with your PC typically affects those items that are plugged directly into your computer's motherboard. These typically consist of the video card and memory chips. If these come loose from the motherboard, your PC will not run properly and it can cause it to not boot into Windows at all. Other common problems include hard drive and memory failures. These can be minor issues or major depending on what is causing the malfunction.
Identifying the Hardware Problem
The easiest hardware problem to identify is peripheral issues. If your mouse or keyboard is not responding, check to make sure it is plugged into the outlet securely on your computer. If that fails to fix the problem, reboot your computer, which normally will fix the problem.
If your computer will not boot but instead goes to the BIOS screen when you turn it on, you probably have a motherboard issue. Depending on the age of your PC, it may actually give you a diagnostic test that tells you what is wrong. For instance, it may tell you that your memory has an error. Sometimes memory can fail and by opening your PC (turn it off and unplug it from the electrical socket before opening it) and checking to make sure it is seated securely may be all that is needed. The fix would be to replace the memory stick, if re-seating the memory does not fix the problem.
If your hard drive is the problem, your computer will not boot at all. At this point, you will need someone that can replace the hard drive if you do not know how to do it yourself. Some problems on the PC are easy fixes and others take more skill, but being able to recognize the problem is the key to resolution.