Course Code – CW-4-G Subject – CHM (17428) Subject Teacher –Mr. Pise S. P.
Topic-7- PC Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Tools.
Diagnostic software’s for troubleshooting PC
Name any two hardware tool and software tools used for trouble shooting of PC.
(Any 2 Hardware tools -2M, Any 2 Software Tools – 2M) Hardware tools
 Analog Oscilloscope

Digital Oscilloscope

Logic Analyzer
 Logic Probe
Software tools
 Microsoft diagnostics DOS MSD command.

Norton utilities.

CHECKIT.

Quick analysis (QA+).

ATDIAGS
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POST
Power on Self Test (POST)
Give the test sequence of post. (4Marks for correct sequence)
1. CPU test
2. BIOS ROM Checksum test
3. Timer 1 test
4. DMA controller test
5. 16 KB DRAM test
6. Interrupt controller initialization
7. Interrupt controller test
8. Timer 0 initialization
9. CRT controller test
10. DRAM after 16 KB test
11. Keyboard test
12. Disk drive test
Give the meaning of following POST beep codes- (1 mark each)
i. 1 short beep ii. No beep iii. Continuous beep iv. 2 short beeps
(Answer is as per IBM POST beep
Meaning
codes. Any other correct answer may
also be considered) POST beep Codes
i 1 short beep
Normal POST system is OK
ii No beep
Fuse blown, Power supply, system board problem,
disconnected CPU, or disconnected speaker
iii Continuous beep
Improper output voltages from SMPS, Power
supply, system board, or may be RAM problem,
keyboard problem
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Course Code – CW-4-G Subject – CHM (17428) Subject Teacher –Mr. Pise S. P.
Topic-7- PC Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Tools.
iv 2 short beeps
POST error – error code shown on screen
Active and Passive Preventive Maintenance Procedure
Write Active, Passive maintenance procedures. (Any 4 points for Active- 2M, Any 4 points
for Passive- 2M)
Active preventive maintenance procedure
1. An active preventive maintenance includes several steps that promote a longer, trouble
free life for your PC.
2. It includes several procedures to clean and lubricate all the major components, cleaning
all boards, connectors, contacts etc.
3. It also describes similar procedures for different peripheral devices such as HDD, FDD,
keyboard, printer, monitor etc.
4. It includes performing backups, antivirus and antispyware scans.
5. Cleaning a system
6. Regular and through cleaning of the system removes any layer of dust and benefits the
system in the long run.
7. Dust acts as thermal insulator, which prevents proper system cooling,
8. Excessive shortens the life of system components.
9. Dust can contain conductive elements that can cause partial short circuit in the system.
10. Other elements in the dust can accelerate corrosion of electrical contacts.
11. Following cleaning tools and solutions can be used to clean the internal components,
peripherals and the boards inside the system.
Passive Preventive maintenance procedures may include
1. Examining the operating environment
2. Check Heating & cooling (controlled temperatures)
3. Make sure the PC is not switched ON and OFF many times - Power cycling
4. Precautions against Static Electricity
5. Make sure to have minimum or less Power Line Noise.
6. Keep the computer away from Radio frequency Interference
7. Take measures to guard PC against Dust & pollutants
Differentiate between active and passive preventive maintenance with example.
(Any four differences, 1 M each) Active
Preventive Maintenance
Active preventive Maintenance includes
procedures that promote longer, trouble free
life for the PC.
This type of maintenance involves the
periodic cleaning of the system and its
Passive Preventive Maintenance
Passive preventive maintenance includes
precautionary steps you can take to protect a
system from the environment.
This type of maintenance involves the
protection of the system from the
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Course Code – CW-4-G Subject – CHM (17428) Subject Teacher –Mr. Pise S. P.
Topic-7- PC Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Tools.
components, as well as performing back
environment, such as using powerups, antivirus and antispyware scans and
protection devices; ensuring a clean,
software related procedures
temperature-controlled environment; and
preventing excessive vibration.
It involves
It involves
Cleaning and lubricating components
Protection from physical environment
Reseating chips
Protection from electrical environment
Maintaining Hard Disk
Backing-up Data
For e.g. taking back up of important data,
Deleting temporary files, Installing antivirus
software, Running defragmentation program
For e.g. Using power protection devices,
ensuring clean temperature controlled
environment, preventing excessive
vibrations
Draw and explain the use of logic probe.
(Diagram 2 marks, Explanation 2 marks)
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It is a hand held low cost test equipment with which nearly ninety percent of the faults
can be diagnosed without the use of oscilloscope.
It is used to find the logic state of any node in a circuit including steady states and pulses.
The logic probe is a small device with a sampling tip, and a number of LEDs that indicate
the state of the signal connected to the sampling tip.
Two "direct" LEDs show whether the signal is high (red LED), low (green LED), off
unconnected (no LED).
If the signal switches quickly between the two states, both LEDs seem to be on
continuously (although they aren't).
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Course Code – CW-4-G Subject – CHM (17428) Subject Teacher –Mr. Pise S. P.
Topic-7- PC Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Tools.
 A pulse logic detects transition to a state (HIGH or LOW) and generates a 0.5sec pulse
lighting up separate "pulse" LEDs.
 A state change can be detected, even if it is only a short pulse invisible on the direct
LEDs.
 Additionally a second signal input can be used to latch the main signal at a low-high or
low-high transition of the latch input
Logic Pulsar (Diagram 1 marks, Explanation 3 marks)
Fig: Logic Pulser

It is used to inject pulses into the circuit using logic pulser.

A logic pulser is designated to test circuit reaction by delivering a logical high (+5 V)
pulse into a circuit.

Logic probe and pulser are used together to test ICs and verify truth table.

It has ability to introduce a changing signal into circuit without desoldering or cutting
wires

The above figure shows several way to test logic gates using the probe and pulser. Pulser
injects pulses to output of AND gate and probe should checking or indicating a change at
the input to the NAND gate.
Preliminary Checks (2 marks each)
1. Can’t read from “C” drive

Check cables for continuity and proper mating

Check for drive motor activation.

Check +12V power output of SMPS

Check data cable.

Check CMOS setup.
2. Junk characters displayed on the screen
 It may be due to improper keyboard section
 Hence check keyboard controller as well as keyboard cable
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Course Code – CW-4-G Subject – CHM (17428) Subject Teacher –Mr. Pise S. P.
Topic-7- PC Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Tools.
 It may also be due to improper display section.
 Check video RAM, display adapter as well as monitor cable.
Which different testing are performed by diagnostic software?(01-mark each)
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A diagnostic program is a program written for the purpose of locating problems with the
software, hardware, or any combination of both in a system, or a network of systems.
Diagnostic programs provide solutions to the user to solve issues.
POST: The power on self test operates whenever any PC is powered . These routines are
contained within the motherboard ROM and the ROM as well as ROMs on expansion
cards.
Manufacturer supplied diagnostics software: This manufacturers specific software
normally consists of a suite of test that thoroughly examines the system. In some cases,
these utilities are included with the system, or we can download these diagnostics from
the manufacturer’s online services.
Peripheral diagnostics software: Used for hardware devices, network adapters, sound
cards etc. Operating system diagnostic software: Operating systems, such as windows
9x/Me and Windows NT/2000/XP, include a variety of diagnostic software utilities
designed to identify and monitor the performance of various components in the computer.
Aftermarket diagnostic software: A number of manufacturers make genral purpose
diagnostics software PCs. This type of software is often bundled with other system
maintenance and repair utilities to form a general PC software toolkit.
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