Hardware diagnostic tests can reveal important problems.
A computer is the aggregate of many individual pieces of hardware. When these pieces of hardware stop working they can create serious problems for the computer. However, there are a number of diagnostic tests you can run for your hardware.
Detection Diagnostic
The first step in troubleshooting hardware that doesn't seem to be working is to see if your computer recognizes that the device is plugged in at all. To see a list of all the hardware your computer recognizes as being plugged into, open a terminal emulator and run the command "devcon."
Hard Drive Checks
You can run a diagnostic check on your hard drive to see if it is storing information properly. If a hard drive starts storing data improperly, the problem can cascade and cause file corruption. From the "My Computer" right click on a hard drive you wish to check, select "Tools" and then select "Check Now."
Memory Checks
You can run a Windows tool to make sure your computer's random access memory (RAM) sticks are working properly. Go to the "System and Maintenance" section of your system's "Control Panel," click on "Administrative Tools," then click "Memory Diagnostic Tool." The tool will give you the option to either immediately restart your computer and run the test, or to run the test when you next restart your computer.
Tags: your computer, hard drive, computer recognizes, diagnostic tests, pieces hardware, problems computer
