Computer Hardware Failures

🔧 Common PC Hardware Failures

Here’s a breakdown of the most common hardware failures in PCs and how they typically show up and a practical guide to fixing each of the common PC hardware failures, including both quick fixes and deeper solutions so you can troubleshoot confidently:

1. 🔧Overheating

• Symptoms: Random shutdowns, loud fan noise, hot casing, sluggish performance.

• Causes: Dust buildup, poor ventilation, failing fans, dried thermal paste.

• Risks: Can damage CPU, GPU, or motherboard over time.

• Fixes:

  • Clean dust from fans, vents, and heatsinks using compressed air.

  • Reapply thermal paste on CPU/GPU if it’s dried out.

  • Improve airflow: reposition PC, add case fans, or upgrade cooling system.

  • Monitor temps with tools like HWMonitor or Core Temp.

2. 💾Hard Drive Failure

• Symptoms: Slow boot times, frequent crashes, corrupted files, clicking noises.

• Causes: Mechanical wear (HDD), bad sectors, power surges.

• Risks: Data loss, system instability.

• Fixes:

  • Back up data immediately if drive shows signs of failure.

  • Run disk check tools (e.g., CHKDSK, CrystalDiskInfo).

  • Replace failing HDD/SSD and restore data from backup.

  • Consider upgrading to SSD for better reliability.

3. ⚡Power Supply Unit (PSU) Failure

• Symptoms: PC won’t turn on, random reboots, burning smell.

• Causes: Voltage fluctuations, aging components.

• Risks: Can damage other components if it fails catastrophically.

• Fixes:

  • Test with a known working PSU or PSU tester.

  • Check for burnt smell or bulging capacitors—replace if found.

  • Use a surge protector to prevent future damage.

  • Choose a PSU with enough wattage and good reviews.

4. 🧠RAM Issues

• Symptoms: Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), freezing, random restarts.

• Causes: Faulty modules, improper installation, electrical damage.

• Risks: System crashes, data corruption.

• Fixes:

  • Reseat RAM sticks (remove and reinsert).

  • Test with one stick at a time to isolate faulty module.

  • Use MemTest86 to scan for errors.

  • Replace faulty RAM with compatible modules.

5. 🖥️Motherboard Problems

• Symptoms: No power, peripherals not working, BIOS errors.

• Causes: Physical damage, capacitor failure, overheating.

• Risks: Can affect multiple components at once.

• Fixes:

  • Inspect for physical damage or blown capacitors.

  • Reset CMOS by removing the battery for 5 minutes.

  • Test with minimal setup (CPU, RAM, PSU only).

  • If dead, replace motherboard—ensure compatibility with CPU and RAM.

6. 🎮Graphics Card (GPU) Failure

• Symptoms: Screen flickering, artifacts, driver crashes, poor gaming performance.

• Causes: Overheating, driver conflicts, aging hardware.

• Risks: Visual glitches, inability to run graphic-intensive tasks.

• Fixes:

  • Reseat the GPU and check power connectors.

  • Update or reinstall drivers using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller).

  • Test in another system if possible.

  • Replace if artifacts or crashes persist.

7. 🔌USB Port Malfunction

• Symptoms: Devices not recognized, intermittent connectivity.

• Causes: Driver issues, physical damage, power management settings.

Fixes:

• Try different ports or cables.

• Check Device Manager for driver issues.

• Disable USB selective suspend in power settings.

• Replace damaged ports via motherboard repair or USB expansion card.

8. 🌬️Cooling System Failure

• Symptoms: Overheating, loud fan noise, thermal throttling.

• Causes: Dust, broken fans, clogged vents.

• Risks: Accelerated wear of internal components.

• Fixes:

  • Replace broken fans or pump (for liquid cooling).

  • Clean radiator and fan blades.

  • Ensure fan headers are properly connected.

  • Upgrade to better cooling if needed (e.g., tower cooler, AIO).

9. 🖱️Peripheral Failures

• Symptoms: Keyboard/mouse not responding, erratic behavior.

• Causes: Loose connections, driver issues, wear and tear.

• Fixes:

  • Test peripherals on another PC.

  • Reinstall drivers or update firmware.

  • Replace worn-out devices.

  • Use powered USB hubs for high-draw devices.

10. 🔋BIOS/CMOS Battery Failure

• Symptoms: Incorrect system time/date, boot errors.

• Causes: Dead CMOS battery.

• Risks: Boot issues, loss of BIOS settings.

• Fixes:

  • Replace the CMOS battery (usually CR2032 coin cell).

  • Reset BIOS settings after replacement.

  • Save correct time/date and boot order.