Test Equipment

[cdkarp]

What type of test equipment does everyone use in diagnosing hardware problems? How do you test cards, motherboards, memory, etc? I have narrowed my search down to 2 different products. Other opinions would be helpful.

PC-Doctor Service Center 6

http://www.pc-doctor.com/pcd_service_center.php

UXD Advanced Computer Diagnostics for the Professional

http://www.uxd.com/adv-pro2.shtml

 

[cjelec]

Hi,

This might sound bad but I don't actually use any hardware test kits. If I suspect any hardware faults I test the items in another PC to find out which part is at fault.

I do use a multimeter for power related problems, like checking the voltage of the power supply rails or if a cable is damaged. I also use the multimeter for checking the temps...

A question then, should I be using any such kit?

 

[ArizonaGeek]

I am in the same boat as cjelec, any more single hardware failures are fairly easy to trouble shoot (most of the times it either works or it doesn't) and replacing any hardware is pretty easy and inexpensive. Especially when if you keep a warranty on your hardware.

Guess I never really needed anything extra to help me troubleshoot, so far so good.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[edfair]

Digital and analog meters.
I occasionally have use for a logic probe.

A POST card would be good.

Loopbacks can be built.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[cdkarp]

With over 300 assets and an average age of 3 years I have the need to test some hardware every once in a while. If something is out of warranty but still new enough to keep around, then I have to test hardware. Plus all the old crap that employees bring in to get fixed.

 

[gbaughma]

I have used a POST card in the past. They're pretty handy. Other than that, the only thing you need is a meter.

Let's look at a typical scenario;

Press power button - nothing --> start by checking power supply.

Press power button, all fans and drives spin up --> Power suppply probably all right

No video / no post beeps --> seat cards, test power supply

Post beeps --> Cross-reference post beeps against the motherboard, usually will tell you what's going on.

Listening is your best tool. If a hard drive is "clunking", and the machine won't boot, you've probably got a failing hard drive. If you complete POST tests, you can start looking at software issues, etc.

I have found that just doing stuff like swapping the RAM in the sockets will help diagnose memory issues, and so forth.

A POST card will show you the POST codes as they're happening, but I don't usually need one.



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[sjs1717]

Don't forget swap "known good"for"suspected bad

 

[Sympology]

I used to have test kit a few years ago, but then it got to messy. AMD processors would work in Intel slotes and vice versa, RAMBUS came along, then joys of PCI-E, PCI-X, SATA, AGP, list goes on and on.

It was to much hassle to consstantly keep up, so as above, swap good with bad and see what happens.

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[ceh4702]

A power supply tester can be handy. They are also pretty cheap.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[wahnula]

I agree with the power supply tester, another critical tool for me recently has been a 2-piece CAT5/phone cable tester. Seems rats think CAT5 is candy, I have several hidden runs and plugging a tester on each end has saved me a lot of time, it's the first thing I do when network problems arise on the wired machines. If the cable's bad they become wireless!

Tony

"Buy what you like, or you'll be forced to like what you buy"...me