Motherboard Selection Criteria's

I am often asked to make recommendations for purchases. Without guidance, many individuals have no rhyme or reason for their selections and instead base their choices solely on magazine reviews or, even worse, on some personal bias. To help eliminate this haphazard selection process, I have developed a simple motherboard selection checklist.
It helps to think like an engineer when you make your selection. Consider every aspect and detail of the motherboards in question. For instance, you should consider present usage as well as future uses and upgrades. Technical support at a professional (as opposed to a user) level is extremely important.
The following list includes some of the most important criteria to consider when selecting a motherboard:

1. Motherboard chipset—The motherboard chipset is the backbone of a system and it affects and influences virtually every other component in the system. So Before buying, compare the features of the available chipsets to ensure that the board will do what you want. For example, some chipsets include support for faster memory, PCIe 2.x cards, SATA 6Gbps drives, and optional RAID capabilities.
2. Processor socket—The processor socket on a motherboard dictates about the processor models you will be able to install. In most cases you will have a processor in mind, so choose a motherboard with a socket that supports the processor you want to use. Check the motherboard specifications for what specific processors are supported by a given motherboard.
3. Memory—The type and amount of memory compatible with a system depends on the motherboard you choose. Most motherboards today support either DDR2 or DDR3 memory, in either single-, dual-, or triple-channel operation. The number of memory sockets, supported speeds, and other variables also depend on the motherboard, so check the board specifications to see exactly what is supported.
4. Form factor—The form factor indicates the size and shape of the board and must be compatible with the chassis or case and power supply. For maximum flexibility, performance, reliability, and ease of use, motherboards based on the ATX and microATX form factors are recommended. Larger form factors such as ATX offer more slots and room for additional integrated components and features. Smaller variations on ATX are also available, but in the end you need to be sure that the motherboard is compatible with the case and power supply you have chosen.
5. Bus slots—Current systems offer one to five or more PCI and PCI Express slots (depending on the form factor). Some boards have more than one PCIe x16 (video card) slot, which you may want if you are running multiple video cards in an SLI or Crossfire X arrangement. Make sure the board you choose has the number and types of slots you require. Keep in mind that PCI is fading away on the latest motherboards, so if you want to use existing PCI cards, make sure you choose a motherboard that has enough PCI slots or has integrated ports that replace the functionality of your PCI cards.
6. Onboard ATA interfaces—All motherboards on the market have included onboard Serial and Parallel ATA interfaces for some time now, but not all are equal. Look for boards that include at least four to six SATA connectors, with support for 6Gbps operation as well as optional RAID functionality (if desired).
7. Other built-in interfaces—Ideally, a motherboard should contain as many built-in standard controllers and interfaces as possible. Most boards feature integrated USB, sound, and LAN (look for those offering gigabit Ethernet), whereas others also have integrated video, FireWire, eSATA, dual LAN adapters, and more. Motherboards with the latest generation of USB (USB 3.0) and SATA (6Gbps) are likely to cost more than boards using USB 2.0 and SATA 3Gbps, but by the time you add expansion cards to gain these features, the total cost of upgrading a board lacking these features added to the original motherboard cost usually makes the board with faster ports a better buy.
8. Documentation—Good technical documentation is important. Documents should be easy to download from the manufacturer’s site and should include information on any and all jumpers and switches found on the board, connector pinouts for all connectors, specifications for other plug-in components, and any other applicable technical information. Most vendors provide this information in electronic form ( PDF format) on their websites, so you can preview the information available for a given motherboard before you buy.
9. Technical support—Good online technical support goes beyond documentation. It includes easily downloadable driver and BIOS updates, FAQs, updated tables of processor and memory compatibility, and utility programs to help you monitor the condition of your system. In addition to these online support features, make sure the vendor can be contacted through email and by phone.Purchasing boards from better-known motherboard manufacturers such as GIGABYTE, Foxconn, and Intel is recommended. These boards might cost a little more, but there is some safety in the more well-known brands. That is, the more boards they sell, the more likely that any problems will have been discovered by others and solved long before you get yours. Also, if service or support is necessary, the larger vendors are more likely to be around in the long run.

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Overclock your PC

Setting the processors speed to run faster than the manufacturers rating on the chip is called overclocking. You can get away with a certain amount of overclocking on Intel, AMD, and other processors. So, a chip rated 3GHz might in fact run at 3.5GHz or more but instead being down-rated allows for a greater margin of reliability. By overclocking, you are using this margin and running the chip closer to its true maximum speed. I don’t normally recommend overclocking for a novice, but if you are comfortable playing with your system settings, and you can afford and are capable of dealing with potential consequences, overclocking might enable you to get another 10%–20% or more performance from your system.
Overclocking is usually applied to the processor, but it can also be applied to other components in the system, including memory, video cards, bus speeds, and more.
When chips run faster, they run hotter, so cooling upgrades and modifications usually go hand-in hand with overclocking. Systems that run cool tend to be more stable and more reliable, so even if you don’t overclock your system, ensuring that it runs cool is essential for trouble-free operation. Many systems are not properly designed or configured for optimal cooling even at their standard speeds, much less when overclocked.
Modern systems allow overclocking without replacing any parts by virtue of programmable timer chips and simple and easy-to-change BIOS Setup options. Some processors, such as Intel Extreme Edition and AMD Black Edition processors, are especially suited to overclocking because they feature unlocked core multipliers. However, some overclocking is possible with almost any processor.
A typical PC has at least two crystals on the motherboard: The main crystal controls the speed of the motherboard and motherboard circuitry, and the other controls the real-time clock (RTC). The main crystal is always 14.3MHz , and the RTC crystal is always 32.7KHz. A special chip called a frequency timing generator (FTG) or frequency synthesizer is used in conjunction with the crystal to derive the actual speeds of the system. A separate 32.768KHz crystal to count time independent from the speed of the system. This crystal is used on all modern motherboards as well.The crystal and frequency synthesizer chip are usually situated near the processor and main chipset component of the motherboard. Most of these chips are programmable and adjustable, so they can change their frequency outputs via software, which results in the system running at different speeds. Because all CPUs are based on the speed of the CPU bus, when you change the CPU bus speed generated by the frequency synthesizer chip, you can change the speed of your processor. Because the PCI, AGP, and memory buses are often synchronized with the speed of the processor bus, when you change the processor bus speed by a given percentage, you also change the speed of those other buses by the same percentage. The software to accomplish this is built into the BIOS Setup menus of most modern motherboards.
The modern motherboards can read the CPU and memory components to determine their proper speed, timing, and voltage settings. Originally, these settings were controlled by jumpers and switches, but in most modern boards you can enter the BIOS Setup to change these settings to manual and then alter the speed of the system. Such alterations can make the system unstable, so most systems are designed to boot into the BIOS Setup at a default low speed. This makes overclocking as simple as changing a few menu options and then rebooting to test the selections you’ve made.
The concept for overclocking is simple: Change the settings to increase the speed of the processor, memory, buses, and so on, until the system becomes unstable. Then you can go back in and reduce the settings until the system is stable again. In this manner, you find the maximum sustainable speed for a system. Because each processor is different, even ones with the same ratings can end up allowing different maximum stable speeds.

Bus Speeds and Multipliers

Modern processors run as a multiple of the motherboard speed, and this selected multiple is usually locked within the processor , all you can do to change speeds is change the processor bus speed settings. Many motherboards allow changes in speed of up to 50% or more, but a processor rarely sustains speeds that far above its rating without locking up or crashing. Also note that, by increasing the speed of the processor bus, you may also be increasing the speed of the memory bus, PCI bus, or PCI Express (or AGP) bus by the same percentage. Therefore, if your memory is unstable at the higher speed, the system will still crash, even though the processor might have been capable of sustaining it.

CPU Voltage Settings

By either increasing or decreasing voltage slightly from the standard, a higher speed of overclock can be achieved in the system. Some motherboards allow adjusting the voltage settings for the FSB, chipset, and memory components, allowing for even more control in overclocking situations. Some motherboards do not allow manual changes to these settings.

Processor Cooling

Heat is a problem in any high-performance system. The higher-speed, processors consume more power and therefore generate more heat. The processor is usually the single most power-hungry chip in a system, and in most situations, the fan inside your computer case is incapable of handling the load without some help. This is where heat sinks and other cooling process come.

Heatsinks

A heatsink works like the radiator in your car, pulling heat away from the engine. In a similar fashion, the heatsink conducts heat away from the processor so it can be vented out of the system. a fan is incorporated somewhere inside your PC to move air across the heatsink and vent it out of the system.  In some systems, the fan included in the power supply is enough when combined with a special heatsink design; in most cases, though, an additional fan must be attached directly over the processor heatsink to provide the necessary levels of cooling. Case fans are also typical in some systems to assist in moving the hot air out of the system and replacing it with cooler air from the outside. The heatsink is normally attached with clips or snap-in retainers. A variety of heatsinks and attachment methods exist.When installing or removing a heatsink that is clipped on, be sure you don’t scrape the surface of the motherboard.

Liquid Cooling

One of the more extreme methods for cooling a PC is to use some form of liquid cooling. Liquids have a much greater thermal carrying capacity than air, and as processors run hotter and hotter, it can be advantageous or even necessary to use a form of liquid cooling to dissipate the extreme levels of heat generated, especially in smaller or more confined spaces.Several forms of liquid cooling are available,including the following:


■ Heat pipes
■ Water cooling
■ Refrigeration
Of all the types of liquid cooling available, heat pipes are the only type that is practical and cost effective in production-level PCs. Water cooling and especially refrigeration are limited to those who are pursuing extreme overclocking and are willing to pay the high prices and put up with all the drawbacks and disadvantages that come with these two options.

Thermally Advantaged Chassis

Chassis that have been specifically designed to improve cooling for the processor by maintaining a temperature of 40°C or less at the processor heatsink inlet are often referred to as thermally advantaged chassis. Using a thermally advantaged chassis allows the processor to remain cool, even under extreme environmental conditions, and it reduces noise. Most modern processors and chassis incorporate cooling systems that can adjust the speeds of the fans.

Best Overclocking Software's :

1. CPUZ and GPUZ
2. AMD Overdrive
3. Intel Desktop Control Center 

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POST Diagnostic Front Panel LEDs and Audible Codes

Activity	Beeps	Possible Cause	Recommended Action
Red Power LED flashes two times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.	2	Processor thermal protection activated: A fan may be blocked or not turning. OR The heatsink/fan assembly is not properly attached to the processor.	1. Ensure that the computer air vents are not blocked and the processor cooling fan is running. 2. Open hood, press power button, and see if the processor fan spins. If the processor fan is not spinning, make sure the fan's cable is plugged onto the system board header. Ensure the fan is fully/properly seated or installed. 3. If fan is plugged in and seated properly, but is not spinning, then replace processor fan. 4. Reseat processor heatsink and verify that the fan assembly is properly attached.
Red Power LED flashes three times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.	3	Processor not installed (not an indicator of bad processor).	1. Check to see that the processor is present. 2. Reseat the processor.
Red Power LED flashes four times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.	4	Power failure (power supply is overloaded).	1. Open the hood and ensure the 4 or 6-wire power supply cable is seated into the connector on the system board. 2. Check if a device is causing the problem by removing ALL attached devices (such as hard, diskette, or optical drives, and expansion cards). Power on the system. If the system enters the POST, then power off and replace one device at a time and repeat this procedure until failure occurs. Replace the device that is causing the failure. Continue adding devices one at a time to ensure all devices are functioning properly. 3. Replace the power supply. 4. Replace the system board.
Red Power LED flashes five times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.	5	Pre-video memory error.	1. Reseat DIMMs. Power on the system. 2. Replace DIMMs one at a time to isolate the faulty module. 3. Replace memory. 4. Replace the system board.
Red Power LED flashes six times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.	6	Pre-video graphics error.	For systems with a graphics card: 1. Reseat the graphics card. Power on the system. 2. Replace the graphics card. 3. Replace the system board. For systems with integrated graphics, replace the system board.
Red Power LED flashes seven times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.	7	System board failure (ROM detected failure prior to video).	Replace the system board.
Red Power LED flashes eight times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.	8	Invalid ROM based on bad checksum.	1. Reflash the system ROM with the latest BIOS image. 2. Replace the system board.
Red Power LED flashes nine times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.	9	System powers on but is unable to boot.	1. Check that the voltage selector, located on the rear of the power supply (some models), is set to the appropriate voltage. Proper voltage setting depends on your region. 2. Replace the system board. 3. Replace the processor.
Red Power LED flashes ten times, once every second, followed by a two second pause. Beeps stop after fifth iteration but LEDs continue until problem is solved.	10	Bad option card.	1. Check each option card by removing the card (one at a time if multiple cards), then power on the system to see if fault goes away. 2. Once a bad card is identified, remove and replace the bad option card. 3. Replace the system board.
System does not power on and LEDs are not flashing.	None	System unable to power on.	Press and hold the power button for less than 4 seconds. If the hard drive LED turns green, then: 1. Check that the voltage selector, located on the rear of the power supply, is set to the appropriate voltage. Proper voltage setting depends on your region. 2. Remove the expansion cards one at  time until the 5V_aux light on the system board turns on. 3. Replace the system board. OR Press and hold the power button for less than 4 seconds. If the hard drive LED does not turn on green then: 1. Check that the unit is plugged into a working AC outlet. 2. Open hood and check that the power button harness is properly connected to the system board. 3. Check that both power supply cables are properly connected to the system board. 4. Check to see if the 5V_aux light on the system board is turned on. If it is turned on, then replace the power button harness. 5. If the 5V_aux light on the system board is not turned on, then replace the power supply. 6. Replace the system board.

Technorati Tags: Troubleshoot,Computer,POST,Error,Recover

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POST Error Messages

The error codes, error messages, and the various indicator light and audible sequences that you may encounter during Power-On Self-Test (POST) or computer restart are given below, the probable source of the problem, and steps you can take to resolve the error condition. POST Message Disabled suppresses most system messages during POST, such as memory count and non-error text messages. If a POST error occurs, the screen will display the error message. To manually switch to the POST Messages Enabled mode during POST, press any key (except F10 or F12). The default mode is POST Message Disabled.
The speed at which the computer loads the operating system and the extent to which it is tested are determined by the POST mode selection. Quick Boot is a fast startup process that does not run all of the system level tests, such as the memory test. Full Boot runs all of the ROM-based system tests and takes longer to complete.

Code/Message	Probable Cause	Recommended Action
101-Option ROM Checksum Error	System ROM or expansion board option ROM checksum	1. Verify the correct ROM. 2. Flash the ROM if needed. 3. If an expansion board was recently added, remove it to see if the problem remains. 4. Clear CMOS. 5. If the message disappears, there may be a problem with the expansion card. 6. Replace the system board.
103-System Board Failure	DMA or timers.	1. Clear CMOS. 2. Remove expansion boards. 3. Replace the system board.
110-Out of Memory Space for Option ROMs	Recently added PCI expansion card contains an option ROM too large to download during POST.	1. If a PCI expansion card was recently added, remove it to see if the problem remains. 2. In Computer Setup, set Advanced > Device Options > NIC PXE Option ROM Download to DISABLE to prevent PXE option ROM for the internal NIC from being downloaded during POST to free more memory for an expansion card's option ROM. Internal PXE option ROM is used for booting from the NIC to a PXE server. 3. Ensure the ACPI/USB Buffers @ Top of Memory setting in Computer Setup is enabled
162-System Options Not Set	Configuration incorrect. RTC (real-time clock) battery may need to be replaced	Run Computer Setup and check the configuration in Advanced > Onboard Devices. Reset the date and time under Control Panel. If the problem persists, replace the RTC battery.
163-Time & Date Not Set	Invalid time or date in configuration memory. RTC (real-time clock) battery may need to be replaced. CMOS jumper may not be properly installed.	Reset the date and time under Control Panel (Computer Setup can also be used). If the problem persists, replace the RTC battery. Check for proper placement of the CMOS jumper if applicable.
164-Memory Size Error	Memory amount has changed since the last boot (memory added or  removed). Memory configuration incorrect.	Press the F1 key to save the memory changes. 1. Run Computer Setup or Windows utilities. 2. Make sure the memory module(s) are installed properly. 3. Verify proper memory module type.
201-Memory Error	RAM failure.	1. Run Computer Setup or Windows utilities. 2. Ensure memory modules are correctly installed. 3. Verify proper memory module type. 4. Remove and replace the identified faulty memory module(s). 5. If the error persists after replacing memory modules, replace the system board.
213-Incompatible Memory Module in Memory Socket(s) X, X, ...	A memory module in memory socket identified in the error message is missing critical SPD information, or is incompatible with the chipset.	1. Verify proper memory module type. 2. Try another memory socket. 3. Replace DIMM with a module conforming to the SPD standard.
214-DIMM Configuration Warning	Populated DIMM Configuration is not optimized.	Rearrange the DIMMs so that each channel has the same amount of memory.
219-ECC Memory Module Detected ECC Modules not supported on this Platform	Recently added memory module(s) support ECC memory error correction.	1. If additional memory was recently added, remove it to see if the problem remains. 2. Check product documentation for memory support information.
301-Keyboard Error	Keyboard failure.	1. Reconnect keyboard with computer turned off. 2. Check connector for bent or missing pins. 3. Ensure that none of the keys are depressed. 4. Replace keyboard
303-Keyboard Controller Error	I/O board keyboard controller.	1. Reconnect keyboard with computer turned off. 2. Replace the system board.
304-Keyboard or System Unit Error	Keyboard failure.	1. Reconnect the keyboard with computer turned off. 2. Ensure that none of the keys are depressed. 3. Replace the keyboard. 4. Replace the system board.
404-Parallel Port Address Conflict Detected	Both external and internal ports are assigned to parallel port X.	1. Remove any parallel port expansion cards. 2. Clear CMOS. 3. Reconfigure card resources and/or run Computer Setup.
410-Audio Interrupt Conflict	IRQ address conflicts with another device.	Enter Computer Setup and reset the IRQ in Advanced > Onboard Devices.
411-Network Interface Card Interrupt Conflict	IRQ address conflicts with another device.	Enter Computer Setup and reset the IRQ in Advanced > Onboard Devices.
501-Display Adapter Failure	Graphics display controller.	1. Reseat the graphics card (if applicable). 2. Clear CMOS. 3. Verify monitor is attached and turned on. 4. Replace the graphics card (if possible).
510-Flash Screen Image Corrupted	Flash Screen image has errors.	Reflash the system ROM with the latest BIOS image.
511-CPU, CPUA, or CPUB Fan not Detected	CPU fan is not connected or may have malfunctioned.	1. Reseat CPU fan. 2. Reseat fan cable. 3. Replace CPU fan.
512-Chassis, Rear Chassis, or Front Chassis Fan not Detected	Chassis, rear chassis, or front chassis fan is not connected or may have malfunctioned.	1. Reseat chassis, rear chassis, or front chassis fan. 2. Reseat fan cable. 3. Replace chassis, rear chassis, or front chassis fan.
514-CPU or Chassis Fan not Detected	CPU or chassis fan is not connected or may have malfunctioned	1. Reseat CPU or chassis fan. 2. Reseat fan cable. 3. Replace CPU or chassis fan.
660-Display cache is detected unreliable	Integrated graphics controller display cache is not working properly and will be disabled.	Replace system board if minimal graphics degrading is an issue.
917-Front Audio Not Connected	Front audio harness has been detached or unseated from motherboard.	Reconnect or replace front audio harness.
918-Front USB Not Connected	Front USB harness has been detached or unseated from motherboard.	Reconnect or replace front USB harness.
921-Device in PCI Express slot failed to initialize	There is an incompatibility/problem with this device and the system or PCI Express Link could not be retrained to an x1.	Try rebooting the system. If the error reoccurs, the device may not work with this system
1151-Serial Port A Address Conflict Detected	Both external and internal serial ports are assigned to COM1	1. Remove any serial port expansion cards. 2. Clear CMOS. 3. Reconfigure card resources and/or run Computer Setup or Windows utilities
1152-Serial Port B Address Conflict Detected	Both external and internal serial ports are assigned to COM2	1. Remove any serial port expansion cards. 2. Clear CMOS. 3. Reconfigure card resources and/or run Computer Setup or Windows utilities.
1155-Serial Port Address Conflict Detected	Both external and internal serial ports are assigned to same IRQ.	1. Remove any serial port expansion cards. 2. Clear CMOS. 3. Reconfigure card resources and/or run Computer Setup or Windows utilities.
1201-System Audio Address Conflict Detected	Device IRQ address conflicts with another device.	Enter Computer Setup and reset the IRQ in Advanced > Onboard Devices.
1202-MIDI Port Address Conflict Detected	Device IRQ address conflicts with another device.	Enter Computer Setup and reset the IRQ in Advanced > Onboard Devices.
1203-Game Port Address Conflict Detected	Device IRQ address conflicts with another device.	Enter Computer Setup and reset the IRQ in Advanced > Onboard Devices.
1720-SMART Hard Drive Detects Imminent Failure	Hard drive is about to fail. (Some hard drives have a hard drive firmware patch that will fix an erroneous error message.)	1. Determine if hard drive is giving correct error message. Enter Computer Setup and run the Drive Protection System test under Storage > DPS Self-test. 2. Apply hard drive firmware patch if applicable. 3. Back up contents and replace hard drive.
1794-Inaccessible devices attached to SATA 1 and/or SATA 3	A device is attached to SATA 1 and/or SATA 3. Devices attached to these connectors will be inaccessible while “SATA Emulation” is set to “Combined IDE Controller” in Computer Setup.	1. If using Windows 2000 or Windows XP, change “SATA Emulation” to “Separate IDE Controller” in Computer Setup. 2. If not using Windows 2000 or Windows XP, relocate the affected devices to SATA 0 or SATA 2 (if available). 3. Remove the affected devices from SATA 1 and SATA 3.
1796-SATA Cabling Error	One or more SATA devices are improperly attached. For optimal performance, the SATA 0 and SATA 1 connectors must be used before SATA 2 and SATA 3.	Ensure SATA connectors are used in ascending order. For one device, use SATA 0. For two devices, use SATA 0 and SATA 1. For three devices, use SATA 0, SATA1, and SATA 2.
1801-Microcode Patch Error	Processor is not supported by ROM BIOS.	1. Upgrade BIOS to proper version. 2. Change the processor.
Network Server Mode Active and No Keyboard Attached	Keyboard failure while Network Server Mode enabled.	1. Reconnect keyboard with computer turned off. 2. Check connector for bent or missing pins. 3. Ensure that none of the keys are depressed. 4. Replace keyboard
System will not boot without fan	CPU fan not installed or disconnected in VSFF chassis.	1. Open hood, press the Power button, and see if the processor fan spins. If the processor fan is not spinning, make sure the fan's cable is plugged onto the system board header. Ensure the heatsink is properly seated and installed. 2. If the fan is plugged in and the heatsink is properly seated but the fan does not spin, then replace the heatsink-fan assembly.

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Password Security and Resetting CMOS

A computer supports two security password features that are established through the Computer Setup Utilities menu: setup password and power-on password. When you establish only a setup password, any user can access all the information on the computer except Computer Setup. When you establish only a power-on password, the power-on password is required to access Computer Setup and any other information on the computer. When you establish both passwords, only the setup password will give you access to Computer Setup.
When both passwords are set, the setup password can also be used in place of the power-on password as an override to log in to the computer. This is a useful feature for a network administrator. If you forget the password for the computer, there are two methods for clearing that password so you can gain access to the information on the computer:

• Resetting the password jumper
• Using the Clear CMOS button

  CAUTION: Pushing the CMOS button will reset CMOS values to factory defaults and will erase any customized information including passwords, asset numbers, and special settings. It is important to back up the
computer CMOS settings before resetting them in case they are needed later. Back up is easily done through Computer Setup.

 

Resetting the Password Jumper

To disable the power-on or setup password features, or to clear the power-on or setup passwords, complete the following steps:

1. Shut down the operating system properly, then turn off the computer and any external devices, and disconnect the power cord from the power outlet.
2. With the power cord disconnected, press the power button again to drain the system of any residual power.
3. Remove the computer cover or access panel.
4. Locate the header and jumper.
5. Remove the jumper from pins 1 and 2. Place the jumper on either pin 1 or 2, but not both, so that it does not get lost.
6. Replace the computer cover or access panel.
7. Reconnect the external equipment.
8. Plug in the computer and turn on power. Allow the operating system to start. This clears the current passwords and disables the password features.
9. To establish new passwords, repeat steps 1 through 4, replace the password jumper on pins 1 and 2, then repeat steps 6 through 8.

 

Clearing and Resetting the CMOS

The computer’s configuration memory (CMOS) stores password information and information about the computer’s configuration.

Using the CMOS Button

1. Turn off the computer and any external devices, and disconnect the power cord from the power outlet.
2. Disconnect the keyboard, monitor, and any other external equipment connected to the computer.

3. Remove the computer cover or access panel.

4. Locate, press, and hold the CMOS button in for five seconds.

5. Replace the computer cover or access panel.

6. Reconnect the external devices.
7. Plug in the computer and turn on power.

You will receive POST error messages after clearing CMOS and rebooting advising you that configuration changes have occurred. Use Computer Setup to reset your passwords and any special system setups along with the date and time.

  CAUTION: Pushing the CMOS button will reset CMOS values to factory defaults and will erase any customized information including passwords, asset numbers, and special settings. It is important to back up the
computer CMOS settings before resetting them in case they are needed later.

Using Computer Setup to Reset CMOS

To reset CMOS through Computer Setup, you must first access the Computer Setup Utilities menu. When the Computer Setup message appears in the lower-right corner of the screen, press the F10 key. Press Enter to bypass the title screen, if necessary. (If you do not press the F10 key while the message is displayed, you must turn the computer off, then on again, to access the utility.) A choice of five headings appears in the Computer Setup Utilities menu: File, Storage, Security, Power, and Advanced.
To reset CMOS to the factory default settings first set time and date, then use the arrow keys or the Tab key to select File > Set Defaults and Exit. This resets the soft settings that include boot sequence order and other factory settings. It will not, however, force hardware rediscovery.

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Troubleshooting Power Supply

Symptom	Possible solution
Computer will not turn on or start.	Ensure that cables connecting the computer to the external power source are plugged in properly. When the cables connecting the computer to the external power source are plugged in properly and the wall outlet is functioning, the green power supply light on the back of the computer should be on; if the light is not on, refer to the Limited Warranty and Support Guide to contact Support. If the display (monitor) is blank, the monitor may not be properly connected. Connect the monitor to the computer, plug it in, and turn it on. Set the line voltage selection switch to the correct setting for your country/region, or refer to the Limited Warranty and Support Guide to contact Support. Test the outlet by connecting a different electrical device to the outlet. Incompatible memory (RAM) may have been installed. Reinstall the old memory to return your computer to its original state.   Reseat the hard disk drive’s data and power cables.
Invalid system disk or Non-System disk or disk error message displays.	When drive activity stops, remove the disk and press the spacebar. The computer should start up.
Computer does not turn off when the On button is pressed.	Press and hold the On button until the computer turns off.
Computer shuts down automatically.	The computer may be in an exceedingly hot environment. Let it cool down. Ensure computer air vents are not blocked and internal fan is running. Note that your computer may not have an internal fan.
Computer date and time display is incorrect	The real-time clock (RTC) battery may need to be replaced. Battery life is approximately seven years. Before replacing the battery, try resetting the date and time in your operating system by using the Control Panel. If the problem persists, replace the battery.

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Troubleshoot Keyboard and Mouse

Symptom	Possible solution
Keyboard commands and typing are not recognized by the computer.	Turn off the computer , reconnect the keyboard to the back of your computer, and then turn on your computer.
Keyboard Print button does not work.	Use the Print menu item in the program (usually located on the File menu).
Wireless keyboard does not work or is not detected.	Ensure the keyboard is within the range of the receiver. Replace the batteries in the wireless keyboard. Refer to the documentation that came with the keyboard.
Wireless mouse does not work or is not detected	Ensure the mouse is within the range of the receiver. Replace the batteries in the wireless mouse. Refer to the documentation that came with the mouse.
Cursor does not respond to mouse movement.	Restart your computer using the keyboard: Press the Alt and Tab keys on the keyboard at the same time to navigate to an open application. Press the Ctrl and S keys on the keyboard at the same time to save your changes in the selected application (Ctrl+S is the keyboard command for Save on most — not all — applications). After saving changes in all open applications, press the Ctrl and Esc keys on the keyboard at the same time to display the Start menu. Use the arrow keys to select the Arrow button next to the Lock button. Select Shut Down, and then press the Enter key on the keyboard. After the shutdown is complete, reconnect the mouse connector to the back of your computer, and then turn on your computer.
Cursor responds slowly to mouse movement.	Use a mouse pad or other rough surface under the mouse. If you have a rollerball mouse, clean the roller ball.
Cursor does not move using the arrow keys on the number key pad.	Press the Num Lock key. The Num Lock light should not be on if you want to use the arrow keys on the number key pad.
Optical mouse does not track cursor well.	Place the mouse on a mouse pad or white sheet of paper, or gently wipe the light sensor lens on the bottom of the mouse with a lint-free cloth (not paper).
Cursor moves too fast or too slow.	Adjust the cursor speed: Click the Windows Start Button, Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, and then Mouse. Click the Pointer Options tab. Adjust the Motion slider toward Slow or Fast to decrease or increase the speed at which the pointer (cursor) responds to mouse movement. Click OK.

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Troubleshoot Display (Monitor)

Symptom	Possible solution
Screen is blank, and monitor power light is not lit.	Reconnect the power plug on the back of the monitor and the wall outlet. Press the On button on the front of the monitor.
Screen is blank.	Press the space bar or move the mouse to make the screen display visible again. Press the Sleep button (select models only), or press the Esc key on the keyboard to resume from sleep mode. Press the On button to turn on the computer. Inspect the monitor video connector for bent pins: *  If any of the pins are bent, replace the monitor connector cable. *  If no pins are bent, reconnect the monitor connector cable to the computer.
Images on the screen are too large or too small, or the images are fuzzy.	Adjust the monitor resolution setting in your OS (Windows 7 ) : Right-click the desktop, and then select Personalize. Click Display Settings. Adjust the Resolution slider as needed.

 

In addition to the information listed here, also refer to the documentation that came with your monitor.

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Troubleshooting Video

Symptom	Possible solution
Some video files do not play.	Your file may be corrupt or in an unsupported format. Open the video file in a video editor, and then resave the file in a supported format.
Codec error messages appear when I play certain video files.	Open the file in Windows Media Player. Ensure Windows Media Player is configured to automatically download codecs. If the correct codec is available, the file will play. Note that you must be connected to the Internet to download the codec file. If the correct codec is not available, check to see if there is an update available for Windows Media Player. For more information, open Windows Media Player Help, and then search the online Help for codec.
Error message: Files Needed To Display Video Are Missing or Corrupt.	Click the Windows Start Button, right-click Computer, and then select Properties. Under Tasks, click Device Manager. Click the plus sign (+) next to Sound, video and game controllers. Right-click TV tuner (select models only) and then select Update Driver Software. Select Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the instructions to update the driver. If prompted, restart the computer.

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Troubleshooting CD and DVD Drives

Symptom	Possible solution
The CD or DVD drive cannot read a disc or takes too long to start	Ensure the disc is inserted with the label facing up and centered in the tray. Wait at least 30 seconds to let the drive determine the type of media. Clean the disc with a disc cleaning kit, available from most computer stores. The driver may be corrupted or out-dated. Update the Driver.
I cannot remove a CD or DVD	Turn on your computer, and press the Eject button nearest the drive to open the tray. If you suspect a problem with the actual Eject button: Click the Windows Start Button and then Computer. Right-click the CD or DVD drive you want to open. Select Eject from the menu
I cannot create (burn) a disc	Ensure the disc is inserted with the label facing up and centered in the tray. Verify that you are using the correct disc type (media) for the drive. Try a different brand of disc. Make sure the disc is clean and undamaged. If recording stopped during a recording session, the disc may be damaged ; Use a different disc. Use the correct type of disc for the type of files you are recording. When using a CD-R disc, make sure that it is blank when recording music and is blank or append able (with space to add more data files) when recording data. Verify that you are using the correct disc type when making a copy of a disc. Some recording programs can record only to the same disc type as the source. For example, you can record a DVD only to a DVD+R/–R or a DVD+RW/–RW disc, and you can record a CD only to a CD-R or a CD-RW disc. Make sure the disc is in the correct drive and you specify the same drive in the CD or DVD recording software. Select a slower write speed for the recording drive, if it is available. The recording software may not let you add a track if it exceeds the available space on your disc. You can make space available by removing one or more tracks from the list before recording the files to disc. Close all software programs and windows before recording. Make sure you have enough space available on your hard disk drive to store a temporary copy of the content. Click the Windows Start Button, then Computer. Right-click on the hard disk drive and select Properties to view the space available. If you are on a network, copy the files from a network drive to your hard disk drive first, and then record them to disc. Close all programs and windows and then restart your computer.
I cannot add data to a DVD	Make sure you set the correct recording option (append or add data files) in your DVD burning software
Titles of music tracks are not displayed for the CD	The computer must be connected to the Internet for the artist, title, and track information to appear when playing music CDs. This information is not recorded on the disc. Track information may not be available for every CD.
An error message appears when capturing video.	You may need to select the capture device if your computer has both an analog and a digital video capture device. Refer to the Help menu in the video capture program to find out how to change the video device selection.
I cannot play a DVD movie on a DVD player.	Your DVD player cannot play video files recorded onto the DVD as data files. To play a movie properly, use a video recording program. Some video files may be viewed on a computer, but not on a home DVD video player.

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Troubleshooting Audio

Symptom	Possible solution
No sound is produced	Press the Mute button on the keyboard to see if the Mute feature is turned on. Or Click the Windows Start Button, and then click Control Panel. Click Hardware and Sound, and then Adjust system volume. If applications are muted, click the mute button to unmute.
	Click the task bar Volume icon , or use the keyboard controls to increase the volume.
	Ensure powered (active) speakers are turned on.
	Turn off your computer, and reconnect the speakers.
	Press the Sleep button (select models only), or press the Esc key on the keyboard to resume from sleep mode.
	Replace the passive speaker system with an active speaker system (sold separately). Active speakers have a power cord and On button and connect to the Audio Out (green) connector on the computer.
	Unplug headphones if they are connected to your computer.
Codec error messages appear when certain audio files are played.	Open the file in Windows Media Player. Ensure Windows Media Player is configured to automatically download codecs. If the correct codec is available, the file will play. Note that you must be connected to the Internet to download the codec file. If the correct codec is not available, check to see if there is an update available for Windows Media Player. Download the codec from Internet.

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Bring a dead Hard Drive back to life

Recover data from a dead hard drive by physically changing platters and saving thousands in per GB professional recovery charges

Your hard drive though seemingly tough is in fact pretty delicate and contains precious data. HDDs have plenty of mechanical parts and the more there are, the more things can go wrong. One fine day you’ll come across this….

Operating system not found

The most probable cause for this is a hard drive failure. During the numerous restarts that you’ll perform after this happens, there is a likelihood that you drive may be detected again. Immediately take a backup onto any other drive you may have connected to your PC. However, when all else fails, and you desperately need your data you can swap the platters of your current drive to a hard drive with similar make and hope to recover it.

Before you go about doing so, you’ll have to figure out where exactly the problem lies. If it so happens that your logic board on your hard drive is wrecked then you’ll have to find a similar logic board and transfer it onto the drive. Depending on the severity of your problem, you may have to perform a live swap, which requires you to swap the PCB after connecting it and the OS has initialized the drive. This may work and if it does, keep an extra drive nearby to backup all your data. There are few criteria that need to be satisfied in order to get a matching PCB. Check box. You can buy a spoil HDD and use its PCB. If you can’t find the needed PCB easily then there are specialty stores that stores that stock just PCBs and with any luck you’ll find the one you need, for about Rs.2000 – 5000.

We found 2 drivers of the same make, one of which went kaput a few years ago. After a round of diagnostics, it was fond out that we’d have to swap platters to extract the data from the spoilt disc.

The PCB here shows you the Micro-controller (MCU) and Flash BIOS chip. There in combination with information stored on the platter tell the MCU how to read/write data across the platter. So it is absolutely essential that you retain the flash BIOS chip. Often swapping the platters along with the PCB does the trick and will allow you to read the data via the OS. In case your OS ask you to initialize the HDD again, so not do so. Instead, boot up in a Linux distro and install ddrescue, it’ll copy your data bit-by-bit onto another drive.

All these operations need to be followed in a clean room, which is a room with very few particulate matters and has continuous air flow. The air is filtered to such an extent that there are barely 12 particles (<0.1um) within a cubic meter of air compared to 35 million particles which is present in a cubic meter or room air.

We remove the HDD covers, take out one half of the magnet and then the actuator limiter. We insert a small piece of rolled up paper in between the head armature to separate it from the platter surface, slowly slide the head away from the center while rotating the platter counter-clock wise.

Remove the metal ring holding the platters in place and transplant this platter into the donor casing. Do not touch either surface or bring any magnetic devices near it. Put back the metal ring and secure it. Slide in the head while rotating the platter counter-clock wise and remove the rolled up paper gently so that the head rests easily on to the resting area and doesn’t slam on to the platter. The heads are very sensitive and proper care must be taken. Insert the limiter and the magnet. Secure the magnet and close the HDD casing. Flip the HDD and swap the PCB on to the donor drive. Connect the drive and check if your OS can access your data. You have a very narrow window to copy all your data over, especially if you performed the entire operation outside a clean room. If your OS cannot read the data but asks you to initialize the drive. Use ddrescue to perform a bit-by-bit copy.

SIGNS OF A DYING HDD

1.    Clicking sound

2.   Frequent BSODs

3.   S.M.A.R.T. Data

4.   HDD Intermittently disappearing from the BIOS screen

5.   Grinding noise

6.   Abrupt OS hangs

CHECKING FOR PCB COMPATIBILITY

1.    Same PCB type

2.   Same PCB revision

3.   Is WD, match the DCM (Drive Configuration Matrix) till the 4-5^th character. Interpreting the DCM –

a.  Motor

b.   Base

c.   Latch

d.  Bottom VCM

e.   Media

f.    Headstack

g.   Actuator – Preamp

h.  Top VCM

i.    Separator

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Troubleshoot a buggy system…. Like a boss

We’ve all faced that dreaded moment when we try to turn on our computer and either it doesn’t start at all or stops functioning unexpectedly. At this point we feel frustrated and exasperated, and many of us are clueless as to what to do next. Fret not; this workshop will equip you with many Do-It-Yourself solutions for fixing a crashed or a malfunctioning computer. All you need is basic computer knowledge, some tools, a little patience and a can of Red Bull. As with anything to do with PC repair, you need to try different approaches and so this guide won’t try to spoon-feed you, but will provide pointers in the right direction.

Here we present a top down organized checklist to guide you in troubleshooting. We’ll be using the Worst to Best Case Scenario Methodology for diagnosing of the issues in this workshop. This means we’ll start with the Worst Case of your computer not starting at all to the Best Case where it requires a minor tweak, and all the steps in between. Identify how broken your computer is, and start fixing. A word of advice: even if you’re not facing the Worst Case Scenario [the problem], it’s strongly recommended to run through the checklist as the problem might be a result of something mentioned in the previous steps. The guide will apply for both laptops and desktops and either of Windows or Linux operating systems.

Checklist

The first thing to do when faced with a malfunctioning system is to calm down; panic won’t help. To reassure you a bit, there is over a 90% chance that your data is still safe; it’s just not accessible to you, right now. Often it might be a simple issue of loose connections or an inexpensive price of broken hardware or a wrong setting. Let’s begin with the worst case scenario.

Your computer doesn’t turn on at all

1.    Check the basics: Sounds silly but is your power on? Is the display up? Look for any LED activity lights (power, hard disk, and network) and listen to any spinning noises of fan and hard disk. If there are no signs of life then perform the following checks on else skip to the next step.

2.    In case of desktop check if the main power chord is attached to the wall, the switch is on and also if there is power supply in the socket, try putting some other appliance in there.

3.    For laptops ensure your battery is charged, and the laptop is connected to a charger. Try putting in another battery if you have access to the same or one from a similar model.

4.   Check if the reset switch on the front panel from your case is stuck. You can check by pressing it. If you can’t move it, that means that it is stuck, and you need to release it using a small screwdriver. In the worst case you’ll need to replace it.

5.    If you’re on a desktop, try reconnecting all the cables and do a bit of dusting. You won’t believe that number of systems that turn on simply by reassembling and cleaning off all the dust.

If at this point it’s still not turning on, it’s likely that your SMPS has conked off. You’ll need to replace it with new one.

System turns on, but absolutely no display or switches off immediately

1.    Ensure that your monitor is plugged in and switched on and is working properly. Try connecting your monitor to another device if possible.

2.    With laptops you’re a little out of luck. The error might not be only with display panel but also the cable that powers it or the graphics card (if nothing at all is displayed) a graphics card error is rare.

3.    Don’t worry, all is not lost yet; you would have noticed your computer beeps when you boot it, at this point most popularly your beeping pattern has changed.

a.   Power on the computer or restart it if it’s already on.

b.   Listen very carefully to the beeps that are being emitted by a small speaker on your motherboard [you don’t need external speakers]

c.    You can restart your computer a few times if you couldn’t hear it properly the first time; it’s unlikely that by merely restarting a few times you’ll make your issue far worse. Of course refrain from doing this if any burning smell or smoke is at play.

d.   Note down the exact beep pattern, the points to note are if it was a short beep or a long beep, and how often was it repeated.

e.     Now Google for the beep codes of your respective motherboard/BIOS manufacturer. For example for AWARD BIOS (one of the most common one), you can find the beep code listening at http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm . You’ll notice that you can find a great deal of information on your issue.

4.   Often in these scenarios, one typical issue can be solved by resetting the RAM. It’s simple to do even on laptops and nearly all manufacturers, except Apple. You’ll have a simple panel at the back which can be removed top access the RAM. You don’t need any specialized tools, but be sure to keep one barefoot on the ground while handling the RAM to prevent damage by static discharge.

Turns on but doesn’t start booting into OS

This issue is typically encountered where either your Master Boot Loader (which tells what to load in Boot Loader, refer to BOX 2) is broken or your Boot Loader is broken. This arises in two typical scenarios. One when you’re trying to install Windows after installing Linux, and then you find yourself with no way to enter Linux after installing Windows, and then deleted Linux partition. Or if you’re simply seeing the dreaded “BootMgr is missing” issue. Read on.

1.    You want only Windows

a.   For windows XP, insert your disk. Press ‘R’ to enter the recovery console. When you reach her command prompt simply enter “fixmbr” let the process finish, reboot the system, remove the disk and voila it’ll start working.

b.   For Windows 7/Vista, insert your setup/recovery disk. After that, click next through the usual options; select “Repair your computer”. It will then list out your installed Operating Systems, select the correct one. Click next and from the following menu for choosing a recovery tool, select “Startup Repair”. Let the process finish, reboot your system and remove your disk. You can also accomplish the same by choosing the command prompt option and simply typing “bootrec/fixboot”

c.    In case you don’t have a setup or recovery disk, or your system doesn’t have CD drive, then take out your Linux Live Pen Drive [refer TOOLBOX]. Boot into Linux. Open a terminal session by Applications > Accessories > Terminal and type in the following

“sudo apt-get install ms-sys”

Followed by:

“sudo fdisk -1”

Look for something like

/dev/sdal XYZXYZ NTFS

At the end of the output and then type:

“sudo ms-sys –m/dev/sda”

Note there is no “1” in the above command, it would be between “sda” or “had” or “sdb” depending on your system.

Reboot the machine, remove your pen drive and you’re done.

2.    You want both Windows and Linux

     Follow step c from the previous set, but instead type this:

“sudo fdisk -1”

Figure out the device where Linux is installed from “sda”/”hda”/”sdb”

And then type:

“sudo grub-install /dev/XXX”

Where XXX is the above mentioned device name. Reboot your system.

Starts booting but shuts down

1.    Keep pressing F8 key while the system boots, to access the startup menu and see if Windows will boot into Safe Mode. If you’re able to get into Windows, the problem is most likely with your graphics card drivers, junk applications, or perhaps some spyware applications. Try remembering your recent changes and revert them from here.

2.    Most Linux distributions will also give you a recovery option right at the bootloader (Grub) stage. Try that and then do the same as above.

3.    For Windows, if Safe Mode doesn’t work, try using the “Last Known Good Configuration” option.

4.   Since Windows 7, the System Restore tool has become a decently mature tool. You can access System Restore via the recovery disk as explained above, where instead of “Startup Repair” you can choose “System Restore”. If you don’t have the disk and can access the command prompt from the F8 menu, then log in as administrator and type

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe to start system restore. If at this point your system still doesn’t start, you might need to reinstall the OS in the case of Windows (Don’t worry, your data will still be safe).

Boots into the OS, some hardware not working

In case you have a piece of hardware which was previously working but has now stopped working, try the following:

1.    Check that piece of hardware on another machine to see if it’s a hardware issue or a software issue. If you lack access to another machine, booting into an Ubuntu Live CD and seeing if the hardware works there can provide a good workaround.

2.    If it works, then it’s most probably a driver update issue. Go to Control Panel > Device Manager, then select the malfunctioning device and click on update driver. If it doesn’t fix the issue, go to the respective manufacturer’s website, download the latest device driver from there and install it.

Boots into OS, non-optimum performance

1.    If you can’t find a partition, type Disk management in Start menu and explore what the issue is. If you’re unable to get to this stage, then you can pop up in the Ubuntu Live drive and Open the “Gparted Tool” to investigate.

2.    Blue screen of death: If you consistently find yourself running into the Blue Screen of Death here’s what to do.

a.   On Windows 7 or later a consistent BSOD typically indicates a hardware or driver issue. As mentioned above, try updating your drivers.

b.   Run the MemTest86+ tool and see if your RAM is performing up to the mark. RAM is often the cause of consistent BSODs.

c.    One annoying thing that is that often the system restart without giving you time to note down the error, which you can later Google to get towards a reasonable solution. For this Right click on your “My Computer” Icon and select “Properties”, click on “Advance System Settings” from the right hand side panel. Click on “Settings” at bottom in the “Startup and Recovery” area and simply uncheck the “Automatic Restart” box under System Failure. This will give you all the time you need to note down the error.

3.    Anti-virus and Spyware:

a.   Free antivirus software is a good first line of defence. Install one of them and keep the definitions regularly updated.

b.   Use Super Antispyware & Malware Bytes on a regular basis with updated definitions to keep your system running smooth and Trojan free.

4.   Slow startup

a.   In the Windows 7 menu, type “msconfig” by clicking on the Start Button, or in an older version, in the run command box. From there select “Startup” in the tab and uncheck all the software you don’t want to start automatically.

5.    Install Soluto for automated application updates and general maintenance.

Prevention and basic maintenance

Hopefully this guide would help you recover your system in the event of a crash with a little bit of smart Goggling, a bit of patience and some commonsense. We would like to wind up this guide by iterating the old adage which says, “Prevention is better than Cure”. Here are a few simple tips for keeping your system well-oiled and preempting crashes.

·         Defragment your system often.

·         Keep your Registry clean by using tools like “CCleaner”.

·         Use the built in “Reliability Monitor” tool in Windows 7 & 8.

·         Keep backup images of your OS partition from a point where everything was working and updated. 

HOW DOES A PC BOOT?

It is important to understand how your computer starts and what the words BIOS and POST means. A typical BIOS screen is where you can change some critical settings. The BIOS, which stands for Basic Input / Output System is already present in the computer and is the first code run by it when switched on. This outputs the first thing you see on your monitor. BIOS now calls the POST, which stands for Power-On Self-Test. POST is responsible for the identification and initialization of system devices such as the CPU, RAM, Video display card, IO devices etc. The BIOS then locates the “Boot Loader” software stored on an attached storage medium or over the network (designed as a ‘boot device’, and the priority of lookup from HDD, Pen Drive, CD-ROM, Network can be changed by the User). The Boot Loader then typically loads the designated (or selected in case of multiple OS) Operating System.

TOOLS YOU’LL NEED

Here’s a small list of tools that we’ve mentioned and used in the workshop. Most software will be found on the Internet.

Screwdriver Set: If you want to open your desktop cabinet or reseat your laptop RAM you’d need this.

Ubuntu Live Drive: Even if you’re a Windows user it will be an invaluable tool. It comes pre-bundled with a great partition manager known as “Gparted”. Simply get one from http://gparted.sourceforge.net/download.php . It’s recommended to use a USB disk.

SuperAntiSpyware and MalWareBytes:  Get these from http://www.superantispyware.com/ & http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Memtest86+: Get it here: http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

Windows 7/Vista/XP setup or recovery disk: If you’re still using an OS released 12 years ago, consider an upgrade.

BlueScreenView: Available at http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/blue_screen_view.html will help you a great deal in debugging Blue Screen of Death errors.

Soluto: Obtained from https://www.soluto.com/ for automated system maintenance.

Source: Digit Magazine

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