From the course: Troubleshooting Common PC Issues for Users

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Determine source: hardware or software

Determine source: hardware or software - Windows Tutorial

From the course: Troubleshooting Common PC Issues for Users

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Determine source: hardware or software

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- [Presenter] A good first step toward resolving computer issues is to determine whether the source is hardware or software. This determination is not easy to make. Malfunctioning hardware can make software particularly windows behave erratically. Likewise, bad software can make it appear as though hardware is to blame. The good news is that hardware issues are often detected when the computer starts or not. When hardware fails it doesn't work and the device simply isn't available. Software errors are specific to a single program and they're consistent, almost predictable. For hardware trouble, the PC performs a Power On Self Test or POST. If any hardware fails to operate a message appears on the screen and you hear a series of beeps when the monitor fails. The post doesn't catch all hardware failures but it's the first step. For your second hardware troubleshooting step, use the device manager. Press the Windows + R…

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