Diagnostic Flowchart:

DF1: Start Up
Revision 5, 18th Oct 2003, Check [multiple] beeps added, Sylvander.

DF1:
START UP

DF2:
Is the SYSTEM
Yes
PC

No

Did POST Is the

DF3:
appear to Yes Monitor No Display
run? Display
correct?

No POST completed
successfully.
Yes

Single
short Yes
Beep? Is there Check code and
an error yes go to relevant
code? test.

Long or
Multiple Yes
No
Beeps?
Check beeps at:
www.computerhope.com/beep. DF5:
htm
No Boot Up
and apply appropriate fix.

Is the
internal Don’t Startup with no RAM Beeps
know to check for beeps Yes
speaker ?
working?
Speaker
No Is ok
no Fix it

yes

DF4:
No POST
Diagnostic Flowchart DF2: SYSTEM
Revision 6, 26th July 2004, 1 webpage address added to note 1 for ATX tester.
Notes
1. See http://tinyurl.com/5awzv and www.compute-aid.com/atxspec.html and
http://freespace.virgin.net/matt.waite/resource/psu/atxpsu.htm
and http://www.epanorama.net/links/psu_computer.html and http://tinyurl.com/lrkr

DF2: Fan in Power

SYSTEM Supply Unit
faulty

PC “Dead”

Yes

DF1: Does fan Are power

START UP Yes No supply
run?
voltages

No

AT: Disconnect all

TF10: Does fan peripherals/adaptors and
POWER SUPPLY No
run? system board.
ATX: see note 1 above

System
Yes board faulty

No

Re-connect Does fan

System Board run?

No

Yes

Are all Does fan Re-connect one

devices Yes
run? device
connecte

No
Yes

Re-test Last device

system connected is
Diagnostic Flowchart:. revision 1, 24th Jan 2003, Sylvander
DF3: DISPLAY

DF3:
DISPLAY

Display fault

Display?

None: screen dark None: screen lit Yes

up

Is Is
No
mains signal
Replace and
re-test

Yes
Yes
Is the rest of
Yes the system
ok?

No

Monitor faulty Video

Adaptor/System
Board faulty

DF1:
START UP
 Diagnostic Flowchart:. revision 4, “or something on it” added, 24th Sept 2003, Sylvander
DF4: NO POST

DF4:
NO POST

Disconnect all peripherals and

Are PSU system adaptor cards in base
voltages Yes unit except keyboard and
correct? monitor

No

DF10/10a: POWER SUPPLY

System Board
Yes Does No or something on it
POST is faulty

1.Re-connect
Floppy Disk Drive
2.Run Advanced
Diagnostics

Last device
Does
system No connected
board is faulty

Yes
No

1.Switch off
2.Re-connect one Is
Yes
peripheral/adaptor card test

Does Are all Test last device

Yes No with diagnostics
POST run? connected

No Yes

Last device Re-test the

connected SYSTEM
is faulty
Diagnostic Flowchart:. revision 2, 16th Aug 2003, Sylvander
DF5: BOOT UP

DF5: BOOT
UP

Active Display
No error codes
POST appears to run

Does system DF6:

Yes Boot from No Hard Disk Drive
Hard

Can floppy DF7:

Disk Drive No Floppy Disk Drive
be

Yes

Serial Mouse Does DF9:

function Yes Printer No PARALLEL PORT
Correctly? function

No Yes

Do Check software
DF8:
Application No Installation and
SERIAL PORT
s configuration

Yes

System operational
Diagnostic Flowchart: revision 3 [note 1 added], 8th Sept 2003, Sylvander.
DF6: HARD DISK DRIVE
Note 1: Check Master/Slave Jumpers on HDD & Cables are set correctly (Red/Blue Stripe to Pin 1).

DF6:
HARD DISK
DRIVE

System does not

Boot from Hard
Disk Drive

See note 1.
Run diagnostics Does DF7:
from Floppy Yes System boot No floppy disk drive
to check from
Hard Disk Drive. Floppy?

Does Check files

Error Error appear Check configuration
Reported Yes To be Software Use software
? “software”or diagnostics
“hardware”

No
Hardware

Re-test system Is Replace cable

Signal No
And re-test
cable

Yes

Replace drive with

Known good drive
And re-test with
diagnostics

System board Does Original

Or adaptor No New drive test Yes drive
faulty Ok?
Diagnostic Flowchart: revision 1,24th Jan 2003, Sylvander.
DF7: FLOPPY DISK DRIVE
DF7:
FLOPPY
DISK DRIVE

Floppy Disk Drive

Cannot be accessed

Are
Power DF2: SYSTEM
Yes No
supply
voltages

Is Replace drive with

Signal Known good drive
Yes And re-test with
cable
Diagnostics

No

Replace cable
And re-test

System Does Original

board No New drive Yes drive
or adaptor Test ok? faulty
Diagnostic Flowchart:. revision 2, Serial Mouse specified, 8th Sept 2003, Sylvander
DF8: SERIAL PORT

DF8:
SERIAL PORT

Serial Mouse
does not Function
correctly

Check the mouse

Run diagnostics Is the

for serial port. Correct errors
Yes System No And re-boot system
Remember configuratio
Loop-back plug n

Error I/O adaptor

reported Yes or system board
? is faulty

No

Replace mouse
And re-test
Diagnostic Flowchart:. revision 1, 24th Jan 2003, Sylvander
DF9: PARALLEL PORT
DF9:
PARALLEL
PORT

Printer does not

Function correctly

Run
Printer
Self-test

Is
self-test No Printer faulty
ok?

Yes

Disconnect printer
And run diagnostics

I/O adaptor
No Error Yes or system board
present? is faulty

Check printer cable

Is
the cable Yes
ok?

No

Replace the cable

And re-test
Diagnostic Flowchart:. revision 3, PSU conditions revised 23rd Sept 2003, Sylvander
DF10: AT POWER SUPPLY

DF10:
AT POWER
SUPPLY

PC “dead” or
Incorrect voltages
With all devices
Disconnected from PSU

Is Replace it
the Power
No and re-test
Cable
ok? the system

Yes

Power supply
faulty
Diagnostic Flowchart DF10a, revision 4: branch added for incorrect voltages, 24th Sept 2003 by Sylvander
ATX POWER SUPPLY

DF10a
ATX
Power Supply
Incorrect
voltages
with all No PC
peripherals
[but not M/B]
Yes

Mains Fix it!

No
Yes OK?

See note 1 Yes

On SYSTEM
chart
Check Mains
Lead

Fault YES Replace

NO

Short Switch
Connections
On M/B

PC
Runs Faulty Switch.
Replace and
Yes retest.

No

Remove M/B Connector

short Green and Black wires
then re-connect motherboard.

Motherboard Fault.
Replace M/B or leave Fan runs
connection in place &
and use external switch Output
 PSU Faulty.
Yes No Replace and retest.
Diagnostic Flowchart DF12: Revision 4, 30th September 2003, Sylvander Originally by Ashley Cullen
USB
For further help troubleshooting USB go to:
http://www.zensupport.co.uk/ADSL/USB/default.asp?URL=troubleshooter

USB
Universal Serial Bus

Check the Device Manager

for USB driver problems

Does the
Check the wiring of hardware Is USB
Yes No enabled
the USB wires. appear to be
functioning? in the

Proble Yes No
m

Download and Enable it, save to

install the latest CMOS and boot to
manufacturer’s Windows.
No Yes drivers.

Test a bus-powered
Was wired
device on a USB port and Did this
incorrectly No
unplug non-critical resolve Yes
components (CD-ROM, the
Case Fans, etc)

The previous drivers

were incompatible.

Does
Yes device No
work

PSU is under-powered for There may be a short

the system, replace with circuit in the circuitry.
higher capacity one.