Computer Motherboard Parts

What are the Computer Motherboard Parts
Knowing the basics of these Computer Motherboard parts will help you solve many problems that may arise from time to time. The layout and the manner in which the various parts are placed is known as the form factor. The shape of the case of the computer is also decided by the form factor.

To standardize the manner in which computers are assembled across the world, there are certain fixed models for deciding this form factor and most manufacturers adhere to these standards.

Computer Motherboard Parts

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Slot
Normally, the number of PCI slots on the motherboard could be anywhere between 1 and 6. The various peripherals like graphics cards, sound cards, ethernet cards, modems and DVD recorders are attached here, and the slots are 32 bit slots. PCI is a standard that has been around for almost two decades now, and a faster version of it known as PCI-E is also quite common today, and this allows the different computer components to be attached to the computer with ease.

Central Processing Unit (CPU) Socket
This socket is the home for your computer's processor. There are 2 types of sockets that are commonly used by the major processors (Intel and AMD), these are Pin Grid Array (PGA) and the Land Grid Array (LGA). The biggest advantage of these sockets is that they allow the simple swapping of processors inside a machine, and this allows computer users to really enhance the versatility of their computer.

Motherboard Battery Compartment
When you shut your system down, your data is stored using a battery on the motherboard. It is placed inside the battery compartment that is present on the surface of the board.


Power Connector
The motherboard requires the power to function properly and this power supply comes from the main power connector. There are usually two main types of connectors; 20 + 4 pins (when there are two connectors on the same motherboard), and the 24 pins.

RAM slots (DIMM and SIMM)
These are the slots that hold the RAM chips of your computer. They are usually of two types, DIMM (Double Inline Memory Module) and SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module). Memory chips of different sizes can be attached here so as to increase the efficiency of the machine, and to make it more comfortable to work on multiple programs at a time.


Apart from these components, the following are some peripherals that are specifically used for making connections with hardware devices. These connectors show up on the back panel of the computer, once the entire machine has been assembled and mounted.


USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port
There are many of these ports across the back panel. They are used for connecting external devices like USB flash drives, external hard disks, iPods, MP3 players and cameras. Every computer has at least 2 such ports, and more of them are always welcome. The versatility that USB ports offer is truly unmatched in the realm of computers.

PS/2 Connectors
Every motherboard contains two PS/2 connectors, one for the keyboard and one for the mouse. These are color coded ports (purple is for the keyboard and green is for the mouse) and have been around ever since computers showed up in the 80's. Today these ports are being edged out by USB ports, but they are still prevalent.



Display Connector
This port is used to connect the computer monitor of the machine to the back panel. This is the primary connection between the monitor and the CPU itself, so there is no question of this part being absent in any desktop computer.

Game Port
This port is mostly used to connect the devices that are used for gaming purposes. Gamepads, joysticks and other gaming accessories can be attached to the machine through this port and this flexibility is something that many users and gamers find highly useful.


Sound Card Connector
Your sound devices like headphones and microphones are connected here. Most computers have built in sound cards, but some people also choose to attach an additional sound card so as to improve the functionality of the machine. The most common use of this connector is for multimedia purposes.

All these parts are now a standard requirement for every computer to function properly, and their popularity has slowly transformed them into a necessity for every single computer motherboard

Common Symptoms of Computer Virus..!!!!

There are a few distinct symptoms that can help one in identifying harmful and potentially dangerous viruses from infecting one's computer. Viruses come in many different forms and modes, and it gets very hard to regulate each and every application on our machines.

As a result, all our machines are susceptible to an attack from a computer virus at some point or the other, and sometimes even the very best antivirus software can overlook their presence. Recognizing some common symptoms can give us a head start in our battle against them.

A computer virus is a very small-sized program that has the ability to propagate from one machine to another, and then disrupt the working and the functionality of the infected machine. It is important to identify their presence as soon as possible or, it can lead to a loss of important data, and even a system crash in some cases. There are many programs that can aid one in eliminating their risk.

Symptoms of Computer Virus

The symptoms possess some distinct characteristics, and if your machine has been infected by one, it is very likely that you will see the effects immediately. The basic working of the computer will be greatly affected due to faulty performance, and you will be unable to perform many functions that you used to perform earlier with ease.

Some of the symptoms of infection are listed as follows.

• The computer is running considerably slower than normal for no apparent reason.
• The machine is crashing and restarting by itself after every few minutes.
• The machine is not responding in general, and everything is simply frozen.
• The antivirus software that you have is not working properly, or it has been disabled.
• You are unable to install a new antivirus program on your computer.
• Printouts that you take are faulty and incorrect.
• There are unexpected and unknown noises and sounds that come out on their own.
• Your programs and applications have disappeared from the machine without you intentionally deleting them.
• New windows keep opening up at an alarming rate
• There are error messages popping out on a regular basis.
• Your files and folders are getting deleted automatically.
• Your disks and drives are not working properly.
• There are unknown and uninstalled icons on your desktop suddenly.

The most annoying aspect of these is that it can crop up at any time, and once it comes, it can affect any part of your machine. It can disable many important applications and programs, and can even corrupt physical hardware on your machine. As a result of these symptoms, the workability of a machine gets seriously disabled, and it becomes impossible to perform any task at all.

At the end of the day, there are two things you can do. Firstly, you must get as much protection and computer security as possible and keep all your programs and system defenses updated, and secondly, you must act quickly in case you detect the presence of any of the aforementioned symptoms on your machine. Failure to do so could result in you losing a lot of precious data and information.

These are Common Computer Viruses

A virus is a malicious software program that can infect your computer, replicate itself, and cause functional problems in your system. It is potentially harmful and can cause a loss of important data, besides corrupting your computer files.


Computer Viruses
Viruses may spread by attaching themselves in e-mails, instant messages, floppy disks, or pen drives, etc. They tend to corrupt your data, or even delete your important files. Anything and everything present on your hard drive can be erased by a nasty computer virus. These computer viruses are very smart. They tend to visit you, disguised as a greeting card, audio file, video file, or some other morphed entity.

When you are trying to download a software program or music file from the Internet, these computer viruses hide themselves in files, programs, and software, to get downloaded to your personal computer (PC). When you run a program file or boot sector program at boot time, they get activated.

 The program infected by the virus gets modified, and begins to run the viral code. Soon, it takes control of your PC and begins to replicate and spread. They damage your files, and begin to delete programs and folders in your computer. Some viruses are time activated. They will activate themselves on a specified date, and begin creating havoc on your computer.

List of Common Viruses
Computer viruses have caused a loss of over USD 10 billion to many companies, as well as private users. The following list contains names of viruses that have infected and caused considerable damage to computer systems around the world:

1. W32/Zafi-D
2. W32/Netsky-D
3. W32/Zafi-B
4. Trojan.Lodear
5. W32.Beagle.CO@mm
6. Backdoor.Zagaban
7. W32/Netsky-PW
8. 32/Mytob-GH
9. EXW32 Mytob
10. W32/Mytob-AS
11. W32/Mytob-BE
12. W32/Mytob-C
13. W32/Mytob-ER
14. Stator, Asimov.1539, and Terrax.1069
15. Elkern, Marburg, Satan Bug, and Tuareg
16. Relax
17. Randex
18. CMJ
19. Meve
20. MrKlunky
21. CIH
22. I Love You Worm
23. KAK
24. PSWBugbear.B (worm)
25. Lovgate.F (worm)
26. Trile.C (worm)
27. Sobig.D (worm)
28. Mapson (worm)
29. AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs
30. CAP
31. Resume
32. NYB
33. Stoned Empire Monkey Virus
34. Melissa.A
35. Bablas
36. O97M/Y2K
37. Polyboot.B, AntiEXE
38. Way
39. Trj.Reboot
40. Trivial.88.D

Other Common Computer Viruses

1. Exploit-CVE2010-0814
2. Exploit-CVE2010-2568
3. Mal/Krap-I
4. Mal/VB-LP
5. Ms .NET JIT 3228
6. Ms IE HO RCE 2746
7. Ms Wind New Cl 3223
8. Ms Wind TLSv1 3229
9. Ms WindOTFont 2741
10. MSFT Win SMB Val Vuln
11. MSIL/Terdial.D
12. Stuxnet
13. Troj/Agent-PAP
14. Troj/Agent-PAQ
15. Troj/BredoZp-BH
16. Troj/Cosmu-K
17. Troj/FakeAV-BVP
18. Troj/FakeAV-BVQ
19. Troj/Mdrop-CZQ
20. W32/AutoRun-BJS
21. W32/Autorun.worm.q
22. W32/VBMania@MM
23. Exploit-CVE2010-0814
24. Exploit-CVE2010-2568

These were some of the most common viruses you should watch out for. It is extremely important that you keep your antivirus software updated. Do not operate your computer, especially if you have an Internet-enabled one, without having one of the best antivirus software installed.

You should always install applications, only from reputed sources. Open emails only from trusted friends and acquaintances. If you have any doubt regarding the origin or content of the email, delete it immediately, without opening it. Click on links, only after you verify them. Notice the link address at the bottom of your browser, before clicking it. And most importantly, clear cookies and the cache of your web browser regularly.

How to Remove a computer Virus Manually

Computers have become an integral part of our life. Along with computers, Internet has also become an indispensable part. However, there is a negative side to the Internet technology, which is the rampant spread of computer viruses.

 Therefore, computer security becomes a matter of major concern for every one. Although it is recommended that we should have an antivirus software installed on our machines, there are times that we may not have it installed and that is exactly when the computer may be infested by a software. This brings up the question, what are the steps to manually remove a virus so that the machine is not infested with the threatening virus.

Steps on how to Remove a Virus

You will need some computer programming skills to get rid of the computer virus. You will just need the knowledge of basic syntax. The first step you should take before you start with the computer viruses removal process is to take system back up. It is essential so that in case you delete a wrong file in the process, you will not lose important data.

In some cases, the file may be necessary to run the computer system. The data should ideally be backed up in an external device. Once the data has been backed up, you can format the system to get rid of the virus totally. However, it is not recommended that you use the system restore option to get rid of the virus, as this often leads to virus multiplication as opposed to removal.

The other process is a lengthy one which will need technical expertise. In this process, the first step is to identify the virus as there are many different types of computer viruses. To identify the virus you can seek help from various antivirus websites.

 From these websites you will be able to see the way the particular virus makes files. Now you will have to look for the behavioral pattern of the virus. Once that has been identified, the next step is to go to task manager. From the task manager stop the virus processes so that there is no chance that the virus replicates itself. The next step is to go to the file registry and delete the virus files, taking help from the information you have found from the different websites pertaining to the virus.

Steps on how to Manually Remove a Trojan Virus

If you do not want to use the options available online for the removal of the Trojan, you will have to undertake the process of removing the virus manually. To remove Trojan virus, you will have to first identify the system files which are infected by the virus. The next step is to erase the files so that normal functioning of the system is possible. You can seek help from online forums or antivirus software websites.

I would recommend that although there are steps one can take to remove the virus manually, it is best to invest in a reputed antivirus to avoid attacks to your system where your data is at risk.

Trick on How to Remove Trojan Horse Virus

A Trojan horse is a type of computer virus which cannot duplicate by itself, but allows unauthorized access to the user's system. This computer virus is designed to allow hackers to gain access to a distant computer system. The hacker could steal data, install software, download or upload files, or even crash the computer system infected by the Trojan.

Trojans enter a computer mostly through the Internet. It could be through movie or music downloads, e-mail attachments, application exploits, or software downloads. Since hackers want to attack your system through the net, they disguise Trojan viruses in files which are popularly downloaded.

There are specific antivirus software designed for removing Trojans. They help in detecting as well as removing the virus from your system; certain malware protection applications also help in preventing them from entering your system. It is also possible to manually detect and uninstall files infected by the Trojan.

Options to Remove Trojans

TRICK. 1
Go to 'C' drive and click on 'Program Files' → 'Common' → 'Microsoft Shared' → 'Msinfo'. This particular program will show you all the processes, including the hidden processes, which are running on your windows system. Check all task listings and detect the ones you do not recognize. Open these tasks and also figure out their file names and paths. Let your virus scanner scan through all these files.

TRICK. 2
Open the anti-virus software you have installed in your computer, and allow it to run a virus scan through your computer. Once the scan is over, if there was any value detected in the registry, delete it. You can do this by clicking on the 'Run' option present in the 'Start' menu. In the space provided for typing, type 'regedit' and click on 'OK'. Find the value detected in the virus scan you ran before and delete it from your system.

TRICK. 3
The best way of Trojan removal from your system is to run a scan. Ensure that you have the latest and updated version of antivirus software available in the market which can efficiently spot and delete any spyware, virus or adware from your system. In case you do not have one, there are certain free spyware removal programs available as well. Allow the virus scanner to do its job and once all viruses are detected and deleted from your computer, restart the system and it should work fine.

Removing Trojans in Windows XP

 Log on to your system as an administrator.

Drag your mouse cursor on the 'My Computer' icon, right click on it and select the 'Properties' option.

Click on the 'System Restore' option and select the 'Turn off System Restore' option.

You will now have to start your computer in 'Safe Mode'. For this, shut down your system and also switch off the power.

Wait for a minute and start your computer once again.

As soon as the computer starts booting, tap the 'F8' key for the 'Windows Advanced Options' menus to appear.

From this menu, select the safe mode option. Hit 'Enter' to allow the computer to start in safe mode.

Run your anti adware and anti spyware programs in safe mode.

Restart your computer in the normal mode and rerun adware and spyware programs.

On getting a clean report, follow the instructions given earlier to turn on the system restore.

If on completing your cleanup task, you notice the damage to your system was substantial, it is better you erase all data from your hard disk and re-install the operating system and other important software once again.

Cases of computers being hacked through introduction of Trojans are increasing and hence, it is important to have necessary knowledge about deleting them. To prevent any such situations, avoid downloading unprotected and unsecured files from the internet and try to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date.

Hard Disk Failure and Data Recovery Tips and tricks

Computer hard disks from either laptops or desktops are susceptible to failure, where the data that you have stored on it either disappears, or cannot be found.

The good news is that this data can often be recovered. There are various ways of doing so. Before you venture into data recovery territory, it is essential to know the cause of the hard disk failure.

Hard Disk Failure Causes

There are many reasons that can cause the hard disk of a computer to fail. Mostly, these can be classified as under three main types: logical, electrical, or mechanical.

Logical

Logical causes include problems with the boot sector of the hard drive, which leads to non-booting of Windows. In this case, you would be able to access your hard drive from another computer. You can then investigate if you have problems with the boot sector, or if you have bad sectors on the disk itself. Hard disk data recovery, in this case, can be possible with data recovery software.


Mechanical

Mechanical problems are caused when the hard drive and/or its parts have been physically damaged; this can occur due to a number of causes. You may hear clicking sounds from the hard disk itself. This kind of failure can also be caused by dropping the hard disk, or exposing it to water or a humid atmosphere. Under no circumstances must you try to shake the hard disk or remove the hard disk cover. Most times, physical repair is not possible. You can find a data recovery service provider who may be able to help you with this problem.

Electrical

Electrical causes include problems caused due to voltage fluctuations, which may have led to the burning of the circuit board. For this, you may have to open your desktop's ATX box or your laptop's bottom cover. Ensure that you have shut off the electrical supply to your machine and are working in a static-free environment. You also need to wear an ESD wrist strap. Under no circumstances must you touch the circuit board, as this might damage the disk head. Just try to see if you can spot any signs of burnt components or burns on the circuit board. If you can, contact your hardware supplier or a service agent to figure out the next step.


Tips for Hard Disk Data Recovery
Here are some tips for general hard disk data recovery suggested by professionals in this field.

Always use firewalls and good virus protection programs for your computer.
Don't run the disk defragmenter if you want to recover a file that you have ended up deleting. Use a data recovery software first. Doing so will increase your chances of recovering the lost data.


Programs such as scandisk, chkdsk, or Norton Disk Doctor will not help you with data recovery. In fact, they may often end up hinder the process of hard disk data recovery.

If your computer is not booting, you can try booting it in safe mode and try to disable or uninstall any recently installed programs which may have caused the problem. You can also try to see if running System Restore solves the problem.

Before you buy data recovery software, ensure that you know exactly what kind of data it recovers. Instead of trying out a variety of software, first know what kind of data you want to recover, and then look for software which will meet your needs.

Know what kind of file system your computer hard drive uses. This will help in locating the right software for the recovery process.

The best tip ever is to always keep a backup of your important data.
Sometimes it may not be possible to constantly keep backing up data, especially with recent files. If your hard disk crashes while you are working, don't try to save the file as you may also end up losing data saved earlier.

Before you go to experts, make sure that you know relevant details, such as the operating system, the details of what happened before your hard disk failed, and if your computer still recognizes the drive or not.

These tips will help you identify the problem, and can even help you with data recovery on your own

Trick on how to Data Recovery

Backup is better than recovery; just as 'prevention is better than cure'. Always keep a backup of your crucial data. In fact, you should not try the different recovery techniques on crucial data. It is always advisable, that in such cases, you contact a recovery agency which can provide you with accurate details as to what percentage of the data is in its recoverable form. This may cost you some bucks, but then, it is worth it if the lost information is important enough.

Various software and tools are used by data recovery agencies, which have been designed by their engineers, or may have been purchased by them. For recovery that you can undertake on your own, you can use the open source software that are available for download.

The first and the most important thing that you need to keep in mind, once you have realized that you have by accident deleted some data, is not to use the drive where you had stored it. Do the preliminary checking first, before you start with the recovery process. Check the recycle bin, if you have by accident deleted the data. Perform a search operation, using the search feature of your operating system, to check out if you have placed the it into some other location.

If you are using the Windows operating system, open the folder where you had stored your data and click on tools in the menu bar. Select 'folder options' from the tools menu and click on the view tab. Select 'Show hidden files and folder'. In case the files are hidden because of some virus problems, you may be able to view them again with this process.

Recovery Techniques

If all these processes do not help you out, you can start off with the recovery techniques. By the way, you must be wondering, how can deleted data be recovered? Let me try to explain. Computers store your data in the binary format, i.e., using only the digits 0 and 1.

 Once you delete some it or format the hard drive, that portion of the hard drive loses its name and identification (the word is address) and becomes free to allocate new data, but the binary digit format continues to exist in it.

 The only way this binary digit format can be lost is, if some other data is saved by the computer at the same location. The other way is of course, when you want to intentionally eliminate it from your system, and you have used a file shredding software to do the same.

Depending on the file system that you have chosen, while installing your operating system, download a compatible recovery software. Some software like N-Data recovery will work well for both FAT and NTFS, while NTFS file recovery will work only for NTFS file systems.

 Please make it a point to download the software into some other drive and not into the one from which you have lost your data. In fact, it is better if you download the software into another computer. Install the software in a drive that is not among the suspected list of drives, from where you think you have lost your data. Better install the software in a USB drive (pen drive or portable hard disk). Scan the suspected drives. The process will take some time and consume a lot of RAM, so avoid using the computer for any other work when the scan is in progress.

Save the recovered files (if they have been recovered at all) into a drive. If you do not get proper results, try some other software which has advanced features. There are software available which allow you to enter details like the type of file or the file extension of the file you are trying to recover.

This makes the recovery process for the software a lot simpler. The software available can be used on almost all types of memory, the hard disk, pen drive, or a portable music player.

These processes can help you recover the data, but there is no guarantee. Software are also available which will recover it in a different format and you will have to purchase a license key of the software, to reconvert your data into its original form.

 Some software will recover the data for you, but won't provide you with a facility to save it, unless you buy a license key. So, choose an open source software for the recovery process, if you do not want to spend any money.

Trick on How to Retrieve a Deleted Files from Recycle Bin

Sometimes, extremely important files on your computer get deleted by mistake, or sometimes, you delete them and later wish that you hadn't. The common thing in both cases is that you want to know how to retrieve them from recycle bin?

The answer to this question depends upon how long it has been since you deleted them. If it has been only a few hours or a couple of days, the answer is very easy. But, if you have done it months back, then it's a little difficult. The following paragraphs will provide you with some tips on recovering permanently erased items.

The Truth About Deleted Files

When you simply delete a file using the delete option from the right click menu, it goes to the recycle bin. You can easily recover this item using the restore option. When you delete a file from the recycle bin, or when you shift+delete it, the same process happens as in the case of deletion to the bin. You can restore such items just as easily, although there is a small difference between the two types.

 In the later case (which we think of as permanent deletion), the reference to the deleted item, or the address by which the item is found on the hard drive, is completely erased. Also, the space that was taken up by that file is made available for reuse by new files.

If this space gets occupied by new items, it becomes impossible to retrieve the old deleted file. The point is that you can easily recover deleted items and restore lost data, even if it was done a couple of hours ago.

File Retrieval on Mac

Once you realize that you want a certain item back, make sure that you do not save anything on your computer till you have recovered it. The file deletion and retrieval process works in the same way for both MacBook and Windows. There are two ways of recovering deleted items from your Mac.

 The first one is to use the timeline utility. All Macs that were manufactured after 2007 have this utility pre-installed. Using this utility is very easy; just launch it and go back on the timeline where you still had the file and restore it. This is how it is recovered.

 The other way to achieve the same thing is to use an external data recovery software. There are free and paid software available, which are easy to use and retrieve your files efficiently. For example: Disk Drill Basic, FileSalvage, etc.

File Retrieval on Windows

Recovering deleted items in all the versions of Windows operating system is more or less the same. Unfortunately, Windows does not have a utility such as timeline in Mac. There is a third-party program called deep freeze that reverses all the changes you made in your computer after a restart. But, this can have several disadvantages.

So, it is suggested that you use some other data recovery software program that lets you recover your items, without making any other changes on your system. Here is a small list of software, which you can use for safe file retrieval:

1.Recuva
2.Wondershare Data Recovery
3.TuneUp Utilities
4.TestDisk
5.Recover My Files
6.FileRestorePlus
7.Norton Utilities
8.Data Recovery Pro

Thus, the important thing is to avoid saving anything on your computer till you have got your deleted file back. Because if the space gets overwritten, it will become impossible to retrieve it.

How to Clean your Computer Registry

There are many people who think that cleaning the computer's registry is a very complicated task. Though a wrong move can have an adverse effect on the system, using a good computer registry cleaner, you can easily clean out the unusable files and speed up the computer performance.

A computer registry is a facility available on computers having Windows as their operating systems. It is a place where the most important data necessary for the computer operating system is stored.

The details of every function that is performed on the computer gets stored in it; such as a visit to a website or installing or uninstalling a program. It also houses the data of important drivers and DLL files, which are used by multiple applications. In addition, it also keeps all the data of multiple users handy.

As you keep working on your computer over time, it is obvious that you will perform number of tasks, which will cause the registry to become full with data. Even if you uninstall any software in a proper way, it will still hold some of its files.

And this is one of the main reasons why a computer runs slow. If it is messed up with disordered and unknown files, it can even result in a computer system crash. Cleaning it is the best possible method of maintaining a good boot-up and functional speed of your desktop or laptop computer.

Cleanup Process

There are some people who may advise you to get the registry cleaned manually. This can be a very risky step for the proper functioning of the computer. Fiddling with it manually can actually render your laptop or desktop computer useless. Therefore, it is very necessary that you do not delete the files yourself, but instead use a cleaning software. There may be many types of such software available in your nearby computer shop.

Before starting the process of cleaning using the appropriate software, it is suggested that you have a backup of your data on an external hard drive, in case anything goes wrong in the process. Typically, the software will scan the registry and remove all invalid files found.

 However, in a majority of such software, you will be prompted an option whether you want to manually fix errors or want the software to fix it automatically. There is also a possibility that the software may delete crucial files, which are actually essential for the computer to run. Prefer manual deleting of these files as much as possible. It is recommended to use the software by referring to its guidelines.

I hope the article will give you a gist of what you need to do to get the computer's registry cleaned.

Computer Hardware Repair and Maintenance tip.!!

What computer hardware is? Hardware components like the monitor, keyboard, CPU , mouse, and other I/O (Input-Output) devices constitute a computer.

 The working of the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and I/O devices depends largely upon the CPU. Due to some minor causes, like loose connections or dust saturation, any of them can stop functioning.

Faults occurring in the CPU are most hazardous, as it has a very complicated structure. The CPU is an assembly of the motherboard, hard disk drive (HDD), random access memory (RAM), compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM) drive, and the floppy drive.

Unless you are well-acquainted with the CPU hardware, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint exactly where the fault has occurred. If any one of these components fail to perform, there are a few repair tips that can be followed. In order to view the circuitry inside the CPU, its casing has to be removed.

1.Motherboard 

The entire functioning of the computer depends on this component. The processor chipset, that performs all the logical operations of the PC, is embedded in the motherboard. Ribbon cables, power supply, CPU, and RAM are the things to be checked first on the motherboard. Check if any of the ribbon cables or the power supply cord is loose.

Check if the RAM chip has been misplaced from its slot. The CPU  will not show any marks on the outside if it is blown. The only way to check whether the CPU is working or not, is to test it by mounting it on the motherboard of another PC.

The motherboard has a real-time clock, ROM BIOS, CMOS RAM, RAM sockets, CPU sockets or slots, cache RAM slots, keyboard controller, interrupts, internal connectors, and external connectors mounted on it.

 Do not tamper with these components, unless you know each and every one of it well. Do not touch the motherboard without turning off the power.

2.Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Also known as hard drive, it is the long-term storage device of the system. If the hard drive cannot be detected, check the jumper setting. The jumper setting can change the mode of the hard disk from master to slave or vice-versa.

 Make sure the Windows version being used for partitioning is consistent. Check that each drive has been assigned a drive-type. Make sure the pin numbers of the plug are attached to the corresponding pin numbers of the socket.

Do not force the plug into the socket with extra force, the pins may bend. If the plug is not fitting perfectly in the socket, try inserting it again by flipping it over. Do not attempt to open the hard drive without enough knowledge of its components.

3.Compact Disc-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) Drive

Data stored on external storage device like compact discs (CD) is read by inserting the CD in the CD drive. If the CD drive is not functioning, check if the CD is scratched. If the CD works fine in another PC, check if the power cable of the former drive is loose.

 Check if the plug and socket pin numbers match. If the tray of the drive is not opening, right click on CD-ROM icon and select eject option. If the tray does not open, insert a straight thin metal pin into the edge and try to pull it open.

Do not apply too much of force while doing so. Avoid connecting the CD-ROM drive on the same controller cable as the primary hard drive, this will slow down its performance.

4.Random Access Memory (RAM)

It is the temporary memory of the PC. The data in the RAM is erased when the computer is shut down. Check if the RAM is misplaced from its slot. While replacing the RAM in its slot, check the small niche at the center of the chip (the niche indicates how the RAM is supposed to be placed in the slot and may not be at the exact mid position of the chip-strip).

Do not forget to secure the side clips that hold the chip in place. If you are unable to secure them, it means that the chip is not placed correctly in the slot.



5.Floppy Drive

If the floppy disk is not opening, try opening it in the floppy drive of another PC. If the disk does not open, then it is probably corrupt. If the disk is stuck in the drive, hold down the eject button for sometime or right click on floppy drive icon and select eject option.

If the disk is still stuck, wiggle it up and down till it can be ejected or use tweezers to pull it out. Do not apply too much of force while doing so.


The CPU is the brain of the computer. Proper maintenance of the CPU, as well as all other components, enhances the computer performance.

How to Upgrade a computer Graphics Card/video card

The computer graphics card is also known as video card, graphics accelerator or display card. It is a printed circuit board that has three major components. These components are video memory, video BIOS and graphics processing unit.

The graphics card should be changed if it gives a poor performance/vision or if you want more speed options for the computer games. In the first case, you need to verify that it is the reason for the poor performance and not the computer.

To do this, use the scan disk or defragmentation options and look for bad sectors on the hard disk. You can also try using other ways to speedup your computer. If they do not work, you can conclude that the lowered performance is due to the faulty working of the card. Once it has been established that the graphics card is responsible for the low speed, you should upgrade it.

Some video cards are integrated in the motherboard and some are externally connected to the computer. Older versions of motherboards used a peripheral computer Interconnect slot in order to plug-in the video card. Newer versions of computers use the accelerated graphics port (AGP). The latest version of computers use the PCIexpress, which has a speed twice of the AGP slots.

The task of upgrading the graphics card in your desktop computer, involves finding out the type of slot in your computer motherboard. If your computer system is relatively quite old, then it is likely that it has a PCI slot. In this case, you have to upgrade related hardware in your computer system, as well. This is because, nowadays, graphic cards compatible only with PCIexpress are available. Additionally, they also render high-speed outputs.

The power supply required for a graphics card should also be considered before buying one. The power supply or wattage of the computer must be checked. The power supply ratings range from 350-500W. Also, the available computer RAM must be taken into consideration. Minimum RAM of 512 MB is required. Once all these steps are done, you can buy a new video card. Make sure that you compare all the options available in the market, and choose the one that best suits your needs.

To remove the older one and upgrade the computer hardware to a new video card, follow the 8 steps given below:

1.If you already have a graphics card, un-install the drivers of the same. Download the drivers of the new one that you've purchased and store them on your computer system.

2.Remove the overclocks, usually set to increase the performance of your computer by increasing the clock rate.

3.Set the computer system to its original specifications and turn it off.

4.The power cord should be unplugged. Open the cabinet and search for your PCIexpress slot.

5.The PCIexpress slot has a locking clip, which is used to mount the card. Remove the older card and mount the newer one.

 6.Store the older card in an anti-static bag, as you can use it as a back-up.

7.The computer system can then be switched on, after carefully placing the graphics card in its slot.

8.Start your computer and install the drivers which were downloaded earlier. This ends the up-gradation process and you can start playing games.

The graphics card is basically used to ensure performance, drive a digital screen, and support dual screens for playing games.

These are some of the very common computer hardware troubleshooting steps which can be followed before taking the computer to a professional hardware repair shop.

The computer hardware includes devices, such as the mouse, keyboard, monitor and printer. All are machines and are bound to face technical issues at some point or the other. However, you can perform some basic computer troubleshooting tips to make them functional. If they don't seem to work with the troubleshooting tools, you need to send them for hardware repair.

The following are some tips for the various computer hardware devices


1.Monitor

If the monitor is not working, the first thing you need to do is to ensure that it has been turned on by pressing the on/off button.
Next, check if the cable, which connects the computer monitor and the CPU is connected properly. If not, connect it in a proper manner, or remove and plug it in again.
Also, make sure that the cord, which is used to power the monitor is plugged in the UPS the right way.
If these tactics do not work, you need to check both the cables on a different monitor, which is in a working condition.
If the other monitor doesn't work with any one of the cords, that cable needs to be replaced. If the other monitor works with both cords, there is possibly a problem in your monitor.
You may also restart your computer and then check whether the monitor is working or not.
If none of these tips work out, you may have to contact a professional computer technician.


2.Mouse

If the cursor on the screen is not moving in a smooth manner, you need to check for dust or any residue on the trackball rollers, which enable the computer to accurately identify the movement of the mouse.
Remove the rear mouse cover, which will let the ball come out, clean the trackball if needed, remove the dust or residue, put the ball in again, and finally put the cover back. Check whether this works.
If the cursor doesn't move at all, check whether the mouse is correctly connected to the CPU.
If it's a USB mouse, try to use a different USB port.
There could also be the potential threat of a virus if the mouse pointer doesn't work in an acceptable manner. If so, run an updated anti-virus software and delete the virus as soon as possible.
Check if the mouse drivers are corrupted, if yes, reinstall them.


3.Keyboard

The keyboard is an important part of the computer, without which you cannot perform several tasks. It should be kept away from dust and dirt to ensure proper functioning.
If it doesn't work, you first need to check its connection with the CPU. If the connection is fine and it still does not work, simply try to connect it to another PS/2 socket or USB port (in case of a USB keyboard).
In case of wireless keyboards, special drivers are needed to be installed in the computer for proper functioning. Ensure that such drivers are installed.
Also, make a point to check whether the drivers are updated. Hold the keyboard in an inverted manner and remove the dust or debris, which is hampering the proper working of a key or a set of keys. You can also remove dust with the help of a vacuum cleaner or an air compressor.



4.Printer

If the printer doesn't work, there is a possibility of a paper jam, which normally occurs if the papers are not placed in the tray in a right manner.
In case of bigger printers, you may need to open various printer parts to get to the place where there is a paper jam. This exclusively has to be done by a professional printer technician.
Don't use tools to remove the paper jam, as some components may get damaged during the process.
If the printer doesn't turn on, the power cord may be loose, and needs to be plugged in properly. The cord which connects the printer to the computer also needs to be checked.

How to fix a Laptop Speakers that Not Working

The miniaturization of laptops comes at a price and one feature that seems lacking in most, is the quality of laptop speakers and the sound they provide. Often, most laptop users have to resort to external speaker systems to enjoy quality music or watch movies. Complaints like 'Laptop speakers stopped working' and 'Laptop speakers not loud enough', are some of the most common complaints on techno forums.The following are tips that will help you in fixing laptop speaker problems at a software level quite effectively.

Laptop Speakers that Not Working.What can you do??


Any laptop computer problem can be fixed, after you've properly diagnosed and isolated the underlying source. The problem either lies with the software or hardware. Every device attached to the computer has its hardware connections and control software, in the form of drivers. The case of dysfunctional speakers could be arising out of a software or hardware failure of some kind. Here are some simple things that you can do, to fix the problem, in case it's only a software anomaly.

1.Check Volume Mute Settings

Laptop speakers may not be working because of accidental muting of sound output. To check that, on your Windows XP operating system, click on the 'Start' button, then go to 'All Programs then accessories --}})Entertainment --}}}Volume Control'. You could also reach the volume settings by simply clicking on the speaker icon, which is normally present in system tray, in case of Windows Vista. See if the mute check box is checked. In case it is, then uncheck it and your problem will be solved.


2.Hardware Issues

A faulty headphone jack or sound card may be the reason for the continuing 'no sound' problem. There is a switch, within the headphone jack, that's used to switch off speaker sound, when a headphone terminal is inserted. Often, the switch tends to get stuck, even when a headphone is not being used, leading to muted speakers. Inserting and removing the headphone terminal in the jack a couple of times, might just fix your problem, if it prompts the stuck switch to work again. Otherwise, you'll need expert assistance in getting the part replaced.

3.Install Sound Drivers Again

Another problem might be the corruption of the laptop's installed audio drivers. In that case, you must delete the old sound drivers and reinstall them from your driver installation CD. To delete old drivers go to 'Start ---}}}Control Panel ---}}} System ---}}}Hardware ---}}}Device Manager ---}}} Sound and Video Game Controllers'. Delete the sound devices that are listed there, while taking care that the audio codecs and legacy audio drivers are not deleted. Then run the recovery driver CD to get the audio drivers newly installed. That should take care of your problem. All it takes is a few mouse clicks! If you don't have the recovery driver CD, search for sound drivers online, according to laptop brand and model number. Download and install the driver to restore sound.


4.System Restore

Sometimes the installation of certain software programs and virus problems may have messed up the audio software settings and data may have been lost. In such a case, go for a 'System Restore' that will reset all the settings as they were before. To do that, go to 'Accessories --}}System Tools ---}}} System Restore'. If this works, your laptop sound should be back.

Hope your laptop speakers problem is fixed with some of the solutions suggested here.