PC Hardware A Beginner’s Guide

Chapter 24: Troubleshooting PC Hardware^637

To troubleshoot a PC’s power supply, test each of the power connectors for their

proper voltages. Test the +12VDC and +5VDC supplies with a multimeter. Many power

supplies have adjusting screws to set and adjust the voltages produced by the power sup-

ply. Typically, turning the screw clockwise increases the voltage and turning it coun-

ter-clockwise decreases it. Dial in the power connectors to their appropriate levels. Check

the power supply’s documentation for information on the proper voltage levels of the

pins. If the pins cannot be adjusted to the correct voltages, replace the power supply.

Troubleshooting the Sound System

It can be very difficult to isolate the source of a sound system problem. Here are some

troubleshooting steps to use to track down an audio problem:

 Resource conflicts Use the Windows System Information applet (see

Figure 24-4) from the Accessories | Systems Tools menu to determine if

there are any resource conflicts (IRQ, DMA, or I/O address) between the

sound card and other devices. If a conflict exists, reassign the conflicting

device or the sound card. The most common conflict is an IRQ.

 Speakers Troubleshooting the speakers is a fairly straightforward process:

1. Make sure the sound card is connected to the speakers and the correct cable
   is plugged into the correct jack on the sound card. Match up the color-coded
   plugs to the jacks or look carefully at the little pictures on the jacks.


2. Make sure the volume on the sound card and the speakers is turned up. The
   sound card’s volume can be set either with an adjustment knob or dial on
   the sound card or by clicking on the speaker symbol in the tray on the right
   end of the Task bar to open the Play Control panel. Make sure that the volume
   on the speakers is turned up.


3. Make sure that the speaker wires are not crimped or broken and that all of
   the jacks are seated in the appropriate plugs.
    Device drivers Sound cards are completely dependent on their software device
   drivers. Verify that the latest version of the sound card’s driver software is installed
   by checking the manufacturer’s Web site.
    EMF (Electromagnetic Field) Sound cards are very susceptible to EMF emissions
   from other devices and cards. Make sure that the sound card is not placed too
   close to a disk drive or the power supply inside the system case. For best results,
   place the sound card in an expansion slot as far away from other components
   as possible.