A wide range of diagnostic tools are needed to diagnose and repair computer problems. Diagnostic tools are divided into two main types, hardware and software. Hardware diagnostic tools are generally physical devices designed to determine the condition of various hardware components in your computer. Software diagnostic tools are computer programs used, inside or outside a system, to determine the causes of software and hardware failures in computer software and hardware. Software and hardware tools should be used frequently to diagnose and repair computers.
Diagnostic tools help computer repairmen find and fix problems.
A power supply tester is a hardware diagnostic tool used to determine if a computer’s power supply is working properly. There are different types that not only work in different ways, but are sometimes only designed for specific types of power supplies. By connecting the tester directly to the power supply, the user can test computer power supplies and diagnose specific faults, usually through an LCD screen.
Many computer software diagnostic tools are designed to test and tune computer systems.
Another hardware diagnostic tool is the POST (Power On Self Test) or BIOS (Basic Input-Output System) card. They are mainly used to find out why a computer won’t boot. The user can plug the card into an expansion slot on the computer, after which the user receives a two-digit error code from the computer’s BIOS. These tools will not work if the computer’s BIOS is not working.
When a non-working computer needs to be tested with software, it is usually run from an external computer.
Loopback plugs, or adapters, are another type of hardware tool. These simple devices are plugs designed for many of the specific ports on a computer. When connected, they emit simple electronic signals that the user can decode to find various computer errors while running electronic tests. There are many specialized hardware tools, some of which only work with certain computer systems.
Sometimes it may be a good idea to have a computer professional run a diagnostic check and any necessary repairs.
A great example of a software diagnostic tool is a type of program used on most computers today, the antivirus program. This is a type of tool used to continuously monitor a computer system for viruses and other computer problems and try to fix them if they occur. Antispyware programs are similar in that they diagnose computers for potentially unwanted programs that are primarily designed to cause harm.
IT professionals can use hardware diagnostics to identify faulty computer parts.
Many more software diagnostic tools are built to test and regulate many aspects of a computer system. Some, for example, will monitor the temperature of various hardware components and notify the user when they have gotten too hot, or increase various fan speeds to compensate. Many similar diagnostic tools run on computers from the time they are started until they are shut down, and many of them are called computer services.
These other system monitoring software tools can check hard drives, RAM, system logs, and more for errors. When a broken computer needs to be tested with software, it is often run from an external computer, such as a laptop. A repair technician’s laptop is usually loaded with many of these diagnostic tools, so the diagnostic computer can itself be a diagnostic tool.
Some diagnostic tools will recommend changing the fan speed to prevent the computer from overheating.
