A hardware diagnostic is a method of troubleshooting a computer’s hardware systems. These diagnostic systems can be run by the user or by internal programs, initiated by the computer’s control systems, or run from the hardware itself. Basic hardware diagnostics cover the necessary systems in a computer, such as the processor, chipset, and memory, at every system boot. These hardware diagnostic systems often provide essential early warning of potential system failures or failures.
Hardware diagnostics can be controlled by humans or by internal programs.
Hardware diagnostic systems come in two basic types: single-use and multipurpose. A single purpose diagnostic program will only check a certain piece of hardware. The tests for this hardware are very specific and customized for this system. An all-in-one diagnostic will check for problems with various pieces of hardware. Because these programs aren’t specific to a single piece of hardware, they often won’t detect the small or odd problems that a single-purpose diagnostic detects.
A hardware diagnostic is a method of finding problems with a computer’s hardware system.
User-initiated diagnostic programs have the widest variety of types and functions. Common all-in-one programs often look for unusual items for other systems to check, such as the monitor or network system. On the other hand, since they are often a single ‘catch-all’ program, they may not be aware of the subtleties that more specific programs will encounter. Hardware manufacturers often provide single-purpose diagnostic programs and are a good first step in identifying strange computer behavior once a person restricts the hardware part.
Sometimes it may be a good idea to have a computer professional run a diagnostic check and any necessary repairs.
Internal diagnostic programs generally come from two places: the hardware driver or the computer’s operating system. They usually have a single purpose. These programs typically run in the background whenever a computer is running. Scans of an operating system check for anomalies in the responses it receives from the hardware, and often only find them after the hardware has already started to fail. Driver diagnostic systems pay more attention and often report strange behavior in a piece of hardware as soon as it becomes apparent, but only some hardware has such drivers.
A hardware diagnostic performed by computer control systems operates at a very basic level. It typically monitors power levels and response times rather than data validity. Most active scans take place during the boot sequence, where single-purpose programs run through scans on multiple computer systems. After boot, these hardware diagnostics are often in the background and only alert the user when something really bad is happening.
The last type of hardware diagnostics is performed by the hardware itself. Because these internal programs are built into the hardware, they always have a single purpose. These programs monitor the system for anything outside of the hardware specifications. When it finds something, it alerts the computer’s internal systems, which then alert the operating system.
IT professionals can use hardware diagnostics to identify faulty computer parts.
