Proper Troubleshooting Posts-Read this 1st

[Georules]

When you post a problem when someone posts the solution to your problem, please reply, thank the person, and say that it is working. Or if you find the solution when we couldn't, post what you did.

This will help us find out if your problem was fixed and if the case can be used for other people to read.

Be excellent to each other and PARTY ON DUDES!

Thread merged. rstarr

[Rbreb13]

Tips for proper troubleshooting posts:
By: Rbreb13

When posting a problem you would like solved, please follow these guidelines. By following these tips your problem will get solved quicker and easier without a lot of cross posting when we have questions about your setup.

Post your system specifications:
1. Motherboard: Manufacturer and model number
2. Processor: Same
3. Cooling: Heatsink brand and model number
4. Memory: Manufacturer, type, size, how many and which slots
5. Video Card: Manufacturer and model number
6. Sound Card: Manufacturer and model number
7. Hard drives: If applicable to the problem
8. Other devices: If applicable to the problem
9. Case cooling: What case and fans etc. You’d be surprised how many problems are heat related.
10. Power Supply: Manufacturer and Model number and the wattage
11. Anything else that is hardware or software that you think might be related to the problem.
12. Operating System: What OS are you using!
13. Post your temperatures/temps: CPU idle and load, System or case, preferably in Celsius.

Note: If you're not sure of your system specs, go to the Downloads section (link above) on this site and download Aida32. It will tell you what we need to know. It will also read temperatures.

After that explain your problem as well as you can. Try to be as brief and concise as possible. Long rambling posts are hard to read and often ignored by some.
Be sure to mention if any hardware or software changes have been made recently.
If you got an error message tell us what it was. Either write it down or take a screen shot. The more information we have the more help we can be.

Extra Tips:
PC reboots: Right click My Computer/Properties/Advanced/Startup and Recovery/Settings and uncheck the "Automatically restart" Box. Then when it does a reboot at least you'll see an error message that might point you to the driver/software that’s causing the problem.
Clear the CMOS: This helps solve many problems. It will set your system back to the default settings. See your manual or Manufacturers website for how. Usually it involves a jumper or removing the battery while the PC is unplugged.
Trouble installing Windows: Clear the CMOS or go into the BIOS and set it to defaults and try. Windows sometimes has corruption issues when installed on an overclocked system. Next common cause is memory errors. Get Memtest86 and run it at least one full pass.

Video Tutorials: How to install Heatsinks, RAM and more!
Thanks to DaFan Man for this one!
Tutorials

Power Supply: This site has a calculator to determine how much power you need. It does this with everything at 100% and since everything at 100% is a rarity you probably won't need as much as they say. But its good for getting a general idea.
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

Hot wire your PSU: Useful for testing or leak testing a water setup

[Rbreb13]

On another note the Downloads section of HCW's site has many useful tools and utilities to overclock your vid card, benchmarking tools and system analysis tools. The only one missing is Memtest86 which is useful for testing memory modules.

[Dgomeat]

this needs a sticky

[Rbreb13]

Thanks, a good idea merging Geo's post in. I was gonna add that about the solutions but forgot.

[rstarr]

But notice, it became Geo's post due to his earlier posting of a sticky about this subject.

This thread does seem to be working based upon the last couple of troubleshooting threads that have been posted.

[firemachine69]

Thanks Rbred, we needed that!


Here's another line to add:

If you won't tell us any specs, we won't give you any help. If you don't know your specs, for whatever reason (n00b, someone upgraded for you), dig out the invoice from the computer, or at the very least, the model number of your computer (e.g. Dell Inspiron 8800). This will help speed up the troubleshooting.

Please realize posts without the above info WILL BE IGNORED. Thank you.

[Dgomeat]

also, if you take, please contribute. it's important to give back, especially when so many have helped you. So if you are helped and everything works out, please contribute any knowledge you may have. Even a little bit helps.

[Blackice]

Originally Posted by firemachine69

Thanks Rbred, we needed that!


Here's another line to add:

If you won't tell us any specs, we won't give you any help. If you don't know your specs, for whatever reason (n00b, someone upgraded for you), dig out the invoice from the computer, or at the very least, the model number of your computer (e.g. Dell Inspiron 8800). This will help speed up the troubleshooting.

Please realize posts without the above info WILL BE IGNORED. Thank you.

Noooooo.. We can on some cases not need that information. I am here to help in any way I can. Proper troubleshooting is an art.

[firemachine69]

Veyr true, but once they see we're very serious about wanting info (and helping them), they'll catch the drift, we'll have the info in advance if we need it, and the kinda posts "my computer stopped working, help" are gonna disappear hopefully, or at least for the most part. I suggest we put the sticky in bold or all caps, just to make sure the new people notice it.