Building a PC: Step 4
Step 2, testing your computer, taken from Chris Worfolk's ICT Hardware coursework.

Testing your computer
Everything is now slotted together, plugged in and connected up so it is time to begin testing. If all goes well you should be able to getting on with setting up your computer, if not you can look forward to hours upon hours of mind numbing troubleshooting – so good luck .

Turn your computer round so that you can see the front panels again. Check the mains power cable to your case and monitor and switch them on at the mains power socket. If the computer powers on at this point, press and hold the power button for a second to turn it off.

Next switch your monitor on so that the indicator (usually a green light) shows that the monitor is switched on. Now press the power button on your case and the computer should power up. If you hear loud weird noises then panic and switch everything off immediately.

Soon the power light should be on, on the front of the case and the HDD light may flash on and off a bit too. You should also be able to hear the fan going, check to make sure it is spinning or it could cause heat damage.

If it eventually comes up with text on screen complaining about not being able to load an operating system then great this means everything is going smoothly. If not then disconnect everything and begin troubleshooting what you have done.

Posting
This article was posted by mworld.

Discuss
Discuss this article on the forums...