Lessons - PCU ICT Computer Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting Guide

Check the Power Cable
- Make sure it's plugged in securely on both ends (PC and outlet).
Test the Wall Outlet
- Plug in another device (like a phone charger) to confirm the outlet works.
Check the Monitor
- Make sure it's powered on — the PC might be running but showing no display.
Check the PSU Switch
- Look at the back of your PC — the power supply switch should be set to (ON).
Disconnect Extra USB Devices
- Unplug printers, flash drives, and other accessories — a faulty device can block startup.
Look for Signs of Life
- Check for motherboard LED lights or listen for beep sounds.
- Beep codes can tell you exactly what's wrong.
Reseat the RAM
- Turn off and unplug the PC, then remove the RAM sticks and firmly reinsert them.
- Loose RAM is one of the most common causes of no-boot issues.
Replace the Power Supply
- If nothing else works, the PSU may be dead — swap it with a known working one.

Internet Troubleshooting Guide

Test Another Device
- Check if your phone or another device has internet on the same network.
- If wala rin, the problem is your router or ISP — not your PC.
Restart Your Modem or Router
- Power it off, wait a few seconds, then power it back on.
- If still no connection, contact your Internet Service Provider or check the service status.
Check Ethernet Cables
- Unplug the cable, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in securely on both ends.
Reconnect to Your Wi-Fi Network
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
- Click Forget on your network, then reconnect and re-enter the password.
Run Windows Network Troubleshooter
- Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
- Find Network and Internet, click Run, and apply any recommended fixes.
Reset Network Settings via Command Prompt
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator, then run these one by one:
  - ipconfig /flushdns
  - netsh int ip reset
  - ipconfig /release
  - ipconfig /renew
- Restart your PC after running the commands.
Update or Reset the Network Adapter
- Open Device Manager > Network adapters, right-click your adapter, then Update driver.
- In the Power Management tab, uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
- You can also try Disable device then Enable device, or Uninstall device then Action > Scan for hardware changes.
Perform a Network Reset
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
- Click Reset now — your PC will restart and you'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi.
Check VPN, Antivirus, and Firewall
- Temporarily disable VPN or antivirus software to test.
- In Windows Security > Firewall & network protection, make sure network apps are allowed, or try Restore firewalls to default.
Check BIOS or Hardware (Advanced)
- Make sure the network adapter is not disabled in BIOS.
- A cheap USB Wi-Fi adapter can be a quick workaround if the built-in adapter is faulty.
Restart the Computer
- A full restart applies all changes and fixes many temporary glitches.
Contact Your ISP If Needed
- If all else fails, the issue may be on your provider's end — report it for repair.

Storage Troubleshooting Guide

Delete Temp Files
- Press Start, type %temp%, press Enter.
- Select all → Delete → Skip any files in use.
- Empty the Recycle Bin.
Clear Prefetch
- Press Start, type run, then type prefetch → OK.
- Delete everything inside, skip locked files.
- Programs may open slower once or twice, then back to normal.
Run Disk Cleanup
- Right-click C: drive → Properties → Disk Cleanup.
- Check all boxes → Clean up system files → check all again → OK.
- ⚠ Deleting Windows.old means you can't roll back to your old Windows version.
Clear Spotify Cache
- Type %appdata% in Start → go to AppData → Local → Packages → SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic → LocalCache → Spotify → Data.
- Delete all cache folders inside (can free 10+ GB).
- Restart your PC if Spotify glitches.
Find Big Files
- Open your drive, then search size:gigantic (finds files over 4 GB).
- Delete files you no longer need.
- Not sure what a file is? Leave it alone.
Clean Your Downloads Folder
- Delete old installers, drivers, and files you don't need anymore.
Uninstall Unused Programs
- Use CCleaner Free (uncheck the bundled antivirus when installing).
- Run Easy Clean, then use Tools → Uninstall to remove apps and bloatware you never use.
Compress Other Drives (Not C:)
- Right-click a secondary drive → Properties → check Compress this drive → Apply.
- ⚠ Never do this on C: — it can slow Windows down. Best run overnight for big drives.

Virus Removal Guide

Disconnect from the Internet
- Unplug Ethernet or turn off Wi-Fi to stop the malware from spreading or communicating.
Update Windows Security
- Click the blue shield icon in the system tray (bottom right).
- Go to Virus & threat protection, scroll down, and click Check for updates first.
Run a Full Scan Using Windows Security
- Go back to Virus & threat protection > Scan options.
- Select Full scan and let it run until fully completed.
- If you use a third-party antivirus, same steps: open it, update it, run a full system scan.
Remove Detected Threats
- When the scan finds results, follow the prompts to remove or quarantine them.
- For a second opinion, Bitdefender Free Antivirus can be used as a backup scanner.
Remove Browser Extensions
- Open each browser's settings and go to Extensions.
- Remove all extensions if possible — they're a common security and privacy risk.
- If may extension na kailangan mo talaga, disable it when not in use.
Delete Suspicious Applications
- Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Scrub the list — uninstall anything suspicious or unnecessary.
- Fewer apps = better security, privacy, and performance.
Clear Temporary Files
- Use Disk Cleanup or Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files.
- Empty the Recycle Bin afterwards.
Restart the Computer and Scan Again
- Reboot, then run another Full scan to confirm the system is clean.
Update Windows and All Software
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
- Outdated software is a common entry point for malware.
Reset Windows If Necessary
- Back up your files first.
- Search "Reset this PC" from the Start menu, then click Reset PC.
- Try Keep my files first; if problems persist, use Remove everything.
- A full reset wipes out viruses, malware, adware, and spyware from the OS.

Prevention Tips

Install less software and research before installing anything.
Avoid public Wi-Fi and unknown USB devices.
Be careful with links and attachments in emails or texts.
Use strong, unique passwords (20+ characters) and enable 2FA everywhere.

Overheating Troubleshooting Guide

Turn Off the Computer
- Shut down the PC first before doing any physical cleaning or checks.
Clean Dust from Cooling Fans
- Dust clogs fans, heatsinks, and vents, trapping heat inside.
- Use compressed air to clean the internals regularly.
Check If All Fans Are Working
- Power on briefly and confirm all case, CPU, and GPU fans are spinning.
- Replace any fan that's dead or noisy.
Make Sure Air Vents Are Not Blocked
- Place the PC in a well-ventilated area and never block the vents.
- Avoid using laptops on beds or pillows — use a flat surface or cooling pad.
Replace Thermal Paste If Needed
- Dried-out thermal paste reduces heat transfer from the CPU to the heatsink.
- Reapply a fresh layer if temps stay high after cleaning.
Monitor CPU Temperature
- Use tools like HWMonitor or Core Temp to track temps.
- Idle should be around 30–50°C; sustained 90°C+ under load means a problem.
Limit Maximum Processor State
- Go to Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional power settings.
- Click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
- Expand Processor power management > Maximum processor state, set both values to 80%.
- Click Apply, then restart your PC.
Run an SFC Scan
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Type sfc /scannow and press Enter — corrupted system files will be repaired automatically.
Run the DISM Tool
- In Command Prompt (Admin), type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
- Wait for the scan to finish and repair the system image.
Update Device Drivers
- Right-click Start > Device Manager.
- Expand categories like Display adapters, right-click a device, then Update driver.
Remove Bloatware
- Background apps add extra CPU load and heat.
- Right-click unwanted apps in the Start menu and select Uninstall.
Underclock the CPU (Optional)
- Lower the CPU frequency via BIOS or manufacturer software.
- Slightly reduced performance, but much cooler temps.
Shut Down Properly
- Don't leave the PC running idle for days.
- Full shutdowns let components cool completely and last longer.
Upgrade Cooling If Overheating Continues
- Consider better fans, a bigger heatsink, or an AIO cooler.
- Reinstalling Windows (Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC) is the software last resort.

Common Troubleshooting Lessons

Computer Won't Turn On

Internet Problems

Storage Issues

Virus Removal

Overheating

Troubleshooting Guide

Internet Troubleshooting Guide

Storage Troubleshooting Guide

Virus Removal Guide

Overheating Troubleshooting Guide

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