Hardware Installation, Configuration and Troubleshooting
Domain 6: Hardware Installation, Configuration and Troubleshooting
This section covers PC and peripheral hardware assembly, BIOS/UEFI settings, driver installation, and structured fault finding. Expect POST behaviour, storage health, cabling, and customer-safe repair practice.
Core rules
- Plan power: confirm PSU wattage and connector types, CPU socket, RAM generation, and storage interface before assembly. Use standoffs correctly to avoid board shorts.
- POST and beep/DEBUG codes narrow faults. No power: check outlet, PSU switch, 24-pin and 8-pin CPU power, then front-panel header. No display: reseat RAM and GPU, test minimal configuration.
- BIOS/UEFI: set boot order, SATA mode, virtualisation, and secure boot deliberately. Record changes. Clear CMOS after a failed setting.
- Drivers should come from the vendor or OS repository; match architecture and OS version. Roll back if a new driver causes instability.
- Troubleshoot in layers: power, POST, boot, OS, application, user data. Change one variable at a time and record results.
Worked example
A desktop powers on, fans spin, but there is no display and one long beep followed by three short beeps. The pattern points to a video or memory initialisation fault. Power off, unplug, press the power button to discharge, reseat the GPU and its power cable, then test with one RAM stick in the primary slot. If it POSTs, test the other stick and slot. If not, try a known-good PSU or GPU. The reasoning is to eliminate the cheapest, most common contact faults before replacing the motherboard.
Traps
- Replacing parts before checking power and seating.
- Forgetting that some CPUs need both 24-pin and 8-pin power.
- Installing drivers from unofficial sites.
- Ignoring SMART warnings until the disk fails.
- Working without a backup or without recording the original configuration.