CertiGuide to A+ (Core Hardware)  9  Chapter 1100:  Troubleshooting

Inverse Cause 1 X  Cable Issues

In many ways, you are the Digital MD. Humans tend to get frustrated with Medical Doctors who don't talk to the patent for 5 minutes, write out a prescription for some magic pill, and make it all go away. Like the Medical Doctor, it may be difficult to find a simple answer. That is why a doctor orders tests to help determine the root issue. We have to do the same thing with our tools.

Some of them include ScanDisk, which has been built into Microsoft Operating Systems for the past 10 years. Maybe you should invest in hardware diagnostic tools such as POSTcard. This is a tool that plugs into a slot on the PC and works with the BIOS to display where a system in hanging up in POST. Or maybe a software diagnostic program like Quick Tech Pro, which allows you to boot to a DOS floppy disk and run tests on the hardware.

Barring the investment of a POST-card, have a spare PC handy that can be used to test suspect components, one piece at a time.

Inverse Cause 1 X  Cable Issues