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PC boots, enters Windows, application runs but after a short while then the PC crashes. This occurs randomly. Games and applications runs well without problems before.

• If it's an application, try booting into safe mode. Run the same application and look around your hard drive. Safe mode means Windows doesn't load start up programs when it boots and uses default drivers. If the problems persist, which is highly unlikely, your PC might be infected with a virus. Run your anti virus software to check.
• If everything runs fine under safe mode, the next step is to troubleshoot your drivers. Try running under normal mode, but deactivate all startup programs. You can deactivate them while in Safe Mode with the System Configuration Utility (msconfig). Run some games and see whether or not the problem occurs. If it does, either update your hardware drivers or the game. If you're already using updated drivers and game binaries, the memory modules might be faulty.

Problematic components: memory. Check your BIOS to see whether or not your memory timings and speed are configured properly. This means using SPD for both timings and clock. You might also want to check the option 'DRAM Command Rate' and set it to '2T'. If you've installed memory with different specifications and sizes, set the timing and clock to the slowest memory (larger capacity memory usually runs slower). On some chipsets, installing more than two memory modules might cause stability problems. If you're using double sided / banks modules, try lowering the speed - some chipsets must use a slower speed when double sided memory is used.

PC boots, doesn't enter Windows

• If the crash occurs during loading, Windows usually give you some idea why it crashes (the BSOD - blue screen of death - or an error message). If it is a blue screen, it's probably hardware related - usually memory. Read the previous item to troubleshoot memory problems.
  
• If it's a missing / corrupt file message, you're either using a too high FSB or voltage for your processor or the file is really corrupt / missing. Check the processor's FSB and voltage by looking it up in the BIOS (or checking the jumpers on your motherboard).
• With graphics card that require additional power (such as Radeon 9700 or GeForceFX 5900), fluctuations in the 12 volt rail may cause a crash. If you're seeing IRQ related problems and you don't have other peripherals and add-ons installed, this usually means your graphics card isn't getting enough electricity. Check the connectors and power supply.
  
• If a disk error message appears just right after the BIOS screen, check whether or not your hard drive is connected properly to the motherboard and power supply. Also check whether or not they are identified by the BIOS. If they are, check your BIOS boot up sequence and make sure you've configured the right drive.
• If the hard drive is correctly identified and the BIOS boot up sequence is correct but the same error appears, check whether or not the hard drive partition is available and the primary partition is set to active. You can use third party utilities such as Partition Magic or the DOS based 'fdisk' to check the status of your partition. You could also use the Windows Installer CD to troubleshoot NTFS partitions. Hopefully, the partition is still there and your data is still intact. Fixing the partition table should make the drive boot into Windows or at least give you access to the data. You might have to reinstall Windows, just don't format the drive - you'll lose the data in it if you do.

Problematic components: processor, memory, hard drive, hard drive data and power cable. Most of the time, problematic cables are the cause of the problems. However, if the cables are properly connected, the BIOS should be able to detect your hard drives. If it doesn't, then your hard drive most probably have failed. This might be caused by electrical and heat problems, that's why it's important to monitor your hard drives health. Hard drive failures usually don't occur suddenly, but progress slowly - the first signs is dropped performance and bad sectors. If your hard drive is beginning to develop these signs, backup your data! You can still use them for secondary and temporary storage. These bad sectors may cause file corruption and errors, making your Windows installation unable to load.

Another cause of the problem is hardware compatibility and bugs. Some chipsets may have certain bugs that can cause data corruption while writing data to your hard drive. They only occur under a certain setup. Check your hardware manufacturer's website whether or not this is the case. With these kinds of bugs, data corruption is not related to your hard drive's health, because you can see that the BIOS detects the hard drives and it's still healthy (with S.M.A.R.T), but nonetheless data corruption still occurs. The fix for this problem is usually an updated or a 'slower' (not enhanced) driver - such as using the default driver bundled with Windows. Fixes and updates for these problems are available from your hardware's manufacturer's website.

PC boots (fans are spinning, lights are on), but you could only see a blank screen or BIOS screen.

• Check whether or not your monitor is switched 'On' and that the power cable is connected to the wall socket or your UPS. Also check whether or not the monitor's cable is connected to the graphics card.
• If you could see the BIOS screen, they usually spit out some information regarding the error. Usually, there is a misconfiguration. Check the BIOS to see whether or not you have properly configured the processor (clock and voltage) and memory (clock and timing).
• To troubleshoot configuration problems, you may have to clear or bypass the CMOS. Do this by moving the clear CMOS jumpers into the 'clear' position or bypass the CMOS by pressing and holding the 'Ins' key on your keyboard when booting up.
• If you see a BIOS screen every time you power up your PC, the problem might be caused by a bad CMOS battery. Replaced the CMOS battery on your motherboard with a new one. You can still use your PC even with a bad CMOS battery, just choose to run your PC with the default settings (by pressing 'F1'). However, performance may be slower.
• If the monitor stays blank, unhook the power cable to your hard drive and CD / DVD-ROM drive. This will lighten the burden of your power supply, so only the motherboard, graphics card, memory and processor is drawing power from the power supply. If this fix the problem, you need a more powerful power supply.
• Some graphics cards such as the Radeon 9700 / 9800 / X800 series and GeForceFX 5900 / 5950 / 6800 series require additional power from your power supply. Usually, there's a message to connect your power cable to the power supply. Shutdown the PC and then connect the cables. Switch on your PC again to see whether or not it fix the problem.
• All boards come with a built in diagnostic utility which emits a series of beeps - these are knows as BIOS error codes. Some offer additional LED diagnostic tools that offers more information. If you hear beeps, it usually means your graphics card and / or memory is not properly installed - or the motherboard can't detect them. Check them to see if they're properly connected. Old PCs may have dirt or developed traces of oxidation on connectors and slots - clean them with a clean, dry soft cloth. Make sure the AGP and DIMM slot lock mechanism is set to the locking position when both components are installed.
• Most motherboard now comes with built in fan monitoring. These motherboards may be set to shutdown itself automatically if they don't detect the presence of a processor fan. Check whether or not the heatsink's fan for the processor is connected to the CPU fan header (usually called CPU1 or CPUFAN header). The fan's cable must have three cables (red, yellow and black), 2 for power and 1 for monitoring signal. Of course, automatic shutdown also occurs if your processor's fan have failed or running dangerously slow.

Problematic components: graphics card, memory, motherboard. If you have done all these troubleshooting steps and your PC still won't boot, chances are either the graphics card, memory or motherboard have failed. Unless you have a spare PC and components lying around, bring your PC to a repair service or the store you bought it from. Obviously, you have to replace the failed / damaged components.

PC won't boot at all (fans are not spinning, lights are off)

• Check whether or not the power cable from your PC is connected to the wall socket (or through the UPS)
• Check the power supply's switch and see whether it is set to the 'On' position. The same thing if you use a UPS. Check whether or not the power supply's voltage switch is correctly set to your locale (110 or 220 volts).
• Check whether or not the power supply cables from the PSU is properly connected to your motherboard. This means both the ATX power cables and the ATX 12 volts cable as well (if your motherboard requires it).
• Check whether or not the power switch's cable on your casing is properly connected to the power cable header on your motherboard. Try shorting the header to switch on your PC.

Problematic components: processor, power supply. Under these conditions, if your PC still won't boot its either the processor or the power supply that's at fault. Again, i recommend you to take your PC to a repair service or the store you bought it from. Obviously, you have to replace the failed / damaged components.

OK, that should be it. Remember, that this guide is only a general guide to troubleshooting. You may want to check your hardware manual for specific information and problems regarding your hardware. Information regarding BIOS configuration, CMOS jumper location, BIOS error codes and LED diagnostic codes can be found in your motherboard's manual. They will also contain explanation about BIOS settings such as memory timings, speed, FSB which you can use to troubleshoot misconfiguration problems.

While troubleshooting your PC, especially if you're dealing with hardware, it's important to take precautions to avoid harm to yourself and the components. Just like what we talked about in the "Building Your Own PC", be careful about electrical connections and electrostatic discharge. Make sure you're working in a clean, well lit environment and prepare the necessary tools for troubleshooting and disassembling your PC.

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