PC Troubleshooting Guide

Smart Hands technicians are often called upon to perform basic PC troubleshooting under remote guidance. This includes identifying and resolving issues related to hardware connections, power, display output, network connectivity, and peripheral functionality. Technicians should be able to follow structured instructions, verify cabling and device status, and provide clear documentation of all findings. While not expected to perform deep software diagnostics, Smart Hands support plays a critical role in confirming physical integrity and performing initial triage to assist remote engineers in rapid fault isolation.

Power Supply Diagnostic Checks
BIOS / Startup Diagnostic Checks
Hardware Diagnostic Checks
Using the Command Line

Power Supply Diagnostic Checks

If a computer is powered on, quickly powers off, the most probable issue is with the power supply.
- Run powercfg /batteryreport to run a battery report.
  If the full charge capacity is significantly lower than design capacity, the internal battery is dead and your diagnosis is effectively complete (battery failure due to capacity degradation). This discrepancy confirms the lithium-ion cells inside the battery have lost most of their chemical ability to store energy, even if it still charges, it is considered dead, and replacing the battery is the only way to restore full portable usability.
  Run wmic csproduct to get the precise laptop model # so that you can purchase the correct battery.
  Run powercfg /energy to generate an energy report.
  Run powercfg /sleepstudy to generate a sleep study report.
- Remove and reinsert battery (if laptop), then Power off and unplug the machine
- Test the Wall Outlet.
- Plug power supply (PSU) into a different outlet or use a different power cable.
- If possible, replace the PSU with a known working one to see if the problem persists.

BIOS / Startup Diagnostic Checks

The absence of any display output could be due to a failure to complete POST (Power-On Self-Test). This could also be a software or firmware problem preventing a proper boot.
- Press F2/F10DEL or ESC to enter BIOS setup.
- Listen for beep codes during startup (beeping sounds are part of the POST process where BIOS checks for hardware functionality before fully booting):
  
  NO (Short) Beep(s): Possible PSU, MB or CPU Failure
  
  1 (Long) Beep: System is Booting Normally (Graphics Card Error)
  
  2 Beeps: POST Error (RAM or MB) Failure
  
  3 Beeps: Memory (RAM) Failure
  
  4 Beeps: MB or System Clock Failure
  
  5 Beeps: CPU Failure

Hardware Diagnostic Checks