5-6 Solving System Problems
After System Has Been Running Correctly
Problems that occur after the system hardware and software
have been running correctly often indicate equipment failure.
However, many situations that are easy to correct can also
cause such problems. If your system develops problems after
the system has been running correctly, use the following list
to isolate a possible cause:
If you are running the software from a diskette or
CD-ROM, try a new copy of the software.
If you are running the software from a hard drive, try
running it from a diskette. If the software runs correctly,
there may be a problem with the copy on the hard drive.
Reinstall the software on the hard drive and try running it
again. Make sure all the necessary files are installed.
If the problem recurs, you may need to reformat the hard
drive. The drive, the drive controller, or the system board
may be defective.
If the problems are intermittent, there may be a loose
cable, dirt in the keyboard (if keyboard input is incorrect),
a marginal power supply, or other random component
failures.
If you suspect that a transient voltage spike, power outage,
or brownout might have occurred, reload the software and
try running it again. Symptoms of voltage spikes include a
flickering video display, unexpected system reboots, and
the system not responding to user commands.
Note:
Voltage spikes can corrupt or destroy
data files on the drive. If you are experiencing
voltage spikes on the power line, install a surge
suppresser between the power outlet and the
system power cord.
