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 you have problems after the system has been running correctly, check the following:
!If you are running the software from a diskette or
!If you are running the software from a hard disk drive, try running it from a floppy. If the software runs correctly, there may be a problem with the copy on the hard disk. Reinstall the software on the hard disk 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 disk drive. The hard disk 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.
If the problem recurs after you have checked and corrected all of the above items, refer to “Diagnostic Testing” in this chapter.
