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CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide

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Excessive heat inside the case, even with the video card fan running at full

blast, can create some interesting effects. The computer could simply shut

down due to overheating (CompTIA calls this an overheat shutdown). You’ll

recognize this possible cause because the computer will come back up in a

minute or two, but then shut down again as you use it hard and it heats up

again. Sometimes the screen will show bizarre artifacts or start distorting.

Check your case fans and make sure nothing is too close to the video card.

You might need to take the whole system outside to blow out dust from its

filters, vents, and fans.

Troubleshooting Monitors

Because of the inherent dangers of the high-frequency and high-voltage

power required by monitors, and because proper adjustment requires

specialized training, this section concentrates on giving a support person the

information necessary to decide whether a trouble ticket is warranted.

Virtually no monitor manufacturers make schematics of their monitors

available to the public, because of liability issues regarding possible

electrocution. To simplify troubleshooting, look at the process as three

separate parts: common monitor problems, external adjustments, and internal

adjustments.

Common Monitor Problems

Although I’m not super comfortable diving into the guts of a monitor, you

can fix a substantial percentage of monitor problems yourself. The following

list describes the most common monitor problems and tells you what to do—

even when that means sending it to someone else.

• For problems with ghosting, streaking, and/or fuzzy vertical edges,

check the cable connections and the cable itself. These problems rarely

apply to monitors; more commonly, they point to the video card.

• If one color is missing, check cables for breaks or bent pins. Check the

front controls for that color. If the color adjustment is already maxed

out, the monitor will require internal service.

• As monitors age, they lose brightness. If the brightness control is

turned all the way up and the picture seems dim, the monitor will

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