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Tools for troubleshooting and repairing PC issues
There's nothing worse when it comes to using a PC that has an issue, but you're not quite sure what that issue is. A lot of the time, it could be one of many things causing the issue, so trying to track it down can be painful and time-consuming. Thankfully, there are several programs out there that can help you diagnose and, in some cases, resolve your issues.
Some of the most common hardware issues are going to be with your PC's RAM, storage, CPU, or GPU, as they normally bear the brunt of the performance tasks. However, all hardware, including your motherboard, PSU, and fans, can cause issues if something isn't quite right.
If you are looking at a hardware fault, then it is likely you will need to replace the faulty component. However, sometimes you may be able to diagnose and fix the issue with software or even a simple driver update, so it is a good place to start. Always make sure everything is up-to-date before you dive too deep into the rabbit hole, trying to see what is wrong. It's also a good idea to have a quick look to check for any physical damage, as this will be a dead giveaway.
AIDA64
All-around hardware diagnostics
AIDA64 is a hardware monitoring software for Windows PCs. It has multiple options available covering everything you would need to monitor your PC, whether you are a personal user with a single PC or an engineer looking after multiple PCs. It can monitor all your PC hardware and even let you know what operating system and software you have installed. It also offers overclock information, system stability tests, and benchmarks for your CPU, memory, and storage.
AIDA64 is a great all-around program for those who want to be able to monitor and diagnose most of their PC hardware in a single place. It has an easy-to-navigate interface, allowing almost anyone to find what they are looking for with ease. For those interested, you can also generate reports based on custom parameters that you chose in a number of different formats.
AIDA64
AIDA64 is a system monitoring and benchmarking tool that offers detailed information, diagnostics, and stress tests to measure the performance of your computer.
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CrystalDiskInfo
Monitor your storage health
This is a handy program to make sure your storage drives are happy and healthy. It can give you general information on your drive, and also show you the S.M.A.R.T. information as well. You can use it to set Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM), and Advanced Power Management (APM) and you can even set it to send you alarms to your email. CrystalDiskInfo lists its official support for most PATA/SATA controllers, but there is an official list on their site you can check out if needed.
Although its design is only for storage, CrystalDiskInfo is a must-have program. It is another easy-to-use program and comes with multiple download options available, such as ZIP file, full program installer, and, in some cases, you can even download the source code. It can tell you how many times you have powered on your storage drives and even how much data has been read/written, so it is truly a must-have for those looking to monitor their storage drives.
CrystalDiskInfo
CrystalDiskInfo is a free software utility designed to monitor and report on your storage devices.
JScreenFix
Repair stuck pixels on your monitor
JScreenFix is a free tool used to help repair stuck pixels on your monitor. Best of all, there is nothing to install as it uses HTML5 and JavaScript directly in your web browser. You simply go to the site, click the launch button and a small box with many color-changing pixels will appear. All you need to do is click and drag this box over the stuck pixel and leave it for at least 10 minutes.
JScreenFix is one of the best software solutions for fixing stuck pixels and the fact it is free and doesn't require any downloads makes it even better. Of course, sometimes there is no repairing a broken pixel, but if there is a chance of fixing it, JScreenFix is a useful first port of call. It's quick, simple, and efficient, so what more could you ask for?
JScreenFix
JScreenFix is a web-based application used to fix stuck pixels on monitors.
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Windows Memory Diagnostic
Free Windows-based memory diagnostic tool
The Windows Memory Diagnostic is built right into Windows 10 and 11. It is a free tool that will help you check for bad/faulty RAM. It requires you to restart your PC before it can work, so make sure you save all your work beforehand. To run, all you need to do is press your Windows key on your keyboard and type Memory. Here, a pop-up window will appear with two options. You can either restart and run now, or you can run on your next restart.
Once running the Windows Memory Diagnostic test, there are three modes you can run; Basic, Standard, and Extended. Each setting increases the number of tests that will run, so it will also take longer to run the extended test over the basic. While the test is running, you can see what pass it is on and if there are errors to be reported. All in all, it's a decent free tool that doesn't take an overly long time to run, so it is a good place to start with memory-based issues.
HWiNFO
All-in-one hardware information, monitoring, and diagnostics
HWiNFO is another free tool that offers professional system information, monitoring, and diagnostics across a wide range of PC hardware. It is compatible with several OSs, including DOS and Windows 95 through Windows 11 across the x86, x64, and ARM64-based platforms. It is like AIDA64 because it offers a complete look at all of your hardware and gives a detailed display of everything.
HWiNFO is difficult to use thanks to its intuitive interface, but a lot is going on, so making the most of it takes some practice. You really can monitor everything from CPU core temperatures to memory speeds and everything in between. If you need an all-in-one tool for monitoring your PC hardware, this is the one to go with.
HWiNFO
HWiNFO provides comprehensive analysis, monitoring and reporting for your hardware on Windows and DOS.
Can I prevent hardware issues?
Yes, it's possible to prevent or postpone some problems. Preventative maintenance is an excellent way to ensure your PC's longevity. Keeping your PC clean and dust-free and making sure all your software and drivers are up-to-date are both good places to start and try to prevent any hardware issues.
Of course, sometimes hardware malfunctions or fails despite our best efforts. It's a shame when it happens, but by monitoring your PC's hardware, you should hopefully be able to catch it before it becomes completely faulty and causes your PC to no longer function. In most cases, you don't need to monitor 24/7, but setting a regular schedule to check in and monitor your hardware is always advisable.