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| Basic Troubleshooting |
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Computer Article Last Reviewed July 2009 |
 Cables and Connectors | ||
 Ever drive yourself to the brink of desperation troubleshooting a PC problem, only to find out a cable or connector was the problem? Geeks everywhere usually feel rather silly to be flummoxed by a simple cabling problem, usually right on the heels of feeling rather relieved that the problem wasn’t anything more serious. Cables and connectors seem like rather pedestrian pieces of PC equipment, but their importance should not be underestimated. After all, precious data flows through those cables and connectors, and if they don’t work, that data won’t flow. Read on to learn more about the ins and outs of cabling and connector problems and possible solutions. With this knowledge, you’ll never get tangled up again.  Product Information Anyone who’s ever peered at the back of the typical desktop computer knows about the usual tangle of cables. Open the computer’s case, and you’ll see a few more cables and wires interspersed throughout the innards of the computer, as well. Just about every system in your PC will have a cable or connector associated with it, from your video card and monitor to your hard disk, CD/DVD drive, floppy drive (if you still have one of these), FireWire card, USB devices, and, of course, your power supply. These connectors and cables vary a great deal in terms of size, shape, and function, but all play a role in the proper functioning of your PC. Working Status As computer components go, cables and connectors don’t provide you with much interactivity. So, figuring out whether a cable or connector is not working the way it’s supposed to can be more than a little vexing. Usually, a problem with another component in your PC will eventually lead you to take a look at the cables or connectors that tie that component to the rest of your PC. In fact, “eventually” should come sooner rather than later: One of the tried-and-true rules of PC troubleshooting is “always check the cables first.” Troubleshooting to determine whether a cable or connector is the culprit is straightforward and involves two simple steps. First, always check to make sure the connector at the end of a cable is securely and correctly in place. Typically, connectors attach to their components, plugs, or slots in only one way (in other words, many connectors are keyed). If properly reinserting a connector solves your issue, you’re done! A word of warning: Inserting or plugging a connector into the right spot should not require much force. If you are struggling with a connector and find yourself tempted to force it in place, make sure you are inserting the connector properly. Forcing a connector to connect incorrectly will most likely result in a broken connector or component, so take the time to do it right, or you’ll wind up with a more expensive problem on your hands. The second step is determining whether a cable is at the root of a problem you may be experiencing. Sometimes—albeit rarely—a cable is defective. The best way to determine if a cable is defective is to simply replace it with another cable. If the problem is solved, you’ve successfully determined that the cause of your issue is a faulty cable. If not, then you have some more troubleshooting to do. Start-Up Problems Problem: Your computer does not turn on. Solution: If your computer does not turn on, check your power cord and make sure it’s securely connected at both ends. Seems rather sensible to do, but a lot of users might go into instant panic mode when their machines don’t turn on and immediately start trying to solve this problem without checking the obvious possible causes first. Also, verify that the outlet your computer is plugged into has power. This is easily done by simply plugging the computer into another outlet. If your computer is plugged into a surge protector, make sure that surge protector is on or that it’s not defective. To verify whether the surge protector is working or not, bypass it and plug the computer directly into a working outlet. If the computer powers on normally, that’s a pretty good sign that your surge protector is defective. Problem: Your power cord is frayed or damaged. Solution: If Fido decided to chew on your computer’s power cord and miraculously managed to escape electrocution, replace the cord immediately! A damaged cord could lead to much bigger problems and cause irreversible damage to your system—or, worse yet, to you. And don’t go digging into your box of surplus electronic cords and equipment for a new power cord. When it comes to your PC’s power cabling, it’s best to get a replacement directly from the manufacturer. Problem: When you boot your computer, the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) reports that one of the major components, such as the hard drive, is not working.
Solution: Let’s say your computer’s hard drive, CD/DVD drive, or your video card is not working at all. The first thing you should do is verify that the power supply’s connector is securely and firmly attached to the receptacle on the component in question. This is a quick way to determine whether the issue is a simple “loose cable” problem or something more complicated. Problem: You just installed a brand new hard drive, but it’s not recognized by your system when you boot up. Solution: Before going into panic mode, fearing your brand new ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) drive might be DOA, check that the 40-wire (or 80-wire) ATA connector is properly inserted into the ATA connector on your motherboard. If this connector is not properly inserted, your hard drive or CD/DVD drive won’t work. Proper insertion means wire 1 on the connector at the end of your ATA ribbon cable is connected to pin 1 on the motherboard male connector and also to pin 1 on your hard drive’s male connector. Typically, a red stripe along the edge of the ribbon cable indicates where wire 1 is. In addition, some ATA cable connectors are “keyed”: This means a plastic bulge on the connector at the end of the cable fits into a notch on the motherboard or device connector, so the cable’s female connector can only be inserted one way. Problem: Your hard drive experiences strange data corruption issues. Solution: A possible cable-related solution here involves the ATA cable length and the number of pins. If your hard drive is Ultra-DMA, it’s best to use an 80-wire ribbon cable. DMA stands for Direct Memory Access and is a technology that allows information to be copied directly from memory to a device, such as a hard drive, without using your computer’s CPU. Ultra-DMA drives can read and write a lot of data very quickly (Ultra-DMA starts at 66Mbps [megabits per second]) so these denser, 80-wire ribbon cables are needed to accommodate the larger amounts of data going through them. Think of it like this: To accommodate lots more traffic (data), you need a lot more lanes along your highway (ribbon cables). Also, using a ribbon cable that’s too long or is way too crimped or bent can cause mysterious I/O data errors, especially if one of the wires in the ribbon cable is broken. Also, check the male connector on the motherboard for signs of dirt, corrosion, or even bent pins. These can cause your connection to the hard drive to be less than optimal and may contribute to mysterious data corruption or read/write problems. Judicious use of compressed air can help blow dust away from your connections. Unfortunately, if the pins on your motherboard’s connectors are extremely corroded, you may have to replace the entire motherboard. You may be able to repair a bent pin or pins with needle-nosed pliers, but tread carefully: Breaking a pin will start your search for a new motherboard.
Networks & Peripheral Devices Problem: Your network connection is lost or intermittent. Solution: A possible solution to this problem is, once again, checking for loose connectors, in this case the RJ-45 connectors at both ends of your Ethernet cable. If that connector is loose and not properly inserted into your NIC’s (network interface card’s) female RJ-45 port, that is the likely root cause of your network problem. These RJ-45 connectors also have a small plastic piece that snaps up after the connector is inserted and secures it in the port. If that plastic piece is broken off, the connector will not fit securely into the RJ-45 port, and the cable should be replaced. Another possible solution is checking the Ethernet cable for sharp bends or kinks. Believe it or not, those bends or kinks can interfere with smooth data flow. Problem: My USB 2.0 device does not work properly. Solution: Again, check the cabling; the first step is to ensure you are using a USB 2.0-compatible cable. Using a USB 1.1 cable with USB 2.0 equipment can cause problems with data transmission, which can lead to malfunctioning devices. Also, a USB cable longer than 5 meters, or 16 feet 5 inches, won’t work properly, as that is the maximum distance range designed for USB equipment. Equipment designed for the USB 2.0 specification is marked with a unique logo that distinguishes it from run-of-the-mill USB 1.1 equipment. Replace the existing cabling with USB 2.0-rated cabling. Problem: Your computer’s speakers don’t produce any sound. Solution: A simple way to troubleshoot this problem is to make sure the jacks on your PC’s speaker cables are inserted into the proper connectors on your sound card. For your speakers to generate sound, the speaker cable jacks should be firmly inserted into the “audio out” connectors on your sound card. These connectors are color-coded lime green, so inserting the right jack into the right connector is as easy as matching colors. By the same token, your microphone plugs into the pink connector on your sound card, and any input devices that you want to record from plug into your sound card’s light blue connector. Problem: Your monitor is blank even though the unit is powered up. Solution: Monitors are connected to your computer’s video card via two types of connections: analog VGA (Video Graphics Array) or DVI (Digital Visual Interface). In either case, if the male connectors at either end of the video cable are not securely fastened to the female connectors on the monitor or the computer, it’s very easy to loosen the connection enough so the monitor goes blank. Securely and evenly insert the male connector into the corresponding female connectors on the computer and the monitor. The cable connectors have two screws that keep the connectors securely fastened together; once the connection is secure, tighten those screws to ensure a tight, snug fit. Also, the root cause of the problem could be a bent pin on the male connector. If upon inspection you see a bent pin, it’s possible to repair it by carefully straightening it using needle-nosed pliers. And it’s also a good idea to check the cable itself for unusual kinks, bends, or even breakage. If you see evidence that the video signal will be physically interrupted, it’s best to replace the entire cable. Problem: Your PC easily overheats. Solution: Believe it or not, the cables inside your computer contribute to how hot the innards of your PC can get over long periods of use. Lots of haphazardly arranged cables, especially hard drive and CD/DVD drive ribbon cables, can impede good air flow and prevent effective heat removal inside your PC’s case. If you’re experiencing temperature problems and need a solution, check the cabling inside your PC’s case first and optimize its placement. You can use cable ties to tuck your cables out of the way of your PC case fan’s airflow. You can also simply purchase rounded IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) cables. These cables eliminate the traditional, flat ribbon shape of regular IDE cables in favor of a more “cable-like” round shape, which enhances air flow inside your computer’s case.  by Sixto Ortiz |
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