A technician receives a call that a user’s workstation has suddenly stopped responding and the screen is blank. Before investigating potential hardware issues, what should the technician check first to establish a theory of probable cause?
Inspect the motherboard for swollen capacitors or other visible signs of hardware failure.
Listen for power-on self-test (POST) beeps to diagnose motherboard or component issues.
Verify that the monitor is turned on and the cable is securely connected to both the monitor and the workstation.
Check the computer for a blue screen of death (BSOD) or other crash screens.
Verifying that the monitor is turned on and connected properly is a foundational step in troubleshooting display issues. This addresses the simplest cause where the monitor itself might be powered off or disconnected, which would result in a blank screen. If the monitor receives proper power and connection but the screen remains blank, the technician can then proceed to assess more complex hardware components. Checking for POST beeps or proprietary crash screens would not be the initial steps as they would not be present if the monitor is simply turned off. Similarly, inspecting motherboard components would come later in the troubleshooting process once basic external checks are completed.
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What is POST and why is it important in troubleshooting?
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What are some common reasons a monitor would not turn on?
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What steps should a technician follow after confirming the monitor is powered on?