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.
Checklist
If you are running the software from a floppy disk, try a new
copy of the software.
If you are running the software from a hard disk drive, try
running it from a floppy disk. 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 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 “Additional Troubleshooting
Procedures” in this chapter.
If you receive any error messages, refer to the “Error Messages”
section in this chapter, for an explanation of the messages and
suggested corrective actions.
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Problem Solving
