Types of Computer Ports

A computer is a device that transforms data into meaningful information. It processes the input
according to the set of instructions provided to it by the user and gives the desired output. As we know
that we can connect multiple external devices with the computer system. Now, these devices are
connected with the computer using Ports. The ports are the physical docking points present in the
computer through which the external devices are connected using cables. Or in other words, a port is an
interface between the motherboard and an external device of the computer. There are different types
of ports available:

1. Serial port

2. Parallel port

3. USB port

4. PS/2 port

5. VGA port

6. Modem port

7. FireWire Port

8. Sockets

9. Infrared Port

10. Game Port

11. Digital Video Interface(DVI) Port

12. Ethernet Port

Now let us discuss these ports one by one:

1. Serial port(COM Port):

A serial port is also called a communication port and they are used for connection of external devices
like a modem, mouse, or keyboard (basically in older PCs). Serial cables are cheaper to make in
comparison to parallel cables and they are easier to shield from interference. There are two versions of
it, which are 9 pin model and 25 pin model. It transmits data at 115 KB/sec.
serial-port

2. Parallel Port (LPT ports):

Parallel ports are generally used for connecting scanners and printers. It can send several bits at the
same time as it uses parallel communication. Its data transfer speed is much higher in comparison with
the serial port. It is a 25 pin model. It is also known as Printer Port or Line Printer Port.

parallel-port

3. USB (Universal Serial Bus):

In 1997 USB was first introduced. This can connect all kinds of external USB devices, like external hard
disk, printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard, etc. There are minimum of two USB Ports provided in most of
the computer systems. It is a kind of new type serial connection Port that is much faster than the old
serial Ports and These USB Ports are much smarter and more versatile, as it allows the “daisy chaining”
of up to 127 USB peripherals connected to one port. The data transfer rate in this is Data12 megabits
per second. It also provides plug & plays communication.
USB-port

4. PS/2 Port:

PS/2 ports are special ports used for connecting old computer keyboard and mouse. It was invented by
IBM. In old computers, there are minimum of two PS/2 Ports, each for the keyboard and the mouse. It is
a 6 pin mini Din connector.

PS2-Port

5. VGA Port:

VGA ports also known as Video Graphic Array connector are those which connect the monitor to a
computer’s video card. VGA port has 15 holes and it is similar to the serial port connector. But VGA Ports
have holes in it and the serial port connector has pins in it.
VGA-port

6. Sockets:

Microphones and speakers are connected with the help of Sockets to the sound card of the computer.

Socket

7. FireWire Port:

The IEEE 1394 interface, which is developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Apple as FireWire. It
can transfer large amount of data at very high speed. It is used to connect camcorders and video
equipment to the computer. It comes up with three variants which are 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector, 6-
Pin FireWire 400 connector, and 9-Pin FireWire 800 connector.
FireWire-Port

8. Infrared Port:

An Infrared(IR) port is used to sends and receives infrared signals from other devices. It is a kind of
wireless type port with a limited range of 5-10ft.

infrared

9. Game Port:

These ports are used previously to connect a joystick to a PC. But nowadays it is replaced by USB ports.

10. Modem Port:

As the name suggests, a Modem port is used to connects a PC’s modem to the telephone network.

Modem-Port

11. Digital Video Interface(DVI) Port:

DVI Port is used to connects LCD(flat panel) monitor to the computer’s high-end video graphic cards and
it is very popular among video card manufacturers.

DVI-Port

12. Ethernet Port:

Ethernet Port helps to connect to a network and high-speed Internet(provided by LAN or other sources).
It connects the network cable to a computer and resides in a Ethernet card. It provides a data travel
speed of 10 Mb to 1000 Mb(megabits) per second.
Ethernet-Port

Sample Questions

Question 1. What is the full form of USB?

(A) Universal Serial Bus

(B) Unedited System Bracket

(C) Unified Sound Bar

(D) Unique Sequencing Bus

Solution:

The correct option is A, i.e., Universal Serial bus.

Question 2. Ethernet Cables are used for ________?

(A) audio

(B) networking

Solution:

(C) internet

(D) Both b and c

The correct option is both B and C

Because ethernet port helps to connect to a network and high speed Internet(provided by LAN or other
source).

Question 3. Microphone and speakers are connected with the help of________?

(A) Ethernet cable

(B) Serial ports

(C) Sockets

(D) None of the above

Solution:

The correct option is C, i.e., Sockets

Microphone and speakers are connected with the help of Sockets to the sound card of the computer.

Question 4. FireWire Port is developed in late 1980s and early 1990s by _______?

(A) Microsoft corporation Ltd.

(B) Apple

(C) Google

(D) Both Microsoft and Apple in collaboration

Solution:

The correct option is B, i.e., Apple

The IEEE 1394 interface, which is developed in late 1980s and early 1990s by Apple as FireWire. It can
transfer large amount of data at very high speed. It is used to connect camcorders and video equipment
to the computer.

Question 5. In old computers, there are minimum how many PS/2 Ports are available?

(A) 2
(B) 5

(C) 1

(D) No PS/2 ports are present.

Solution:

The correct option is A, i.e., 2

PS/2 ports are special ports used for connecting old computer keyboard and mouse. In old computers
there are minimum two PS/2 Ports, each for the keyboard and the mouse.

Question 6. Which are the Two versions of Serial ports?

(A) 15 pin model and 25 pin model

(B) 9 pin model and 15 pin model

(C) 10 pin model and 20 pin model

(D) 9 pin model and 25 pin model

Solution:

The correct option is D, i.e., 9 pin model and 25 pin model.

There are two versions of Serial ports, which are 9 pin model and 25 pin model. It transmits data at 115
KB/sec.

Troubleshooting Port Problems

Failures of the serial, parallel, and game ports tend to end with poor or no operation of the peripheral.
Generally, there are only four possible causes for a problem with a device connected to an I/O port:

• The port is defective.

• The software is not configured properly for the port (that is, the resource allocation, speed, or
protocol settings do not match).

• The connecting signal cable is bad.

• The attached device is not functional.

Port Problem Symptoms

Typical symptoms associated with serial, parallel, or game port failures include the following:

A 199, 432, or 90x IBM-compatible error code displays on the monitor (printer port).

• The printer's Online light is on but no characters are printed when print jobs are sent to the
printer.

• An 110x IBM-compatible error code displays on the monitor (serial port error).

• A Device Not Found error message displays, or you have an unreliable connection.

• The input device does not work on the game port.

Basic Port Checks

With newer Pentium systems, you must check the advanced CMOS setup to determine whether the port
in question has been enabled and, if so, whether it has been configured correctly. Check the PC board
that contains the I/O port circuitry (and its user guide) for configuration information. This normally
involves LPT, COM, and IRQ settings. Occasionally, you must set up hexadecimal addressing for the port
addresses; however, this is becoming rare as PnP systems improve. For example, a modern parallel port
must be enabled and set to the proper protocol type to operate advanced peripherals.

For typical printer operations, the setting can normally be set to Standard Parallel Port (SPP) mode.
However, devices that use the port in a bidirectional manner need to be set to Enhanced Parallel Port
(EPP) or Enhanced Capabilities Port (ECP) mode for proper operation. In both cases, the protocol must
be set properly for the port and the device to carry out communications.

If serial or parallel port problems are occurring, the CMOS configuration window displayed during the
startup sequence is the first place to look. Read the port assignments in the bootup window. If the
system has not detected the presence of the port hardware at this stage, none of the more advanced
levels will find it either. If values for any of the physical ports installed in the system do not appear in
this window, check for improper port configuration.

Because the system has not loaded an operating system at the time the configuration window appears,
the operating system cannot be a source of port problems at this time. If all configuration settings for
the ports appear correct, assume that a hardware problem exists.

Basic Parallel Ports

Run a software diagnostic package to narrow the possible problem causes. This is not normally a
problem because port failures generally do not affect the main components of the system. Software
diagnostic packages normally require you to place a loopback plug in the parallel port connector to run
tests on the port. The loopback plug simulates a printer device by redirecting output signals from the
port into port input pins.

You can use a live printer with the port for testing purposes; however, this action elevates the possibility
that the printer might inject a problem into the troubleshooting process.

If there is a printer switch box between the computer and the printer, remove the print-sharing
equipment, connect the computer directly to the printer, and try to print directly to the device.

Basic Serial Ports

As with parallel ports, diagnostic packages typically ask you to place a serial loopback test plug in the
serial port connector to run tests on the port. Use the diagnostic program to determine whether any IRQ
or addressing conflicts exist between the serial port and other installed options. The serial loopback plug
is physically wired differently from a parallel loopback plug so that it can simulate the operation of a
serial device.

You can also attach a live serial device to the port for testing purposes but, like the printer, this elevates
the possibility that the port might inject other problems into the troubleshooting process.

Windows Printer Checks

You can reach the I/O port functions in Windows 9x, Windows Me, and Windows 2000 through two
avenues. You can access port information through the Start menu (Start, Settings). You also can reach
this information through the My Computer icon on the desktop. Printer port information can be viewed
through the Printers icon; serial port information is accessed through Device Manager. In Windows XP,
the Printers and Faxes folder is located directly on the Start menu.

Windows Parallel Ports

Check to determine whether the Print option from the application's File menu is unavailable (gray). If so,
check the My Computer, Printers window for correct parallel port settings. Be certain that the correct
printer driver is selected for the printer being used. If no printer (or the wrong printer type) is selected,
use the Add Printer Wizard to install and set up the desired printer.

The system's printer configuration information is also available through the Device Manager tab in the
System Properties dialog box (found by double-clicking the System icon in Control Panel). Check this
location for printer port setting information. Also, check the definition of the printer by double-clicking
the Printer icon found in Control Panel.

The Windows operating systems come with embedded tools called troubleshooters, one of which is
designed to help solve printing problems. To use the Printing Troubleshooter, access the Windows Help
system through the Start menu and navigate to the Print Troubleshooter (or Printing Troubleshooter in
Windows XP). The troubleshooter asks a series of questions about the printing setup. After you have
answered all of its questions, the troubleshooter returns a list of recommendations for fixing the
problem.

If the conclusions of the troubleshooter do not clear up the problem, try printing a document to a file.
This enables you to separate the printing software from the port hardware.

Continue troubleshooting the port by checking the printer driver to ensure that it is the correct driver
and version number. Right-click the Printer icon and click Properties from the shortcut menu. Click the
Details tab to view the driver's name. Click the About entry under the Device Options tab to verify the
driver's version number.

Click the printer port in question (after double-clicking the Printer icon) to open the Print Manager
screen. Check the Print Manager for errors that have occurred and that might be holding up the printing
of jobs that follow it. If an error is hanging up the print function, highlight the offending job and remove
it from the print spool by clicking the Delete Document entry on the Document menu.

Windows 9x and Windows Me Serial Ports

Information on the system's serial ports is contained in three areas in Device Manager. These are the
Resources entry, the Driver entry, and the Port Settings entry. The Resources entry displays port address
ranges and IRQ assignments. The Driver entry displays the names of the installed device drivers and
their locations. The Port Settings entry contains speed and character frame information for the serial
ports. The Advanced entry under Port Settings enables you to adjust the transmit and receive buffer
speeds for better operation.

Check the Device Manager window for correct serial port settings. Check the correct serial port settings
under Windows 9x:

• Click the Port Settings option to see the setup for the ports. Most serial printers use settings of
9600 Baud, No Parity, 8 Bits, 1 Stop Bit, and Hardware Handshaking (Xon-Xoff).

• Click the Resources button to determine the IRQ setup for the port.

• Check the user's manual to document the correct settings for the device using the port in
question.

USB Port Checks

Because nearly any type of peripheral device can be added to the PC through a USB port, the range of
symptoms associated with a USB device can include all the symptoms listed for peripheral devices in this
chapter. Therefore, problems associated with USB ports can be addressed in three general areas:
 • The USB hardware device

• The USB controller

• The USB drivers

As with other port types, begin troubleshooting USB port problems by checking the CMOS setup screens
to ensure that the USB function is enabled there. If it is enabled in CMOS, check in Device Manager to
verify that the USB controller appears there. In Windows 2000, the USB controller should be listed under
the Universal Serial Bus Controllers entry, or in the Human Interface Devices entry (using the default
Devices by Type setting).

If the USB controller does not appear in Device Manager, or a yellow warning icon appears next to the
controller, the system's BIOS might be outdated. Contact the BIOS manufacturer for an updated copy of
the BIOS.

If the controller is present in Device Manager, right-click the USB controller entry and click Properties. If
any problems exist, a message appears in the device status window, shown in Figure 3.12, describing
any problems and suggesting what action to take.

Figure 3.12Figure

3.12 The USB Controller Properties dialog box.

If the BIOS and controller settings appear to be correct, the next items to check are the USB port drivers.
These ports have a separate entry in Device Manager that you can access by clicking the Universal Serial
Bus Controllers option, right-clicking the USB Root Hub entry, and then clicking Properties.

If a USB device does not install itself automatically, you might have conflicting drivers loaded for that
device and might need to remove them.

To remove potentially conflicting USB drivers, complete the following steps:

 1. Disconnect any USB devices connected to the system and start the system in safe mode.

2. Under Windows 2000, you are asked about which operating system to use. Use the up- and
down-arrow keys to highlight Windows 2000 Professional or Windows 2000 Server, and then
press Enter.If alert messages appear, read each alert and then click the OK button to close it.

3. Open Device Manager, click the desired USB device, and then click the Remove button.Your
particular USB device might be listed under Universal Serial Bus Controller, Other Devices,
Unknown Devices, or a particular device category (such as the Modem entry if the device is a
USB modem).

4. Click the Start menu, select the Shut Down option, select the Restart entry, and then click the
OK button.

5. Connect the USB device directly to the USB port on your computer. If the system does not
autodetect the device, you must install the drivers manually. You might need drivers from the
device manufacturer to perform this installation.

IEEE-1394 Adapters and Ports

Because Pentium-based PCs have largely adopted USB as the default high-speed bus, FireWire buses are
implemented by installing an adapter card in the system to furnish the physical connection points. Also,
there is no direct BIOS support for IEEE-1394 buses in the typical PC. However, IEEE-1394 adapter cards
are plug-and-play compliant and can converse with the Windows operating systems.

The FireWire devices that attach to the bus connection do not communicate directly with the system;
they work with the controller on the adapter card. Therefore, after the adapter card has been installed,
you must troubleshoot it as you would any other adapter card based peripheral. The system should
detect the new card when it is installed and load the driver for it automatically. If the system cannot
locate the proper driver, it prompts you to supply the location where the driver can be found.

Next, you should open Device Manager to ensure the device has been recognized there and to check for
conflicting device driver information (for example, an exclamation point in a yellow circle).

If Device Manager cannot see the device after the proper driver has been loaded, and the attached
device has power, the final step is to check the IEEE-1394 cabling and connectors for continuity and
good connections. Also verify that the correct FireWire cables are being used (a four-pin device cannot
draw power through the FireWire bus). If the device employs its own power supply, verify that power is
being applied to it.

If the FireWire bus runs particularly slow, and you have multiple devices attached to the system, you
might have a situation in which the slower device in the middle of the chain is slowing everything down.
Move the slower device (such as a Camcorder) to the end of the signal chain.
Troubleshooting Infrared Ports

The Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocols for infrared communications specify communication
ranges up to 2 meters (6 feet), but most specifications usually state 1 meter as the maximum range. All
IrDA transfers are carried out in half-duplex mode and must have a clear line of sight between the
transmitter and receiver. The receiver must be situated within 15 degrees of center with the line of
transmission. Therefore, you should test a failing infrared connection by placing the infrared
transceivers as close together as possible and straight inline with each other.

The properties of installed IrDA devices can be viewed through their entries in Device Manager. Verify
that the Enable Infrared communication check box is checked. To engage support for infrared plug-and-
play devices, right-click the Infrared icon on the taskbar. Verify that the Enable Plug and Play option is
checked. It will only be available if the infrared and searching functions are enabled. If the taskbar icon is
not visible, click the Infrared Monitor icon in Control Panel, click the Preferences tab, and select the
Display the Infrared Monitor Icon on the Taskbar option.

Right-click the Infrared icon on the taskbar to install software for an infrared device. Verify that the
Enable Plug and Play option is checked and verify that the new device is within range.

Windows also provides an Infrared Monitor utility that can be used to track the computer's activity.
When this utility is running, it alerts you when infrared devices are within range of your computer by
placing the Infrared icon on the taskbar. The Infrared Monitor not only notifies you when the computer
is communicating with an infrared device, but it also indicates how well it is communicating.

printer failure causes

Given the complex process that occurs between the time you click “Print” and the moment your
business document exits the office printer, there are numerous factors that can prevent the printer from
working properly. Common factors include driver problems, software issues, hardware failures and
overuse.

Stuck Print Spooler

When you print a document, the file is stored temporarily on your computer. Your printer retrieves the
job when it’s ready and prints the document. If the Windows print spooler service gets stuck, jobs that
you send to the printer will not print, and the printer itself will not respond in any way. Restarting the
spooler service usually resolves the problem. Click "Start," type “services” (without quotes) in the box
and click “Services” when it appears in the results. Right-click “Print Spooler” and click “Restart.”

Driver Issue

A device driver is software that facilitates communication between the operating system and the device.
If a printer’s driver is malfunctioning, or if no driver is installed, the printer either will not respond or will
give you printouts with gibberish on them. A printer with no installed driver will show up in Devices and
Printers with an exclamation mark next to it. You can obtain printer drivers from the manufacturer’s
website, Windows Update or the installation disc that came with the printer.

Overuse

All printers have a monthly recommended page volume. This information is usually available in the user
manual, on the printer’s retail box or on its online product page. If you consistently exceed this
recommended volume on a printer, you’ll eventually encounter repeated jamming, and internal parts
such as paper pickup rollers will fail much quicker than they normally would. You should not, for
example, have an entire department printing to a small desktop laser printer. When shopping for office
printers, consider how many employees will be using it and what their monthly print requirements will
be before deciding on which model to buy.

Consumables Issue

Most printers will stop working when they’re out of paper, ink or toner, or if the unit detects an issue
with the ink or toner cartridge. When this occurs, you might receive an error message or notice blinking
green or amber lights on your printer. If you have a larger high-volume office printer, the unit might also
halt if the waste toner bottle -- a repository for unused toner particles during the print process -- gets
full. Some laser printers will also stop working if an internal sensor determines that the drum or other
part has reached the end of its serviceable life.

When an office printer doesn’t perform its one job, it’s easy to feel frustrated. And if that faulty device is
a multifunction printer (MFP) that also acts as your scanner and copier, you lose precious business time
and productivity will suffer.

It's enough to make you want to throw your hands up in surrender (or throw your printer against the
wall). Many issues, however, can be solved with a little DIY printer know-how.

To help you get back up and running with as little downtime as possible, we compiled a list of the
following 10 common printer problems and how to fix them.

printer failure symptoms problems

1. Printer is unresponsive

2. Printer won’t print

3. Bad print quality

4. Uncertain about printer security

5. My printer won’t scan

6. Too many paper jams

 7. Prints too slowly

8. Printing is too expensive

9. I can’t print from my mobile device

10. Wi-Fi printing takes too long

1. Printer is Unresponsive

Before we get too deep into specific common printer problems and solutions, consider the best
practices that our Managed Print technicians follow first. Always make sure the basics have been
checked before trying to solve common problems with printers:

• Is the printer on?

• Does it have paper?

• Are all necessary cables connected?

• Are all wireless connections working properly?

• Have you checked the printer ink or toner cartridges?

With those questions answered, you can explore further with some of the following solutions.

2. Printer Won’t Print

Are you getting error messages on the control panel or simply feel like your print job is stuck somewhere
in cyberspace? While the easiest solution is to hit the power button and restart your printer, it's
essential to double-check you've selected the correct print settings—preferably before you send a dozen
copies of your document to another device located in the next room.

If your printer driver has two-way communication, you may be warned about an issue even before you
go to the printer only to find nothing waiting for you on the print tray. Luckily, these warnings often tell
you what the problem is and will recommend troubleshooting tactics. If all else fails, turn your printer
off, wait a few minutes, and then restart your printer and software application.

3. Bad Print Quality

It may seem insignificant, but the paper you print on can make a major difference in your final print
quality. Generally, photo paper sold by your printer’s manufacturer will have fewer issues than generic
printer paper. But what’s even more important? Match the printer settings to what you’re printing.

This means more than making sure the correct type of paper is selected; it also means choosing the
appropriate print quality settings for your printed pages. Do you want to print photos for a presentation
or is it just a copy of an email you’re going to file away? If you’re printing high-quality photos on glossy
paper, draft quality and plain paper settings will not suffice. Furthermore, mixing brands and types of
paper within one printer tray can cause further issues.

4. Uncertain About Printer Security

Most printer manufacturers come with security features already installed to protect against
unauthorized access. However, if certain measures aren’t taken, a hacker could use your printer as a
back door to breach your network. The biggest steps you can take to prevent this include changing the
default password on your printer and ensuring the latest security updates have been installed.

If you’re unsure how to do that, ask your IT manager or Managed Print Service (MPS) provider to
configure your security settings. They’ll ensure you have a digital lockbox and have updated security
settings. They can even set up confidential printing modes to protect against potential internal threats.

5. My Printer Won't Scan Anymore

When an MFP no longer scans, corrupted scanner software often plays the role of the villain. To get your
printer scanning again, reinstall the printing software package. If that’s not successful, read through the
user manual's troubleshooting section, or look online at the manufacturer’s website to find your specific
printer model. There may be a hardware issue that needs to be repaired or replaced.

6. Too Many Paper Jams

While the obvious paper jam culprit may be foreign objects loose inside the printer, there are several
lesser-known culprits, including an overfilled paper tray or improperly inserted paper. Try fanning the
stack of paper to reduce any static and dust, and re-insert the paper while keeping it flush with the
guides. When using thicker paper, it’s often better to manually feed each sheet into the printer through
a bypass tray.

7. Prints Too Slowly

Even though inkjet printers can be notoriously slow with ink drying time, laser printers can have issues,
too. Just as printing in draft quality for detailed photos can result in print quality issues, so can printing
in presentation quality for simple black and white text documents.

The lesser the standard for print quality, the faster it will print. Also consider whether your print job is
printing in duplex mode (using both sides of the paper). In this case, the printer has to take time to flip
each sheet of paper over. If your goal is speed, the simpler the printer settings, the better.

8. Printing is Too Expensive

Before you pay for another set of toner cartridges, consider the following:

• Can the majority of your documents be printed in draft quality?

 • Do you need every page of the document, or maybe just a few?

• Is duplex or two-sided printing an option?

• Are your ink cartridges truly made for your device and are they being purchased from a
reputable vendor?

If you’re buying the lower-priced third-party ink, clogged print nozzles and sub-par ink quality are two
common complaints and inevitably result in more frequent ink orders. Making sure all employees
adhere to common printing standards can also save money. You may also want to consider switching to
a paperless electronic content management (ECM) system which can store and route documents
through the cloud, helping your company further its green initiatives.

9. I Can't Print from My Mobile Device

Almost every major printer company has released an app allowing you to connect your mobile device
with your printer to print wirelessly. Your wireless printer doesn't even require Wi-Fi connectivity, it
simply needs a wireless access point that allows you to install the necessary software.

If you’re having trouble printing from a smartphone or other mobile device, check for any app and
software updates and make sure they’re compatible with your print device.

10. Wi-Fi Printing Takes Too Long

If your printer speed is fine when connected via USB but wireless printing is painfully slow, your printer
is likely an innocent bystander; it’s how the print data is being transferred that’s the guilty party. Try
moving the router and printer closer together.

If moving your printer closer to the router isn't possible, make sure your router is well-equipped for Wi-
Fi printing with 802.11n support, up-to-date firmware, and that it offers the 5GHz band and has 2.4GHz.
Switching to a wired connection, then back to wireless, can sometimes work as well.

Ultimately, if none of these techniques work or your printer is well beyond its expected lifespan,
consider getting a service contract with your next replacement. Knowing how to fix printer problems
sometimes requires knowing who to contact. Calling in an expert that is already familiar with your
machine will save you time and frustration in the long run. To learn more about Managed Print Services
and its benefits, check out the infographic below.

If any of these common printer problems are persistent, it may be time to consult with a business
technology expert who can help with your printing concerns. Contact Gordon Flesch Company for a free,
no-obligation Managed Print Services needs assessment.

Dial up falure symptoms problem

Many things can cause problems with your dial-up connection, such as wiring, weather conditions, old
cords, other phones on the line, and anything adding line noise which may not be noticeable on a voice
call, but can interrupt your dial-up connection.

Call Waiting

If you subscribe to Call Waiting and a call comes in while you're on the Internet, your dial-up connection
will be dropped unless you turn off Call Waiting for your Internet session. To do this, add *70 to the
beginning of the dial-up phone number. See Settings for dial-up Internet.

Phone line

Any noise or interference on the phone line can cause a modem to lose connection. If you hear
crackling, hissing, or popping on the line when talking on the phone, your modem also "hears" that
when connected to the Internet. Try these things:

• Keep phones cords short and as straight as possible; anything longer than 10' can cause noise on
the line

• Replace any old or damaged cords with new ones

• Try to keep phone cords out of the way; stepping on a cord even once can damage it.

• If you think the problem is with your phone line, see Troubleshooting your phone line.

Modem software / driver / firmware updates

Modem manufacturers will sometimes provide updates to solve problems with the modem. You can
download updated drivers or firmware from the manufacturer's web page. Check for updates regularly.
Even if your computer is new, make sure you have the newest and best drivers available.

Modem problems

A modem can be damaged by electrical surges, overheating, age, or other random causes. You may have
to replace your modem if it no longer works properly.

Common Reasons Why a Computer Will Not Start

Computer hardware diagnostics can be very tricky; this article is not an attempt to replace the repair
technician but rather to weed out the common problems that simply may not need a tech to figure out.
This article also assumes you have power from the outlet you are plugged into, and all external USB
devices have been detached other than necessary components, such as keyboards, mouse, monitor, and
power cable. With that said, here we go!
Power Cables

• Check your cords.

• Laptop cords often are able to be separated at the power block; make sure all ends are snug and
attached to the wall, adapter, and in the laptop.

• For desktops, make sure that the 3-prong cord is firmly in the wall outlet/surge protector and
snug in the back of the computer's power supply.

• If the cord is frayed or a pet has eaten through it, be sure to unplug from the wall before
thoroughly inspecting them. If the cords are damaged, they need to be replaced. Do not use
electric tape on cords that have exposed wire. Laptops, more than desktop power cables, are
very lite gauge. If they have been gnawed through, adequate power may not make it to the
computer or possibly cause a fire.

• Loose connection, more so on laptops, than desktops, if a prong is damaged at the end where it
plugs into the laptop, it will not charge or charge poorly.

• Insertion Points: Laptop Power Jacks

• If the cables are well and good, however, no power is visible on the laptop, it is possible you may
have a bad power jack. This sort of repair requires a technician. Often, the entire laptop must be
disassembled to replace or solder in a new jack. This problem is often found that you may have
to hold the power cable a certain way to get power into the laptop. Be warned; it is still possible
that the power adapter can be bad and causing a very similar issue. The only way to know the
difference is to use a volt meter and see if the volts labeled on the power adapter is coming out,
such as 19v.

• For desktops, very rarely does a desktop power cord go bad at the insertion point in the back of
the computer, although it isn't impossible if the cable got jerked or strained some way or
another. Power cables should be very snug into the back of a desktop computer; there should
be very little play or wiggle in the connection.

Power Supplies

Power supplies have many signs of failure; I have an entire article dedicated to this failure. Please feel
free to go have a read over there at: "How to Know if Your Computer Power Supply (PSU) is Failing?"

Lights With Beeps

More often than not, this is caused by memory failure. If your system has more than one memory
module, it is suggested to remove one module and let the other in to see if the system boots, do the
same with the other module if nothing happens different. Please remember to remove the laptop
battery or disconnect power before doing this for either a laptop or desktop. Be sure to ground yourself
too. One zap of static electricity or removing a memory module while power is available can be the end
of your system.

If the memory is okay, it is possible there is video, CPU, or motherboard failure. The easiest way to
eliminate the display is bad issue is to attach an external monitor to your laptop. If you get a display, you
have a bad screen. Desktops already have an external monitor unless it is an all-in-one system, in that
case if available treat it as a laptop and connect an external monitor.

If the screen is good, the last two items left are the CPU and motherboard. This requires a technician
skill level to diagnose, again because of disassembly of the computers.

Motherboard Failures

• Bulging or leaking capacitors.

• Loose or corrupted cables from the power supply to the motherboard.

• Loose or corrupted cables from the motherboard to the hard drive.

• CPU as mentioned above.

• Memory as mentioned above.

• Rare, however possible graphic processor or central processor cracked or chipped,

Chipped GPU - Lower Left Corner

Memory on Desktop Motherboard

Hard Drive Failure

• If a hard drive is the result of the booting failure, the system will likely tell you no boot sector
found, or Windows boot error. Another common issue is the system stuck on the booting
screen, for example, the Windows logo.

• Strange clicking sounds, x-ray gun sounds, hard drive spinning up and slowing down to stop, etc.

• The screen says unable to start recovery, or diagnostics could not repair startup.

• If any of these issues have arrived, it would be best for a technician to assist with data backup if
you have not had the opportunity to do so up to this point.

Software

• Software (operating system such as Windows) can give failure results similar to the hard drive
such as not booting into the operating system, stuck on a screen, or blue screening on install.
 • Common boot up issues are caused by the following: software that was installed incorrectly,
driver corruption, an update that failed, abrupt power outage and the system did not shut down
properly. Let's not forget registry corruption or virus' / malware infections that can completely
mess up a computer's boot sequence.

• The above symptoms can be repaired, however, to address all possibilities in one article would
be nearly eternal in length. Software corruption that causes a computer to not start should be
diagnosed by a technician that can troubleshoot on a step-by-step scenario.

Illegal operational failure symptoms

The most common causes of an illegal operation include

• problem between that program and a software driver in your operating system or a memory-
management problems between the program and one open in the background.

• Problems and conflicts with different dynamic-link library files, or D.L.L.'s, that are added to
your system when you install software programs can also cause illegal operation errors.

• Hardware conflicts, defective RAM chips and program bugs can also cause the error.

track the source of your problem.

• To find these programs, go to the Start menu, then to Programs, Accessories and System Tools.
Open the System Information program and look under the Tools menu to find the utilities.

• The System File Checker can restore damaged system files, while Dr. Watson records what your
computer was doing when it crashed and may offer suggestions as to why. The Verson Conflict
Manager keeps a tab on which system files were updated or replaced during a software or
hardware installation.

• Microsoft keeps a vast library of technical articles on its Web site at

support.microsoft.com/search. You can search the site for ''illegal operation,'' along with the
names of your suspect software or hardware, and you might find the solution to your problem.

• Solutions will vary depending on the combination of factors, but you may have to do things like
uninstalling and reinstalling programs or downloading and installing software patches for your
system to put a stop to the illegal-operation errors.

What is illegal operational failure?

An operation that is not authorized or understood. An "illegal operation" error message typically means
that the computer has been directed to execute an invalid instruction and has stopped or has
terminated the offending application (see abend).
When the operating system or computer processor receives instructions from a program it does not
recognize and cannot process, it may issue an Illegal Operation command. Below are the reasons why an
Illegal Operation happens on a computer.

Illegal Operation:

TSRs or third-party programs

TSRs or third-party programs running in the background are one of the more commonly found reasons
for Illegal Operations. If the Illegal Operation is happening when running a game or program close all
other open programs and TSRs running in the background.

How to remove TSRs and startup programs.

If, after removing these programs you no longer receive the Illegal Operation messages, we recommend
you reboot the computer. Once it's up, disable or End Task each program or TSR one at a time to
determine which program is causing the Illegal Operation.

Error in program coding

Verify the program causing the Illegal Operations is compatible with your version of Windows. Also,
check with the developer to see if any patches or updates are available. There's no such thing as a
perfect software program, and it's common for multiple patches and updates to be released during a
program's life cycle.

Data is not being read properly from source

When running a program or game from a CD and you receive an Illegal Operation, verify the CD is clean.
For additional information on how to clean a CD or CD-ROM drive, see our cleaning page.

If you are running a game from a floppy diskette or another removable disk drive, verify the disk has no
physical errors by running ScanDisk.

Installing a program or game on a hard drive with errors or that's highly fragmented

Make sure the drive is not fragmented or corrupt by running ScanDisk and Defrag on the drive.If errors
exist on the hard drive, they cause the program or game to run improperly and can cause Illegal
Operations.

Corrupt files

Corrupt, bad, or missing files can cause Illegal Operations. Try uninstalling and then reinstalling the
program causing the Illegal Operation to verify that any corrupt, bad, or missing files are replaced or
repaired during the reinstallation.

Memory managers

If you are running a memory manager, we recommend you temporarily disable or uninstall this program
to verify it is not causing the Illegal Operations.

Bad, incorrect, or outdated video drivers

Bad, incorrect, or outdated video drivers can cause Illegal Operations when moving the mouse,
highlighting, or when high demands are placed on the video card. Try decreasing the resolution to make
sure your current settings are not causing the problem.

If, after adjusting the video settings, you still encounter the same issue, verify the computer is utilizing
the latest video card drivers by visiting our computer video drivers section.

Computer virus

Because computer viruses and other malware load into memory and can improperly modify files, they
can cause Illegal Operations. Make sure an antivirus protection utility is installed on the computer and
that it is up-to-date.

Added hardware

If new hardware was recently installed (e.g., computer memory) in the computer, it or any drivers
installed may be conflicting with other computer hardware. Temporarily remove any new hardware and
the software associated with it to make sure it is not causing the problem.

Bad memory, invalid bits or physically bad memory

Bad memory can cause Illegal Operations. If you have recently added memory to the computer, remove
the memory to make sure it is not causing the problem. If no memory was recently added and you tried
all the recommendations above, test your computer memory.

Corruption or problem within Windows

Because Windows controls the memory operations and all system operations, if any part of Windows is
corrupt, it can cause Illegal Operations. If you tried all the suggestions above, we suggest reinstalling
Windows.

Why Antivirus Software Fails to Detect Latest Viruses and Malwares

We use antivirus software in the hope of having a secure system. Though any virus detecting software
can detect viruses, we need to know that there are instances when viruses and malware remain
undetected. The post aims to give you a brief idea on the situation when your antivirus may fail to
detect the presence of malware in your computer.

Most of the virus detection software depends on virus definition stored in the virus definition file. Each
virus is written with specific a set code which is also called signature or fingerprint. The virus definition
file contains that signature (a code snippet).

antivirus engine and virus database

When the antivirus software starts scanning it look for specific signature in the files and applications. If
there it does not find any known signature in the file, it declares it safe.

So, it appears that antivirus software may fail to detect viruses when:

• It does not have an updated database and antivirus engine.

• If there is a zero-day malware( a vulnerability or malware that is not known to us)

• When you do not allow automatic update to your virus signature files and engine.

• User can manually set action on threat detection and the location of scan.

• Heuristic settings such as users are allowed to set security level of antivirus software. When you
set security level to high, you get maximum protection against malware.

• Most AV struggle to detect new virus. When it encounters new malware behaviour, it takes
heuristic action based on the rule-set. If the rule-sets determine the new behaviour as safe, then
the virus will remain undetected.

• Modern day antivirus signature-database misses many new virus signatures. Moreover, not all
 vendors have same signature database. So, it is impossible to know which vendor has the most
up-to-date database.

• If you accidentally allow a well-known application already infected with malware to continue to
run by putting it in the whitelisted application in your AV program, your system will always
remain unsecure.

• Malware creators encrypt their executable files in such a way that it remains unintelligible to the
virus scanners.

why anitvirus fails

Users need to know:

• When you update virus software you need to make sure that your scanning engine (the piece of
software that you use to scan the scan) are updated along with new virus definition files. Failure
to update both the software may result in may new viruses slipping by your scanner undetected,
thus making your system vulnerable to be being compromised.

• Most of the modern day antivirus does not show any visible sign of infected unlike old days’
viruses. So, if you find that your scanner is not detecting any virus and your system running
normal, it does not mean that your system is secure.
What are Network Problems

Laggy video calls, slow application or network speed, buffering downloads, choppy VoIP Quality, and no
Internet connection are examples of network problem symptoms. If you're struggling to perform
everyday tasks over the Internet, or unable to use important apps, there's a good chance your network
is to blame.

Network problems impact things like, VoIP calls, ERP applications, files downloads, and more. Anytime a
bad network connection issues prevents you from accessing something outside your computer, you're
likely dealing with a network problem.

There are many different network problems that can affect network performance.

Network Performance Monitoring VoIP Quality Network Problems

Some network problems can arise from faulty hardware, such as routers, switches, firewalls, and even
from unexpected usage patterns, like network bandwidth spikes, changes in app configuration, or
security breaches.

Network problems are frustrating, and left unattended, they can have disastrous consequences for your
business network. That’s why it’s important to understand what can go wrong with your network and to
continuously monitor network performance to quickly identify and fix network problems even before
they affect your end-users.

The Most Common Network Problems

Now let’s run through some of the most common network problems (or network errors) that have left
many users and network administrators pulling out their hair!
1. High Bandwidth Usage

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data transmitted over an Internet connection in a given amount
of time.

It refers to a network’s capacity to transfer data between devices or the Internet within a given span of
time. Bandwidth is often mistaken for Internet speed when it's actually the volume of information that
can be sent over a connection in a measured amount of time – calculated in megabits per second
(Mbps).

Higher bandwidth allows data to be transferred across your network at a faster rate and can sustain a
larger number of connected devices all at once. When someone or something, like a large application,
on your network is monopolizing your bandwidth by downloading gigabytes worth of data, it creates a
congestion in your network.

Network congestion caused by high bandwidth usage, also runs the risk of leaving insufficient amounts
of bandwidth for other parts of your network that need it. When this happens, you may start
experiencing problems like slow download speed over the Internet.

Causes of high bandwidth include:

Large Downloads:

Downloads consisting of large files that are being placed on your computer's harddrive from the
Internet, like file transfers or backups, can drastically increase bandwidth usage. The more bytes the file
contains, the higher your bandwidth usage.

Latency:

Latency refers to the time it takes for a data packet to reach its destination in a network, can.
Consistent delays or odd spikes in delay time are signs of major performance issues and can affect
bandwidth time.

Packet Loss:

Packet Loss occurs when a data packet is dropped during its journey across a network and never makes
it to its final destination and back. It can cause a great deal of problems depending on how much of the
packet does not go through and how often it occurs.

Video Streaming:

Streaming videos from the Internet is a more common cause of high bandwidth usage. Streaming video
in 7k can take up to 200 times more bandwidth than audio streaming.

Large Applications:

Different applications have different requirements. Applications that require Internet connection, like
programs for web development, email, computer games, etc. require a lot of bandwidth to function and
can therefore increase your bandwidth usage.

File Sharing:

There are programs that allow users to share files from computer-to-computer connection over the
Internet. These programs can result in high bandwidth usage as they require you to download and
transfer large files, with large amounts of data, over the Internet.

2. High CPU Usage

Network Firewall CPU Monitoring Network Problems

CPU, or “ Central Processing Unit”, is the primary component of a computer that receives and processes
instructions for operating systems and applications.

With such a big job on its shoulders, the signs of high CPU usage on a network device are a very
troubling sign for many of us.

As your network devices continue to work harder to perform an increasing amount of tasks, it increases
the chance that things can go wrong.

The most common reason for high CPU usage occurs when your network becomes bogged down by
enormous amounts of traffic. CPU usage can increase drastically when processes require more time to
execute or when a larger number of network packets are sent and received throughout your network.
There are a number of network devices such as switches that have hardware components (ASICs or
NPUs) that take charge and process packets super quickly. For this equipment, the CPU usage is not
linked to the amount of traffic.

For equipment that analyzes or manipulates traffic, like firewalls, that's a whole different story.
Depending on the features that you’ve enabled on your devices, the CPU may be in the critical path of
packet routing or forwarding. If overused, network metrics like latency, jitter, and packet loss will
increase, which will lead to significant levels of network performance degradation.

It can sometimes be difficult to gather the right information about the actual use of CPU. Several
monitoring tools such as those included in the equipment's GUI or a poorly configured monitoring tool
can report an average value on the use of 8 cores or over too long periods, such as every 5, 15 or 60
minutes.

3. Physical Connectivity Issues

It may seem obvious, but some network issues may occur with the hardware outside of the network.

When the time comes to troubleshoot network issues, our instinct is often to think about the most
complex situations, when sometimes the problem is actually very simple and right in front of us.

Hardware problems like defective cables or connectors can generate network errors on the network
equipment to which it is connected. You may think that this problem is due to a network outage or
failure, or Internet connection problem, but it’s actually because you have a broken or malfunctioning
cable.

This can also occur outside of the LAN infrastructure. If a copper cable, or fiber-optic cable is damaged, it
will likely reduce the amount of data that can go through it without any packet loss.

Checking every cable one by one can be repetitive, and can take a large amount of time out of your day.
A simple way to monitor cables on a defective connector is to have a network performance monitoring
software that will measure network errors on all network interfaces and warn you if any problems arise.

4. Malfunctioning Devices or Equipment

Sometimes, network issues occur within network equipment or devices like Firewalls, Routers, Switches,
Wifi APs.

Problems can be due to bad configurations, faulty network connection issues, packet loss, or maybe just
because they’re been disabled.

You need to ensure that all the devices on your network are configured correctly in order for your
network to work properly. Whenever you install or reconfigure a device, or upgrade equipment
firmware on your network, you need to test that device to ensure that it’s been configured correctly.

Many network performance issues are caused by device misconfigurations that can affect different parts
of your network and turn into major problems down the line. That’s why you need to pay attention to all
the switches and devices on your network to ensure that they’re always working as they should be, and
react quickly if they aren’t.

5. DNS Issues

DNS or Domain Name System, controls how visitors find your website over the Internet.

It is essentially a directory for the Internet (and every Internet-connected device) that matches domain
names with IP addresses. Every single website has its own IP address on the web, and computers can
connect to other computers via the Internet and look up websites using their IP address. When you type
in a domain name in your Internet browser, DNS works to find the information connected to that
domain.

DNS issues are very common network problems that many people tend to overlook. DNS issues occur
when you are unable to connect to an IP address, signalling that you may have lost network or Internet
access. For example, your site can simultaneously appear online for you, but looks to be offline to your
visitors.

Other DNS issues can be due to:

• Bad configurations: You may experience issues due to improper configuration of DNS records.

• High DNS latency: High Latency, which is the measure of time it takes for data to reach its
destination across a network, can cause slow and abnormally long loading times.

• High TTL Values: High “time to live” values on your records, will lead to high propagation wait
times. Traceroute tools, like Obkio’s Live Traceroutes feature and Obkio Vision Visual Traceroue
tool, actually track and monitor TTL values.

• Hardware/Network Failures: DNS problems can be caused by hardware failures on the host
machine or network failures. Troubleshoot network/ hardware configuration settings using a
network performance monitoring solution to identify the source of the problem.

The inability to access the Internet or particular sites can have a very immediate and negative impact on
your business - especially if it means that users cannot access your site. Just a few hours offline can cost
your company in more ways than one, which is why it’s important to find and fix DNS problems as soon
as possible.

6. Interference in the Wireless Network

WiFi problems are one of the most common complaints surrounding modern day connectivity.

Wireless interference occurs when something disrupts or weakens the Wi-Fi signal transmitted from
your wireless router.
Signs of wireless interference include:

• Low signal strength even when close to a WiFi broadcast device

• Slower Internet connection when using connected over WiFi

• Slow file transfers between computers over WiFi

• Inability to pair WiFi or Bluetooth devices even when in proximity to the receiver

• Intermittently dropping of WiFi connection

Very common household items, like microwave ovens or cordless phones, can slow down your home
Wi-Fi network performance. If you live in a densely populated area, your neighbors’ Wi-Fi networks
could actually be interfering with your own. This is particularly true if you’re using a 2.4GHz wireless
router.

However, seeing as a failure can occur at any time, the first challenge for network administrators is to
quickly identify what can cause interference as well as the precise time they occurred.

While users are usually quick enough to report problems, it’s ideal to identify and solve the problem
before it affects users.

How to Identify Network Problems

Identifying network issues is the first step to solving them - and it all comes down to pinpointing who,
what, where, and when.

1. Choose a Network Monitoring Software

When it comes to identifying some of these most common network issues, the best tool at your disposal
is a Network Monitoring software. A Network Monitoring (or Network Performance Monitoring) tool
monitors end-to-end network performance to identify network issues affecting your end-users, whether
the problems occur in your local network infrastructure, over the Internet, or even in a service
provider's network.

2. Perform a Network Assessment

The step when it comes to identifying network problems, with your Network Monitoring tool in hand, is
performing a network assessment to collect some key information about:

What the problem is: To know how to solve these problems, you need to actually understand what they
are. A network performance monitoring software will measure network metrics and report back if it
finds any issues, with details about what the issue is, and what caused it.

Where the problem is located: It’s important to identify where exactly in your network an issue has
occurred. Using Monitoring Agents, Obkio allows you to deploy Agents in key network locations for end-
to-end visibility over your network to provide you with details about where problems have occurred.

Who is responsible for this network segment: Once you know where a network problem is located, and
what exactly it is, you can then easily decide who in your business is responsible for that network
segment.

What actions to take: After you’ve collected all the information you need to identify the network issue,
can then start network troubleshooting. That could include reaching out to your ISP or MSP, or bringing
the problem to your network administrator to fix it internally.

There are a variety of network problems that could take over your network at any given moment. With
the growing complexity and size of modern network infrastructures, network problems can be more
frustrating than ever.

Businesses can’t afford to waste time and money dealing with network problems that effect:

• Productivity

• Users

• IT resources

• Revenue

• Reputation

Knowing about some of the most common network problems helps you prepare for what your network
may encounter in the future.

• Network performance monitoring using a network performance monitor tool is your key to
identifying network problems, because it pinpoints intermittent network slowness issues that
are difficult to troubleshoot otherwise.

• Many virus users do not understand the difference between the antivirus and paid antivirus.
When their free antivirus shows that the system is virus free they feel a false sense of security.
But in reality, their computers are already infected and the free antivirus fails to detect it.

• It is almost certain that nearly 100% of the zero-day malware will not be detected by the
scanner.