1. Checking Event Viewer
To access the Event Viewer open the Control Panel, click on ‘System and Security’ and then click on ‘Administrative Tools’. In this folder, select the ‘Event Viewer’ option. The Event Viewer window will display three sections: Application, Security, and System. Each of these sections contain various events that have been logged by Windows.
2. Check System Logs
The System log contains events that are related to system hardware and software components. To view these events, double-click on the ‘System’ folder and look for the events with a red or yellow exclamation point beside them. These events typically indicate hardware or software errors. For example, if there is an event that has the message “The system has shut down unexpectedly”, this may be a sign of a hardware failure. If a certain piece of hardware is failing, the device driver may also fail to load or be slow to respond.
3. Use the Device Manager
The Device Manager is a tool in Windows that enables you to view the hardware devices installed on your PC. To access the Device Manager, open the Control Panel and click on ‘System and Security’. Then click on ‘Device Manager’. In the Device Manager window, you can expand each item to view the installed devices and their status. If a device has a yellow exclamation point beside it, this may indicate that the device is having problems. To investigate further, you can right-click on the device and select ‘Properties’.
4. Monitor System Performance
Windows includes a built-in performance monitor which tracks the performance of your system. To access the performance monitor, open the Control Panel and click on ‘System and Security’. Then click on ‘Performance Information and Tools’. In the Performance Information and Tools window, you can view a real-time graph of the system performance. If you notice any irregularities or spikes in the graph, this may indicate a hardware issue.
5. Use Diagnostic Tools
In addition to the built-in tools provided by Windows, many hardware manufacturers also provide diagnostic tools for their products. These tools can help identify hardware problems and offer solutions for resolving them. You can find these diagnostic tools on the website of the hardware manufacturer or you can search for them using a search engine.
6. Monitor Temperatures
Hardware components can become damaged when they get too hot. To make sure this doesn’t happen, you can use a temperature monitoring tool such as SpeedFan or HWMonitor. These tools can monitor the temperatures of the various components in your PC and alert you if any of them get too hot.
7. Use System Restore
If a certain piece of hardware is causing problems or is failing, you can try restoring your system to an earlier point in time. System Restore is a feature in Windows that allows you to roll back your system to an earlier state. To access System Restore, open the Control Panel and click on ‘System and Security’. Then click on ‘System Restore’ and follow the instructions provided.
8. Update Drivers
Outdated drivers can cause hardware components to malfunction or fail. To make sure this doesn’t happen, you should regularly check for driver updates for the various hardware components in your PC. You can check for driver updates by visiting the websites of the hardware manufacturers or by using a driver update tool such as Driver Booster.
In conclusion, there are several methods that can be used to check if any hardware components are failing in Windows. You can use the Event Viewer to check for system errors, the Device Manager to view installed devices, Performance Monitor to check system performance, diagnostic tools to troubleshoot hardware issues, and temperature monitoring tools to monitor temperatures. You can also restore your system to an earlier state using System Restore and make sure to update your device drivers regularly.