Hardware that may be failing within Windows can vary greatly depending on the age of the operating system and machine. In general, some of the most common hardware-related problems that can occur within Windows are:
1. Hard Drives or Solid State Drives (SSD) – Over time, hard drives and SSDs can become corrupted or damaged due to physical damage, a power surge, or a defect in the drive itself. This can lead to data loss, crashing, and slow system performance.
2. Random Access Memory (RAM) – RAM is responsible for storing active processes that the computer needs to run properly. If RAM fails, then it can lead to a slowing down or freezing of programs, system crashes, and even the Blue Screen of Death.
3. Motherboard – The motherboard is the central component of any computer and it is responsible for allowing all of the components to communicate with each other. If the motherboard fails, then it will prevent the rest of the hardware from functioning properly.
4. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) – The GPU is responsible for processing graphics, and if it fails, then it could cause major graphic issues such as distorted images, screen tearing, and artifacting.
5. Power Supply – The power supply is responsible for providing power to the other components in the system. It can fail due to general wear and tear, a power surge, or if it is not powerful enough to supply the necessary amount of power to the system. If it fails, then it can cause the whole system to crash or malfunction.
6. Expansion Cards – Expansion cards such as sound and video cards can fail due to a lack of adequate cooling or dust buildup. If an expansion card fails, then it can prevent certain programs from running or can cause problems with sound or video playback.
7. Fans – Fans help to cool the system by providing a steady stream of air. Over time, fans can get clogged up with dust and dirt, which can cause the system to overheat and potentially cause damage to the other components.
8. Optical Drives – Optical drives such as CD-ROM drives can fail due to mechanical issues or a lack of power. This can cause problems with playing CDs, DVDs, or other optical media.
9. Peripherals – Peripherals such as printers, scanners, webcams, and other external devices can fail due to a lack of power or a defective device.
10. BIOS or Firmware – The BIOS or firmware is the low-level software which tells the hardware how to function, and if it fails, then it can cause a wide range of problems such as boot errors, freezing, and system crashes.