Troubleshooting basic hardware and software issues

Common hardware and software issues:

Hardware Issues:

1. PC won't power on – Check power supply, power cord, or battery.
2. Peripheral devices not recognized – Issues with USB ports or drivers.
3. Printer not working – Connection, driver, or paper jam issues.
4. Overheating – Faulty fans or insufficient airflow.
5. No display on monitor – Check cables, power, or faulty graphics card.
6. Keyboard/mouse unresponsive – Connection issues, battery, or faulty device.
7. Hard drive failure – Corrupt sectors or failure to boot.
8. Wi-Fi adapter malfunction – Faulty hardware or outdated drivers.

Software Issues:

1. Slow performance – Too many programs running, low memory, or malware.
2. Program not responding – Corrupt installation or insufficient resources.
3. Software crashes – Conflicting software, corrupt files, or updates needed.
4. OS boot failure – Corrupt OS files or boot configuration issues.
5. No internet connection – Network settings misconfigured or driver issues.
6. Virus/malware infection – System slowdowns or unauthorized access.
7. Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) – Hardware drivers, memory, or OS errors.
8. Failed software updates – Conflicts or insufficient disk space.

Common ports use case in my work

Here are common use cases of the specified ports that a Help Desk Officer might encounter in day-to-day operations:

1. HTTP (Port 80)

• Use Case: Troubleshooting website access issues.
  • Users might report that a website is not loading. As a help desk officer, I could check if the site is accessible over HTTP (Port 80) or if it's being blocked by firewalls or a security policy.

2. HTTPS (Port 443)

• Use Case: Resolving secure website access problems.
  • If a user reports that they can’t access certain secure sites (e.g., banking websites), I will check the connection over HTTPS (Port 443), ensuring that SSL/TLS certificates are valid and that there's no firewall blocking encrypted traffic.

3. RDP (Port 3389)

• Use Case: Assisting remote workers or troubleshooting remote systems.
  • A user working from home might have trouble connecting to their work computer via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). I would help by checking network configurations, firewalls, and verifying that Port 3389 is open for RDP connections.

4. IMAP (Port 143)

• Use Case: Troubleshooting email synchronization issues.
  • Users may experience issues syncing their emails across multiple devices (like a phone and a computer). I would check if the mail client is correctly configured to use IMAP and confirm connectivity on Port 143 to the mail server.

5. POP3 (Port 110)

• Use Case: Troubleshooting email retrieval issues.
  • If users are unable to download their emails to a specific client or device, I might check the mail server configuration and ensure POP3 (Port 110) is functioning properly, although this is less common with modern email systems that favor IMAP.

6. DHCP (Ports 67/68)

• Use Case: Resolving IP address allocation issues.
  • A user reports that they can’t connect to the network because they have no IP address. I would troubleshoot DHCP to ensure that the server is correctly assigning IP addresses to devices over Ports 67/68, and that the device is configured to automatically obtain an IP address.

7. DNS (Port 53)

• Use Case: Diagnosing website or network access issues.
  • Users might report that they can’t access certain websites or services. I would check the DNS configuration to ensure domain names are being properly resolved to IP addresses, and verify that Port 53 is open for DNS queries.

8. TELNET (Port 23)

• Use Case: Testing connectivity to remote devices (legacy systems).
  • Although not commonly used due to its lack of encryption, Telnet (Port 23) can still be used in legacy environments to remotely connect to devices like switches or routers. As a help desk officer, I may use Telnet to diagnose connectivity or configuration issues, although SSH is preferred.

9. SSH (Port 22)

• Use Case: Securely accessing servers or network devices.
  • If I need to troubleshoot a remote Linux server or network device, I will use SSH (Port 22) for a secure connection to run diagnostics, check configurations, or restart services securely.

10. FTP (Port 21)

• Use Case: Uploading or downloading files to/from servers.
  • Users may need to transfer files to a web server or retrieve data from an internal system. I would help set up or troubleshoot FTP (Port 21) connections to ensure files can be uploaded/downloaded, though secure alternatives like SFTP are becoming more common.

11. SMTP (Port 25)

• Use Case: Diagnosing outgoing email issues.
  • If users report that their emails are not being sent, I will check the SMTP (Port 25) settings to ensure the email server is properly configured to send outbound mail. I might also troubleshoot firewall settings or the mail server itself.

Why Information Technology?

1. It allows me to combine my passion for technology with a strong desire to help others.
2. Dynamic nature of IT support brings every day new challenges and problem-solving opportunities which is encouraging.
3. I enjoy the satisfaction of helping customers, resolving their technical issues and making life easier and seeing the immediate results of my work in helping others.
4. Continuous evolution of IT ensures that there's always room for learning and growth,
5. Exciting and ever-changing field which aligns with my career goals of specializing in cybersecurity.

Troubleshooting Hardware

Hardware Troubleshooting 💪

 

Microsoft Azure Fundamentals- AZ900

I have earned Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification (AZ-900)! 

Super excited about it and wanted to share the good news with you! 😊