| It is very important to check a used computer | | | | work properly due to the accumulation of dust and dirt |
| thoroughly before buying it as it may lead to problems | | | | resulting in over heating of the central processing unit |
| in the future. A hard drive will not show any outward | | | | and even leading to stopping from functioning. While |
| signs but may be deteriorating. The same way the | | | | buying a used computer the fan needs to be checked |
| needle can suddenly slip and can cause scratches on | | | | and if any abnormal sound is heard, it is not good for |
| the disc ultimately leading to memory loss as used | | | | purchase. |
| computers can fail any time. If they are checked, the | | | | The used computer may have a higher possibility of |
| faults which may occur can be known. Let us first see | | | | getting crashed and freezed due to the usage of the |
| the possible faults which may occur while purchasing a | | | | operating system for a good number of years. There |
| used computer. | | | | may be a cache or RAM fault due to the over |
| Hard disk failures can happen due to heavy wear and | | | | exposure leading to loss of data. To increase the |
| tear over a period of time. The read and write heads | | | | performance of the computer and to avoid crashing, |
| of a hard disk are used to retrieve or recode data | | | | the operating system of the used computer can be |
| stored on the hard disk with the help of a disk platter | | | | reinstalled with a new operating system or a fresh |
| rotating at a high speed. Over a period of time the risk | | | | one. |
| of failure or malfunction of disk increases. Faulty | | | | While checking the used computers for any faults, it is |
| sectors of the hard disks can be found out only if a full | | | | good to disconnect the network connection if any |
| surface scan is done on the used computer. The | | | | present before performing the tests. Also it is |
| scanning time depends on the capacity and size of the | | | | advisable to check the drives like the CD or DVD by |
| hard disk of the used computer. Many skip this | | | | opening and closing them and also playing something |
| procedure due to the time consuming process of | | | | on the drives to see how they work. Monitors of the |
| scanning the whole disk and end up purchasing a used | | | | used computers can be checked for the resolution |
| computer with a faulty sector. | | | | and brightness by trying different options of color, |
| Monitors need to be checked for any faults. The | | | | settings and so on. To check the hard disk size the |
| malfunctioning of a monitor is called a “dry joint” | | | | CMOS setup can be gone through and to verify the |
| which results in the monitor not working after getting | | | | speed of the processor, cache and RAM the pause |
| warmed. This can be checked only if the monitor is | | | | button is pressed when it appears on the screen |
| made to work for at least 20 to 30 minutes after | | | | during the booting process. To check the booting |
| switching on the computer. | | | | process, the computer can be turned on and off a |
| Next is to look for any possibilities of the central | | | | few times and seen how it responds. Checking should |
| processing unit getting freezed. Normally all the central | | | | be done to see if all the passwords are erased before |
| processing units have a fan and heat sink for keeping | | | | purchasing a used computer. |
| the unit cool. Over a period of time the fans may not | | | | |