Troubleshooting tips

Hello,

Sorry for my bad english !

I want to know if you have tips about troubleshooting a PC
who have inermitants problems (freeze, blue screen or reboot ...)
but problems that you cannot recreate when you have no idea what it is,
so it is hard to know if you have fix the problem.

And specially after a fresh re-install of Windows, including Windows
Updates, installing last version of drivers and no others softwares.


That's what I do :

First of all I ask to the costumer if he did modifications with his PC
(add components, add softwares ...)


Before re-install Windows (Intermitants problems)
-------------------------------------------------

If I got error message code, I'll search on the web
I check errors in Event Viewer
I check process with Process Explorer (Sysinternals)
I check what boots on the startup with Autoruns (Sysinternals)
Clean dust ...
Check if fans turn correctly ...
Check temperature in BIOS (CPU and board)
Test the Power Supply
Spyware Scan
Virus Scan
Test the hard disk (Advanced test) with Ultimate Boot CD
Test the memory with Memtest 3 hours (Ultimate Boot CD)
For some problems I do some test with Live CD (BartPE, UBCD4Win, Knoppix)



After a Windows re-install if there is intermitants problems again, I do
theses test
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3D Mark Benchmark, PCMark, Cinebench
Sisoft Sandra Burnin
Hot CPU Burn
Check temperature in BIOS (CPU and board) again
Check in the Event Viewer again
Re-test the Power Supply
If I got error message code, I'll search on the web

To find the problem sometimes I will remove card that I don't really
need (modem, lan, PCI USB ...)
After I will change the video card or change the board

Do you know software who can tell if it's the video or the board or
soundcard ... or others tips ?


Thank you !

Atxa