# PC Hardware Testing Utility. **URL:** \ **Category:** Chatting over the Back Fence\ **Created:** [March 20, 2013, 10:50am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/pc-hardware-testing-utility/23753 "2013-03-20T10:50:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![System1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@System1](https://forums.suse.com/u/System1)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 10:50am UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/pc-hardware-testing-utility/23753/1 "2013-03-20T10:50:24Z")
I need to identify an annoying intermittent fault. Does anyone recommend any free hardware testing utilities? I suspect a motherboard fault. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/pc-hardware-testing-utility/23753/2 "2013-03-20T15:18:02Z")
> [@](#): > > On Wed 20 Mar 2013 08:50:24 AM CDT, Arthur wrote: > > I need to identify an annoying intermittent fault. Does anyone > recommend any free hardware testing utilities? I suspect a motherboard > fault. Hi For memory memtest86. Looked at the motherboard, not ‘bulging capacitors’? Harddrive? Grab an openSUSE LiveCD and boot that up to run smart, memtest etc. [http://software.opensuse.org/123/en](http://software.opensuse.org/123/en) – Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890) openSUSE 12.3 (x86\_64) Kernel 3.7.10-1.1-desktop up 2 days 16:45, 5 users, load average: 0.22, 0.21, 0.16 CPU Intel® i5 CPU M520@2.40GHz | GPU Intel® Ironlake Mobile ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/pc-hardware-testing-utility/23753/3 "2013-03-21T14:53:07Z")
Thank you - no capacitor or hard disk or memory problems. “malcolmlewis” wrote in message [news:20130320081757.6f9511bf@mizz-piggy.gekkota.dyndns.org](mailto:news:20130320081757.6f9511bf@mizz-piggy.gekkota.dyndns.org)… > [@](#): > > On Wed 20 Mar 2013 08:50:24 AM CDT, Arthur wrote: > > I need to identify an annoying intermittent fault. Does anyone > recommend any free hardware testing utilities? I suspect a motherboard > fault. Hi For memory memtest86. Looked at the motherboard, not ‘bulging capacitors’? Harddrive? Grab an openSUSE LiveCD and boot that up to run smart, memtest etc. [http://software.opensuse.org/123/en](http://software.opensuse.org/123/en) – Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890) openSUSE 12.3 (x86\_64) Kernel 3.7.10-1.1-desktop up 2 days 16:45, 5 users, load average: 0.22, 0.21, 0.16 CPU Intel® i5 CPU M520@2.40GHz | GPU Intel® Ironlake Mobile ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/pc-hardware-testing-utility/23753/4 "2013-03-21T15:13:50Z")
> [@](#): > > On Thu 21 Mar 2013 12:53:07 PM CDT, Arthur wrote: > > Thank you - no capacitor or hard disk or memory problems. > > “malcolmlewis” wrote in message > [news:20130320081757.6f9511bf@mizz-piggy.gekkota.dyndns.org](mailto:news:20130320081757.6f9511bf@mizz-piggy.gekkota.dyndns.org)… > > > [@](#): > > > > On Wed 20 Mar 2013 08:50:24 AM CDT, Arthur wrote: > > > > I need to identify an annoying intermittent fault. Does anyone > > recommend any free hardware testing utilities? I suspect a motherboard > > fault. > > Hi > For memory memtest86. Looked at the motherboard, not ‘bulging > capacitors’? Harddrive? > > Grab an openSUSE LiveCD and boot that up to run smart, memtest etc. > [http://software.opensuse.org/123/en](http://software.opensuse.org/123/en) Hi Did you try a live cd for awhile? Not heat related, cpu needs new thermal paste? Else your down to power supply… or Motherboard replacement… – Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890) openSUSE 12.3 (x86\_64) Kernel 3.7.10-1.1-desktop up 11:18, 3 users, load average: 0.08, 0.06, 0.06 CPU Intel® i5 CPU M520@2.40GHz | GPU Intel® Ironlake Mobile ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/pc-hardware-testing-utility/23753/5 "2013-03-21T17:46:46Z")
> I need to identify an annoying intermittent fault. Does anyone recommend[color=blue] > any free hardware testing utilities? I suspect a motherboard fault.[/color] Windows works pretty well, if you get random BSODS then yah the hardware is bad. Usually memory. If you get lockups then check the CPU cooling fan, video card and power supply by swapping in known good. If all that’s left after those tests is the motherboard…then Bob’s your uncle. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/suse/original/2X/5/5012ba89e3ffb5220dac47d5ea0ba032e2fe1cb6.png) [@system](https://forums.suse.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://forums.suse.com/t/pc-hardware-testing-utility/23753/6 "2013-04-02T23:36:01Z")
I’d clean all the contacts with DeToxIT (from Radio Shack) and blow out all the power supplies and inside the case to get the dust bunnies out. Circuit cards contacts need cleaning also. Spray inside the cables (where connectors are if needed) otherwise Q-Tips and detoxit. That gets all the electrical contacts. Spray inside all motherboard cables. Let it all dry. and put back together. Download Hiren BootCD or some other system testing DVD/CD That should help lots ## – Sewermonger Sewermonger’s Profile: [http://forums.novell.com/member.php?userid=63](http://forums.novell.com/member.php?userid=63) View this thread: [http://forums.novell.com/showthread.php?t=465107](http://forums.novell.com/showthread.php?t=465107)