Hardware diagnostics: POST, memory and disk tests
For desktop support technicians, field technicians and service desk staff who need to decide whether a PC problem is hardware before reinstalling, replacing parts or sending a unit for repair. You should be comfortable with the general diagnostic method in Diagnosing Windows problems methodically and with opening Event Viewer and a command prompt as an administrator. The course covers telling a firmware/POST failure from a boot-loader or Windows failure, running the manufacturer's preboot diagnostics (Dell and HP examples), testing memory with Windows Memory Diagnostic and Memtest86+, reading SMART health, attributes and self-test logs with smartctl, and choosing a safe next step with your data and warranty in mind. It doesn't replace the manufacturer's service manual or your company's repair and ESD procedures. Ends with a supervisor-graded diagnosis.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Length
- About 85 minutes
- Contents
- 5 lessons · final exam
- Status
- Published · updated 10 Oct 2026
Skills you'll practise
- Identify whether startup is failing in firmware (POST), the boot loader or Windows from the symptoms
- Run the manufacturer's preboot diagnostics and record the codes the manufacturer's support needs
- Test memory with Windows Memory Diagnostic or Memtest86+ and isolate a failing module
- Interpret SMART health, attributes, self-test logs and the smartctl exit status for a disk
- Choose a safe next step for a suspect disk, putting data first, and document the result
Course outline
- 1.Identify where startup is failing: POST, boot loader or WindowsLesson · 16 min
- 2.Run the manufacturer's preboot diagnosticsLesson · 16 min
- 3.Test memory and isolate a failing moduleLesson · 17 min
- 4.Interpret SMART health, attributes and self-tests with smartctlLesson · 18 min
- 5.Choose a safe next step and document the resultLesson · 10 min
- 6.Hardware diagnostics: POST, memory and disk tests: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 14 questions
- 7.Hardware diagnostics: POST, memory and disk tests: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
- 8.Final exam10 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out
Sources it draws on
The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.
- Microsoft Learn: Advanced troubleshooting for Windows startup issues (startup phases; PreBoot runs POST; BIOS phase checks)
- Microsoft Learn: Bug checks (stop code errors), general troubleshooting tips (manufacturer diagnostics, Windows Memory Diagnostic and MemoryDiagnostics-Results)
- Dell: How to run Dell preboot diagnostics and hardware tests (F12 One Time Boot Menu, Thorough mode, error and validation codes)
- HP: HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (Windows and UEFI tools, 24-digit failure ID)
- Memtest86+: the open-source memory testing tool (booting, Secure Boot, passes, isolating modules)
- smartctl(8) manual page, smartmontools (Debian bookworm package)
- Microsoft Learn: chkdsk command reference
- Microsoft Learn: Get-StorageReliabilityCounter (Storage module)
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