Repair/Replace faulty device(s).
This post is part of a series describing the generic, high-level troubleshooting process.
Previous Posts:
What is Troubleshooting?
Simplified Troubleshooting Overview
Step 1. Understand the correct inputs and outputs of the “black box.”
Step 2. Determine which output(s) are incorrect.
Step 3. Figure out which input(s) affect that output(s).
Step 4. Verify that those inputs are as expected.
Step 5. Analyze the path(s) from input(s) to output(s).
Step 6. Check all connections.
Step 7. What are the devices in those path(s) that change the data?
Step 8. Eliminate the devices that could not cause this output.
Step 9. Test the remaining devices.
Next Post:
Step 11. Fully test the system
Step 10. Repair/Replace faulty device(s).
Once you locate a device(s) that is causing a problem, you need to repair or replace it. Which you choose depends on many factors, such as: time available, replacement availability, complexity (or possibility) of repair, cost, etc.
Whichever you choose, in the end, the malfunctioning device needs to become a properly functioning device(s).
Repeat this for each device found to be faulty. It’s a good idea to test that part of the system after fixing the device. Test in the same way that you did to find that the device had an issue.
In the next step, we will test the system as a whole.