Hardware problems can typically show in the form of Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), system crashes, abnormal temperatures, or slow system response times. In a worst-case scenario, these unaddressed hardware problems can lead to total system failure.

Does Windows 10 have a hardware diagnostic tool?

Windows 10 hardware diagnostic tools can be quite a chore to use unless one has prior knowledge of the OS and these tools. The OS has a few native hardware diagnostic tools that we will show you how to use. In addition, PC manufacturers also add their custom ones. Depending on the ease of use and access of these tools, the process can be simple or difficult. This is where the hardware diagnostics come in. PCs come with pre-installed diagnostics tools to prevent, detect, and/ or fix any hardware problems that may occur over the PC’s lifespan. These tools can be OS-exclusive, PC manufacturer-exclusive, or even BIOS-exclusive. In addition, depending on the scope of these tools, they may be directed towards a specific hardware component or even all of them.

How can I run hardware diagnostics on Windows 10?

1. Use the Performance Monitor tool

The simplest and most handy way to diagnose your hardware status on your PC is the Performance Monitor tool that anyone can access. The instructions below shows you how to use it.

1. Access Performance Monitor

Press the Windows key and search for Performance Monitor. Open the top result.

2. Expand the Data Collector Sets

From the left pane menu, expand the Data Collector Sets section. Click on the System option.

3. Start the system diagnostics

Right-click System Diagnostics and select Start to begin system diagnostics tests.

4. Expand the Reports

Now, from the left pane menu, expand the Reports section, expand the System section, and open the System Diagnostics section.

5. Find the system diagnostics and checks

You will find the generated system diagnostics test report here. Simply double-click the report to view it. Check out your PC’s Diagnostic Results.

Look out for any failures in the Basic System Checks section. If no problems are detected by the Windows 10 hardware check, it’s more than likely that your PC is doing great.

2. Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic app

Unless you find any errors, your PC’s RAM is not a cause for concern. However, if you do find any errors, see if they can be resolved without the need for replacing your RAM. If that’s not possible, replace the RAM. Check out more details on the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool and how it can help keep your PC’s memory in check.

3. Run a CHKDSK scan to check for bad sectors

Click inside the text box in the General tab. Press Ctrl+A to select all of the text, copy, and paste it onto a new text file. This will make viewing the results quite convenient. SPONSORED

4. Run the Battery diagnostics command

For an even deeper analysis, check out the 10 best tools for checking battery health on Windows 10.

5. Use third-party diagnostic tools

If you don’t want to get into the nitty-gritty of hardware diagnostics, then the simplest option is to use third-party PC hardware diagnostic tools. These tools not only make things a lot easier, but they also cover almost every aspect of hardware diagnostics. There are a lot of options for the best hardware diagnostics tools on PC that will offer free computer diagnostic tests. You can choose whatever option suits you. If need be, you can even choose to use multiple third-party hardware diagnostics tools.

6. Use PC manufacturer custom diagnostics tools

How to run hardware diagnostics on a Windows 10 HP laptop?

If the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics app isn’t installed on your HP PC, you can download it from the HP support website.

How to run hardware diagnostics on a Windows 10 Dell PC?

The Dell SupportAssist software can also be downloaded and used offline.

How to run hardware diagnostics on a Windows 10 Lenovo PC?

7. Run diagnostics from BIOS/ UEFI

You can find out more about BIOS/ UEFI and how to access them on Windows 10 to get started with the hardware diagnostics. BIOS/ UEFI is not as readily accessible as some of the other options on this list but is extremely useful in performing hardware diagnostics nonetheless. They are also the only option available for hardware diagnostics in case the PC fails to boot Windows. BIOS/ UEFI layouts are not the same for everyone. Therefore, depending on the BIOS/ UEFI, you may have to explore a bit to find the Diagnostics section. It’s usually found in the Advanced section. If you don’t want to deal with BIOS/ UEFI, follow the next solution.

How often should I perform the hardware diagnostics process?

Hardware diagnostics is an essential part of maintaining your PC in general. However, given a PC’s performance, it may or may not be necessary. If the PC is performing smoothly and you don’t find yourself running into errors, system crashes, or system freezing then you can safely perform a hardware diagnostics scan every 3-6 months. But, if you do find yourself running into any or all of the above-mentioned issues, then you must perform a hardware diagnostics scan regularly. A regular hardware diagnostics checkup will keep you updated on the performance of your hardware, automatically fix any issues if possible, and notify you about potential component replacements. Moreover, you might want to use PC maintenance software in order to help your computer perform optimally all the time. Feel free to ask us questions in the comments section below. Let us know what worked out for you and if there’s anything that we missed.

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