Troubleshooting Methodology

The Troubleshooting Methodology.

An effective troubleshooting scenario consists of several important stages, which can help progress an IT issue along at a much quicker pace.

Step 1
To begin the troubleshooting process, you must first; Identify the problem.
For example; My monitor isn't working.

Step 2
The second step is to establish why the monitor isn't working, by asking some simple questions.
For example:
-When did the monitor last work?
-Has it been moved at all?

Step 3
At this stage of the investigation, you should have some theory as to why the monitor isn't working; Such as; the monitor has been recently moved during a clean and the cable may have become dislodged.

Step 4
Convey this information to the end-user and have them check the cable connections for the monitor. If that doesn't fix the problem, it could be a hardware problem; and to test it, using a monitor you know definitely works.

Step 5
Once the end-user is happy everything works as it should, explain to them how the issue was fixed. This can help them check the issue should it happen again, and how it can be prevented.

Step 6
Document what the problem was and how it came to be fixed. This may seem trivial. However, if the problem arises in the future, you then have documentation to look back on which could reduce the amount of time spent pondering a solution.

*Troubleshooting methodology is a part of the CompTIA A+ curriculum*