The heart of a computer hardware system, the processor, also known as a CPU, manages and controls all information within a computer. The CPU processes information it receives from various hardware components and software programs and returns the answers to these queries. Since the processor plays such a vital role in the operation of a computer, when it goes bad it can cause an untold amount of problems.
Blue Screen of Death
The blue screen of death occurs on a Windows platform when one of three possible causes comes into play. Software and hardware conflicts can cause it, as well as bad memory. A third cause, a bad processor, can also cause a blue screen of death. Overclocking and faulty manufacturing may cause a processor to become faulty, especially if the computer's cooling systems have malfunctioned in the past. A computer only rarely displays a blue screen of death with a bad processor.
Failure to Boot
Computers with bad processors commonly don't boot at all, outlining the reason a blue screen of death may not appear. A computer requires a functioning CPU to turn on, meaning you won't even have the opportunity to access a computer's Basic Input/Output System directly. Often, you'll hear a series of beeps when attempting to start the computer. These beeps occur as a part of the computer's Power-On Self Test as way to notify you of the problem when nothing can display on the screen. Since every BIOS model gives different beeps for the same problems, check with your computer manufacturer's guide to decipher the tone and amount of beeps that your computer produces.
Fatal Exception Error
Another possible symptom of a bad processor lies in the fatal exception error, a warning message from your operating system that tells you something invalid or logically illegal has occurred within a program. Fatal exception errors occur from conflicts between programs, errors in programming code, computer overheating and hardware problems, such as a bad processor. Always examine a fatal exception error closely, as it warns you that something has gone seriously wrong.
Random Malfunctions
Not all symptoms of a faulty processor present themselves clearly. A malfunctioning processor can cause myriad problems, from individual hardware failures to minor annoyances. A sluggish computer can suggest a CPU failure just as well as a seemingly unrelated symptom, such as a malfunctioning sound component. Many of these other symptoms can masquerade as other hardware problems. For example, a malfunctioning processor might cause problems with the computer's display, which may cause you to incorrectly implicate a video card.
Tags: blue screen, blue screen death, screen death, cause processor, exception error