Common Repair Jobs You May Need for Your Gaming System

Modern gaming systems are impressive machines. They are able to render advanced graphics in real-time, either by yourself or through online gaming, providing unprecedented user experience. It’s no wonder that these systems are so popular, despite their high price tag.

However, they aren’t perfect. In many cases, you may find that your gaming system stops working as it should. If this were to happen, you wouldn’t want to just throw out the system considering its cost. The better option is to either try and repair it yourself or have an expert do it for you. Below are some common problems across different gaming systems and what you can do about them.

Hard Drive Failure

Gaming systems use a hard drive to store all the important information you need, such as files to run the game or your saved progress. If this hard drive breaks down, your system won’t be able to access the information it needs to run properly. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to repair a hard drive issue. You can try opening up your system and ensuring all of the connections to your hard drive are solidly in place. If that doesn’t work, you can try reformatting the hard drive, however, this will erase all of the information on it.

Should none of these fixes work, you’ll need to replace the hard drive altogether. When doing this, it’s a good idea to upgrade your hard drive at the same time. Most gaming systems come with a standard hard drive that isn’t very good. Look to get one that is larger in size, or even switch to a Solid State Drive for faster loading if you can.

Over Heating

When your gaming system runs it generates heat. The more work your gaming system is doing, the more heat it will generate. For example, your system will generate more heat running the latest video game with top graphics than it will playing a movie off of Netflix.

Inside your system is a sensor that monitors the heat level inside. If the temperature gets too high, the system will automatically shut itself down to protect the internal hardware. To regulate the temperature, the system has vents on it along with cooling fans. If you suspect your issue is due to overheating, you should look to clear out dust from these vents and ensure the cooling fan is operating properly.

No Power

Sometimes your system will simply not turn on at all. In this scenario, you should first examine the power cord for your gaming system. If the power cord has become damaged or frayed, it could be preventing the system from getting power. Sometimes simply replacing this cord could fix your issue.

If that doesn’t work you likely have a more serious issue. Ensure everything is connected properly inside the system and see what happens when you push the power button. If nothing happens, you may have a problem with the motherboard or with the power button itself. When your motherboard has failed, you’re better off replacing the entire system, as they are a costly part to order.

Blue Light of Death

The “Blue Light of Death” problem is a common one for PlayStation owners. This problem could have multiple causes, so you’ll have to check them all. Start by making sure that your system’s hard drive is fully connected inside the system. If that doesn’t work, examine the power cord next.

Finally, you may have to discharge your PS4. To do this, hold down the power button for 7 seconds, unplug everything, hold down the power button again, then hook everything back up. This drains the internal battery and may fix your issue.

Controller

The last piece of hardware you may have an issue with is the controller. Controllers can take a beating over time, as we toss them, drop them, or use them with sticky hands. One common problem is when the coil spring inside the control bends or breaks. If this happens, it will be hard to play your games as the controller won’t be as responsive. You will then either need to replace the controller or purchase a new spring to install inside your existing controller.

Be Care with All Repairs

If you plan on attempting these repairs yourself, make sure you know what you’re doing. Find some reputable guides online that can walk you through the process so that you don’t damage the system any further. Hopefully, you’ll be able to identify the problem your gaming system is facing and repair it, saving yourself a lot of money in the process.