9.2. Understanding Operating System and Hardware Symptoms

Operating systems and hardware are so intertwined that it can sometimes be difficult to tell where a problem truly is. Printing is a great example. If you send something to print, what went wrong? Well, there could be a number of things wrong with the printer itself or with the cable connecting the printer to your computer or the network. But it could also be the software that the operating system is using to communicate with the hardware—the driver. It could also be a problem with the print spooler, which is integrated into the operating system. Without more information it's hard to tell what the problem could be.

Software problems tend to be harder to isolate. It might seem like a software ...

Get CompTIA A+® Complete Deluxe Study Guide:Exams 220-701 (Essentials) and 220-702 (Practical Application) now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.