Check the Event Viewer for Errors When Buying a Used PC

The next time you are at a yard sale and want to buy a used computer, a quick check of the Event Viewer can tip you off to potential problems.

The Event viewer logs potential errors like hard drive problems that can keep you from getting a bad deal. Microsoft has a guide on opening the Event Viewer in Windows 7, and Windows 8 users can search for View Event Logs. Head to Windows Logs > System where you’ll see a list of errors. Look for the errors, color-cored red and warnings, color-coded yellow.

For example, the Errors with Source: Disk and Event ID 15, 11, and 7 indicate a potential hard drive problem. If you purchase a computer with these errors, be prepared to replace the hard drive soon after purchase.

To research other Event IDs and if they are hardware or software related, check out this link.

via Lifehacker