Identify common solutions for hardware installation problems under the following topics: power, video, RAM, CPU, hard drive, and optical...

Working with building, upgrading, or repairing computers can
lead to great technological victory or humiliating defeat depending on a lot of factors.  Using
your list, it is possible to see some common issues that one would need to be aware of before
attempting any of those three procedures.  Proper static protection is important for all of
these, so lets just get that out upfront.

1) Power --
the biggest problem with the power supply is making sure that it is powerful
enough to run the components attached to it.  You would, if building a computer or adding
components, want to add up their consumption to be certain the power supply could handle it.
 Secondly, if a power supply is "dead" and not responding it is a good idea to check for an
internal fuse that might need replacing.  Technically there is a voltage switch on the back of
many power supplies that might have gotten flipped as well, though that doesn't happen too often.
 Lastly, if putting in a new power supply you would need to be certain that it fit the case and
had the connectors you needed to properly drive the motherboard (especially video card
power.)

2) Video -- First, make sure
you have the right card for the slot: AGP and PCIe are not compatible.   Some motherboards seem
to have problems with backward compatibility, too, between 4x and 8x AGP so that is good to check
into. You need to also consider the size to make sure it will physically fit in the case.  For
full functionality, many video cards require an direct power hookup to the power supply, so that
needs to be checked.  Make certain the card is seated well in the slot and that the correct
drivers are installed.

3) RAM -- The
RAM has to be right.  Though there is a good deal of backward compatibility, you need to be sure
you have the right stuff or it won't fit (or maybe it will fit and won't work, if it is too
slow.)  Some RAM needs to be installed in pairs, period, or in pairs for better performance.  It
is important to make sure that RAM is well seated in the slot or it will cause you trouble.  
Troubleshooting RAM usually involves swapping it out, changing it to a different slot, or pulling
it out and running with less RAM to see if that stick is defective.  There are software
solutions, too.

4) CPU -- Again, it has
to be the correct one to fit in your motherboard.  Must be installed carefully so as not to bend
the pins.  Cooling is very important, so the heat-sink/fan must be the right size and properly
installed.  There may be some BIOS settings involved with setting up the CPU you way you want it,
but in general it will be self-configuring.   If it doesn't work it may be damaged or improperly
seated....if the computer shuts off or freezes heat may be an
issue.

5)Hard Drive -- Fairly straight
forward.  Make sure you have the right connectors ATA/SATA.  Make sure the jumpers are set
correctly. If it doesn't work, check the power, the connection to the motherboard, and the jumper
settings.  Hard drives are pretty tough when not turned on but easy to damage when powered up and
active, so don't jostle it.  I don't know much about SSDs, so you are on your own
there.

6) Optical Drive -- Same as the
hard drive, really.  Jumpers and cabling.  If you want to install a Blu-Ray drive you have to
keep a thought out for HDCP compliance between it, the video card, and the
display.