How to Troubleshoot a Computer That Won't Start

By eHow Computers Editor

Troubleshoot a Computer That Won't Start Troubleshoot a Computer That Won't Start

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A computer that won't start can be both alarming and infuriating, especially if you're on a deadline or you haven't been backing up all your data (like we all tend to do). Don't panic, though—this problem often has a simple solution.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • A Startup Disk Or A CDROM With The Operating System On It

Step1
If your desktop computer does nothing at all when you try to start it, first check that the power cable is securely plugged in at the back of the computer as well as into a working power outlet. It's amazing how often this is the case.
Step2
If you're starting from a button on the keyboard, make sure the keyboard is connected to the computer.
Step3
If the computer is plugged into a surge protector, see if the surge protector has a reset switch that you can push. (If it doesn't have a reset switch and the problem is with the surge protector, it will need to be replaced.) Try plugging a lamp or other device into one of the surge protector's outlets to make sure it's working.
Step4
If you can hear the computer's fan or hard-disk drive, or if you can see indicator lights on the main unit but the monitor stays dark, make sure that the monitor is connected to a working power source, that it's turned on and that it's securely connected to the computer via the video cable.
Step5
If the monitor and computer have power but the computer displays a "Non-system disk or disk error" message, check to make sure you didn't leave a disk in the A: drive. If you did, eject it and restart the computer.
Step6
If the operating system still won't start even though the computer and monitor have power, try restarting with a Windows CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive or, if you've got a Macintosh, with a Mac OS disc in the CD-ROM drive. (You can start a Mac from the CDROM drive by holding down the C key while starting up.)
Step7
If the operating system then starts, your problem is probably with the startup hard drive or with the operating system installed on it. If you can't fix the drive, you'll have to replace it. (See also How to Fix Bad Sectors on a Hard Disk and How to Recover Lost Files.)

Tips & Warnings

  • If you've got a laptop computer that suddenly refuses to start up, it's possible that the battery drained too low while the computer was in sleep mode. Try plugging in the power cord to see if the laptop will wake up.
  • Always make sure all your cables are plugged in securely, that usually solves the problem over 75% of the time.

Comments

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on 11/28/2007 I have a problem. almost exactly with bozaktwo1 i dont have the exact same graphics card or anything, but i was playing a video game and then all the sudden the monitor and computer restarted and then as it was restarting the monitor did not come on. the computer was going could hear the fan and HD and everything. i had this problem before and i took out my graphics card and plug my monitor to the standard plug-in and it worked well this time it wont even come on when i plug it into that. i took the card out and everything and it still seems not to work. i even tryed a new monitor and the secondary monitor comes up with no-signal. but my orindary monitor doesnt come up with that. i havent tryed a new grahpics card i wish i had a spare laying around but i dont so if anyone knows how to make sure it is the card and not the computer or monitor please let me know. thanks

EMSRW said

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on 10/18/2007 My 14 month old eMachine won't start. I pust the on button, the fans work, but nothing else happens. The power light stays on, but doen't blink like usual, and there is no sound coming from the hard drive. I did try the hard drive in another pc and had to use the restore disk to get it going. It worked as long as it was in the 2nd pc. But it will not work when put back in the original pc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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on 6/11/2007 My HP desktop machine recently died. It is less than 2 years ol, and the only upgrade I have done is to replace the graphics card. My motherboard has no onboard graphics, so I must have a standalone video card installed in order to plug my monitor in. The card I had been running was a BFG nVidea GeForce 5500OC in AGP8x interface. My power supply unit is a Lite-On 250w, with 14a on the 12v rail. At the time it died, it had been running all night. The machine's case is not well-ventilated, and the room was pretty hot a lot of time. The following morning, I went to use the thing, and it was locked up. So I did a cold reboot, and got a black screen. The fans were all running, the hd was humming, but nothing...no boot, not even to the BIOS menu. After many hours of troubleshooting, testing the psu, the hard drive and all, I came to the video card. I removed it and placed a 64mb ATI card in one of the PCI slots, and voila! Success. So I am now buying and installing a new video card and a new psu to support it, and I am cutting vents in my case.

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on 6/11/2007 I forgot to add, somebody please help me if they can give me advice about my computer!

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on 8/6/2007 I found this article trying to find out why my computer won't start. I pushed the button Tuesday night and nothing happened. I checked the surge protector, the monitor and all of the connections and everything was okay. The light on the front doesn't come on and there is no sound of a fan. It has not been giving me any trouble and I always make sure I turn it off properly. I though about buying a new power cord from the computer yo the outlet to see if that works.

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eHow Article:  How to Troubleshoot a Computer That Won't Start

eHow Computers Editor

eHow Computers Editor

Category: Computers

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