Things You'll Need:
- A Startup Disk Or A CDROM With The Operating System On It
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Step 1
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.
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Step 2
If you're starting from a button on the keyboard, make sure the keyboard is connected to the computer.
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Step 3
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.
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Step 4
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.
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Step 5
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.
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Step 6
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.)
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Step 7
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.)
Comments
justanothertina said
on 11/12/2009 My computer wont start the power is working, the Msi screen flashs but then it goes black and just has a flashing underscore and doesnt start properly. Please help me. It's a pryon with Vista. Any ideas? thanks
merrice said
on 10/4/2009 I am having a similar problem as krypto77 - does anyone have a solution
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on 7/20/2009 On my 2nd computer I am getting a "frequency out of range" error message when I try to start it up. It will then shut off like when your computer is idling and goes to sleep mode or something. I have read a few posts about what the problem could be. Some have said its because the refresh rate isn't compatible with the computer or something but everyone is saying that I need to get to the desktop so i can go to my start button and change the refresh rate but it wont get that far, the screen just shuts down. Anyone have some suggestions?
sathy said
on 8/9/2009 HI , MY ACER LAPTOP COULD NOT START UP , ONLY THERE IS A TINY 2 BEEPS SOUND AND A CREEPY SOUND FROM CDROM DRIVE AND HARDDISK . AFTER THAT THE POWER WILL JUST GO OFF . WHAT TO DO ?
dios01 said
on 7/30/2009 on other computer when i turn it on it boots after it comes a dark screen and a message comes saying ''Norton antivirus realtime protection failed to load after that nothing happens it just stays blank
krypto77 said
on 7/20/2009 On my 2nd computer I am getting a "frequency out of range" error message when I try to start it up. It will then shut off like when your computer is idling and goes to sleep mode or something. I have read a few posts about what the problem could be. Some have said its because the refresh rate isn't compatible with the computer or something but everyone is saying that I need to get to the desktop so i can go to my start button and change the refresh rate but it wont get that far, the screen just shuts down. Anyone have some suggestions?