How to Troubleshoot a Computer That Will Not Turn On
You have a lot of work to do on your computer. You sit down, press the power button, and ... nothing happens. No lights, no sounds, no hard drive spinning up. Nothing. Don't panic just yet. Knowing how to troubleshoot a computer that won't turn on will help in identifying the problem. It may not be as bad as you think.
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Instructions
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Check your computer's power cable and the power cables to any devices connected to the computer. Make sure all cables are firmly plugged into electrical outlets and into the computer and other devices. If you have an extra power cable for your computer, swap it in to see if your computer's power cable is the problem.
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Remove your computer's battery, if it is a laptop, and connect the computer to a electrical outlet to see if it will start up. Sometimes a discharged battery will prevent a laptop from powering up. If your laptop still won't power up, remove the power cable, replace the battery and try to run the computer off battery power.
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Unplug your computer and plug a lamp or radio into the same electrical outlet and see if that device works. If the lamp or radio doesn't work, the outlet is the problem.
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Unplug your computer and open your computer's case, if it is a desktop system. Look for loose cables, cards and connections and attach them firmly. Blow out any dust with a can of compressed air. Also, check your computer's memory chips to make sure they are all plugged in and seated properly. Close the case once you are done and plug in the computer.
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Disconnect any USB devices connected to your computer and try to power up the system. Sometimes a USB device not connected properly will stop a computer system from powering on.
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Disconnect any new devices recently added to your system. Sometimes new devices will conflict with other hardware within your computer and cause an overload on your computer's power supply.
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Disconnect any other devices connected to your computer -- such as the keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer or scanner -- and plug your computer into a electrical outlet by itself. Check to see if the computer works. If does work, shut it down and connect just one device, such as the monitor. Turn on the computer and monitor and see if everything works. Continue connecting devices until you find the one that is stopping your entire system from powering up.
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Tips & Warnings
If your computer still won't power on, call a repair service. Some computer repair shops may have a loaner system for you to use until yours is repaired.
