How to Troubleshoot a Computer That Will Not Boot

Computers that don't boot are frustrating.

When a computer boots, it is simply starting or restarting. When a computer doesn't boot, that means it won't turn on. Computers are complex and sometimes take many hours to troubleshoot. A computer that won't boot may seem disconcerting, and it can be a serious problem. However, usually a limited number of problems can cause this issue, so troubleshooting is a somewhat simple process.

Instructions

1. See if your computer is getting power. Try a different surge protector or different power outlet. Make sure you test the monitor to see if the monitor is getting power or if the monitor is just bad. Your computer may be booting but you are just not seeing it. Replace the monitor with another monitor to test it. Use any monitor from another computer just as a temporary test.

2. Check the connections inside your computer. If you have recently installed or uninstalled a piece of hardware, you may have knocked something loose. That can cause a short that will keep your computer from booting. Make sure the memory chip and motherboard are all securely connected.

3. Replace the power supply. If everything else is not the problem, most likely the power supply needs to be replaced. If the power supply is not the culprit, the motherboard processor or RAM could have gone bad. You will have to try replacing these one at a time.