How to Troubleshoot Computer Not Powering On
If the computer does absolutely nothing when you turn it on, your first move is to check all cable connections. Make sure the power plug on every device that plugs into the wall is firmly plugged in. Also, make sure the mouse, keyboard, and all other devices are firmly plugged into their slots.
If the computer sounds as though it’s starting up but you don’t see anything on the screen, make sure all plugs to the monitor are firmly seated. If you’re working on a desktop computer, make sure the monitor’s power cable is firmly attached to the monitor and wall socket. Confirm that the cable connecting the computer to the monitor is firmly attached at both ends of the cable. Make sure the monitor is turned on. Then restart the computer.
Non-system disk or disk error message
This type of message appears when the computer attempts to boot from a disk on which Windows is not installed, or if the disk is corrupted. Remove any removable media from the device, and disconnect any drive that’s connected to the computer through a USB port.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del or restart the computer with the main power on/off switch.
Screen turns blue during startup and then stops
This is commonly referred to as the Blue Screen of Death (also known as a blue screen or BSoD) is an error screen displayed on a Windows computer system after a fatal system error, also known as a system crash: when the operating system reaches a condition where it can no longer operate safely. BSoDs can be caused by poorly written device drivers or malfunctioning hardware, such as faulty memory, power supply issues, overheating of components, or hardware running beyond its specification limits.
If you recently connected or installed a new hardware device, disconnect or uninstall it. Then start the computer again.
If you still see the blue screen, you’ll very likely have to boot to Safe Mode and disable the device through Device Manager. If the error persists, look for an error number on the blue screen of death page. It will most likely start with the characters 0x. Jot down that number on a sheet of paper. Then, if you can get online through another computer, go to your favorite online search engine (such as Google or Bing) and search for that number or ask for assistant at GeekPolice forums. You might find a page that offers an exact solution to your problem.
Test your power supply unit
At this point in your troubleshooting, it's very likely that the power supply unit in your computer or AC power adapter is no longer working and should be replaced. You should, however, test it just to be sure. There's no reason to replace a working piece of hardware when testing it is fairly easy.
How To Test a Power Supply Unit With a Multimeter
How to Diagnose Power Supply Failure
Possible Reasons Why Your AC Adapter May Fail
Did you find this tutorial helpful? Don’t forget to share your views with us.
If the computer sounds as though it’s starting up but you don’t see anything on the screen, make sure all plugs to the monitor are firmly seated. If you’re working on a desktop computer, make sure the monitor’s power cable is firmly attached to the monitor and wall socket. Confirm that the cable connecting the computer to the monitor is firmly attached at both ends of the cable. Make sure the monitor is turned on. Then restart the computer.
Non-system disk or disk error message
This type of message appears when the computer attempts to boot from a disk on which Windows is not installed, or if the disk is corrupted. Remove any removable media from the device, and disconnect any drive that’s connected to the computer through a USB port.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del or restart the computer with the main power on/off switch.
Screen turns blue during startup and then stops
This is commonly referred to as the Blue Screen of Death (also known as a blue screen or BSoD) is an error screen displayed on a Windows computer system after a fatal system error, also known as a system crash: when the operating system reaches a condition where it can no longer operate safely. BSoDs can be caused by poorly written device drivers or malfunctioning hardware, such as faulty memory, power supply issues, overheating of components, or hardware running beyond its specification limits.
If you recently connected or installed a new hardware device, disconnect or uninstall it. Then start the computer again.
If you still see the blue screen, you’ll very likely have to boot to Safe Mode and disable the device through Device Manager. If the error persists, look for an error number on the blue screen of death page. It will most likely start with the characters 0x. Jot down that number on a sheet of paper. Then, if you can get online through another computer, go to your favorite online search engine (such as Google or Bing) and search for that number or ask for assistant at GeekPolice forums. You might find a page that offers an exact solution to your problem.
Test your power supply unit
At this point in your troubleshooting, it's very likely that the power supply unit in your computer or AC power adapter is no longer working and should be replaced. You should, however, test it just to be sure. There's no reason to replace a working piece of hardware when testing it is fairly easy.
How To Test a Power Supply Unit With a Multimeter
How to Diagnose Power Supply Failure
Possible Reasons Why Your AC Adapter May Fail
Did you find this tutorial helpful? Don’t forget to share your views with us.