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People who use a computer every day whether at work
or at home will most likely encounter some sort of computer problem one way or
another. Some of these problems will come from booting or turning on the
computer. However, most of us (especially the not-so-tech-savvy-ones) will
encounter problems that will leave us feeling somewhat… silly.
What are these usual problems encountered when booting
a computer?
Electrical Error
Electrical error is one of the top causes of computer boot up problems, hands down. Often (yes, often!), the electrical
problem is nothing more than you forgetting to plug the computer into the wall.
People often forget that they unplugged the computer before they went to bed, during
a storm, or perhaps the kids just fooled around and the cord accidentally got
unplugged. Another reason (a more embarrassing one) is that you failed to
notice that your wall socket or extension cord has a built-in on/off switch.
This switch is often ignored because it’s always left on. However, it may have
somehow been switched off, so check this out.
Furthermore, if you live in an older house (around
1970’s and earlier), you might need to check the circuit breaker or fuse box to
make sure the plug for your computer has power and you’re not experiencing real
electrical problems.
Power Supply is
Dead
Closely related to the above; if your computer power
supply dies, there’s not much you can do. One way to know this is by pressing
the power button and the computer makes no noise and the lights don’t flash. If
you’re sure you have no electrical problems, then you have a dead power supply
that needs replacement.
Monitor is Dead
No electrical problems, no power supply problems,
and all the lights and sounds are there. But, your monitor is dead blank.
Computer monitors have a small light to indicate that they’re turned on. If the
light isn't on, make sure your monitor is connected to your computer. Cords can
unexpectedly come unplugged. Before blaming the two problems above, it might be
wise to check your monitor first. If you have an extra monitor, or if you can
borrow another, use that and boot your computer. If it works, then your monitor
needs to be replaced.
Bad Disk Drive
If your main drive is dead, your computer won't be
able to read the operating system, such as Windows, because your OS is stored
in the main hard drive. The computer will start booting and then stop. You’ll
get a displayed helpful error message or a cryptic
error code. If you’re not tech-savvy or just not into techie stuff, then
you need someone to fix the boot sector of your hard drive. Either that, or you
need a new hard drive and reinstall Windows. A more minor fix is to simply recover
all your data and reformat your drive.
Disconnected
Hardware
Disconnected hardware is a frequently ignored
problem. This happens when parts inside the computer aren't fully screwed or
pushed in. When you move your desktop computer around while cleaning or moving
to another room, the parts loosen up. They don’t fall out, but they’re loose
enough that they don’t work. This might happen to your computer memory (RAM) or
the graphics card. If you are able to, open the computer case, disconnect the
power, and gently push in every removable part and cord. Hopefully, this might fix
the problem.
If you've had unique problems when booting the computer, no matter how
silly, we’d love to hear from you. Please do send us your experiences.
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