What to Do If Your Computer Won't Start

What to Do If Your Computer Won't Start

If your computer won't start, you may be convinced that it's dead. Don't scrap it just yet, though; there's a host of reasons why your robotic best friend could be having trouble waking up. Before you haul it to the junkyard, here are a few things you can do to get your computer up and running.

Identify Your Computer Problems
is your computer not turning on, or is it failing to boot Windows? If it won't turn on, check to make sure it's plugged into a reliable power source. If it's plugged into a power strip, make sure that the strip is functioning properly and check to see if its fuse has been tripped. Also make sure the power chord

is securely plugged into the back of the hard drive. Most PC's have a little light in back that will be on if it's receiving power, even if the computer itself is off.

Laptop owners should check to make sure the battery is fully charged. If power is going to your computer and it's still not turning on, it could be a circuit problem with the on/off switch. Rather than dismantling the hard drive and trying to fix it yourself, take it to a repair shop. Don't poke around the insides of a computer unless you know what you are doing. Computers have latent charges, meaning you could still get jolted even if it's unplugged, so it's best to leave repairs to a professional.

Windows Won't Load
if your computer will turn on, but it's failing to load Windows, it could be due to a few different problems with your computer. First, make sure Windows is installed properly. If your computer is giving you a specific error message, such as "Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start," refer to Microsoft's Web site and search the message under the Help section. The Microsoft site is a good place to start when you receive error messages. The most common errors are compiled there, with step-by-step instructions on how to resolve them. The site also supplies patches and updates you can download to fix common errors. It's important to have the most up-to-date version of Windows.

If your computer loads Windows and immediately crashes, it could be due to a virus. In this situation, restart your computer in Safe Mode. This runs your computer with minimal extensions and keeps unnecessary programs from booting.

When you restart your computer, you'll have to hit the F8 or F10 key, depending on which version of Windows you have, before it begins booting. This should bring you to a black screen with gray lettering. One of the options will say "Run Windows in Safe Mode." Select this and hit Enter. This should start Windows and allow you to run any anti-virus software you have.

If you don't have anti-virus software, you can try using the System Restore option. This will revert your computer back to a previous date, hopefully before the problems arose. If you've just installed new software or updates, you can uninstall them to see if that fixes the problem.

If these fixes fail to get your computer running, it's best to take it to a professional. You may not be able to save the machine, but professionals can often save your data so that you can move your important files to a new computer.