If your first instincts are to panic or throw your computer across the room – pause. A “dead PC” isn’t the end of the world.
How to Revive Your Dead Computer
PC Advisor’s recent article uncovered a few, simple checks you can perform before you make the judgement your computer is officially dead.
- Check Your Power Supply
Laptops: A number of power-oriented reasons could prevent your computer from starting up. Of course, you should start by making sure that your computer is charged. Afterward, explore the possibilities of a blown fuse. This can happen if you’re using a charger that has high voltage (such as a generic charger).
PCs: With your PC, you’ll also need to check if you’ve blown your plug’s fuse. You could also investigate the inside of the PC, where another plug lies and could be blown.
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- Check Your Screen
Laptops: First, be sure that your laptop screen is completely off. By this, we mean there’s a possibility your screen’s resolution is low or that the bulb or inverter in the screen is dying. You’ll likely be able to figure this out when you can hear your laptop booting, but your screen not responding.
You can manually replace an inverter, but we recommend you consult with a professional to make sure you purchase the right one, as these are pricey investments. As for replacing your entire screen, depending on how pricey it is, purchasing a brand new laptop may be the best option.
PCs: You have a few solutions with a PC monitor. Of course, the easiest (but priciest) solution would be to replace it entirely. Otherwise, you could switch out the power lead and video cable and see if that boots your computer.
- Start Your Computer in Safe Mode
Whether you’re using a laptop or PC, you can start your computer in Safe Mode, even if you can’t boot Windows. After pressing the Start button, press the F8 key, which will take you to a menu. From here, you’ll be able to undo changes that you made before your computer stopped booting, such as uninstalling new software and applications.
- Contact an IT Professional
If all else fails, reach out to OSG. With 18 years of experience, we’ve got IT support down to a science. And best of all, our help desk is available 24/7.
