Here’s What to Do When Your Computer Won’t Turn On

Article Summary

• Power Supply Tests are Compulsory: Most laptop power issues are due to faulty adapters, loose connections, or dead batteries. Always start by testing your power supply.
• Hard Resets Solve Most Startup Issues: A hard reset can drain residual power, typically repairing unresponsive laptops.
• External Display Tests Can Uncover Screen Problems: If your laptop will not start up but power lights turn on, connect to an external monitor to test for display failure.
• Overheating Can Prevent Booting: Laptops that overheat can refuse to boot until they have cooled down completely, so check ventilation and fan function.
• Safe Mode Can Bypass Software Problems: When your computer won’t boot, starting in Safe Mode separates software issues from preventing typical start-up.

Understandably, it is frustrating when your PC or laptop won’t start up out of nowhere. Whether you have to get some work done, attend a virtual meeting, or simply browse the internet, a laptop power issue can be a genuine inconvenience. 

When your computer doesn’t start, there can be any number of underlying causes. Some are simple to fix at home, while others require professional intervention. Fortunately, we’re here to guide you through troubleshooting and repairing the problems. 

This guide will walk you through the most common problems and solutions, giving you DIY tips and guidance on when it’s time to repair your computer with expert assistance.

Common reasons Why a Laptop Isn’t Turning On 

When your laptop doesn’t start, it’s natural to wonder, “How to fix your laptop if it won’t turn on.” But in most cases, the issue might be minor. So, before you start panicking, let’s look at the most probable causes:

• Laptop Power Issues: Power is the lifeblood of your laptop, and once the supply is disrupted, your laptop simply will not start. Laptop power issues can be caused by faulty power adapters, damaged charging ports, or internal motherboard issues.
• Battery Problems: As with most tech items, laptop batteries wear out over time. If your laptop will not start unless it is plugged in – or will not start at all – the battery could be the issue.
• Hardware Failure: Problems with internal hardware, such as RAM, hard drives, or the motherboard itself, can cause a laptop to remain dead. If you’ve recently dropped your laptop or experienced overheating, this is a likely cause.
• Screen Malfunctions: Sometimes, the laptop doesn’t appear to start up, but in reality, it does. If your screen isn’t working, your laptop could be running perfectly fine, yet the screen won’t seem to display anything, causing confusion. 
• Software or Operating System Problems: Corrupted files, failed updates, or viral infections can prevent your laptop from booting. Computer troubleshooting is required to find and fix the cause.

How to Fix a Laptop or PC That Won’t Power On

If you’re faced with a laptop that won’t start, there are several things you can attempt before calling in the experts:

Check the Power Supply

This is the easiest and initial step to fixing a PC. Ensure the power cord is connected to the wall outlet and the laptop. You should also consider trying a different outlet in the house to rule out electrical issues. In addition, to be extra sure, if possible, use a different power adapter to confirm that the charger is not the issue.

Perform a Hard Reset

A hard reset will discharge any residual power in the system, which can resolve some laptop power issues. To do this, unplug the power cord and battery and hold the computer’s power button down for 30 seconds. Then, reconnect power and attempt to boot the laptop.

However, you should know that not all laptops work this way. Some require you to remove the battery and hold the power button for about 30 to 60 seconds, while with others, you have to press a reset pinhole if the battery cannot be removed. Also, MacBooks cannot be hard reset the traditional way. 

Check for Display Issues

If the power light comes on, but the screen is black, your laptop may be on but experiencing a display issue. Try to plug into an external monitor to determine if the internal display is the issue.

Check for Overheating

Overheating may result in automatic shutdowns, and your laptop will not boot up again until it cools down. Place your laptop on a hard, flat surface and keep the vents free. You can learn more about avoiding overheating in this helpful guide from My Computer Works.

Boot in Safe Mode

If you suspect a software issue, boot in Safe Mode using the Windows Startup Settings. This will get your system to start with only the essential processes, allowing you to identify problematic software or drivers. To accomplish this, power off the laptop, restart it, and press F8 (varies by model) to boot in Safe Mode. 

However, you should know that F8 doesn’t work on Windows 10 or 11. Instead, you must interrupt the boot three times to trigger Automatic Repair Mode. In this menu, you can access safe mode. Alternatively, you can boot from a Windows Recovery USB and choose Safe Mode. 

Verify Internal Hardware

If you’re comfortable opening your laptop, reseat the RAM and storage drive to ensure they’re properly connected. However, if you’re not used to working with hardware, this is a good time to seek professional PC help from My Computer Works.

When to Call a Technician

If you have tried all the above steps and your laptop still won’t turn on, it’s time to boot up Google and find a professional computer repair service near me, like My Computer Works, to get computer help. Our technicians can diagnose complex hardware issues, replace failing components, and recover your valuable data if necessary.

Is it the Black Screen of Death?

This error makes users panic the most because their computer or laptop Isn’t starting when needed. The dreaded error – Black Screen of Death – can appear when your computer encounters a fatal error preventing it from starting normally. 

It typically appears as a completely black screen with no cursor or, in some cases, a brief error message before the screen darkens. Driver conflicts, corrupted system files, hardware failure, power delivery issues, GPU or motherboard failure, and problematic updates typically cause this issue. 

The good news is that the problem can be fixed in many cases using advanced computer troubleshooting methods such as performing a system restore, running disk repairs, or even reinstalling the operating system. 

The Wrap-Up On What To Do When Your PC Won’t Turn On

A laptop that won’t boot up is tedious and inconvenient, but you can fix the problem quickly by starting with simple checks like the ones we discussed in this blog. If these steps don’t work, My Computer Works offers professional computer repair to boot up your laptop or PC. Our friendly experts provide fast, reliable computer troubleshooting, laptop repair, and PC repair to get your tech back up and running. Contact us here for a quotation.