What To Do When A Laptop Won't Boot
There are several reasons why a laptop won't boot. The problems can be caused by hardware issues that require professional repair, software issues that can be resolved with some work or other more critical problems. The first step involved in repairing a laptop that will not start properly is to isolate the cause of the malfunction. This is most commonly done by determining at what point the booting process fails.
If the laptop does not boot at all after the power button is pressed, then the problem could be with the hardware or power supply. A computer that will not activate at all and remains in a completely powered-down state after being turned on normally has an issue with the power supply. A bad battery can cause this to happen. One way to test for this is to remove the battery and then attempt to boot the laptop using the power cord only. If the computer suddenly boots, then the battery needs to be replaced. If the computer continues to remain powered-down, then the problem could be a damaged or disconnected power supply inside of the unit. This usually requires professional repairs.
A laptop that activates partially after the power button is pressed but does not display anything on the screen can be suffering from hardware issues. This problem can be identified because the internal components like the fan, hard drive and indicator lights around the keyboard will all activate. Sometimes the sound of the fan spinning much faster than normal can be heard. A computer left in this state will become hot over time. The screen will not show anything and only the backlight might activate providing a soft indistinct glow.
This is indicative of a problem with the hardware inside of the laptop. The random access memory (RAM), hard drive, motherboard or other connections might be loose. More than likely, however, the problem is due to damaged circuits. The only solution in this case is to seek the help of a professional. The repairs could be very costly depending on the components that must be replaced.
Some computers might start to boot and will become frozen on the screen that displays the manufacturer's information before the operating system (OS) starts. The computer might also show this screen for a second before immediately flipping to a blank screen. This can happen for a number of reasons. It could be because there is damage to the hard drive inside of the computer. Corrupted files, missing allocation tables or physical distortions to the drive can all trigger a failure that will stop the computer from booting. Hardware issues such as bad RAM chips or an overheated motherboard can cause this behavior as well. The best solution is to stop using the laptop and take it to a knowledgeable professional for repairs.
One of the more common ways that a computer fails to boot is to move past the first basic input-output service (BIOS) screen and then show a colored screen matching the operating system, an error message or the actual OS logo. This indicates that the issue might be related to software or a repairable software and hardware combination. Part of the system BIOS that controls the basic functions of the hardware could have been deleted or corrupted. This can be repaired by entering the BIOS setup with the keystrokes that are indicated on the first screen. There are sometimes repair, update, reinstallation or restore options here that can fix the problem.
It is more common that something has gone wrong with the drivers, registry or OS on the computer hard drive that is stopping the computer from booting. This can sometimes be repaired by inserting a recovery CD or the original OS CD into the computer and booting from that. There are normally repair options on the CD that will completely restore the OS through a process known as a warm install that will preserve data on the hard drive. Other options are to enter the BIOS menu and attempt to boot the computer into safe mode, or to remove as many peripheral devices as possible and try rebooting with the hope that any driver conflicts are resolved. If none of these options work, then only a repair technician will be able to diagnose and resolve the problem.
About the Author
Laptop Repair methods are improving all the time. Brett Matthews is a leading Expert on the subject of Business modelling for Laptop Repair methods. Matthews recommends reviewing the videos at http://www.cambridgelaptoprepair.co.uk/services/motherboard-repairs/ to get the facts on latest repair methods. A useful diagnostic guide is also listed on this page link.
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