Emergency Steps For When A Laptop Won't Boot
Everyone dreads the day that their technology fails them. The most common time when that day comes is when a laptop won't boot. Data, sensitive documents and files for work can all be saved on the inaccessible hard drive. Being without that piece of technology for even so much as a few hours can be impossible, that's why there are some things that can be done to see if that laptop can be fixed.
The good news when a laptop won't turn on is that the data stored on it is probably okay. Even if it isn't, it can still possibly be recovered.
The first thing that needs to be done is to assess that situation. Does the laptop come on at all? Does the laptop maker's logo come on when the power button is pressed? Do any lights turn on, such as the capslock or power lights? If there's nothing at all, then take note of that.
The next thing to do is to check if the computer has power. The most common symptom is that a laptop will briefly flash boot lights or show no response at all when this happens. Sometimes batteries fail, so be sure to try starting the laptop up with the charger connected.
On that note, sometimes chargers will fail too. The sign to look for when this happens is the absence of a light on the charging unit or a break in the wires. The latter is generally something that will only happen when the wires are exposed.
On that note, sometimes the electrical outlet may be to blame. The best way to test if the outlet is the problem is to plug in something that draws a real, visible electrical load from it. In this case, that would be best done by plugging in a lamp and seeing if it turns on.
If the power turns on and then stops, then it's likely an internal problem. Anything from the internal power supply unit to the motherboard could be shorted out. In most cases, the cost of service and replacement parts can be a good fraction of the laptop's original cost. If enough is known about the laptop, check to see whether or not all the fans are spinning when the power button is pressed. If some spin but not all, this it's likely that either a connection or a fan has internally gone awry.
If the laptop flashes a logo and adds some beeps, then there is likely an internal problem. Those noises are POST beeps. In short, they're a way of receiving an error message when the motherboard detects something wrong. Sometimes this can be as simple as adjusting some motherboard settings, but other times this can mean a component needs to be replaced. The best solution in the event of receiving POST beep error codes is to consult the laptop's manual. Near the back, there is generally a list of what each code means.
If the laptop won't boot but the BIOS screen will flash by error-free, then it's likely an operating system error. These can be tricky to diagnose and even harder to fix. The best solution in this case is to record any error messages that come up and figure out what problem they indicate. If no error messages come up, then it may be the case that the laptop's hard drive is fried.
If the hard drive still works, reformatting the entire disk may not be necessary. Sometimes reinstalling the operating system can be a potential fix.
If it turns out that the computer still refuses to boot up or an error is found that indicates hardware needs to be replaced, then the best bet for it would be to try to get it repaired.
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.
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here